CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023

Paul Merolla · 08-23-2023, 11:38 AM

Having only been at this game, actively racing I mean, since 2013, I was Joe Newbie not that long ago. A big part of the attraction to class racing for me was the fact that it isn't easy! The fact that the car has to be built to a well-defined set of rules and specs dictates that it's going to take a decent amount of time and money. If I wanted something cheap and easy, I could've put together a bracket car...but that doesn't appeal to me.
I got a lot of help from experienced racers, saved my pennies, wheeled and dealed, and busted *** over a period of 11 years to make it happen.
Started out with a $3,200 engine that wasn't the latest or greatest, but good enough for a tenth under the index on the first run. To say that was satisfying doesn't even come close.
Started off with a truck, camper, and trailer that cost a total of $24,000.
I never added up what it cost to build the car...it just never mattered to see the total, because it was all little chunks spread out over time.
Since I've started racing it, it's been super fun to keep picking at it to make it better and faster, and that's what's so appealing for me.
We racers all have some degree of mechanical "urge" we're hard-wired with. This class racing thing is what satisfies mine.
If it was easy, it wouldn't.

08-23-2023, 11:38 AM	#75
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 611 Likes: 244 Liked 293 Times in 65 Posts	Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023 Having only been at this game, actively racing I mean, since 2013, I was Joe Newbie not that long ago. A big part of the attraction to class racing for me was the fact that it isn't easy! The fact that the car has to be built to a well-defined set of rules and specs dictates that it's going to take a decent amount of time and money. If I wanted something cheap and easy, I could've put together a bracket car...but that doesn't appeal to me. I got a lot of help from experienced racers, saved my pennies, wheeled and dealed, and busted *** over a period of 11 years to make it happen. Started out with a $3,200 engine that wasn't the latest or greatest, but good enough for a tenth under the index on the first run. To say that was satisfying doesn't even come close. Started off with a truck, camper, and trailer that cost a total of $24,000. I never added up what it cost to build the car...it just never mattered to see the total, because it was all little chunks spread out over time. Since I've started racing it, it's been super fun to keep picking at it to make it better and faster, and that's what's so appealing for me. We racers all have some degree of mechanical "urge" we're hard-wired with. This class racing thing is what satisfies mine. If it was easy, it wouldn't.