Where are the lower class cars?

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

Here is another observation. When you consider the cost of building a full high tech car, there is little difference in the cost of building a 4-bbl V8 of any variety. What I mean is, if you are building a small block Chevy, for example, there is little difference to build a 305 smogger as it is to build a top of the line high performance version. The cost of the pistons, rods, valve train, heads, machine work, suspension, roll bar/cage, transmission, accessories, trick parts, etc. etc. is the same for the 305 that runs high elevens as it is for a ten second combination. The same for about any manufacturer. So why spend all that time and money on a mid to high eleven second car when you can go tens for the same $$? The are anomalies to those characteristics, but I would dare say that Wade Owens' 283 M/SA cost just as much as a competitive C or D car. It's not until you get away from some of the basic standard 4-bbl V8 costs that things change dramatically. Now I know that an FE Ford or a Hemi costs more than a small block Chevy, but as a rule you will have some basic core costs that are the same. That is a major reason why more faster cars are built.

Dwight,true to a point about costs.But how many 305 cores (blocks,heads,intakes,cranks,
etc) can you buy for the cost of a 396/375,427 any hp rating,for that matter a 390 AMC?
I believe for the most part lower class stockers are built by guys with not a lot to spend.My car,which I bought for $125 came only in the class guide with a 258 6 cylinder.If I wanted to build a 1969 SC/Rambler (390 4 speed only) a ragtag original car would be over $10K.
Even a clone rambler non post car commands a good buck,for a rambler.
I built my car on my small budget.I've had a moderate amount of success in the past 11 years.I've worked hard at finding a way (with a lot of help from Tom Goldman) to get the car to run the number on the window.I think we've succeded at that.Now I need to race more to get the tree down again.Any car can be successful,fast or slow,with the right driver with the right mindset.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Daran Summerton

Then contingency disappeared , then the cars disappeared. At least we still have Belle Rose.

Agreed Daran, I just wish I lived closer, but after enjoying my first Nitro Jam/IHRA racing experience, being closer to there might have to be in the works???

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

I thought the need for speed was the reason most went racing. For me, personally, anything slower than G/S just isn't much fun. In an age when you can buy 12-13 second production street cars, and "bolt-ons" will yield 10-11 second performance, why is anyone surprised that slower cars are falling out of favor?

Alan I respect your needing to run G/S et's or better, but I like the competition drag racing allows...plus not having to be concerned with speed limits, and unsafe drivers/roads. That's why I race...I'm too old for human drag racing (track), and I didn't do very well with horses...real horse power, and the way they race turning in circles, I refuse to do that, because if someone tries to purposesly wipe me out, there's going to be problems...what Richard Childress did to that Bush guy would only be part of it...if you can't beat someone in a clean and fair race, then you shouldn't be racing...my .02!

I race my slower roller for three reasons:

1. It's something completely different than most cars out there.

2. The insuing challenge of doing something only two others have done (on a divisional or national event level), is something I choose to embrace.

3. Since my car is slower, there's less breakage, so my budget is happier.

Trust me though, when I bought this car I was looking at a 4dr Belvedere with a 318 in it. I wish I could've gotten that car too, because I love mopar products (especially Belvedere's, Savoy's, Coronets, and Darts), but I can't afford the bigger engine cars, so I choose to run a small engine/car. It's all about choice....

[bill dedman]

[QUOTE= It's all about choice.... [/QUOTE]

And who wants to deliberately choose a ("slow") car that runs a class that can be unfairly screwed by the first red light rule, most of the time they race (handicapped races)???

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that, just like what happened to Ed F. at his last national event, if you run enough rounds as a first-to-leave car, some faster car who gets a free ride when you red light could possibly go on to win the event. People see that and think, "why me"? As, well they should...

Until equal red light jeopardy is a fact for every car, I think the exodus from the lower classes will continue. It's just one more contributing factor to the disadvantages of running a "slow" car...


I promise not to write more about this; you've all heard my rant, but I couldn't believe that no one had mentioned it...

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

And who wants to deliberately choose a ("slow") car that runs a class that can be unfairly screwed by the first red light rule, most of the time they race (handicapped races)???

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that, just like what happened to Ed F. at his last national event, if you run enough rounds as a first-to-leave car, some faster car who gets a free ride when you red light could possibly go on to win the event. People see that and think, "why me"? As, well they should...

Until equal red light jeopardy is a fact for every car, I think the exodus from the lower classes will continue. It's just one more contributing factor to the disadvantages of running a "slow" car...


I promise not to write more about this; you've all heard my rant, but I couldn't believe that no one had mentioned it...

Ohhhhhhh.

[Bunkster]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

....I couldn't believe that no one had mentioned it...

Like you, I thought it only natural the defective handicap starting system would be mentioned early in this thread.

It's sad that it still exists. Even more sad so few seem to understand fully how unfair it is.

[Tom keedle]

Originally Posted by Bunkster

Like you, I thought it only natural the defective handicap starting system would be mentioned early in this thread.

It's sad that it still exists. Even more sad so few seem to understand fully how unfair it is.

maybe we're tired of hearing about it?

btw,my American was going to be run as a 232 6cylinder car BUT no scattershields available for the application, the 3 speed was about the size of my fist and 4 speeds were not available behind the 6....
next best thing was a 290...

[Tony Janes]

It is not a perfect world. Just a reminder double red lights are not important!

[jmantle]

After running a "slow" car for the last 4 years, I think the worst red light issue is a non issue. Having a clean tree most of the time is more of an advantage. When I ran my super pro car, I was usually the faster car and found the distraction of the car in the other lane was a problem for me at times. The biggest issue I see for the slower cars is the big swings with the wind and weather, just wish for a calm, cloudy day.
Jim Mantle U,V/SA 6632

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

I go Class racing to try to turn on the win light either heads up or in the eliminator, while blowing as little money as possible,
If I felt "the need for speed" , I'd take a mild 455, stick it in a tin can 10.0 bracket car, stay at my home track and still save money....

x2 Mark, heck I could find a Vega, and put a small block in it and build it up to be 10-12sec. car with minimal money spent...since they were so popular in past decades...