Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

I do understand that we are competitors, and want to eliminate the other driver. To build a racer within the rules, that nobody can catch is truly the ultimate form me! The sense of acomplishment for a little performance gain every now and then can be huge (especially when it's something you built and not something you bought). But do you need to go fast in "A" rather than "M" to enjoy the sport. Fast is important for class and the occasional heads up match up in the eliminator. In my racing experience @ 9.90/150 I noticed that, down track when siide by side it felt like 40 MPH. And that was in Roadster style cars, it did'nt seem fast because the speeds were close. I have also raced 13.50/105 and it seams the same to me down track. I do understand the chase/being chased advantages and driving abilities. To me it's about preparation (car and driver), being consistant on the starting line... evaluate and compensate during the run...play the final card approaching the stripe. Now (in the eliminator) you need to do these things no matter how fast you are! So I say no, you do not need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S eliminator racing. (my opinion). Although it does seem like most of the "hitters" are on the fast side.

Wade Mahaffey

Re: Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

I don't! It does seem that the "rational" thinking is that a faster car is easier to dial as it's not as affected by the wind and weather. The "hitters" seem to like being the faster car so they can see the race "play out" in front of them to better make finish line decisions.

Re: Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

As someone who raced a seventeen-second HF/SA for 3 1/2 years for Billy Nees, NO, don't have to be fast (in actual ET) to enjoy it. I had as much fun in Billy's car as anyone with a 9-10-11 second Stocker or 8 second Hemi SS/AH or SS/AM (Well, maybe a Hemi would be a BIT more fun, and whole lot more work :) ). That's the beauty of Class Racing, you can build whatever you like, whether it's a particular car you like, if you like finding "odd" cars to flog and work on (like Billy, Bob Shaw, etc), whether you like to set records, win Class, and be the "big dog", if you like to test your bracket racing "hit the tree and drive the stripe" ability against some of the best in the world, whatever makes you tick, you can pretty much find it here. Oh, and the great people all over the country and Canada is also what makes it fun and enjoyable, too.

Re: Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

I could rock a W/S car :D

Re: Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

I don't care who you are or what you drive, if that win light keeps coming on in your lane, you're having fun.

Re: Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

There are so--o-o-o many ways to look at S and SS and they all can be fun. Fun is what you make it. Going fast, winning rounds, winning class, making your car faster next week, making something go fast no on believes or doing it all yourself... on your budget.
All these are out there for your decision.
They are all RIGHT! Chosing one for your own reason is what its about.
Good Luck....the best part is being able to enjoy multiple reasons at once.

Re: Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

Wade,
Where is your '60 Vette going to fit in SS?

Re: Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

:D How about if you looked at from a different perspective.If track time is what is enjoyable
the slower car is the way to go. for example: 200 runs in a year @ 9 sec/run equals 30 minutes of track time ( not including staging, burnout, turnoff, etc). The same 200 runs @ 15sec/run equals 50 minutes of track time. I think i need a slower car.

Re: Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

I've raced pretty fast cars.....I've raced slow(er) cars.......I'll take fast any day of the week. There is no way I would have the enthusiasm to race if I had a slow car. I dislike being way out front trying to find my opponent especially in the dark. Drag racing for me means I have a decent amount of power under my foot......and I way prefer being the chaser......

I prefer races that have two cars fairly close on the race track. A race between a fast and a slow car is not my idea of a good drag race.

Probably the most fun car I can think of to race would be a fast stick shift anything.....might not win anything and the amount of work to race it could be a lot.....but it would be way high on the fun meter letting out a clutch again....

Re: Do you really need to go fast to enjoy S,S/S racing?
 

I do rock a W/S car!!! It is a lot of fun