I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

I recently attended Frank Hawley's Drag Racing school and earned my super comp license. I am NHRA Licensed now. I am extremely new to dragsters as I have raced in other classes in the last 10 years.
I am looking to find someone with one that they no longer want to drive who wouldn't mind me driving for them however, I have had no such success with that. So, now we are thinking about buying or building one but the only problem is, we know pretty close to nothing about dragsters. We know the motors they run but it stops there.
How hard is it to get into this? What would my best bet be as far as wheel base and 4-link, etc? what tracks can we run at? How much would a typical day at the track cost me?

I know some people who want to be a part of my crew if we do this on our own but they are fresh out of school and would be rookies with me.
Anyone have any suggestions? Should we not go forward with the plan to buy or build one?

Oh, I forgot to mention, I have some family members who used to race top dragsters and my father builds cars however, they all live 17 hours away from me so the building would be by them, they do know about them.

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Go to the track, make some friends in the class you want to race and enjoy the learning curve, we're all a pretty friendly bunch and enjoy helping. Look for a turnkey ride, there are some great deals out there and most of all have a blast.....!!!!!!!!!

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Oh, I forgot to mention, I have some family members who used to race top dragsters and my father builds cars however, they all live 17 hours away from me so the building would be by them, they do know about them.[/QUOTE]

Well, If my family members raced TD and build cars, I would be on the phone with them getting all the details and advice, but a typical race weekend will cost you a few hundred bucks, travel expenses, fuel, (race fuel), food, entrance fee etc.

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Spend a bunch of time at the track. You'll find that almost everyone you meet will be happy to chat and provide their opinion. And ignore them all :) Seriously, just listen and learn.

You'll find far too many cars available lately, especially with the economy, many are turnkey. Check out racingjunk.com. A turnkey choice is best. Maybe it won't be exactly what you'd want, but you'll never know that until you spend some time with a car and find out what you DO want. And it will get you running right away.

With all the options out there, you'd be silly to build one yourself right out of the box. Simply put, you don't know enough to get it right. And it might be dangerous. A used car will also come at something like a 50% discount. And can include the trailer and all the "what-not" that you can't think of today that you'll need.

In the long run, you'll want a suspended car, but to start, anything will work. Wheelbase is not a huge deal, anything over 225 should be fine. A weekend at the track is not expensive: entry, fuel, and such will be a hundred, maybe two at a big race. For us, the biggest cost is the diesel to get to the track (often a few hundred miles away), we can easily spend $300+ in a weekend on fuel to get there and back.

Having friends to "crew", especially if they have no experience, is more of a pain than an advantage. They'll trip all over things, get in the way, and mess with your process (e.g. your consistency). You maybe could use one helper (many race by themselves), and it's best if it's the same person every time.

Getting involved is not hard, doing it well is. And that's all about learning. That's why I'd spend this summer out at the track, find folks who will chat and soak it up.

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Just line that junk up and someone will gladly keep schooling ya around DIV1.... LOL Anyone from ATCO will just tattoo that .000 on ya!!!! Link Racer

(I am only kidding around...:D)

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Barraccuda
"How hard is it to get into this? What would my best bet be as far as wheel base and 4-link, etc? what tracks can we run at? How much would a typical day at the track cost me?

I know some people who want to be a part of my crew if we do this on our own but they are fresh out of school and would be rookies with me.
Anyone have any suggestions? Should we not go forward with the plan to buy or build one? "

You will find it easy if you have some money, As far as wheel base goes anything from 200-230" will work. The four link cars definately stop better and may be more consistent on a marginal track but the cost twice as much. Since I don't know where you are located I can't recommend a track to you. I currently budget ~$300 a day (Driver & 2 crew) and most of the tracks I race at are 100 mi. from home.

I would recommend that you get at least one experienced guy to help you out for a while He can help you and a novice crew learn what to look for and what is important and what to expect. I have raced by myself but I don't enjoy it nearly as much.

As far as build it or buy it ? I build my own out of necessity but Chris is right buying a roller or a turnkey in todays economy will save you time and money. But get someone who 's knowledgeable to look at it or you could be sorry.
If you have any more questions you can e-mail me at : Greatbaer@sbcglobal.net and I will try to help you as much as I can.

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

The closest track we regularly race at is ~100 miles, we seem to always be going 250 or more. Our divisional races are 120, 255, 260, 460, 530, and 837 miles away. But then the distances out here are a lot further than they are where you are... And we have mountains in the way. Our diesel bill FAR outweighs all our other costs.

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Actually fuel (Motorhome and generator)makes up a little more than a third of my cost,entry fees almost another third and the remaining third is for getting the crew in, feeding them,beer, pop ice and all the misc. stuff we seem to need. I also don't count race fuel (methanol) in this budget as I buy it all at once in the spring before the season starts
Keep in mind this is per day and I usually race both days so for a two day weekind it costs ~$600.:cool:

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Thanks Everyone! It certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I guess I'm not used to talking to grown men on here. I appreciate all of your information. It seems to be good information since all of you say the same thing.
I have had two guys tell me they'd lease me their car for the weekend for $1500. they say "that's a great deal because it will cost you more in gas and hotel stays than that alone" which I highly doubt.

Turns out, all I had to do was ask my dad. As far as funds go, well that's mostly on me so I'm still trying to gather it all. In the meantime, I'd like to try and find someone who would lease one to me for a few races, without it costing me $1500 a weekend.
If anyone has any other helpful and useful information for me please send an email my way jennifer@jennifercomptonracing.com . I'll take anything you've got!

Thanks!

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

The reason I don't see that as a hell of a deal is because I'm not a weekend warrior. I want to race every weekend that there is a race. Also, I already have a truck, trailer, suit, etc, etc,. I just don't have the dragster.

I just spoke with several people and my uncle who used to race top dragsters and TAD and they said "Don't lease. it's a rip off" some people said they used to lease theirs for $1500 and they made alot of money from that deal.. So I'll stick with that. We're building one.

Thanks Guys!!

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Barraccuda

I would think that since your probably physically smaller than most and with the economy in the tank and given that you probably fit in just about any dragster out there and there are a lot of them for sale turnkey on Racingjunk.com which can save you a lost of $$.
Just take your Uncle along to look it over good. :cool:

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Excellent advice.

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

This is the every right time to buy anything cheap!!!! Just got a 98 225" frame with body for 2k. Dana rear out of a super gas car that was destroyed for $1500 that has Titanium spool, 40 spline 2 sets of gears, JZS brake system including the discs, four link bars and brand spanking new Weld Aluma star.....yes is heavy but I don't have to worry about brakage etc..... and if i want to have fun, this is a good way to start. I was lucky enough to have this thing measured exactly what i needed for the dragster. Also, got a short block chevy out of another dragster and 750 holley and couple of a million parts for $250. On another deal I picked up a Brand new Team G intake and an MSD 6a bla, bla for $150. I have spend not even 4K and i have practically everything i need to put a car together. Now, go out there and do your home work. I have couple of body's for sale cheap ( $500) if you want to go door car and one of them is ready for cage, rear etc. and is completely stripped. Things can be done but someone has to move their behind.

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

I too am considering purchasing a Top Dragster car. I would like to tag along with a team a few times to get more acquainted though. I'm in western WI. Thanks Todd

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

I like this topic since I've been wanting to go rail forever. Been bracket racing since 17 off and on in different street cars and now I'm 27 and in the not to distant future I may finally be able to make it a reality going to a rail to run local Super Pro/Box classes. Going to get my license this fall/winter at the latest. I've been saving up money and I'm going to sell the door car I drive now sometime Q4 2010 or Q1 2011 which is also my daily driver. Then get a truck to pull and look for a nice Turn key type deal on racing junk for like 20k w/ trailer would be nice. Got to start somewhere :) Good luck and I hope we both accomplish what we want to do :P If anyone here runs at Palm Beach International Raceway let me know so I can stop by and learn more about rails etc I'm running the No Box class this year. The hardest part is being patient!! and urgh right now I'm counting down the months til Fall so then I'll go to school and get start the process of selling my mustang.

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Todd

The closest I get to you is Earville IA on June 26th.& 27th. or Union Grove August 28th & 29th. We race SuperComp but you welcome to come hang out with us and ask questions.
E-mail me or just show up and say Hello.
Sincerely
Billy Baer (E-mail Greatbaer@sbcglobal.net)

Re: I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters
 

Thanks! I'll come down to Earlville then. Todd