Econo Modified

[jim powers]

i am with you Nitro Joe, not a chance in hell this will EVER come about

[Ed Wright]

Just something to B.S. about in the off season. I don't see it ever happening.

[Dick Butler]

Joe and Jim, Thanks for your comment does that mean you dont WANT it to happen? If you just dont believe it can happen I appreciate your one time thought. If you think it a good idea to cut the costs of SS or Stock racing in 1/2 or more then maybe you should at least add your positive input as support for those racers who cannot compete with COPO cars or BLOWN MUSTANGS tuned by the factory on a heads up basis. If drag racing should be about everyone having a class (as NHRA and others) offer then a Cheap class wouldnt hurt. It might even help.... just saying....

[Michael Beard]

There appears to be two different ideas going on here. Are we talking about an additional semi-affordable Super Stock subcategory, or are we talking about a semi-affordable heads-up class? If it's the former, there are already ways to run Super Stock semi-affordably **if you choose to**.

If it's the latter, there are ways of making heads-up racing cheaper, leveling the playing field, and making it easier to police. Require an approved restrictor plate and a 2" cone collector. Done. I did extensive computer modeling on this many, many years ago, and it works ridiculously well. You can spend money on all the trick carbs and heads you want, but when they can't breathe, it's not worth anything. Efficiency is rewarded over cubic dollars.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

There appears to be two different ideas going on here. Are we talking about an additional semi-affordable Super Stock subcategory, or are we talking about a semi-affordable heads-up class? If it's the former, there are already ways to run Super Stock semi-affordably **if you choose to**.

If it's the latter, there are ways of making heads-up racing cheaper, leveling the playing field, and making it easier to police. Require an approved restrictor plate and a 2" cone collector. Done. I did extensive computer modeling on this many, many years ago, and it works ridiculously well. You can spend money on all the trick carbs and heads you want, but when they can't breathe, it's not worth anything. Efficiency is rewarded over cubic dollars.

Don't waste your breath Michael. It's not "trick" or "expensive" enough. Everybody knows that something that simple can't work!

[Dick Butler]

Micheal

[randy wilson]

Vette, that sounds like a place to start. The nay Sayers for the most part don't want this to work. The sad part is we're trying to beg racing organasations to race. What a crock. I can't believe with all the after market heads out there they haven't already came up with a spec head class. But I believe spec heads up is the way to go to save local tracks from extinction. Don't tell me I'm the only one to notice the crowd number to car count at circle racers compared to drag racers.

[Rick Shirey]

I really don't understand all the negative comments. I asked the question earlier and I don't believe anyone has answered, so I will ask it again-- When the original C/SM class was thought up I have a feeling it was for the same reason Randy is suggesting this class now, with that in mind I'm sure those individuals had an uphill battle on their hands but they apparently fought through all that and came up with a class that I believe ended up having quite a following from both racers and fans. So what is so different now that so many people are so adamant that it will never happen? I certainly understand the desire to use older cars with manual transmissions, but if the class was structured that I could use my present Super Stock legal 1983 Camaro with a PG, I for one would consider building an engine like Randy and others are suggesting. My present engine is an older SS/CS engine that I broke a rod in. This happened several years ago and I just have not been able to convince myself to spend the money to build another short block with the knowledge that once back together it will never be able to compete against the other CS competitors, not to mention the expense of maintaining such a high RPM engine. All of this is what makes the Econo Modified class interesting to me.

[randy wilson]

Rick, it ain't the fact you can't compete in SS\CS. It's the fact that the heads you have are basically 50 horse shy, and you would have to spend, in my opinion, about $8 to $10,000 to catch up. That's the part I thought would be attractive. Now, a lot of people say the comp guys would just come over and destroy the class. Unless they cheat, which I doubt they would do, they really won't have too much of a leg up on us. I do know they know chassis, short blocks, etc. better then some, but there is only so much power in a short block, and if that beats you, you're real close to winning. As far as the car, and trans, I see the excitement of older cars, and sticks, and how attractive they are, but I think we need to include others just to have a show. That being said, I know there is a slight advantage to newer cars, but that could be addressed. Eventually, with no break out in effect, the autos will probably go by the wayside. I'm just waiting for the word to finish my 67 nova. I already have a guy lined up to plum and wire it. Al Parker said he would go through the chassis, and brakes for me, and start on the short block of my choice, once there are rules. I have a guy already lined up to paint it. That being said, if it never goes, I still have all the bells, and whistles to put it on the street with one of my spec engines.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Rick Shirey

So what is so different now that so many people are so adamant that it will never happen?

Something called the ProStockTruck lawsuit is what makes it so different.
If you aren't willing to "pay to play" then don't expect your own eliminator.
Now if you were willing to set up your own loose circuit that would travel around to local tracks and put on a show for minimal cost or no cost to the track owner (kind of like midwest nostalgia PS, supercharged warriors) then you might get something going. THAT would be the way I would suggest you get going anyway, if there is interest in it it will thrive.
If one of you wants to send me a PM, I'll give you my ideas on what you're trying to do but I already spelled it out for Dick years ago and he wasn't interested.