Ultima featured in Chicago area newspaper.
Discussion
Last Friday the Northwest Herald newspaper had picture of my Ultima GTR in it. I had gone to a cruise night at a local Pub. Hopefully the beginning of significant ink the car will be getting. Here's what the article said:
“The big surprise hit of the night was the new ride of Jeff Schwartz of Crystal Lake.
Jeff’s well known not only in McHenry County, but the entire USA (see Hot Rod January 2003 and Car Craft March 2003) for his super bad 1982 Caddy Fleetwood Brougham street machine.
Now he has another car in his garage. It’s an Ultima. What’s that you say? Well it’s a hand built custom street legal racecar. The model he has is the GTR version.
Jeff Built a 531 horsepower Corvette engine for this mid engine cruiser and all that power is put to the road via a Porsche 911 turbo transaxle.
Quarter mile speeds should be in the 150 mph range with a top end of, who can say?
All I know is I can’t wait to see this car up close next Tuesday night at Wonder Lake, their first cruise night of the year.”
Fred Blumenthal
“The big surprise hit of the night was the new ride of Jeff Schwartz of Crystal Lake.
Jeff’s well known not only in McHenry County, but the entire USA (see Hot Rod January 2003 and Car Craft March 2003) for his super bad 1982 Caddy Fleetwood Brougham street machine.
Now he has another car in his garage. It’s an Ultima. What’s that you say? Well it’s a hand built custom street legal racecar. The model he has is the GTR version.
Jeff Built a 531 horsepower Corvette engine for this mid engine cruiser and all that power is put to the road via a Porsche 911 turbo transaxle.
Quarter mile speeds should be in the 150 mph range with a top end of, who can say?
All I know is I can’t wait to see this car up close next Tuesday night at Wonder Lake, their first cruise night of the year.”
Fred Blumenthal
Jeff
Glad to see your machine is getting the press and attention it deserves. I've been covered up with business lately but am glad to hear your machine is working so well. I also hope we can do some stateside event touring once more of us are on the road. My GTR is on the simmer as every other vehicle I own seems to have a problem right now. I'm still hopefull for early spring, but we'll see. The U.S. Grand Prix at Indy is definitely a BMW trip this year
But next year.......Shuey may not have the fastest car at the track 
Brad Z
Glad to see your machine is getting the press and attention it deserves. I've been covered up with business lately but am glad to hear your machine is working so well. I also hope we can do some stateside event touring once more of us are on the road. My GTR is on the simmer as every other vehicle I own seems to have a problem right now. I'm still hopefull for early spring, but we'll see. The U.S. Grand Prix at Indy is definitely a BMW trip this year
But next year.......Shuey may not have the fastest car at the track Brad Z
jschwartz said: Yeah, two of the best coloured ones.
I'm hoping when some of these other guys in the US finish theirs we'll organize an Ultima trip to Petite LeMans or Daytona, similar to your guys Lemans deal.
Jeff
Jeff
Since you and Brad have tops, drive down this way and we'll organize maybe a trip to Lime Rock or Watkins Glen.
It's only about a 1000 miles from Chicago to my house, turnpike all the way, and at an average speed of 100 mph,(probably faster for you Jeff) you'll be here in 10 hours. (probably 9 for Jeff).
Let me know
Jack
>> Edited by USCANAM on Thursday 22 May 03:32
USCANAM said:
jschwartz said: Yeah, two of the best coloured ones.
I'm hoping when some of these other guys in the US finish theirs we'll organize an Ultima trip to Petite LeMans or Daytona, similar to your guys Lemans deal.
Jeff
Jeff
Since you and Brad have tops, drive down this way and we'll organize maybe a trip to Lime Rock or Watkins Glen.
It's only about a 1000 miles from Chicago to my house, turnpike all the way, and at an average speed of 100 mph,(probably faster for you Jeff) you'll be here in 10 hours. (probably 9 for Jeff).
Let me know
Jack
It would be interesting to see what kind of lap times you guys could turn at the Glen or Limerock in a street car.
Don't know if I'll get on those tracks with the Ultima, although I have race several times at Lime Rock (IMSA races).
I will be at Road America September 27-28 the event is open to all cars. Usually a few Ferraris show up there. Althought the F40 that was there last year would've gotten spanked by my Cadillac Fleewood. I predict Ultima lap times at Road America in the high 2.20's on street compound tires. The fastest street car I've seen there was a ZO6 on Hoosiers, 2.31.
more info on this track day: www.caroc.com
I will be at Road America September 27-28 the event is open to all cars. Usually a few Ferraris show up there. Althought the F40 that was there last year would've gotten spanked by my Cadillac Fleewood. I predict Ultima lap times at Road America in the high 2.20's on street compound tires. The fastest street car I've seen there was a ZO6 on Hoosiers, 2.31.
more info on this track day: www.caroc.com
Jeff
I've got hundreds of miles at Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. I know the tracks well enough to respect them and how fast they will bite you.
As you know, Lime Rock for a fast car is not forgiving if you make a mistake on most parts of the track. My F2000 is the second fastest class in SCCA, and the times can be down as low as :52 for the 1.5 mile track. The car gets it speed from the downforce and the ability to pull almost 3 G's in turns. I'm a little slower than that, but the only way you can get down to those times is little brake and lots of throttle. Not sure if I want to risk the CanAm for the bragging rights. The only place you can really use the speed of the CanAm is on the front straight which is not that long, but 170 mph should be possible before hard braking for turn one to the right. Two downshifts through the double apex, then one up to the turn 3, the slow left hander. If turn 4 is taken properly you can probably hit 140 on "no name straight" before the right hand uphill. With the downforce of the wings on the F2000, that is taken about flat out, but I wouldn't do that with the CanAm. That dirt wall at the outside of the turn will do a number on the bodywork. The top of the hill has to have the car headed absolutley straight because there's no doubt in my mind that the car will be airborn coming over the crest. Any direction other than straight will usually propel you into the ditch on the left side. The next right hander, West Bend has to be almost flat out in order to get max speed coming down the hill. Some people have a problem with the cement wall on the outside of that turn. At the bottom of the hill, you cannot even think about brakes if you want max speed on the front straight. Then it starts all over again.
I think 55 seconds might be possible, and I'm sure I could do it, but it would have to be someone else's car!!
Which reminds me of a story. About ten years ago, a friend of mine who thought he knew Lime Rock well, and was also a driving instructor, had Phil Hill take him for a few laps in his F40 (my friends F40). Phil showed him (even at his age) what driving a car on the edge was all about. My friend never dreamed his car could go that fast!!
I think about this when I need reality to set in. We are never going to be able to drive a car like a World Champion can, so just go out and enjoy the track to the best of OUR ability, and be safe.
Regards
Jack
I've got hundreds of miles at Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. I know the tracks well enough to respect them and how fast they will bite you.
As you know, Lime Rock for a fast car is not forgiving if you make a mistake on most parts of the track. My F2000 is the second fastest class in SCCA, and the times can be down as low as :52 for the 1.5 mile track. The car gets it speed from the downforce and the ability to pull almost 3 G's in turns. I'm a little slower than that, but the only way you can get down to those times is little brake and lots of throttle. Not sure if I want to risk the CanAm for the bragging rights. The only place you can really use the speed of the CanAm is on the front straight which is not that long, but 170 mph should be possible before hard braking for turn one to the right. Two downshifts through the double apex, then one up to the turn 3, the slow left hander. If turn 4 is taken properly you can probably hit 140 on "no name straight" before the right hand uphill. With the downforce of the wings on the F2000, that is taken about flat out, but I wouldn't do that with the CanAm. That dirt wall at the outside of the turn will do a number on the bodywork. The top of the hill has to have the car headed absolutley straight because there's no doubt in my mind that the car will be airborn coming over the crest. Any direction other than straight will usually propel you into the ditch on the left side. The next right hander, West Bend has to be almost flat out in order to get max speed coming down the hill. Some people have a problem with the cement wall on the outside of that turn. At the bottom of the hill, you cannot even think about brakes if you want max speed on the front straight. Then it starts all over again.
I think 55 seconds might be possible, and I'm sure I could do it, but it would have to be someone else's car!!
Which reminds me of a story. About ten years ago, a friend of mine who thought he knew Lime Rock well, and was also a driving instructor, had Phil Hill take him for a few laps in his F40 (my friends F40). Phil showed him (even at his age) what driving a car on the edge was all about. My friend never dreamed his car could go that fast!!
I think about this when I need reality to set in. We are never going to be able to drive a car like a World Champion can, so just go out and enjoy the track to the best of OUR ability, and be safe.
Regards
Jack
Yea Jack, both races i was in at Lime Rock had more carnage and wrecked cars than any others. Not a forgiving track. I don't plan to set fastest laps, just have fun in my comfort zone. Did the Pro racing thing, don't need to anymore, tested at Paul Ricard for a week with Renault in 83. I like longer tracks, like Road America. I'll probably do 2 track days per year. There's a good chance I'll compete in Sport Compact Car Magazine's Ultimate Street Car Challenge this fall in California. Would like to try Run & Gun once as well.
jschwartz said: Would like to try Run & Gun once as well.
Jeff
I thinks it's in October this year. I'm still planning on going if the CanAm fits in the trailer.
I know, drive it out there, but those days are gone with a track car, and I wouldn't consider a 1200 mile trip one way in a topless car a sensible idea.
Let's talk about it.
regards
Jack
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