I’m Kayla, and I run a street/strip 2002 Camaro Z28. Small cam, long tubes, a loud exhaust that makes my neighbors sigh. Fun stuff. This spring, I put a set of Bogart Racing Wheels on it. And yes, I’ve actually used them at the track. More than once. (For the deep-dive photo gallery and time-slip screenshots, you can check out my complete write-up right here.)
Here’s how it went—good and bad, with real numbers from my slips.
Why Bogart? Short backstory
My car felt strong, but heavy. The stock wheels looked fine, yet they weighed a ton. I wanted a lighter setup for drag nights. A buddy let me hold his Bogarts in the pits—honestly, it felt like picking up a pizza pan. I laughed. Then I started saving.
I went with 15×3.5 fronts (skinny) and 15×10 rears with beadlocks. Bolt pattern 5×4.75. Backspacing set for my axle. Tires? Mickey Thompson ET Street R, 275/60R15. Classic track setup. If you’re after a DOT-approved tire that skews a bit more toward street duty, the Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S is worth a look.
First fitment dance (and some sweat)
The fronts cleared my brakes with a low-profile spacer. I checked spin by hand. It was smooth. The rears tucked fine after I rolled the fenders last year. I used a torque wrench, blue thread locker on the beadlock bolts, and new lug nuts. I marked the bolts with a paint pen so I could see if anything moved.
It wasn’t hard. It just took patience. And a mild sunburn.
Track night: real runs, real change
Irwindale’s Friday test-and-tune was hot and sticky. I made three shakedown passes. Same tune. Same DA. Same driver. I wasn’t chasing a record. I wanted a clean A/B.
-
Before Bogarts (old wheels, same tires):
60-foot: 1.66
1/8 mile: 7.82 @ 90 mph -
After Bogarts:
60-foot: 1.61
1/8 mile: 7.71 @ 91 mph
That may look small, but it’s real. The car left harder and felt freer up top. The steering got lighter. It didn’t feel twitchy, just quick. I could feel it in my gut and in my grin.
On my fourth pass, I got a tiny shake at half-track. I came back, checked beadlock bolts, and two had nudged loose—not much, but I snugged them. After that, smooth.
The good stuff I felt right away
- They are light. Like, “did I forget a wheel?” light.
- The car spools and revs faster. That punch off the line feels stronger.
- They look mean. Polished lips, simple spokes, all business.
- Brake feel improved a hair. Less mass to slow down.
- I could air down the rears and get a clean hit. Less spin, more bite.
On a side note, my kids said the wheels look “like race cartoons.” I’ll take that as a win.
The annoying bits (because it’s not all roses)
- The finish is fussy. Polished aluminum stains fast. I keep Mother’s Mag and two towels in the trunk.
- You must re-check the beadlock bolts. Not a pain, but it’s a thing. I do it after the first pass and then every few.
- They scratch. Soft metal. One slip with the socket and I said words my grandma wouldn’t like.
- Not a daily wheel. Potholes are the enemy. I don’t run these to work. I swap them at the track or at home.
- Lead time was longer than I hoped. Custom stuff takes time. Mine took a few weeks.
- Center caps fit snug, but I had to tweak one to seat straight.
If you’re curious how a completely different wheel design survives a full season of rough dirt-track work, my recap of running Bassett wheels is over here, dents, scuffs and all.
Street manners vs track manners
On the street, at low speed, the skinnies feel weird at first. It’s fine, but it’s not a canyon carver. This setup is for straight lines and short drives. I wouldn’t road trip on them. I baby every bump and seam.
At the strip, they shine. I could bump into the beams smoother. The car stayed settled. My launches got more repeatable. I didn’t chase the wheel as much.
On the rare weekends I haul the Camaro to Midwest tracks like Cordova, the racing ends well before midnight, and everyone scrambles for something fun to do off-property. If you’re part of the crowd that likes a no-judgment social scene after the last pass, the local nightlife guide at Moline Swingers details meet-ups, clubs, and hotel takeovers in the Quad Cities area so you can turn a plain pit-lane overnight into an adults-only adventure worth bench-racing about later.
Little things that helped me
- I used blue Loctite on the beadlock ring bolts. Not red.
- I re-torqued lugs after the first burnout.
- I marked the valve stems at 12 o’clock and checked if the tire slipped on the rim. It didn’t.
- I store them in soft covers in the garage, not stacked bare.
- A quick wipe with alcohol on the bead seat before mounting helped seal well.
If you ever find yourself stumped on transmission tweaks—like choosing a stall speed, dialing line pressure, or troubleshooting a grouchy 4L60E—and want instant feedback from racers who’ve fought the same battles, drop into the live gear-head chat at instantchat.com/tranny/ where rooms buzz 24/7 with real-time advice, setup tips, and track-side war stories that can save you time before your next pass.
For more grassroots drag-racing know-how and lightweight wheel insights, swing by PDV Racing and browse their tech lineup before your next test-and-tune.
You know what? Having a small folding stool in the pits saved my back. Silly, but true.
A quick cleaning rant (because someone will ask)
Polished wheels look amazing. For about four minutes. Dirt loves them. I clean with warm water, a bit of dish soap, and then a light pass with Mother’s Mag. Soft towel only. Don’t go wild. Slow circles. If you rush, you’ll haze the lip and hate yourself.
Sometimes I listen to ball games while I polish. It turns into a ritual. Not fast, but kind of nice. When the weather turns ugly and I’m wrench-bound in the garage, I scratch the racing itch on my DIY sim rig—if you’re thinking about building one, here’s what I learned along the way (spoiler: measure twice, weld once).
Who should get these
- Drag racers who want lighter wheels and better launch feel.
- Folks who swap wheels for track days and don’t mind some care.
- Anyone who loves that clean, race-built look.
Who should skip them
- Daily drivers who hit potholes on the regular.
- People who don’t want to maintain polished aluminum.
- Folks who never check torque specs and just “send it.”
Final thoughts after a few months
Bogart Racing Wheels did what I hoped. They took real weight off my Camaro and made it punchier. My 60-foot dropped. My trap ticked up. The car feels lively, and it looks like it means business.
They do need care. They do need checks. If you’re lazy with tools, you’ll get bit. But if you treat them right, they reward you.
I’m keeping mine. I’ll roll them out on cool nights, tape up my numbers, set tire pressure to 16 in the rear, and take a breath at the tree. The light flashes, the car hits, and the wheels just spin true. That feeling? Worth the polish and the paint pen and the sunburn. Every time.