FWD Stockers can win
 

Since my wife raced for the first time over Memorial Weekend, I decided to use my "off" weekends when I'm not out on the road, and take my 4-cyl FWD '85 Turismo stocker to Pageland Dragway so that we could both race. Pageland has a "Hot Rod Trophy" class that she can run the Turismo in, and I could race it in Modified. Saturday, I ended up winning Modified, and took out the points leader and three former track champs along the way! First win for me in the Turismo in 10 years. Okay, so it was on the back-burner injured reserve list for 8 of those years... but still it feels really special to win in the lil' car. This one's for John Weidner, who told me, "I don't know why you built that little *&^(box. You'll never string seven rounds together." Thank you for the inspiration, John.

http://www.beaversprings.com/photos/...o_at_speed.jpg
Legal NHRA/IHRA Stock Eliminator car... still for sale, but if it keeps this up... :cool:

Special thanks to "The Master of the Dime Rockets", Billy Nees.

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Way to go Michael, good to see the old girl out again.

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Great job, Michael!

It's nice to know that some things get "better" with age :D

Keep up the good work!!

Lew

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

The only problem with FWD cars is usually the nut behind the wheel.
Congrats Mike.

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Art, don't you mean the "loose nut" behind the wheel?

Michael, weren't we just talking about this? Jim

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Some times it's too Loose sometimes it's too Tight.
Like Emily Littella (Gilda Radner) says if it's not one thing it's another.

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Nice!

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Congrats on the win !

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Way to go Mike congrats.

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Congrats Mike!!
In MIke's case I'm not sure how much difference it made whether it was a front drive or not.
I think he could put a golf cart in the winner's circle.
I was going to say garden tractor but I thought that would be pushing it a bit.
No, that was not meant as a challenge.
Don

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

In this case, bracket racing and class racing are very different. I've had an issue with the spoiler breaking the finish line beam, even if I just *lift*. I put a stripe taker on the car (only about 1-1/4" tall... that's how close it is to tripping the beam!) Every time I'd hit the brakes or lift, I'd pick up .03-.04 and break out. The stripe taker made sure it tripped the same every time, but they're not legal in Stock. If anybody runs across the lower air dam for one of these cars, please holler!

Secondly, at the bracket race, I was deep staging. Had four lights in a row that were double-oh or teen. You're not likely to do that with this car shallow staged, as you'd have to count the tree, leaving between the bulbs. I think I've only deep-staged this car less than a dozen times, and have three wins with it. Shallow-staged, none. Unfortunately, deep staging is no longer legal in Stock.

Any reason why fast cars can use blinders, but slow cars can't deep stage?

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Michael , The answer is, I think, NHRA: Saw fit to consult with some fast car racers and even allow them to vote on what slow cars should be able to do. I know, I sounds strange to me too.
IHRA: I seem to remember a few jack offs with RWD cars that would play staging games and not worry about there own race. Rather than deal with the guilty parties with about a year's suspension, they just banned the whole procedure. Seems like a chicken ***** way to go, but NHRA had already made the move at that time.
In my way of thinking, the banning costs the associations at least a few entry fees every year. Not a good idea in this day and age.

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Michael try this site you can probably get the parts there.
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/index.php

Re: FWD Stockers can win
 

Way to go Michael, I'm glad to read this, and I strongly feel that FWD Stockers can win, and GOD willing, I intend to prove it with my car...lack of funds and needed seat time to improve my driving skills, are the main reasons I haven't done it yet, and I've come close five times during the past 4yrs!. Besides just look back to either last years Div. 2 Sportsman Bracket Champ (Steve Stites)...he drove an early 90's Cavalier to that title (in a 7rd race to boot)!

I'm still chasing the notion of becoming the first winner of a national (or divisional) event (in Stock Eliminator), since the honorable "Mark Yacavonne" did it 24yrs ago, or the guy who won the last divisional race (in 1985) with a fwd car! Then my goal would be to become the first multiple race winner (as well as the first nat./div. winner this century), in Stock Eliminator history!!?? If you or someone else who's campaigning a fwd does it before me, then I'll definitely be sure to congratulate whoever you are, but a goal that I think is worth pursuing...I'm up for the challenge, are you...or anyone else out there that currently races a fwd Stocker? I think it's worth going for, just for being on the road less traveled!!!