Scott Fraser’s 1987 Corvette dominates on the track and shines on the street. It’s loud, low and incredibly agile. That’s no accident. The Midnight Blue machine is the byproduct of years of research, months of fine tuning and plenty of hours in the shop. It pushes the proverbial envelope while maintaining its signature Corvette appeal.
Ever since its Goodguys Autocross debut last fall, Scott has racked up wins across the West. Last season, the Corvette hauled home hardware in both the Street Machine and Pro classes. Regardless of where he’s racing, the same question comes up: “How did you do that with such a stock car?”
The answer is a multifaceted one, and it starts with Scott Fraser. Like so many racers before him, Scott grew up around cars. His dad, Jim, was a dedicated hot rodder with an affinity for prewar Fords, and Scott spent his early years turning wrenches and learning everything he possibly could.
The learning never stopped; these days, he’s a technician with Audi in San Jose, California. His mechanical knowledge is vast, and he’s well-versed in just about every discipline of the automotive world.
Walking into Scott’s house in the suburbs of San Jose, the picture comes into focus. Trophies, plaques, medals and mementos from his 20 years of Autocross racing fill just about every flat surface. Goodguys’ Autocrosser of the Year, SCCA Driver of the Year, SCCA National Champion—each highlights a different chapter of Scott’s storied career.
Yet, as we stand in his garage with his Corvette up on the lift, it’s immediately clear that he’s not out hunting trophies. Instead, he’s reserved and relaxed. He never takes himself too seriously—unless he’s on the track, where his driving does all the talking.
Cones, Curves & a C4 Corvette
Prior to the C4, Scott has raced everything from a VW Rabbit and a Nissan 240Z to an original 427-powered Shelby Cobra. “I have a good amount of experience of what works and what doesn’t work,” he says. “When I was driving the 240Z, we raced against C4 Corvettes. It was like coming back, knowing what the car could do and knowing what was already out there.”
Starting with a relatively stock ’Vette that he found on Facebook Marketplace in Texas, he and his friends built the car you see here. In the drivetrain department, he picked up an LS6 from a 2003 Z06 and had it mildly rebuilt. Linked to a ZF-6 transmission and re-geared rearend, the combination is good for 420 rear wheel horsepower. “I need more horsepower!” he says with a laugh.
When it came to suspension, he installed a full Ridetech coil-over system with triple-adjustable shocks, StrongArms and bushings. “The car is very neutral,” he says. “I’m able to adjust the ride heights and I can change the shock settings. So, it actually drives better down the street than it did as a stock car. I have the adjustability to change what I need to pretty much on the fly.”
The front brakes are C5 ’Vette, while the rears are stock. Currently Scott’s running 275 Nankang tires on Flowone wheels.
Scott’s quick to point out that there’s nothing radical about his C4. “Honestly, you could drive it up and down the street,” he says. “It could be your daily driver. The front control arms are stock; it’s running the Ridetech upper and lower bushings. You could go online and check a couple boxes and, for the most part, build this car.” How many Pro Class Autocross cars can you say that about?
See it in Action
At the end of the day, this car is all about having fun. Scott’s favorite part? “Just driving it,” he says. “Having the engine sing and slide through corners and have a good time. It’s a car that you can really enjoy and not have to worry too much about.” It doesn’t get much better than that.
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He’s the MAN!