157: Inside CART’s Golden Era of Racing
About this episode
Russell Cameron shares his journey from a rural upbringing in South Dakota to working in the golden era of CART racing. He discusses his early passion for cars, self-taught mechanical skills, and how necessity shaped his expertise. The conversation covers his experience running a kart team, the rivalry between karting and IndyCar, and the technical nuances of racing. Russell also reveals how his background influenced his son Kevin's ambitious 1400hp Pontiac Trans Am project, blending historic kart components with modern power. The episode offers a deep dive into grassroots motorsport culture and the evolution of racing technology.
The 1990s were arguably the ‘Golden Era’ of motorsport, particularly in the world of wings-and-slicks racing. High-revving engines, intense competition, and iconic car designs made it an unforgettable time. Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) was no exception, and Russell Cameron from Horizon Motorsport was right in the thick of it.
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In this episode of Tuned In, Russell shares his journey from a small-town upbringing in South Dakota to building a successful career in the professional racing world. He discusses the evolution of his mechanical skills and his rapid transition into professional racing within the CART series.
Russell also dives into the legendary Cosworth engines of the ’90s, the role of qualifying engines, and the relentless push to squeeze out every last bit of performance. From reliability to driver preferences and the subtle setup details that can make or break a lap time, he shares insights from inside the garage.
We also explore his career across multiple teams, the infamous CART–IRL split, the influence of the Indy 500, and the factors that led to CART’s decline. Russell reflects on moving from team manager to team owner and the realities of running a racing team. He also talks about the incredible ‘Hammerhead’ project he built with his son, Cavan — a stunning machine incorporating a lot of ex-CART/IndyCar components.
Russell has lived an extraordinary life in professional motorsport, and now he’s on a new adventure building the Hammerhead with his son. Combined with his storytelling ability, it makes this episode a seriously compelling listen.
👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip
Follow Russel here:
Instagram: horizon_motorsports_llc
Youtube: horizon_motorsports_llc
For more on Hammerhead & Cavan Cameron listen to episode 153: A High School Project Gone Wild: 1,450HP IndyCar x Firebird.
Also check out theHammerhead World time Attack Challenge 2025 Youtube interview on our channel @Hpa101
Timestamps:
0:00 Inside CART’s Golden Era of Racing
4:10 How did you find an interest in cars?
8:24 Were you involved in any motorsport growing up?
12:17 Could you get into IndyCar the same way today?
13:36 What’s the difference between IndyCar and F1?
17:35 Were you using qualifying engines? How were they different?
21:54 Where do you look for advantages in CART/IndyCar?
23:14 What is an Inerter?
25:54 Can you make much adjustment to the aero package in IndyCar?
28:20 Does tight rules reduce budgets?
31:35 How did your career in CART/IndyCar develop?
35:53 What is a CART/IndyCar team doing between weekends?
39:25 What changes are you making to the car between practice and qualifying?
44:06 Is the car setups always driver specific?
47:20 How did you decide on a part's lifespan?
50:06 How did you end up running your own team?
51:99 What is the difference between CART & IndyCar?
1:02:15 How did you go from head mechanic to owning a team?
1:06:50 Can an IndyCar team be cashflow positive?
1:12:25 At what point did you decide to step away?
1:16:20 How did your son Cavan get involved?
1:26:15 What's the plan for Hammerhead in the future?
1:31:52 Final 3 questions
1973 Pontiac Trans Am
"their custom built 1973 Pontiac Trans Am. That's really understating what this project is when you dive under the skin,"
It's an old American sports car from 1973 that's famous for being fast and looking cool.
The 1973 Pontiac Trans Am is a classic American muscle car known for its powerful V8 engines and distinctive styling, often associated with performance and racing culture.
Pontiac Trans
"...World Time Attack world, their custom built 1973 Pontiac Trans Am. That's really understating what this project..."
The Pontiac Trans Sport is a type of car that was changed a lot to make it very fast for racing. The original car was made in 1973 and looks different now because of these changes.
The Pontiac Trans Sport is a minivan produced in the 1990s, but in this context, it refers to a heavily customized 1973 Pontiac Trans Am used in high-performance Time Attack racing. This project showcases extensive modifications beyond the original vehicle's design.
twin turbo LS V8
"but it's powered by a twin turbo LS V8 producing around about 1400 horsepower,"
It's a powerful V8 engine from Chevrolet that uses two turbochargers to make the car go much faster.
A twin turbo LS V8 refers to a Chevrolet LS-series V8 engine equipped with two turbochargers, significantly increasing power output and performance.
horsepower
"powered by a twin turbo LS V8 producing around about 1400 horsepower,"
It's a way to say how strong or powerful a car's engine is.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement for engine power, indicating how much work an engine can perform over time.
Pontiac Firebird
"...mponentry which is really what led to the Pontiac Firebird project in the very first place. Regardless his ..."
The Pontiac Firebird is a strong and fast car made in America. People like to fix and change it because it looks cool and has a powerful engine.
The Pontiac Firebird is a classic American muscle car produced from the late 1960s through the early 2000s, known for its powerful engines and distinctive styling. It holds a significant place in automotive history and is often restored or modified in car projects.
EFI
"...how to build performance engines, how to tune EFI, how to construct wiring harnesses..."
EFI is a way cars get fuel to the engine using computers to make it work better and use less gas.
EFI stands for Electronic Fuel Injection, a system that controls the fuel delivery to an engine electronically for better efficiency and performance compared to carburetors.
wiring harness
"...how to tune EFI, how to construct wiring harnesses, we also cover topics on fabrication..."
A wiring harness is like a big bundle of wires in a car that connect all the electrical parts so they can work together.
A wiring harness is an organized set of wires, terminals, and connectors that run throughout a vehicle to relay electrical power and signals to various components.
fabrication
"...how to construct wiring harnesses, we also cover topics on fabrication, 3D modelling and CAD..."
Fabrication means making or changing parts of a car, like building new pieces to make it better or fix it.
Fabrication in automotive context refers to the process of building or modifying parts and structures, often custom-made, to improve or repair vehicles.
3D modelling and CAD
"...we also cover topics on fabrication, 3D modelling and CAD, race driver education and data logging..."
3D modelling and CAD are computer programs that let you draw and see car parts on screen before making them.
3D modelling and CAD (Computer-Aided Design) are digital tools used to design and visualize parts or entire vehicles before manufacturing or modification.
race driver education
"...3D modelling and CAD, race driver education and data logging just to name a few."
Race driver education teaches people how to drive cars fast and safely in races.
Race driver education involves training drivers in techniques and skills specific to competitive motorsport driving.
data logging
"...race driver education and data logging just to name a few. You can find all of our courses..."
Data logging means recording information from a car while it’s running to see how well it’s working.
Data logging in automotive performance tracks various vehicle parameters during operation to analyze and improve performance or diagnose issues.
Chevrolet Chevelle
"...other things to buy my first car and it was a 67 Chevelle Super Sport which in the US those are now extrem..."
The Chevrolet Chevelle is a big, fast car made in America. The 1967 Super Sport version is popular because it looks nice and has a strong engine.
The Chevrolet Chevelle, especially the 1967 Super Sport model, is a classic American muscle car prized for its performance and iconic design. It is highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts due to its historical significance and powerful V8 engines.
IndyCar racing
"it became really interesting well you know that's really what got me into IndyCar racing is we were living I was living here in Indianapolis and my friend was here racing in the Thursday night Thunder series"
IndyCar racing is a type of car race where special fast cars race on big tracks, including the famous Indy 500 race. The cars are built to go very fast and turn quickly.
IndyCar racing is a premier American open-wheel racing series known for high-speed oval and road course races, including the famous Indianapolis 500. It features single-seat, open-cockpit cars designed for maximum speed and agility.
CDL
"he said can you drive a truck and I said yeah I don't have a CDL but yeah my dad had a trucking company I can drive a truck"
A CDL is a special driver's license you need to drive big trucks or commercial vehicles.
CDL stands for Commercial Driver's License, a special license required in the U.S. to operate large or commercial vehicles like trucks.
Formula One (F1)
"am I right in saying that's probably an unlikely approach to either indie car or maybe even F1 in this day and age? Absolutely right"
Formula One, or F1, is the top level of car racing in the world. It has very fast cars and teams that focus on very specific jobs.
Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. It features highly specialized teams and drivers competing in a global championship.
team specialization in racing
"teams have become extremely specialized each one of the jobs that they have to offer are pretty specialized so if you're if you sit down to interview for an indie car team today and certainly Formula One teams you have to be educated"
In racing teams today, people have very specific jobs, like only working on one part of the car. This helps the team work better and faster.
Modern racing teams have highly specialized roles, with technicians and engineers focusing on specific components or systems of the race car. This specialization has increased as teams have grown larger and better financed.
shock technician
"they tell you that they have a position open as a shock technician or a gearbox technician or something like that"
A shock technician is a person who works on the parts of a race car that help it stay smooth and stable when it goes over bumps.
A shock technician specializes in the suspension system of race cars, particularly the shock absorbers, which control the car’s handling and ride quality.
gearbox technician
"they tell you that they have a position open as a shock technician or a gearbox technician or something like that"
A gearbox technician is someone who works on the part of the car that helps change gears so the car can go faster or slower.
A gearbox technician focuses on the car’s transmission system, ensuring the gearbox functions correctly to deliver power efficiently from the engine to the wheels.
spec series
"...Formula One as a constructors championship where each team build their own cars but IndyCar is a spec series where you choose from I believe is a couple of different chassis manufacturers and a couple of different engine manufacturers? It's with IndyCar today it's one manufacturer it's Dallara..."
In a spec series, all race cars are mostly the same so the races are about how well the drivers and teams perform, not who has the best car parts.
A spec series is a racing format where all competitors use the same or very similar equipment, such as chassis and tires, to emphasize driver skill and team strategy over engineering advantages.
Dallara
"It's with IndyCar today it's one manufacturer it's Dallara and they have exclusive rights to the series and they have two engine manufacturers they have Honda and Chevrolet and then they have one tire manufacturer's Firestone"
Dallara is a company that makes the main car bodies used by all teams in IndyCar racing today, so everyone uses the same basic car shape.
Dallara is an Italian company specializing in the design and manufacture of racing cars. It holds exclusive rights to supply chassis for the modern IndyCar series, providing a standardized platform for all teams.
Honda
"...they have two engine manufacturers they have Honda and Chevrolet and then they have one tire manufacturer's Firestone"
Honda is a company from Japan that makes car engines used in IndyCar racing.
Honda is a Japanese automotive and motorcycle manufacturer that supplies engines for the IndyCar series. Their engines compete against Chevrolet's in the series.
Firestone
"...they have two engine manufacturers they have Honda and Chevrolet and then they have one tire manufacturer's Firestone"
Firestone is the company that makes the tires all the IndyCar race cars use today.
Firestone is a tire manufacturer that exclusively supplies tires for the IndyCar series, providing the only tire option for all teams.
USAC (United States Auto Club)
"...Indianapolis was sanctioned by USAC United States Auto Club and CART was the sanctioning body that would bring most of the entrance to that race every year..."
USAC is a group that used to be in charge of many car races in the U.S., including the big Indy 500 race.
USAC is a sanctioning body that historically governed many American auto racing events, including the Indianapolis 500 before CART became the primary organizer.
CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams)
"...Indianapolis was sanctioned by USAC United States Auto Club and CART was the sanctioning body that would bring most of the entrance to that race every year..."
CART was a group that ran many important car races in the U.S. during the 80s and 90s, including the IndyCar races.
CART was a major American open-wheel racing sanctioning body that organized races including the IndyCar series during the 1980s and 1990s, competing with USAC for control of the Indianapolis 500.
Penske
"...companies like Lola, Swift, Reynard, Penske these were the companies that built purpose built race cars most of them built in England..."
Penske is a U.S. company that makes race cars and runs racing teams, especially in IndyCar.
Penske is an American racing team and manufacturer known for building competitive IndyCar chassis and running successful racing teams.
Swift
"...companies like Lola, Swift, Reynard, Penske these were the companies that built purpose built race cars most of them built in England..."
Swift is a company that made race cars used in IndyCar racing in the past.
Swift Engineering is a race car manufacturer that produced chassis for IndyCar and other series, especially active in the 1980s and 1990s.
Reynard
"...companies like Lola, Swift, Reynard, Penske these were the companies that built purpose built race cars most of them built in England..."
Reynard was a British company that made race cars for IndyCar racing a while ago.
Reynard Motorsport was a British race car manufacturer that built successful IndyCar chassis in the 1990s before going out of business.
Lola
"...companies like Lola, Swift, Reynard, Penske these were the companies that built purpose built race cars most of them built in England..."
Lola was a company from Britain that made race cars used in IndyCar racing a long time ago.
Lola Cars was a British race car manufacturer known for building competitive chassis for IndyCar and other racing series during the 1970s through 1990s.
composites
"...had spun off so many knowledgeable people about how to construct these kinds of vehicles using composites and high-grade materials and lightweight and all of the things with the aerodynamics that were required..."
Composites are special materials made by mixing things together to make car parts very light but strong, which helps race cars go faster.
Composites are advanced materials made from two or more different substances, such as carbon fiber, used in race cars to reduce weight while maintaining strength and stiffness.
aerodynamics
"...using composites and high-grade materials and lightweight and all of the things with the aerodynamics that were required the privateers fell off to the wayside and the big manufacturers really ruled the day..."
Aerodynamics is about how air moves around a car, helping it go faster and stick to the track better when racing.
Aerodynamics refers to how air flows around a vehicle, which is critical in race car design to reduce drag and increase downforce for better speed and handling.
engine choices
"a better recipe for diverse racing than having now as you mentioned in IndyCar one manufacturer of the chassis and two engine choices?"
Engine choices mean the different types of car engines teams can use in a race. Having only a few options means many cars have similar engines.
Engine choices refer to the different engine manufacturers or configurations allowed in a racing series. In IndyCar, teams can select from a limited number of engine suppliers, which affects competition diversity.
chassis
"a better recipe for diverse racing than having now as you mentioned in IndyCar one manufacturer of the chassis and two engine choices?"
The chassis is like the car's skeleton that holds everything together. In some races, all cars use the same skeleton to keep things fair.
The chassis is the frame or structure of a race car that supports all components including the engine, suspension, and body. In racing series, having one manufacturer supply the chassis means all teams use the same base frame.
displacement
"back in the 90s you know the only regulator that we had for our manufacturers was displacement and boost levels"
Displacement is how much space inside an engine's cylinders can hold air and fuel, which helps decide how powerful the engine is.
Displacement is the total volume of all the cylinders in an engine, usually measured in liters or cubic centimeters, and is a key factor in engine power and regulation in racing.
Mazda Miatas
"...s called Practicum on Fridays they work on these miatas and Kevin is the go-to guy for welding and fabric..."
The Mazda MX-5, or Miata, is a small, sporty car made for two people. It's known for being fun to drive and easy to work on, making it popular with car fans and students learning about cars.
The Mazda MX-5, also known as the Miata, is a lightweight, two-seat roadster famous for its balanced handling and affordability. It has become a popular choice for driving enthusiasts and is often used in motorsports and educational settings for hands-on learning about car mechanics and fabrication.
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