Considering going Stocker Racing

[Mark Callanan]

Originally Posted by Joe Marcinowski

Louie,
I'll give you my scenerio. 1 1/2 years of work and about $20,000 and my best run to date is .37 under. Did my own chassis, engine, trans, and carb. It would have been more cost effective to buy one done. That being said, I wouldn't change a thing. I have learned a lot. I like the way my car looks (a body style I liked, painted and detailed how I wanted it). The fast guys at the track have been supportive, friendly, and have offered lots of advice. I have had a blast so far (except when I raced Keith Lynch in Jim Marshall's car heads up) that was hillarious. My advice is if you want to learn a lot and you dont mind gettin your ***** kicked for a while, build one. If you can't handle that, buy one thats allready fast. I will caution you about one thing. I've been around racing for over 30 years and I have never worked so hard on anything in my life. If you don't like working on them, do not go class racing!
Good Luck!
Joe

Never build one unless you like pain
Or are at the top of the class and have built one many times
Much better to buy a fast one...

[6682Bktrcr]

The paint is the least of my problems.I used to be a bodyman,miggin and tiggin is no problem either,built a few motors also.I KNOW THAT BUILDING A STOCKER MOTOR/CAR IS GONNA BE A WHOLE DIFFERNET STORY.Nice to know that all are supportive.Hopefull I can finish my junk and sell and move on with this journey.






http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee300/profgh6682/

[Alan Roehrich]

IF you KNOW Stock Eliminator, AND you can do all or at least most of the work your self, AND you can get good deals on parts AND the work you can't do, then you might try building one. If ALL of the above DOES NOT fit you, then BUY a nice running car that goes 5-7 tenths under for your $35K, learn, and work your way up.

[Joe DeMarzo]

I have a 70 nova, freah paint for sale, come see it at Lebanon. will run 1 second plus under. I have built a car and bought a car, easy to buy a car and build on what you buy, Good luck, if you come to Lebanon tlak to all the stockers in the lane, great group of
racers in D-1.

XCHAMP1317@aol.com

[6682Bktrcr]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

IF you KNOW Stock Eliminator, AND you can do all or at least most of the work your self, AND you can get good deals on parts AND the work you can't do, then you might try building one. If ALL of the above DOES NOT fit you, then BUY a nice running car that goes 5-7 tenths under for your $35K, learn, and work your way up.

WOW !!!!!!!! Did I open a can of worms.I feel will be bitting off alot more than I can chew.Talk about the JUNGLE !!!!!I dont have a problem working and learning.Dont know if I can make Lebonon but I will try and get to the Grove ,Atco or E-Town in the near future.I will make sure I try and hook up with some of the guys on this board so we can chat.

Thanks Guys I will keep you all posted

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by 6682Bktrcr

WOW !!!!!!!! Did I open a can of worms.I feel will be bitting off alot more than I can chew.Talk about the JUNGLE !!!!!I dont have a problem working and learning.Dont know if I can make Lebonon but I will try and get to the Grove ,Atco or E-Town in the near future.I will make sure I try and hook up with some of the guys on this board so we can chat.

Thanks Guys I will keep you all posted

Hey, I can tell you it is a STEEP learning curve. I've had TONS of help from GREAT people, and STILL have further to go. I do what I can to help people who need help and ask. And I tell people the truth about it. So I'm just trying to be honest, I think you'll get the same answer from others, and I'm sure you're smart enough to figure it out.

[scubasteve]

sorry to butt in off topic. but just sayin hello cowboy , never got your cell # . iron mike in route to norwalk now . havent seen u since bristol . stay safe my friend !! ok back to the regularly scheduled program

[Dave Goob Cook]

I'm puzzled, you have a nearly completed bracket or street shootout type car there that is real nice, but you talk of the expense being too much.
The reason I bracket race instead of class race is the expense and work involved with class racing....maybe when I was younger, and if I had ten times the money, I'd be a class racer.

Nothing is cheap about class racing, from the entry fees to having a legal car that runs close to or under the indexes.

There is no cheaper way to race competitively than "no rules", run what ya brung brackets, and you can do it every week in your locale, that weather permits.
I get 700 to 1200 runs from an engine.....well, there was that used one that I only got 250 or so out of.

Class racing will involve serious travel time and expense if you want to have grade points to run the big events.

Just curious what makes you think a class car would be cheaper?

[Jack Matyas]

Chip - Thanks for noticing that I don't have a "Maaco" paint job (and I'm sure my painter Ryan Korek thanks you also). But my point is that most guys don't want or need a 10K paint makeover .
The idea is to buy the very best on day 1 - spend what you have to and its cheaper in the long run .
Like many have said - how long does it take to get a combo right? All the trips to the track cost -- all the parts that don't work cost - all the entry fees that are wasted cost . And on and on ......
Spend the big bucks in the beginning and it'll be cheaper in the long run and you can have fun on the very first day . My calculator works just fine -- those trick parts are going to come along at some point anyway -- so get ready to buy them when they do -- this is not a cheap sport . Like I said before when you go looking its best to take along someone who is a great judge of "horseflesh" to make sure you don't buy yesterday's technology and a bad class combination . Our team has built many cars in the last ten years or so and I can tell you that for most its a bad idea to start from scratch . Speed costs -- let someone else pay ...............

Mark -- I won't be in the "Jungle" at Lebanon but maybe we can catch- up at another track .

[Harry 6674]

Somebody has to build some new cars or there will never be a net gain of class cars, just recycled owners. I know here in Div. 6 its the same cars year after year. Makes it easy for the track announcer though. Build it the ETs will come, unless you want a record holder from the get go.