153: A High School Project Gone Wild: 1,450HP IndyCar x Firebird

What would happen if you took an IndyCar inspired chassis, dropped a 1973 Pontiac Firebird body over the top of it, and then added a 1,450hp twin-turbo LS? That’s essentially what Cavan Cameron and his father, Russell Cameron, of Horizon Motorsport have built. The project began as Cavan’s high school engineering project but has since evolved into one of the coolest and most ambitious builds we’ve seen in a while. 👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: In this episode of Tuned In , Cavan shares his journey from a childhood passion for cars to pursuing a career in motorsports engineering, sparked by his father’s involvement in IndyCar. We dive into the “Hammerhead” build that Cavan and his dad have been developing, exploring the challenges of integrating genuine IndyCar components into a bespoke project. He breaks down the technical aspects of the tube-frame chassis, from fabrication and material choices to the complexities of suspension dynamics. We cover the finer details of designing and developing a competitive race car, with a focus on suspension, engine configuration, and aerodynamics. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced during its first outing at World Time Attack Challenge, including managing torque through the transaxle and tuning the car for optimal performance. This build is truly something special, and what Cavan has achieved is seriously impressive. We can’t wait to see how the car evolves as they continue to refine and dial it in. 👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: Follow Cavan here: Instagram: horizon_motorsports_llc Youtube: horizon_motorsports_llc Timestamps: 0:00 A High School Project Gone Wild: 1,450HP IndyCar x Firebird 4:12 How did you become interested in cars? 5:21 What was your Dads involvement in Indy Car? 10:26 How’s the exposure to high level motorsport at a young age shaped your career? 11:53 Is it easier or harder to design parts with a tight set of rules? 16:10 Designing fit for purpose parts 18:58 Tell us about your motorsport degree 29:54 What is the Hammerhead and how did this project come about? 33:33 Did you design the car fully in CAD before starting? 39:27 How did you learn your fabrication skills? 42:56 How do you juggle getting the car done and completing it to a standard you’re proud of? 45:15 What material is the chassis made from? 50:58 How did you weld the chassis and get it square and straight? 55:11 How does changing the roll centre affect the car's handling? 59:01 Are the IndyCar spec’d fasteners adequate for the extra weight of your build? 1:01:30 How about the components like uprights and wishbones? 1:06:39 Spring rates and dampers, how did you spec these? 1:15:29 Did you ever consider putting a Cosworth XD engine in the car? 1:18:07 Was it ever a concern that the LS was going to have too much torque for the trans axel? 1:27:27 You’re not running any intercooler on this car? 1:32:54 How did you develop the aero package? 1:43:38 What’s left to develop on the car and when will we see it back on track? 1:46:41 Final 3 questions

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153: A High School Project Gone Wild: 1,450HP IndyCar x Firebird is an episode from Tuned In by High Performance Academy.

This episode is 114:09 long.

This episode was published on Dec 17, 2025.

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