Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

I see Larry Smith is racing at Bradenton this weekend with his new DragPak (which he bought from one of my dealers in WV). Larry is the brother of Eddie Smith (wv hemi fame).

I was told that it is #24 .... but I see that number belongs to the Wertmans. (so... I'll have to find out later what number it really is).

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Tom the car that Larry Smith is driving is listed as a 2010. The #24 that you are looking at is a 2009. That may explain the confusion.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Would that would make it #124?
Dan

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Dan,
The cars are numbered with the year in the serial number.
Wertman's car is 2009024
The 2010 version would be 2010024
Larry

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Larry has it absolutely right.

Year first and then seq number.

My car is 2009024..

David
The New Hemi Guy

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Just a quick thank you to all of those who supported us in our quest to get to the places where Drooze, Chris Wertman said we could go.

It seems like the Drag Pak program is dying down pretty quicky now, and although many of us have tried to keep things going, it is difficult when the Chrysler Corporation doesn't see the value in having cars running in a wide range of classes.

And I havent even seen a plan for 2012... So all you guys who hate Chrysler's more than Fords, will have fewer of us in Mopar hats to hate.

It is hard to keep spending more and more money when the NHRA keeps doing stupid things and raises prices in this economy, and Chrysler Corp wont do things that cost no money, and just push the program forward...

Don't know now, when, or even if you will see us out next year.

But we did take the NHRA National Class Performer award in Stock Automatic, and set a record in A/SA that will still give someone else a chance to get horsepower if they are legal, and want it badly enough. http://www.classracer.com/classforum...cons/icon6.gif

For those of you still racing this year, God Bless and Safe Racing.

We will see when and where you least expect it.

David
The New Hemi Guy

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Hello David,

There are a lot of DP's either in build process or stuck back that have not even hit the track yet! I am aware of a few proposed 2012 rulebook changes (roller rockers, 10.5's, expanded stk indexes).
Anything else you are secifically referring too like parts availability, etc? Ford does have much better factory support and info from what I've seen...and plans for the future.
Good Luck to you!
MW

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

It isn't about spare parts. And the rules changes don't really mean that Challengers will benefit much. Tough enough to get 9" tires in there. And to be honest roller rockers won't do much good in Challengers. I predict that many unfinished Challengers will go unfinished until the economy turns around (Obama is defeated) and then sold unfinished because they cant be competitive with Fords now anyway. Look at the V10, that was Mopars Silver bullet, but they still cant touch a supercharged Mustang.

It is about being smart enough to use a couple of smaller throttle bodies, drop cam lift a tad, change a few inconsequential things, and get into some lower classes like Ford does.

For Chrysler, it seems like all they want to do is challenge Ford on the high end, and unless the NHRA has a change of conscience and puts fairness ahead of "who pays me the most?", and allows a supercharger on Dodge Challengers like on Mustangs, and what looks like will be on COPO Camaro, Chrysler is whistling in the wind, and FIAT will win with their "spend nothing on racing" philosophy.

Next year, Most Hemi DP Challengers will be running in just a few (mostly the new classes), but Fords will still be running up and down the classes. It would seem that what is fair for one, should be fair for all.

It really is 1970 all over again as NHRA is not permitting a fair playing field for Mopars against the Fords, and now the Camaros.

Bear in mind that I am not saying that old cars don't count. They do and I have all of the respect you can have for them.

But NHRA has made it about the new cars. And then they have given FORD an open license to run where ever they want. How many classes do the crate motor Fords run in now.

I am just saying that Mopar should get started all over again and actually promote and administer the Drag Pak program. With some common sense changes and additions, they can actually compete with the Fords.

But it all falls on dead (read that as we are too busy and don't have any power to make changes) ears.

Guess we will just put a stick in the Mega Maniac, and go to F/S at 305 horsepower.

David
The New Hemi Guy

.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

wow, you mean the new cars have an unfair advantage??????????HOLY HELL STOP THE PRESSES.

I find this post to be the definition of IRONY!!!!

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Somebody needs to move this stuff over to Facebook

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Poor, poor pitiful me.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

lol

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

LOL.............Good reply.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Poor poor pitiful me sums it up for me as well.....

At the Pa. Dutch Classic last month I got to race my old car.....B/SA 97 LT.
The car is far from the fastest but is definately not the slowest. The present owner has spent a fair amount of $$$ on it since I sold it and it's faster than when I first raced it by a couple tenths on average. Still a good .2 slower than some of the faster cars....

There were 11 cars in B/SA.....The good cars were in the 10.30's and one was in the 10.20's

There was a Drag Pak there and he ran 10.0 at least once.......I saw him blow the tires off the car on one run....

I was speaking to someone during the race near the top end or past it.....The cars coming down the track were out of my line of sight.....I thought it was SS or maybe the Hemi cars......No it was just some Drag Paks and maybe a Mustang or 2 making TT's....


Poor poor pitiful me......Right......

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

I could have easily predicted who would want to pile on to my last post.

And none of you disapointed me.

Apparently whatever the Fords do, is good with you, and only the Drag Paks are the evil harbingers of death to Stock in the NHRA

Congratulations on finally revealing your myoptic vision!

Now as a celebration to your latest postings,...May I serve you some aged cheese, to go with your old and tired whines?

David
The New Hemi Guy

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Not to "whine", but Ford just revealed pics of the new AAA/SA Stang. 350hp

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Better go read your own posts and when your done slice yourself some cheese since that sure sounded like a bunch of whinning you were doing to me.
Mopar and NHRA are not doing what they need to do to keep you happy......
and it costs a ton of money to stay out front.....

Hundreds of racers across the country probably think the Mustangs and Drag Paks are unfairly rated HP wise......and some were beat up on the racetrack the last year or two in heads up runs by theses cars....

They either showed up anyway and raced or stayed home.....

Your on here whinning about Mopar not being smart and NHRA doing what they do to cost racers more money.......

Welcome to the party Pal.......LOL

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

David,
Nothing personal, and no disrespect, but I believe you told all of us that we should just get over it, and realize that our old traditional Stock Eliminator cars, you know, real cars, sold to the general public, for street use, were obsolete.

I warned you, and others, about what would happen when you opened Pandora's Box, and let all the new paper cars in the class, thereby allowing the factories to have control of the class.

Now, here we are, just two years later, and you're here lamenting the fact that the Ford juggernaut is about to have its way with you and your expensive toy.

Welcome to the club. Membership sort of sucks, doesn't it?

A blind idiot could see this coming a mile off. I didn't like it when Ford did it, nor when Mopar did it, and if Chevrolet does it, they're just as bad as the other two.

And yet, you complain about Ford, but anyone else who complains is whining. Well, most of us don't seem to see it your way. I guess your whine is newer, so that rates you a better grade of cheese. I hope that the cheese and the whine go well with crow.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Most of them define hypocrisy as well. :)

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

The point all along of this thread was, since Drooze created it, an attempt to get Drag Pak owners together.

It wasn't intended to smear mud in anyone's faces, and still is not intended to be an insult to anyon. But it will an offense to the thin skinned who will always find something to be offended by.

But thread hijackers keep taking it in a different direction than intended, and just using it to bash me, and the Mopars...

Am I saying, get over it? Why should I?

I don't ever need to say that, because it is obvious to most casual observer that it is a whole new day in the NHRA.

This whole thing was brought on by NHRA and their attempt to move out of the past.

When I bought my car, I had no idea even what class it would run. And I had no idea that it would so competitive. So am I now wrong to race it?

And am I wrong to try to get people together who share my interests in remaining competitive?

And am I wrong to expect/hope that people who simply want to bitch and complain would just leave us alone.

Apparently....

So just continue to do your thing...Because I really don't care anymore.

David
The New Hemi Guy

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

No one was bashing at all until you said these things. Do you really think anyone has any sympathy? Sorry, you beat up on people all starting in F/SA and are still setting records in A/SA, sounds like you want to do it in the stick classes now, too.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Really? Nobody said anything before that???

That sounds like the old excuse/explanation: "the fight started, when he hit me back"

But as for me having a desire to take advantage of the rules that favor my car, what serious racer doesnt make decisions on that same basis?

I may as well do it... If I don't, then someone else will.

The new cars really arent going to go away no matter how much you and others, huff and puff and try to blow them away.

But keep it up anyway, it is mildy amusing, although somewhat tiresome.

David
The New Hemi Guy

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

On that note.......

http://www.dr4ward.com/.a/6a00e54fd9...ccb0970c-500wi

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

On that note.....a close friend told me "never argue with a fool".

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

I have 2011 #15. I plan on bracket racing it locally. I thought it might be fun to go to an NHRA race and run SS (I've never done that before) but my license has expired and there isn't a track here in Arkansas to get it renewed. I couldn't be competitive with other SS/DA cars but it will run under the index. Just a thought.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

David, you've made a massive investment. Why would you park it?

(I run a 5.9L DragPak in Super Stock GT, so I'm obviously not "piling on" or "hating on Mopars")

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Rick, 9.50 on a 10.20 index will be competitive. You need to get the cage certified, other than that you are ready.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Should have my cage cert soon.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Hey Rick, was that your white Avenger that I saw on the Prescott raceway page? If it is, its beautiful! What are the plans for that car?

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Yes, that was it. I have no plans for it. You need to buy it from me so I can race the Challenger.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Exactly Michael... Why would I? Other than the economy and other conditions.... but it is that with a lot of racers.

And I certainly realize that you are not piling on..

As for me, I wish all of the best to all of the racers. Old cars or new. But time/history does repeat itself, and we are simply in another one of those cycles. But many still resist change of any kind. So be it.. But to quote a Star Trek enemy's warning, resistance is futile...

David
The New Hemi Guy

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

It sounds like the DP Challengers might be getting close to their "correct" HP factors when they start complaining about their factors. I suppose Barton helped out in that area. So, I guess that just leaves the CJs to bee itch about.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Almost all the new cars are in AAA,BBB,CCC, or AA. Or like the 6.1 and 6.4 are one hp away from getting in A heavy. The fords are way up there, The bowties, if and when, will run up there too, so now go back to where you were two years ago and continue. The Fords got alm heads, so do the chevys, not fair, Mopar needs new heads, people have hit combos too hard in the past, Bob Dennis has combos that don't exist, they were paper cars, or cardboard cars, copo cars (footnote to history, any dealer that ordered one of these special cars got a call from the zone office,'do you really want this car?') yall know the drill.

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

I think that's the off-season talking. That's not the Wertman *I* know. There's always going to be somebody faster. If everybody parked it that had someone faster than them, there'd be 12 cars racing. Class and records are great, but so is the eliminator. Drive smart, win races.

You have to admit, many CJ and DP owners told the "old car" guys to suck it up and quit whining, so it's not fair to bring up fairness now. Shrug it off, say "Well that sucks!", and go racing. (CRAZY thought, I know, but try some IHRA events...) Kick back, enjoy the off-season, and come back swinging next year. You'd miss it if you didn't! :cool:

Re: Challenger Drag Pak Owners
 

Well Rick, if and when I finally finish school, I may consult with you about buying the car if its not gone by then. But ultimately, I have my eyes on Super Stock and Comp. I'm gonna start out in GT and work my way to SS/AM then A/SM. Went to the salvage yard the other day and didn't realize they had so many early avengers wrecked and in good condition so that maybe my starting point. The duster we have will need a major overhaul to get anywhere near being a certified Super Stocker. Lots of things need to be bought to put back on the car. floor, dash, inner fenders, mild steel cage needs to come out and lots more. I'll get there one day but school is number one right now. Good news is that I'm only a year away from two degrees( math and mechanical engineering).