Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Am looking to go Super Stock racing, which would be a new "game" for me. A few questions for those SS racers that would be willing to give advice:

* There are so many classes, how did you, or how should I, decide on a class and then a car?
* Example, love first gen Firebirds and Camaros. Do the different index's today allow the first gen's to be competitive?
* Are there cars, and classes to stay away from?
* How far under the index do you need to be to be competitive at national events?
* Explain the qualifying process, the index, and dial in.

Sorry for all the questions.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Don't

Thanks

:-) peace

Sorry I had to say that


LMAO

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Welcome friend, and don't feel like you are being ignored...but you are asking for a lifetime's worth of info in one post.

I suggest you start with one question, and then let the thread run it's course, until it turns into a bash CJs/DPs fest, then move on with the next one.

Point *2 , This is about weight, divided by factored horsepower . (In other words NHRA's guess as to what the rating should be) Any year or make can be a good or bad combo, depending on how realistic those numbers are .
See, I stepped into it just then !

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Understood. If you can dial your own number, as long as it is at or below the class index, isn't it just how consistent you can be and what kind of light you can cut? In other words, bracket racing?

Don't bash me, its just that I am trying to better understand the class.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

You're asking for a lot of info..... unfortunately you run the risk of getting a lot of cynical answers trying to obtain that type of info on message boards and forums. Your best bet is to go to a few points meets (if you haven't already) and talk to the racers who have the types of cars in the classes that you have interest in. You'll get first hand information that way. Good Luck.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

In fact, stay away from the message boards as the cynicism will burn you out faster than anything else. Do what Angelo says. It will be a lot more informative and fun. Realize there is always somebody or something better out there with more money or more talent. That's just the way it is. Define your skills, limitations and budget and go from there.
I highly suggest subscribing to NitroJoe.com for his mailer subscriptions. It breaks down the best runs of each competitor, shows class participation and you can get a feel for what it takes to be a hero, middle of the road or bottom qualifier. And there is nothing right or wrong with any position!

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Thanks for the advice. Just looking for input from those of you with Super Stock experience. I have plenty of racing experience, just not Super Stock......

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Go to the div races close to you as these very experienced men said. It will shine more light on your question than a couple years on any message board !
Get to know some of the racers, they are more friendly and helpful than you will expect.

Have fun ! Get ready to hate your money, because you will !!

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Remember, It's cheaper to buy a SS than it is to build one. You don't say where your located but, sometimes you can get to know a few SS racers in your area and try to "pick thier brain". BE PATIENT

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

1) I would suggest reading this article that I wrote, as far as different classes, weight breaks, and how cars are classified into the classes that they are. If you have something particular in mind, let me know. http://classracer.com/classes.html
2) There are plenty of first generation Camaros in S/S, both small and big block. Even more so in Stock. Very few first generation Firebirds.
3) Depends on what you want to build, and how much money you have. Not a lot of "budget" S/S classes. Some classes have fewer cars than others. Stickshift classes do not have near the participation as automatics.
4) Except for the US Nationals, all National Events are all run, as they never take more entries than the 128 car maximum, except at Indy. If you're under the Index, you're good. As long as you don't have a heads-up Class run.
5) All cars qualify against their Index. The further under it you are, the further up the qualifying sheet you will be. After qualifying, cars are placed on a ladder. 1 vs 33, 2 vs 34, etc, down to 32 vs 64, if there are 64 cars. You dial-in during eliminations, but you can not dial-in over your class Index. SS/IA is an 10.70 Index, If in your first race, the car only can run 10.90's, you still must dial 10.70 first round. Eliminations are run bracket racing-style, unless two cars in the same Class race. Then it's heads-up, no breakout, first to the finish line wins.

This should help cover your questions, also. I wrote this on CompetitionPlus.

http://forum.competitionplus.com/showthread.php?t=7224

Anything else you need, just holler.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Dougherty you have a private message.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Pick a car you like and build it(buying one ready to go is alot cheaper). Then go have fun and enjoy yourself. Unless you have a wheelbarrel full of cash you won't be the fastest out there. Hard work is alot of it but it takes lots of cash. In my case I love 66 Chevy II's and that's what I bought. We started out running 10.30's in 2007 and this year we ran a best of 10.04. We are still working on it on my limited budjet. The record in my class is 9.74 and we are aways from that but hope to get there in the next few years. We have fun at the races that's what it's all about. Good luck with your pursuit. Ed

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

If you want to go SS racing the first thing to do is to buy a current rule book and a subscription to National Dragster......Read the rule book, then read it again, look in the ND for all the allowed replacement parts.

Figure out what type of car you want, compare it with indexes and records.....are they achievable without a million dollars. The cheapest way to go is to go to an event, watch the car compete then see if it's for sale. If you are hung up on a Ford, Mopar or a '62 Lincoln be prepared to spend twice as much in building it than building a Chevy.

Good luck,

JimR

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

rob a bank

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

For all the pessimism and cynicism here, this is a good place to get advice and information.

You do need to get a rule book, and you really should go to a few races.

Be prepared to spend a lot of money. Even if you buy a car that is built and running. Unless you buy a super nice car that is working really well, you'll have to work on it a lot. The only way you'll find one of those cars like that for sale at a great price is to find someone who is quitting. Other wise, it is easy to spend a ton of money on a car that you bought that was already being raced.

Consider contacting Nitro Joe here on the boards and buying a subscription to his stats that he keeps. That will tell you what cars are fast, who wins with what cars, and where those cars and drivers are. One reason for that is so that you know what cars are competitive, so you know what to look for. Another reason is so you know what classes are heavily populated and competitive in your area. That will help you avoid buying a car that fits a class with a lot of other cars in it that are fast. You don't want to buy a car that is 5 tenths under the index in a class where there are 5-6 cars in your area that are 1 second under.

Read Mike Carr's response to your post. About five times. It's well written, and he knows what he's talking about.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Dougherty20. I just sold my Camaro for next to nothing and had just over $33K invested in the roller without a 4 link or Ford 9". I rebuilt this car from 2002-2005 which was during the height cost wise. I can tell you the motor had just over $20K (not including trans & converter) invested and just put out shy of 800hp for BBC BA/CA motor, which doesn't get it done in regards to qualifying for races like Indy or Reading.

For a 69 Camaro even in today's terrible market be prepared to spend more than $50 (easily) turnkey to have a decent car that may not qualify for the 2 races mentioned earlier.

As everyone else has stated, I would go to the combo races or division races and look at everyone else's equipment. You can look at cars like Fletcher's superstocker, which IS NOT a show piece by any means and he'll even tell you that. His is a flat out racecar that sees a lot of track time, so it gets dirty and abused. If you want a show car/racecar be prepared to spend in the $75-100K range.

What turned me onto SS racing was seeing a yellow superstock (67 or 68) camaro at the Winter Nats back in 2002 and boy was it perfect and ran well also. I said to myself, I have to have one of these. Well I got one and dumped a ton of money into it and it still didn't look the way the yellow camaro I saw in 2002. I guess I needed to spend another $25k to get it to look like that. I think I saw the car for sale the past year or so and it was well over 75K turnkey and I can't remember if it was even that fast under its index.

Good luck in your search and I hope you plan living at home with your parents for awhile to pay for this expensive habit Plus don't get married and have children to soon or it's bye bye racecar.

Buy a used dragster for cheap and go bracket racing

Manny

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

I have looked into this a couple of times (actually Stock not SS) and felt one of the best sources of info is the for sale sections on Racing Junk, back of Dragster and here or Class racer. Racers selling stuff are motivated to explain why there deal is great.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Man, I could write a book about getting into Super Stock racing.

Go to the races, talk to people. Find out what you want to do. You'll make friends (contacts) who will help you make an informed decision. If it wasn't for the people I have met and friends I have made, there would have been no way I would have made it this far, nor would I have wanted to. It would be helpful to have an understanding family, oh, and an unlimited supply of money-LOL! But I have done it for a lot less money than most, so there is hope.

Good luck!

Jeff

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

We, my brother and me went to several divisional races, before we even thought about a car or class. Talk to the SS racers believe me they will all talk to you ,and give you any advice you ask. Lot a nice people out there, no one refused to talk. We got a lot of answers, and all pretty much accurate.
But it is a steep learning curve, after buying a stocker we have still yet to attend a divisional race. Lots of test and tune to get familiar with the car. Learning what the car wants and needs, and how to adjust is crucial. Testing and tuning at your local track is way cheaper than at a divisional race.
This forum has got a lot of knowledge, just sift through the cynicism. There are a lot of veterans on this site who get tired of the bull with the sanctioning bodies and like to vent.
Welcome and have fun

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

I feel an s-10 such as my super stocker makes a excellent choice. I have never had a heads up,wins class almost always,is as consistant as any car ive ever had, it also may or may not be available... this is in no way intended to be an ad.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Here is a good example of a Super Stocker right here!!!!!

http://www.racingjunk.com/category/3...-and-SS-B.html

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

I agree with you 100%, not to mention you can see better out of it than any car.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

I know where a Ed Quay built SS Monte is that can be bought cheap compared to others and needs minor tlc. Ive looked for a long time before I built mine. For sure it is better to buy built then to have one built. I have enjoyed for many years SS racing. But finance for me is just not the cards to go 7-9 under todays index change. Heck I barely was 6 under with old index.

Re: Want to go Super Stock Racing! Need Advice.
 

Thanks Alan. One of the few things in life I know about and enjoy doing. lol