Hey, I'm Roy Armstrong and this is my Datsun 510 race car.
I race in the SCCA ITC class.
There is a rule in racing that says "the faster you go - the more it costs". That's why I keep my 510 in the ITC class because it's the slowest class in SCCA racing. Improved Touring means that it's basicly a stock engine with front coilovers and the safety equipment. But just because I run the old girl in ITC don't think she's boring out on track. She's smoked some serious tuner cars and quite a few muscle cars.
Ok, so another 510 and a Honda doesn't classify as muscle but I also do HPDE events where she's been known to take on Vettes, Porsches, Beemers, plus other more potent machinery and leave them wondering what the Red White and Blue streek was. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit but what she lacks in straight line speed she more than makes up for in the turns and while these higher HP cars may have to pull over and have a sandwich to give me time to pass them on the straights once we get to the turns I'm gone. This car turns like stink.
See this is a picture of me making an inside pass. Ok, I'm exaggerating again. This is a picture from my first race and I was throwing my arm out of socket waving the other cars by.
I've also been know to kill a few cones.
In between races and HPDE events I also autocross the car. I keep the same setup for roadracing (except tire pressures) and run it around the cones. She has dominated the FSP class and hangs in the top teens in the over all standings.
I can't afford to have a shop build and prep my car which means I do all the work myself. Some friends come by occasionally but I don't know if it's to help me with the car or to drink my beer.
I'm hoping for a slot in the JV class with the Independent Study group. Win, lose or draw we'll have fun. That's what racing all about.
If I don't get invited for my 510 maybe they will let me run my tow vehicle.
If it would fit in the back doors of the truck I'd bring my other toy.
It's not much on the big track but it's a blast to scoot around the paddock in or the occasional cone course.
See you guys at VIR. Even if by some slim, unknown, unforeseeable reason I don't get an invitation to come play on track, I'm planning to come out anyways (I've already put in for leave) and root everybody on to victory.
Plus I should add that my 510 will be wearing a different livery from the pictures I posted above. Last fall I ended up in a tire wall at Summit Point that pretty much pancaked the side of the car.
This winter was spent doing body work and getting paint on the car. After what seems like an eternity of sanding it was finally ready for paint (at least for a race car).
My buddy Steve let me use his garage for for the body work and paint. Hey, wouldn't you rather get that crap all over someone else's garage rather than your own? We made a $20 paint booth with plastic drop cloths and I went to town with the spray gun.
This is the end result
I was going to make it similar to the Bob Sharp colors but in true racer form it was a last minute rush to get the paint on before an HPDE event. I laid the paint on one weekend and was heading to the track the next. I only had time to get the red and blue on it. The white will have to wait until after the season. To be honest I'm over sanding on the car - It's time to have some fun.
I'll post more pics after I get the numbers and stickers on it.
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