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"The 25 Year Obsession!"
By Dave Stevenson
What is the fastest sports car on the road today? Is it a Porsche? Maybe a Viper or even a Ferrari? Well, if you sat down and asked a group of car enthusiasts, you would probably get many different opinions. One thing is for certain though, I’m sure that the Corvette would get plenty of nods. The Corvette has always been a favorite among sports car enthusiasts. It is a well-balanced machine that provides the driver with exceptional performance, looks and luxury. In its turnkey state, it’s a blast to drive and demands respect from the best the world has to offer. The Corvette, especially the latest versions, has rightfully obtained the status of being a true super car. Forty-seven years after the first one hit the pavement, these cars are still a favorite among car collectors, enthusiasts and thrill seekers from all around the world.
Now, imagine taking one of these super cars to another level. Give it some more horsepower, throw on stickier tires, and maybe change the suspension just a bit. What would you call it then? Some terms like “Daddy” and “Beast” come to my mind. What would you call a car that demands respect in showroom condition but is now at another level?
Maybe the best person to ask would be someone who owns such a car! Joel Feingold of Mar Vista, CA has such a car. His C5 Corvette coupe was bought brand new in 1998. In bone stock form, the Vette’s 5.7 LS-1 engine pumped out a healthy 345 HP. This may sound like a lot of power for the average person but Joel wanted more. Even before he took delivery of it, he was scheming and dreaming up the future modifications. In fact, a new performance exhaust system was already sitting on the floor of his bedroom a week prior to the Corvette’s arrival!
In stock form, this Vette was no slouch, clicking off a 13.5 in ¼ mile. After a few minor modifications, which included a MTI Ram Air System, Borla XR-1 Race exhaust system and a computer tune-up, the Vette reacted with a more lively 13.2 through the traps. Flywheel horsepower was now hovering in the 370 range. Although these were very good times and HP numbers for a street car, Joel wanted to easily break into the 12’s.
Joel’s plan of attack was to modify his Corvette in a way so that it could still maintain its emissions and drivability. Since Joel is a die-hard drag racer, adding power was at the top of his list but he also wanted the Vette to remain very streetable. Even though this car is not driven on a daily basis, Joel drives it every weekend and takes it on many long road trips. In his mind, the car needed to remain well balanced.
After consulting with many top C5 tuners, Joel decided to add some gearing and power to propel the Vette well into the 12’s. The stock rear end gears were swapped out for a Mallet 3.73:1 set up. This allowed his Vette to accelerate faster but at the cost of a lower top end speed. Considering the outrageous top end of his car, Joel felt that the trade off was well worth it.
For additional power, A Granatelli MAF sensor, CNC ported cylinder heads, Competition cam, and B&B Tri Flow headers were all installed to this already potent engine. This combined with a complete computer tune up by Steve Cole of The Turbo Shop, increased horsepower by an additional 65 horses. In addition, an upgraded cooling system which includes a Be Cool radiator, helps the Vette run approximately 25 degrees below the stock temperature. This is definitely needed, especially for the amount of time that this Vette is spent dragging down the ¼ mile. This combination combined with Nitto Drag Extremes helped Joel achieve a traction limited best of 12.53 @ 115 MPH.
Recently, Joel added some additional modifications to help bring his gross power above his 550 HP goal . A Carroll Supercharging System, long tube headers, and a revised head & cam package have all contributed to 566 HP at the fly and 481 HP making their way to the rear tires. To help put all this power to the ground, Joel utilizes a Mcleod Dual Friction clutch, Centerline rims with M/T drag slicks, a Vinci line lock, and a B&M Ripper shifter. These extensive mods have brought his times down to a traction limited personal best of 12.1 @ 119 MPH. Joel's Vette has the power to dip well into the 11's but he insists on granny shifting and launcing less aggressively to extend the life of his drive train. Although he loves to drag, he would rather keep his car in his garage instead of the the shop!
Joel’s Vette is also a very competent road car. Tires, bushings, and ride height have all been modified to help this car perform in the corners as well as in a straight line. About the only thing Joel has kept stock, is the brakes. Considering how well this car stops in stock form, it makes sense that Joel kept the stock system for now. A recent 0-100-0 testing planted me so well into the seats; I had to readjust the seat belts in order to breathe again. Now I know how those fighter pilots feel! Joel plans on bringing his Vette up to Buttonwillow for some Open-Track events this Spring. I look forward to seeing it negotiate the twisties in a tight road coarse, it should do very well!
I’ve personally witnessed this car at the drag strip and had the pleasure of riding shotgun with Joel on local city streets and country twisties. The car maintains a civilized manner under normal driving but unleashes all out hell at full throttle. Acceleration is more like a sport bike than a sports car and the handling is truly inspiring. To this date, I’ve driven in some very fast street cars but none have matched the overall balance of this Corvette.
Not only is Joel's Vette extremely fast but it also looks very unique! The custom burgundy paint job and tasteful deck lid spoiler receive many compliments on the street and at the races. The quality of the paint job often leads people to believe that the color is a rare factory option! Joel plans on installing a new muscular hood in the near future. The style that he has chosen will be similar to the stock design but with a higher hood line. This design will allow for additional clearance for future modifications and will also give his Vette a more aggressive look.
Now back to the subject of what we should call Joel’s Vette. His best friend Steve calls it the “Monster”. In addition, at a recent outing at Carlsbad Raceway, someone blurted out that Joel’s Vette was the “Mack Daddy of C5’s”! Joel is a little more modest when it comes to a name for his car; he calls it “The 25 Year Obsession”. When I inquired about the name, Joel explained that he waited over 25 years to obtain a Corvette! It was his childhood dream since he was 10 years old. Well your dream is reality now….way to go Joel!