[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Myron Piatek

Ed,

Admitedly, Crate Motors are easier to find parts for and to work on, but with their own blueprint specs like "regular" Stockers. That is what attracted many racers to them, including myself. Over time, it might be possible to incorporate those combos among the regular Stock classes, but complaints will remain. As for the suggestion of CM racers eventually converting to an NHRA style Stocker engine, there are probably many that wouldn't or couldn't. Less expense and that I grew up working on Holley carbs with too little experience with Carters attracted me to IHRA Crate Motors. I figured I could be competitive even on a tighter budget than most. Original OEM parts are getting harder to find and with all the superceded and aftermarket parts now allowed in NHRA, many Stock combos are similar to Crate Motors anyway, especially the new cars. Things aren't getting any cheaper. So I think that the economics of converting wouldn't make it feasible because of the reasons many racers built a CM to begin with and car counts would be less than if crate combos continued to be allowed. It could also be a selling point again with newer engines and parts that the factory actually sells. Most racers can't afford a factory Drag Pak Challenger or Mustang. But more could afford an over-the-counter engine and/or parts. It couldn't hurt to keep the door open for the factories if the economy gets better.

Think of Crate Motor combos as the Stock version of SS/GT. Lots of the original Drag Pak Challenger F.I. 5.9 Magnum engines are being used in SS/GT with Jeff Teuton's Duster being the first. That is basically a crate motor!

Thanks for the civil reply Myron.