From the TV Screen

Growing up in the '90s I'm accustomed to something previous generations had not been, home video game systems. With the simple push of a button, I could instantly entertain myself for hours pounding away on a remote control and watching the TV screen come to life. Sure Atari's debuted in the late '70s and Nintendo was available in the '80s, but it's not like every household had one. In my day and age, I don't think I knew a kid who didn't have some sort of video game system! However, with the rise of the 21st digital warrior I have also heard countless numbers of parents tell me or someone else that video games will rot the youth of America's brains. But one thing I found funny is how no one ever talked about how video games will rot the brains of adults--yes, even parents. Dun Dun Duuuuuun. (That's for some dramatic effect) It's not like kids and teenagers are the only ones playing these video demons, but adults are, too. Take my uncle for instance--for as long as I can remember, he has been playing golf games on some sort of system! Then of course parents blame acts of violence, stupidity, laziness, and more on video games. But what about all the cool ideas and motivation that comes from video games? You don't hear about that, and it happens everyday. Take a look at the case of Robert Wilson.

One day while Robert and friend Marc Martine were sitting around playing Gran Turismo on Playstation 2, they decided to up the ante. Each time one or the other lost a race, the loser would have to take a shot of Jack Daniels. Considering Robert is self-proclaimed "unbeatable" with the Dodge Viper, Marc's lap times were beginning to suffer and his mouth was beginning to pick up. Marc goes on a rant telling Robert that if he only had a '69 Camaro he could use in the game, Wilson would be in a world of hurt. Robert laughed, thinking that his friend is now officially smashed, but then Marc begins to say everything he would do to a '69 F-body that would make it equivalent to a modern-day musclecar. Long story short, before the end of the night the two friends decided that they should build a Camaro based on Marc's rant.

Robert cleared out the garage by selling off his weightlifting equipment (not like he used it anyway) and made way for the newly acquired '69 Camaro Wilson and Martine picked up. Once the car was in the garage, Wilson began ordering parts for it so fast that the credit card company called to make sure the card wasn't stolen! For a powerplant the duo decided to go with Chevy's modern-day muscle, an LS6 from a '01 Z06. A&A Corvette assembled the Gen III motor with a new, custom-ground camshaft, the motor is now running its third camshaft, new heads, headers, and more. While the motor was out Robert got on the phone and had Martz Chassis send him a top-of-the-line front clip for '67-69 Camaros. The clip came complete with rack-and-pinion, adjustable coilovers, narrowed upper control arms, and Wilwood disc brakes were added as well. To match the quality and performance of the front of the car, Wilson and Martine decided to back half the car with a NASCAR inspired setup, a Hot Rods To Hell truck arm system. Detroit Speed and Engineering mini-tubs were also thrown in the mix in order to run more meat in the rear, 11-inches of BFGoodrich rubber to be exact. Between the new front and rear setup is a '02 GM T56 six-speed backed by an ACPT carbon fiber driveshaft. The interior was given the same treatment. New seats, dash, door panels, and even a HTH rollcage were added. Now that everything was installed, it was time for the ultimate test.

Upon the cars completion it was time for some real-life Gran Turismo action. They entered the Camaro in the Nevada Open Road Challenge May of 2004. For those not familiar it's a 90-mile stretch of twisting, turning, tormenting public highway. The best part is you can go as fast as your ride will go. All cars from Vipers, Ferraris, Vettes, NASCAR's--anything--can enter the race. The Camaro was a success handling like a champ at 160-plus mph and even winning the Most Coveted Car award. Next on the list, SUPER CHEVY got Robert to let us turn her loose for some on the track testing at California Speedway. Our tests turned out some pretty outstanding numbers, but it also gave Wilson a chance to see the cars weaknesses. I can guarantee that as I'm writing this, Robert is on the phone with someone ordering some sort of new part trying fix the car's glitches.

I think Robert said it best, "Drinking and driving is a dumb move, however, when you're behind the wheel of a Playstation 2 joystick, I've got the Viper, with Jack Daniels going to the loser ... I do some of my best thinking!" Now what do you think of video games?