Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

I am toying with a couple ideas. I am currently buidling my first stocker. I have a few "goofy" goals in mind. I originally wanted to drive my car to at least one race this year.. Possibly Indy (Nationals if I get the grade points in time).. Now I am going completely off the deep end and considering driving to all the Div 3 races (left) and the US Nationals. I love the idea, and love hearing old stories of racers doing this.. Also I am working with a media website on some vids etc, and one of my goals working with them is to promote sportsman drag racing.

My main concerns would be tear downs. This is my first stocker, but I am no stranger to divisional races, and have friends that are class racers as well... Not that any of them set any records (recently) or qualified really low or anything, but I dont recall any of them ever having to do a teardown. And come to think of it, I have never seen or heard of a tear down at a divisional race. Are tear downs only at National Events? Or do they only do tear downs at divisionals if someone protests or if you set a record? If you set a record is it a definite teardown? Or a better question... What, if any reason, would you require to teardown at a divisional?

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

Rumor has it that those who set records in Georgia last fall were not torn down right after their runs/end of the event?
Is that true?


I think at a divisional it would be a waste of time, since the staff is already limited. As for the Nats I'm pretty sure they are over staffed which would make more sense to me.

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

The answer to that question is NO, it is not true. I was there, I saw the tear down over behind the scales. All record setters were torn down. Who has said differently? Jim

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

Jim W it doesn't matter to me as I was just stating what I heard to help answer Jim B's question. If you or I helped in answering his question about teardown's Jim B is all set then.

Thanks
Manny

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

You cannot set a record at a National Event, in sportsman classes.

You can be torn down at a National, Divisional, or National Open.

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

I can attest to the fact that Bob was all apart at the Atco race.. CONGRATS on the record, Bob, but it didn't look like a fun way to spend the day.. LOL

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:eek:I did have alot of fun but the sun was killing me late in the day. I must be getting to old to do this......

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What all has to be taken apart during a tear down? Is it the same every time? When can you set a record? Only during qualifying? If so would teardown be saturday night or sometime prior to first round? Or after eliminations? Lastly, dont you have to designate that you are going for a record run? If you happen to run faster than the index but are not going for a record run would you still have to teardown?

Im trying to finish my car up this week.. My body, mind, and bank acct our severely depleted this month... I am desperately trying to make it to Norwalk this weekend. My combo is something that I have been working for a decade, and am fairly confident barring new set up hiccups (which I am sure will be there, but just in case the perfect storm happens), should run very well. I dont think I have a tear down in me this weekend. Spare timing belt tensioner, gaskets, (money) effort etc hahah. Well thats a lie... Im always up for a good thrash, but Id like to avoid taking this think apart 72 hours after putting it all together when I dont even have it full sorted yet. Chicago, Michigan, Bowling Green, Cbus, Indy bring it on, but not this weekend! haha

Ill probably get picked on enough.. Wrong wheel drive, turbo, and Mitsubishi... (Under Chrysler in classification guide Mitsubishi Eclipse).... Dont judge a book by its cover though! I am not just a sport compact punk! I have crewed, driven, or built motors for Alcohol Funny Car to S/St except Comp, Stk, and S/Stk..

And while this is my thread and I can go off topic... Making it to Michigan, Cbus, and Chicago should have me at 3 grade points by july 25. On July 28 3 grade pointers can register for Indy. They always take 180 entries then 128 qualify correct? Looks like they haven't quite had 180 for several years. should I be in good shape for my Indy dreams?

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

Oh and Bob, after im done with the FWD, I may go the AWD Eclipse route, which would put me I believe a natural O/SA... That will be a lot of hard work to catch up with you!

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

You're driving the car to the races or trailoring to the races? I get the impression your looking at driving the car to the races.
I once drove my AF/S Daytona by myself from Phoenix, AZ to Denver, CO where I set the AF/S record. It's about an 18 hour drive. Set the record (first 13 second FWD @ 13.26), tore down, slashed my wrist wide open because a wrench slipped off a really big nut, taped it and glued it shut, finally drove to the hotel with the car and magnetic stickers at 1:00 A.M., ran the first 100+ MPH FWD pass on the first round after tear-down, drove home, got a ticket for 85 or 88 MPH in the rain in NM and the cop said he'd been after me for about two miles and "didn't I see his lights?" I said "that 5.0L Mustang your driving might have caught me sooner if he had dropped it into passing gear at least."
So to say I wish the whole weekend was documented on video would be a huge understatement! :cool: Yep, one of those stories for the grandkids one day...
So I say go for it and just bring your tools, spare gaskets and plenty of good attitude. Just be careful that street fuel will not pass NHRA fuel check. That will be a major thorn in your side.

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

Yeah I was thnkin about the fuel deal this morn. Hmmm. But that is an awesome story!

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what really sucks is I dont need to run anywhere near that gas lol. I could use 92 octane... maybe even 91 lol

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good luck at fuel check. if you switch fuels after driving there . you may have problems getting it flushed completely.

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

When can you set a record? Only during qualifying? If so would teardown be saturday night or sometime prior to first round? Or after eliminations?

Teardowns are done after qualifying.

What all has to be taken apart during a tear down?

They can look at anything they want: carb, turbo, piston, crank, etc, etc. They will also check over the car for illegal chassis or suspension modifications, wiring issues, etc, etc.

Lastly, dont you have to designate that you are going for a record run?

You must put an R on the window.

If you happen to run faster than the index but are not going for a record run would you still have to teardown?

The whole point is to go faster than the index. You cannot dial less than your index.

Just for clarification, are you building a Chrysler or a Mistubishi. There is only one legal Mistubishi, a 1991 Pickup.

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

In regards to running under index, I meant record sorry. So if you run under the record but to not designate it as a record run, will you have to teardown? I think im going to wuss out and trailer this weekend if I stop playing on the internet and get this thing together. For reference this is the way the car looks as of right now:

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...0/DSC05281.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...0/DSC05280.jpg

And its a Mitsubishi. They are in the classification guide under dodge. 1994 in my specific case. Underneath all the Dodge cars, it has a separate section for Eagle/Mitsubishi.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b.../Capture-1.jpg

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

If your not in the record lanes and you run under the record you do not have to teardown.

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"So if you run under the record but to not designate it as a record run, will you have to teardown?"

If NHRA wants to look at it, you will be taking it apart, record or not. The point here is always have gaskets and tools with you.

Don't forget you need the proper safety equipment, liscense, fuel check valve, etc.

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

If you go out with a combo they have never seen before and run under the record or even just really fast in general they could want to look at it. The teardown could range anything from just checking the turbo to pulling a rod/piston. It's in your best interest to go easy the first time out.

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National Records are only allowed to be set on Friday at Division 3 events.

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Instead of worrying about tearing down if you go fast you should concentrate about having the car correctly prepared to pass tech,with the proper equipment,and making a few get acquainted runs with the car.All the rest will come later.

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Thats "OK" there better cars in O then Me ......................lol

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Same in Division 1

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. I have comp number etc.. No license needed, im double checking, all the safety stuff, and ill worry about plumbing the sample valve once I have a motor in haha. I have read all the stock section, but am going to re read general rules tonight. Been awhile since I have had to look at some of the basic safety stuff... Should not be too much for a near stock car running low 13s, high 12s.. Battery still in o.e. location, stock fuel tank/lines etc.. Already covered wholes in firewall... Have helmet.... Ill dbl check everything tonight.


You run a Turbo Coupe yeah? Marty, while in Indy I brought a friend of mine that I tune and build mitsu motors for, and finally after a cpl years of trying I think I have him sold on real racing. He wanted to know if there was anything he could race his Evo in at divisionals.. I said no, but the Turbo Coupe that has been in his fam since new in 86 and still has the window sticker on it that is his daily drive now could run in stock... So today he got his points number, and we are installing down pipe, different manifold, fuel pump, wideband, and some other stuff.. Ecu is hopefully on the way. I am crossing my fingers it runs under... It is slooooww now. Never tuned a 2.3 turbo, I am hoping there is a lot on the table stock.




I here ya.. Im not concerned with making it go fast. I just want the grading point. I was just looking at all possible scenarios.


Thanks for the help guys, and feel free to give me any advice on the most minor details. Like I said im not new to sportsman drag racing, just new to class racing.

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

If you don't already have them, you will need the numbers and letters for you car. No shoe polish allowed except for your dial in.

Unless you have them already or have someone local to do them, I would recommend Glenn'z Sign Design in MN. He does great work and he is a racer.

The location and size are spelled out in the rule book.

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

So today he got his points number, and we are installing down pipe, different manifold, fuel pump, wideband, and some other stuff.. Ecu is hopefully on the way. I am crossing my fingers it runs under... It is slooooww now. Never tuned a 2.3 turbo, I am hoping there is a lot on the table stock.

I assume you mean exhaust manifold, as the intake manifold must be OEM.

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Having had the chance to meet you and talk to you at Indy, all I can say is FULL SPEED AHEAD And Damm the Torpedos.....(you could paint the Car in a Mitsubishi Zero scheme, thats raise some feathers)

I just got our cams back today FINALLY ! And well, motor is back together everything checked good. Im going with a mechanical gauge setup on the Oil press, even though I dont like it , I will consider it sage advice from many Class Racers.

Hope you make it , hell Im still hoping we make it....AND that the weather holds good.....

Good luck man......Rock on.....

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Jimi B, Don't I know you? Jim

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

[QUOTE=Jimi B;186820].

He wanted to know if there was anything he could race his Evo in at divisionals..


Hi Jim B.,

My Cavalier wasn't listed in the classification guide either (prior to year 1995), until I submitted the specs plus gave them contact info with Chevrolet, to get my Combo added to their list as well. As long as the required production of those Evo's exceeded (I believe 50) in production (and the Evo wasn't made with items that aren't legal for stockers yet), your friend should be able to supply the specs (and a company phone number) for original info made available to the cars production status? I could be somewhat wrong, but I don't think so on this one, because I had to show the production code of my moon roof to make it legally accepted in Stock, and it was. So if your friend really wants to race the Evo, he may be able to after all....

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

I have a a few connections in vinyl graphics locally.. However, that is one of those things I will worry about if its running thursday night hahahah! I will probably go the New Hemi Racing route and be cutting my numbers out of sheets of plain white vinyl like they were doing in Indy!


Yes sir.

I dont think so? You are from down south yea? My dad Jeff Bowling, runs Super Street in Div 3 (well has taken 4 years off until this year) Finished 2nd tie with Rudy Mathews one year, and a cpl other decent top 10 or so points finishes) The only good class racer friends I have that I would be around at the track are Mark Chaney, and Brad Hutton.. Both Div 3 racers as well. I have spent some time in the alcohol pits the last few years.. Other than an out of division at Bristol one year, the only time I have been south was for Nopi races. There is another screen name on here that is Jim B, not Jimi B...

[QUOTE=GarysZ24;186912]Yeah I have thought about all that, and may look in to a cpl different cars for next year... Thanks for the info, never really looked in to getting a car in to the class guide. His car however is not anywhere near stock legal.. I have about 40 hours in porting on that head ha. Larger turbo etc.. 9 second potential, if we leaned on it.




Good deal.. Thanks for all the offers on help, if I was organized enough, that I could actually have some help I would take ya up on it! I think win loose or draw I will have to head to Norwalk to visit the NHR crew! You guys are my kinda people :)

Speaking of Norwalk.. Norwalk is hallowed ground for Mitsus. A friend of mine, and an x sponsor's shop is right down the road. Home of the baddest Mitsus on the planet...


Back to work @ 4:20 am ;)

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

Hehe, I called those the Flintstone Letters....they looked like it....

Id be careful about saying that in Public hehe.....You might get stoned and I dont have the riot shields ready for August :) Ive been too busy here I really wished I had testing in before, that was the Plan.....But I guess not....Well then again if we did have testing in before well....I made some pretty significant changes on the cam side and exhaust that I think were holding us back a bit then again it may be an utter dog, I really dont know. Well see....I got her .3 under running on 7 cyls and launching soft so cant be much more of a dog. But we learned what we needed on that one in regards to clearances and some other things....I should just run TF I dont think Stockers are meant to be tore down after 4 passes...lol...

Itll be good to have you Mandie wont be there in the AM on Friday but the rest of the weekend....The old man, my son (you think Im screwy) Oh that reminds me they running Jrs there ? Anyone know ?

Re: Divisionals, records, and teardowns
 

At least someone wants to come see our sorry selves! And the Flinstone letters was an experience I like to think of as David's creative side visiting the light. He really spent a lot of time handcrafting those. You just don't see that kind of workmanship any more.