Lower Class Imput

[House of Darts]

25+ years ago I raced between C/SA thru F/SA. I'm currently running a 10.80 bracket car. I've talked to a few racers that run T, U, V/SA. They are not happy about always being run down by higher class cars and usually only get to go a round or two. I have a combo that needs to be put together. Am I going to waste time and $? There is a name that I've seen of a guy( Billy Ness) that runs a lower class in Stock and Comp. Any feedback is greatly appreciated

[Terry Cain]

Lil' Tommy Mattingly running an O/SA was Div. 3 champ 2006. He was probably chased more than anyone I know. Didn't seem to effect him.

[Jack Matyas]

Billy Nees runs in U & V/SA and never in Comp--------thirty years ago (or so) I told him he was wasting his time in the lower classes and since then he has gone more rounds and won more races than me ! ! I guess my point is that it doesn't matter if you are in the lower classes or the upper ones--each has their own advantage......................And if you talk to Billy he'll tell you I'm still eating crow but he has some very interesting stories to tell about our racing together over the years .

[bill dedman]

I have no personal experience with this, but I heard something that might be of interest to you.

A well-known and highly-respected race team made up of some brothers, who shall remain nameless here, who had had a lot of success running Stock Eliminator with "fast" class cars (A/SA through G/SA) tried racing with a well-setup, lower classed car as an experiment. I am not sure of the class, but I believe it to have been a high 13-second car, or in that general neighborhood.

Their final analysis was, it was REALLY hard to dial the car because atmospheric changes and variable winds made the car virtually unpredictable. Temperature and barometric pressure changes that might affect their B or C-class Stockers a tenth would affect the slower car as much as three tenths (or more).

Wheelspin was never a problem; maintenance was minimal, and breakage was non-existent, but they couldn't go rounds in a handicap situation because of inconsistencies caused by the aforementioned factors... so, they called it a non-workable situation, and got rid of it.

I have heard of racers who CAN deal with this problem (Billy Nees is a wel-known one), and obviously, people like him have a handle on the consitency problem that these guys I mentioned couldn't seem to master. But, I can guess, it won't be easy.

You pays your money, and you takes your choice... LOL! Good luck!!!

[The Hawk]

Go ahead and spend the money on a slow car. I`ve done pretty well in the past with a car that could only run a tenth under,including winning a Division Championship. Just remember,pay much closer to the smaller details than you would with a quicker car. Good luck,and see you in the "Winner`s Circle"! "The Hawk"

[Dave Turner]

The toughest opponent that I have faced since "adopting" my car is the owner of the ugly mug in the mirror every morning!! I've been the victim of my own errors more often than not. Manage the "YOU" factor to the best of your ability and your results will reflect the effort.

Good Luck!!!....a healthy dose of that never hurts either.

[greg fulk]

I have run a V/SA car from 1999 to 2007 ....1/8th mile I would run anybody ...1/4 mile the thing would run # one round then go one way or the other the next! Milan 05 frist round 15.257 on a 15.26 I win 2nd round 15.27 on a 15.27 3rd round 15.28 on a 15.28 4th round 15.23 on a 15.28 ????have NO idea! Edgewater same year 1st round 15.26 on a 15.26 4th round i get a by 15.44 on a 15.40 5th round 15.37 on a 15.40??? & I could go on & on!!! I now have a P/SA that runs 12's & seems to be better ...we'll see

[LNorton]

I can tell you from running a slow car you really have to have the tune up on point and pay attention to the details a lot. You CAN NOT race a slow car without a weather station. Each combo will react to air differently. Once you can figure out what factors make the most difference and how to dial correctly for the air, you can win a lot of rounds in a slow car.

[Billy Nees]

If you are going to race a lower classed stocker then you had better get it in your head right from the start that you are going to work at it. The tuneup has to be right for the conditions. You aren't going to just show up and race every day. You MUST have a weather station that you can trust. You WILL start looking at every flag on the grounds to get a feel for the wind (andf a wind gauge too). You have to heat them up and cool them down EXACTLY the same for each run. My best friends have watched me over the years and just laughed their tails off at what it takes to make them fairly consistant. They have tried to race my cars "their way" and had no successat all. If you want a "Bracket Stocker" then you had better build an A,B,C, car. That being said, a good lower classed car can win on a consistant track.

[LNorton]

Billy is dead on with the slow combination as normal. I can say that everything he said is right on. It took me 2 years to really figure out our combination and what makes it run the best. Details, details, details...