CAMSO V8 DESCRIPTION -  (22/02/2007)

American-style of racing in Belgium

450 HP – 905kg – 28.500 €

“ The driver has to make the difference, not the car “

After Rockingham, 1,5km oval in England , opened in 2000 and the Eurospeedway in the Lausitzring, Germany , also opened in 2000, Warneton in Belgium is the third oval track in Europe , where Nascar-like cars can race.

A/ DESCRIPTION OF THE TRACK:

The oval of Warneton, existing since 1980, was completely rebuilt in the winter 2002 – 2003 to make it suitable for the Camso V-8 formula.

During the first 2 weeks of September 2002, we visited 7 different ¼ mile paved (asphalt) ovals in California ( USA ), where the “Super late models” = nearly identical to the Camso V 8, are racing.

We also were very critical and could not imagine that such a big cars with so much horsepower could race on such a small track.

What we have seen at Stockton 99 convinced us absolutely. When the track is well build (there must be 2 “grooves” so that the cars can race one alongside each other) and there is a strict discipline amongst the drivers, you can have fantastic close racing.

The track, Stockton 99, where we have seen races is nearly identical from structure to the Warneton track; we have seen there the following formulas:

-          Super Late Models: nearly the same cars as the ASA series. 20 cars at the start (the maximum allowed on this track) for 100!! laps. Fastest lap time: 12,912 sec. Sensational race who was, in our opinion, more interesting than the Winston Cup races in Richmond , Va , we have seen the week before. After 34 laps (the first caution) no car was lapped!

-          Late Models = Camso V 8: 14 cars for 30 laps. Fastest lap time: 13,123sec. One of the heats with only 7 cars had nearly each lap another leader.

-          Grand American Modifieds: a mixture between Midgets and Formula 2 Stock Cars, but contact of course not allowed. About 500 HP. Fastest lap time: 12,965sec

-          Legends: well known in England . Fastest lap time: 16,521sec

-          Pure Stox: American street cars. Fastest lap time: 17,049sec

Warneton is 430m long (in stead of 400m before).

The straights are respectively 15m ( 45 feet ) and 17m ( 51 feet ) wide and have a banking of about 4 degrees; this means a difference of high of about 1m ( 3 feet ) between the inside and the outside.

The turns are 18m = 54 feet wide and the banking is about 10 degrees (2m80 = about 9 feet difference between the inside and the outside).

On the outside there is a concrete wall 1m10 ( 4 feet ) high and on the inside 0,80m ( 3 feet ) high, with 3m = 9 feet high fence and 3,5 kilometres steel cables. The pit lane is 10m = 33 feet wide.

A complete new grandstand with about 2.000 seats (who will be covered later) has been built between the cafeteria and the existing grandstand. In the near future a bigger one with race control will replace the old covered grandstand, with  pressroom and a VIP room on top. This will bring the capacity of Warneton Speedway to 8.000 spectators.

The whole infield is asphalted and is used as added car park. In the infield 17 garage boxes (6m x 4m) are built, which can be used by the Camso V8 cars.

There is also a completely equipped workshop, where new cars can be built or where cars can be repaired.

B/ VISION of the CAMSO V-8 formula.

The Camso organizers are convinced that racing on oval tracks in Europe will take an even more important place in the auto-racing-world for the following reasons:

-          the spectators can see the entire track;

-          the spectators can follow the races in comfortable conditions; the existing covered grandstand and the planned new grandstand will provide about 3500 seats.

-          Due to the structure and the width of the track, passing during the races is commonplace; especially as the organizer wants to keep the cars as equal as possible.

-          Watching races with the noise of thundering American V-8 engines is a sensation in his own;

-          By racing on ovals, there is a familiar and friendly atmosphere; the pits has to be accessible for the public at no cost and there has to be a direct contact with the drivers;

-          The spectators are very close to the action; on oval tracks, the spectators are sitting at about 5m (15feet) of the track, so there is nearly direct contact with the cars;

Camso find that alongside Ascar/SCSA formula, there also must be a formula for the lower budgets, although still professionally organised and managed. The races of Camso V-8 have another concept: no long races with changing tyres and fuelling but shorter races without pit stops.

This formula of racing is low budget for the following reasons: no big crew for the pit-stops, the car parts like engine, transmission, brakes and tyres are less stressed because the races are shorter (100 laps, about 40 km or 25 miles per race day); the engines are not high-tuned, so that the duration of these engines are much longer. End 2006, the first Camso V8 engine in the #41 car was used 4 years and did approximately 4.000 laps at Warneton, without any mechanical failure; the only mechanical intervention was changing regularly the oil filter and the oil.

There are 12 meetings a year for this formula at Warneton. There is no racing for this cars on a wet track. Therefore, with changing weather conditions, the order of races may be changed: that means that 2 or 3 races can be held shortly after each other (for example: 3 races around midday if the forecast calls for rain in the afternoon or race later in the afternoon if it is raining in the morning and it is clearing up in the afternoon). In 4 years and 48 meetings, we always could do minimum 2 races a day.

C/ DESCRIPTION of the CAMSO V-8 Formula:

The cars can be built by the Roots V8 Racing Team and can be bought through them; there are always new and second hand cars for sale.

The drivers can also buy all the parts at Roots V8 Racing Team and built the car themselves together.

All the cars have the same characteristics. The driver may change nothing except the setting of the suspension (sanction in case of non-conformity: suspension for 1 year + monetary fine). The engines will be sealed and can only be opened by Camso, in case of problems. The drivers can choose between 3 differential ratios. Neither the placement of the engine nor the mounting points of the suspension may be changed. No changes at the carburettor are allowed. All the cars will use the same type of tires with the same compound (has to be stamped by Camso).

1° Specifications:

-          Lefthander chassis for short oval tracks or Lefthander-copy by Tanners Speed Shop.

-          5 points safety belt from Simpson – 6 point Nascar-type also allowed at extra cost

-          race seat w/cover 20 deg (in case of buy, specify type of seat – small, medium ect.)

-          racing transmission

-          fuel racing cell

-          Quick change rear end with a 486 ring and pinion and 100% locked

-          Coleman steel drive shaft

-          Pan hard system

-          10inch wide steel wheels

-          Hoosier tyres 15 x 11 slicks.

 Painted chassis

-          Racing water pump

-          Racing distributor

-          Holley 750cfm Demon carburettor prepared by Barry Grant

-          Racing oil pan with pick up. Dry sump system NOT allowed.

-          Car weight without petrol: about 905kg

-          Lightening Lite body in fibreglass, choice between Chevy Monte Carlo, Ford Taurus, Ford Fusion, Pontiac Grand Prix, Dpdge Charger or Dodge Intrepid (non painted)

-          Motor Goodwrench Fast Burn crate engine 385 with Hot cam and 1.6 self aligning rocker arms; this is a 350ci  (between 425 and 450 HP) or the GM Late Model sealed 350 crate engine model “350 ASA”

-          Measures: length: 5,25m – width: 2,00m – height: 1,27m

 Changes at the chassis (for example for comfort reasons – drivers with long legs) have to be approved first by Camso.

2° Speed:

The best lap time till now was 13,0 sec (hand stopped) by Gary Ellis. That means an average speed of about 115km/h (72mph) and a top speed of about 150km/h (93mph). As drivers in the USA told us, it is much more “hectic” and physical to race on a small oval and the reactions has to be much faster than on big ovals. Compared to a small oval, racing on a big track is like racing in slow motion, they told us.

3° Publicity on the car:

-          on the upside of the front windshield, a strip of 20cm ( 8 inch ) must be reserved for the drivers name with on both sides his national flag; no publicity is allowed on these strip.

-          If a sponsor is found for the Camso V-8 series, then the zone above the two back wheels (on a length of 40cm – 16 inch ) is reserved for these sponsors

D/ BUY a Camso V-8 car – PRICE

Any new or second hand car bought through Roots V8 Racing will meet the latest rueles/specifications.
You may buy a car direct from America or elswere, but it must conform to Camso V8 rules IN ALL ASPECTS.

Please check with Camso/ Roots BEFORE buying.

The price of the complete racecar by Roots V8 Racing is approximately:

28.500 € ex VAT

Spare parts prices (these prices are from January 2007 – they can eventually have changed)