On the track the results were swift and sure. It the first race of the 1986 season, the Sears Point 6 Hours, the Bakeracing cars finished behind the Doug Rippie Corvette. But Tommy and Bobby Archer driving the Bakeracing #4 took the checker at the next enduro, the Portland 4-hour race. Tommy Morrison’s team took the 24 Hours of Nelson Ledges in ‘86, but the Bakeracing #4 took the last three races of the year, the Road Atlanta 6 Hours, the Mosport 24 Hours, and the Mid Ohio 24 Hours. Six races, six Corvette victories, four by the Bakeracing #4. And the overrated Porsche 944 Turbo? It was clearly outclassed.
     Goodyear Tire and Rubber was so impressed with Baker’s results they gave him a shiny

    But there is more than just horsepower. Benefiting from shaved Goodyear Gatorbacks and Baker’s suspension tweaks, the #4 out-performed the stock Z51 in every category: Subtle and legal modifications made Kim Baker’s SSGT Corvettes the absolute class of the field.



1988 Corvette Z51

1987 Bakeracing #4 SSGT

Braking,
60-0 mph

135’ @ 0.89g

124’ @ 0.97g

lateral acceleration

0.89g

1.04g

Slalom

64.4 mph

68.6 mph

Firebird Raceway lap

1:15.2

1:11.6

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Showroom Stock Performance?
    The SCCA Escort Endurance series was supposed to pit factory stock automobiles against each other and the clock. But just how close to stock were these automobiles?
     Road & Track tested Kim Baker’s "showroom stock" #4 1987 Escort champion against a stock 1988 Corvette with Z51 suspension, a car developed with much input from Baker’s racing program. Baker is renown as an engine builder, and the difference in these two cars is telling:

1988 Corvette Z51

1987 Bakeracing #4 SSGT

0-30 mph

1.8 sec.

1.4 sec.

0-60 mph

6.0 sec.

4.5 sec.

0-80 mph

10.0 sec.

7.4 sec.

0-100 mph

16.6 sec.

11.3 sec.

Top Speed, estimated

158 mph

169 mph

Horsepower

245hp
@ 4300 rpm

325hp
@ 4400 rpm