Since I don't own an exotic, I figured I would post some info and pics of my 1980 Pontiac Firebird Formula. I wasn't sure if I should put this in the PitStop forum, as it's mostly used for track days nowadays, but here goes.

I've owned this car since a week before my 16th birthday; I'm 40 now so it has been a long relationship! At this point I have no intention of ever selling her. Up until 1993 it was my only car; when I was in college I had to move my entire dormroom home in it at the end of the year! That was a neat trick...

It is a factory four-wheel-disc car, which is quite rare in Formulas that year. Originally it was a 301/automatic combo, then I went with a 400/auto, then I converted it to a four-speed manual due to all the track use it was getting. Now it sports a 480HP 461CI Pontiac engine. Well, it did, until I grenaded the crankshaft into five pieces this spring at Road America. A new engine is in the works.

In 1993 at the same time I did the manual conversion I had the car restored with all new NOS sheetmetal, except the roof. The car retains its original paint scheme. The interior is all stock with the exception of an Autometer tach and a Recaro driver's seat, and Simpson harnesses.

The car is street legal and licensed, but mostly gets driven at track days. I do trailer it, but it is no trailer queen. I've been doing track days since 1990, about five a year, with my Dad, who has his own car also (he's 71!). I don't have a lot of times from some of the other tracks, but my best at Road America (my home track) is 2:42. That's not crazy fast, but the car still uses the factory brakes, albeit with racing pads, fluid and ducting. The real weakness is the wieght, and the fact that the gearing and only having a four speed allow more modern cars to come off the corners harder than I can. But it has surprised more than a few people. Improvements are in the plan, but it all takes cubic dollars!

Tracks that I have driven with this car over the last 21 years:

Road America
Road America (short course)
Road America (motorcycle configuration)
Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio (ChampCar configuration, bypassing the Esses)
Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen (NASCAR course)
Road Atlanta (old configuration, with The Dip)
Road Atlanta (current configuration)
Sebring (12 Hour course)
Gingerman
Virginia International (Grand course)
Autobahn Country Club (south course)

Here are some pictures of the car in action. Thanks, and enjoy!

 

That's so cool! Glad you still enjoy your car (on the track, no less!) after all these years.

 

Thanks for sharing! That is awesome that you have had this car that long, it's definitely a keeper and at 480 hp seems like it would terrorize a many sports car. I always liked the look of that car..

 

I got all ready to bash on the Firebird ... but this is actually way cool!!! Love the fact that you've owned it for so long!

 

Awesome car. Welcome to TS!

 

Clean car! I'll rep when not on mobil

 

What a great car! Unusual seeing one being tracked so kudos to you.

 

My sister had a blue one in 1976 with the bird painted on the hood.

Later, she would admit that she hit over 100 parked cars with it.

Just a cautionary tale.

 

Great story!

 

Thanks guys.

Hahahaha! Love this.

It's funny how often I am at the track, and a person will come up to me with a story like, "I had one of these, back in the day. Wish I still had it."