Getting Started in Class Racing

[The Hitman]

Hi all, yes a newbie...

I have been racing since 2001 at local bracket races close to home.
Hopefully next year my wife and I will be able to travel and do some racing.

I have been racing my current car a 1992 Ford Mustang Convertible for about 5 years now and Im ready to move up to some class racing.

I need an understanding of how it works.
My car is a stock bottom end car with heads cam and intake, full interior with a cage and racing seats.

would there be any class suited for this combo or will I need to change somethings,
I appologize for this being "Simple" but Im just curious what the car would be eligable for.

BTW I searched for the "Class racing for Idiots" thread but couldn't find it.....

[Mike Carr]

You're car would probably be more suited for Super Stock, the way it sounds now.

In Stock, the cam has to retain the factory lift for the engine. Racing seats are not permitted (I believe the wording in the Rulebook is something to the effect of "must be correct seat for the year of the car"). Stock allows no head porting, and head must be of correct year/correct casting number for the car that is claimed. Same with the intake. Hope this helps a bit.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by mike carr

you're car would probably be more suited for super stock, the way it sounds now.

Stock allows no head porting, same with the intake. Hope this helps a bit.

lol............................................... ............

[Alan Roehrich]

Mike,
Wouldn't you think that if his car isn't tubbed, he'd be better off to get some stock seats, and use his short block as a starting point for a Stock engine? Super Stock is a really big step for most people, and the stock pieces for his car and engine are fairly easily found since so many have been taken off and set aside.


There is no "Class racing for idiots" thread. Since being an idiot for even considering class racing is sort of assumed, there is no need for a specific thread.

[Mike Carr]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Mike,
Wouldn't you think that if his car isn't tubbed, he'd be better off to get some stock seats, and use his short block as a starting point for a Stock engine? Super Stock is a really big step for most people, and the stock pieces for his car and engine are fairly easily found since so many have been taken off and set aside.


There is no "Class racing for idiots" thread. Since being an idiot for even considering class racing is sort of assumed, there is no need for a specific thread.

True. Also, if the car is a 302, it could run somewhere around SS/M and probably run well with a smaller tire, without tubbing it.

[Alan Roehrich]

The guy he really needs to talk to is Gary Summers, from around Bowling Green KY. Gary runs a couple of the Fox body cars, at least one is a convertible, although I don't think Gary runs that particular year.

[The Hitman]

Thanks for the info....
The car also has a C4 Automatic (Not the AOD it came with)

and LOL at Alan,
There is no "Class racing for idiots" thread. Since being an idiot for even considering class racing is sort of assumed, there is no need for a specific thread

[The Hitman]

I also have an 1982 Mustang, factory 4 speed with stock 302 in place.
would that be better fitted for a class?

car currently set up to run UMTR Street Stick.
all it needs is factory seats, the car does have another carb and not the 2 barrell carb/intake it came with.

Is there any where I can get information, I have talked to a couple of guys to buy their old rule books but no one deliveries

[Chad Rhodes]

hopefully Evan Smith will chime in here, he knows a ton about the fox body stockers. The fox body mustangs can be very good stockers for sure, but there is alot to learn. the best advice I can give you is to go to a divisional race and talk to some people. you'd be surprised how friendly and willing to help most class racers are. we all bicker back and forth on here quite a bit, but most of us would loan parts to the guy we had to race next round, just the way it is. Also, you can pick up a lot more talking with people when there is a stocker nearby to look at, than just generalizing over the internet.

Alan is also right, we're all nuts for doing this. But we do it because its a challenge. Another few things to remember about stock eliminator; Its like going to a magic show, what you see is amazing, but what you don't see is even more so. Also there is a lot of reading between the lines in the rulebook. Not from a legal vs no legal standpoint, but if you read the rule book and built a motor that fit the rules, but wasn't done with some assistance from people who know something about stock racing, you might be disappointed in the initial performance.

[Bob Pagano]

Are you an NHRA member ? If so you can download the rule book on their site.