They say you can't go back....but...??

treessavoy · 12-26-2011, 01:22 AM

If you wanna go back then you have to run off class records which means rich guys win, just like the "good old days"!

JimR

OLD INJUN · 12-26-2011, 08:53 AM

this is what i think , listen to this.

Ed Wright · 12-26-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treessavoy

If you wanna go back then you have to run off class records which means rich guys win, just like the "good old days"!

JimR

Jim, I raced then. It wasn't so much "rich guys" as it was guys with some ability doing their own work winning. We weren't running over with check book racers like we are now. Not nearly as many "rich guys" in the U.S. as there is now. Things were different, people were different.

Jim Wahl · 12-26-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Jim, I raced then. It wasn't so much "rich guys" as it was guys with some ability doing their own work winning. We weren't running over with check book racers like we are now. Not nearly as many "rich guys" in the U.S. as there is now. Things were different, people were different.

It's hard to argue with that! Jim

.

treessavoy · 12-29-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Jim, I raced then. It wasn't so much "rich guys" as it was guys with some ability doing their own work winning. We weren't running over with check book racers like we are now. Not nearly as many "rich guys" in the U.S. as there is now. Things were different, people were different.

Ed,

When I raced back then I would have to work (service station) for a month just to buy a set of headers whereas the moneyed racers had no problem buying parts and doing the work to crush records and make your car uncompetitive in a single night.

Back then you couldn't move to another class without buying another car because cars were classed by shipping weight and HP.

JimR

Ed Wright · 12-29-2011, 04:38 PM

You could change carbs to change classes with most cars. 2bl, 4bl, multiple carbs, etc. We usually put toll road money in the glove box when we left for out of town races just to make sure we could pay the toll to get back, and put back money for gas ahead of time to pay for the trips. Usually carried sandwiches to eat. I had to make traction bars, etc, because I couold not afford to buy everything. Built my own engines, trans, set up my own rear gears, etc, etc. I often held the record, and never had anybody "bury" it to where I couldn't run it.

art leong · 12-29-2011, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

You could change carbs to change classes with most cars. 2bl, 4bl, multiple carbs, etc. We usually put toll road money in the glove box when we left for out of town races just to make sure we could pay the toll to get back, and put back money for gas ahead of time to pay for the trips. Usually carried sandwiches to eat. I had to make traction bars, etc, because I couold not afford to buy everything. Built my own engines, trans, set up my own rear gears, etc, etc. I often held the record, and never had anybody "bury" it to where I couldn't run it.

Your quote brings back some fine memories. On Memorial Day weekend in 74 we won the National Invitational at York Pa. Once we got down to 4 cars we knew we were in the money, so we spent what we had for tolls and gas on a feast of food from the concession stand. Well we won tore it down were found legal. And given a check for the win. We had nowhere to cash the check on a Sunday night, everyone had left the track by then. So we had to camp out in the truck at York till the bank opened on Tuesday morning. With nothing to eat, and only the oily well water to drink.
But it was our first win and worth it.

Ed Wright · 12-29-2011, 10:21 PM

When Jeanie & I could finally afford a ramp truck so she could help with driving (she never could deal with towing (tow bar). We could not get off work long enough to travel early. Most always drove all night after working all day Friday, so worked all day then drove all night. Then drove all night Sunday to get home to work Monday. We finally traded my work car for an old 1 ton cab & chassis, I spent most of the winter extending the frame and building tool boxes, adding a big tank and ramps. I had to drive it to work & back as a second car, 18 miles each way. We could drive in shifts then. I think she watched the race car in the mirror while towing with the two bar. Very scary. LOL I'm way too old to race like that now. Pay outs were about the same as now, but went a lot further. My '56 Chevy Jr. Stocker paid a lot of it's own way. That money sure doesn't go as far now, does it?

12-26-2011, 01:22 AM	#1
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: They say you can't go back....but...?? If you wanna go back then you have to run off class records which means rich guys win, just like the "good old days"! JimR __________________ Jim Rountree

12-26-2011, 08:53 AM	#2
OLD INJUN Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 160 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: They say you can't go back....but...?? this is what i think , listen to this. Last edited by OLD INJUN; 12-26-2011 at 08:56 AM.

12-29-2011, 04:38 PM	#6
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: They say you can't go back....but...?? You could change carbs to change classes with most cars. 2bl, 4bl, multiple carbs, etc. We usually put toll road money in the glove box when we left for out of town races just to make sure we could pay the toll to get back, and put back money for gas ahead of time to pay for the trips. Usually carried sandwiches to eat. I had to make traction bars, etc, because I couold not afford to buy everything. Built my own engines, trans, set up my own rear gears, etc, etc. I often held the record, and never had anybody "bury" it to where I couldn't run it. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

12-29-2011, 10:21 PM	#8
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: They say you can't go back....but...?? When Jeanie & I could finally afford a ramp truck so she could help with driving (she never could deal with towing (tow bar). We could not get off work long enough to travel early. Most always drove all night after working all day Friday, so worked all day then drove all night. Then drove all night Sunday to get home to work Monday. We finally traded my work car for an old 1 ton cab & chassis, I spent most of the winter extending the frame and building tool boxes, adding a big tank and ramps. I had to drive it to work & back as a second car, 18 miles each way. We could drive in shifts then. I think she watched the race car in the mirror while towing with the two bar. Very scary. LOL I'm way too old to race like that now. Pay outs were about the same as now, but went a lot further. My '56 Chevy Jr. Stocker paid a lot of it's own way. That money sure doesn't go as far now, does it? __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA Last edited by Ed Wright; 12-29-2011 at 10:23 PM.