Words: Tommy Parry
After Colton got his first taste of autocross watching a Goodguys event a few years back, he knew he had to try it himself. “Even though at the time it just looked like a sea of cones and I couldn’t understand how the drivers knew exactly where to go, I was totally hooked,” he recounts with childlike enthusiasm.
In the following years, he attended Bondurant’s driving school, ran every autocross he could attend and spoke to his growing group of racing contacts as frequently as possible. He amassed a wealth of information in a short span of time and felt comfortable giving this newfound hobby a real shot. As the Speedway Nova was the car which stuck out most during this period, he searched the local classifieds for a decent example. A short drive and a $2,500 check later, he had his own ‘63 Nova shell.
One of the first decisions Colton made was to fortify the frame with a bit of excision. With the help of his brother Conner, Colton cut out the firewall and floor to the rear subframe to create a skeleton of sorts. This exposed skeleton offered stronger spots to weld the cage and bolt
the seats onto.
With added rigidity, he could make full use of the new suspension components he picked out. Total Cost Involved’s front and rear torque arm suspension, Ridetech coilovers and plenty of gray powdercoating on the factory suspension pieces spruced up the footwork. As TCI decided to sponsor him, he knew he had some wise and supportive friends to ensure he didn’t make any rookie mistakes.
As this car was meant to corner, brake and accelerate equally well, Colton wisely avoided too much emphasis on the powerplant. A relatively simple LS1, upgraded with Texas Speed’s heads and cam, now offer him a manageable 400 horsepower. That grunt is sent through a Tremec TR6060 gearbox, then on to a Currie 9” with a Wavetrac 3.70; giving him the right gearing and traction for strong acceleration out of hairpins. Incidentally, a Fuel Safe cell perched over the axle would help plant the rears for traction.
Of course, the right wheels and tires were the other major factors in determining purchase on the pavement, and again, Colton found a sponsor. Christmas came early - Rocket Racing Wheels decided to jump onboard and provide him with a set of their Rocket Attacks wheels measuring 18X9” and 18X10” front and rear, respectively. Finished in bronze and wrapped in Falken RT615K+ rubber, the stance and stagger are perfect.
With the wheels chosen, he could pick out the right brakes. Colton opted for Baer’s Track 4 brakes, controlled by a Corvette Z06 booster, to bring the burly Nova to a halt. He also picked the pedal box out of the Corvette for a little more comfort in the cabin, which was rapidly getting cramped with a growing rollcage.
The hope and goal for the car is for it to be fairly competitive with a lot of room to grow and improve both the car and Colton's skills for several years to come. He plans on a busy racing calendar in 2020 with select Goodguys autocrosses, Optima USCA events, NMCA autocrosses and Gridlife Alpine.
With his ambition, his work ethic, his connections, his sponsors and plenty of seat time in his future, there’s no doubting Colton will quickly become a skilled builder/driver combination - something which is getting rarer with every year.
To keep tabs on this inspiring Nova, you can watch its progress here.