Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023

[Mark Yacavone]

NB doesn't have many usable parts, so far...
Hey VR, can I get away with using the 8.2 10 bolt rear?
VR> No, but the 12 bolt has always been legal as an option, but you need it for the 6.14's anyway. You'll need some 8.5 to 10 " light wheels to mount your radial slicks on.
NB> How much for the slicks?
VR> A lot..but you can probably buy some take offs from the high hp guys, for a bunch less.
NB breathes a temporary sigh of relief...

Hey VR, I see you have a fuel cell in your car. Do I need that?
VR> Oh yeah..It's for safety, plus you can clean out the old race gas easier so you don't pollute your fresh racing gas. That stuff ain't cheap.
NB asks how much per gallon and VR tells him . NB promptly passes out on the floor.
VR pours cold water on his head.
Will he ever wake up?
Stay tuned..

[1347]

This is a dumb thread that is really not proving a point.
You are trying to make fun of years of Evolution caused by racers with deep pockets. As much as you can try to blame NHRA on these things, it was all due to people lobbying for these rule changes, just like the roller lifter post that gets brought up every couple months. Where does this go? Where another VR turns NB onto a front wheel drive stocker that will run the index for an affordable price?
These changes are here to stay and like everything in life, not everyone is happy about it, especially older racers who like how it was.
I'm not a fan of electric cars, but I will age out too and they will become the norm.

[jmcarter]

I’m personally enjoying the thread, keep it going Mark. It offers a sobering view of how we got here. Simply what you get when you’ve selected a performance based class. While the .10-.20 under car might be prudent and even affordable who wants to live in fear of seeing your name on the ladder next to the racer who spends crazy $ to be at the top of the sheet. Ego also drive’s cost on the populated classes more so than competitive spirit.

[Stan Weiss]

It will get even better after NB follows all that VR tells him. NB goes to a test and tune and runs -1.135 under. They go to a National and VR tells NB not to run run faster than -0.80 under. NB says to VR WTF, I could have done that for $10's of thousands less.

Stan

[Frank Castros]

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

It will get even better after NB follows all that VR tells him. NB goes to a test and tune and runs -1.135 under. They go to a National and VR tells NB not to run run faster than -0.80 under. NB says to VR WTF, I could have done that for $10's of thousands less.

Stan

My point exactly.

Great thread Mark

[Jim Caughlin]

I understand what you are getting at here and it is entertaining but why doesn't Joe Newbie do what a lot of us did, build a Stock legal bracket car and work at it a little at a time within his budget until he has something that is sub index, then he can switch over to class racing? He can race in the meantime until he gets to where he wants to be.

Another point, be a mentor to someone, I didn't have anyone to help me when I was starting out and spent years in the wilderness not spending money in the right places and not knowing the tricks to winning rounds.

[Jim Caughlin]

Secondly. a 20 year old newbie on a budget isn't going to win a heads up, just learn to live with it. If he's on a budget, he likely will be building a slower class car so the odd of a heads up a pretty slim anyway.

[Paul Wong]

Who here without a lot of help from parents or something of that nature came out on fire with a stock superstock car.

When I was 20 if I ran into a A or B car I was going to take a beating. The only way I won a heads up race then was when I had a guy decide to watch my fender and not the tree to leave. I did resort to building a U car, but did buy a very competitive record holder when I got out of Grad School. What happened to earning your stripes.

Funny enough Mark, I have a full size 283 car in process now. It may have a bit more evolution but it will also fit right in at a junior stock race. There have always been people talking about wanting to build a car but its a hell of a lot more than money. I get it if you want to go fast it takes money now, but so does the damn grocery store and gas station.

This is not a participation prize sport and that is what drew me to it. The world knows I like eccentric combos that may require one off parts or have the capability of being Number 1 at Indy. That's is something I grew fond of when I did not have the money to qualify on the top of the sheet with a "conventional" stocker.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by 1347

This is a dumb thread that is really not proving a point.
You are trying to make fun of years of Evolution caused by racers with deep pockets. As much as you can try to blame NHRA on these things, it was all due to people lobbying for these rule changes, just like the roller lifter post that gets brought up every couple months. Where does this go? Where another VR turns NB onto a front wheel drive stocker that will run the index for an affordable price?
These changes are here to stay and like everything in life, not everyone is happy about it, especially older racers who like how it was.
I'm not a fan of electric cars, but I will age out too and they will become the norm.

I think that YOU'RE missing the point. I don't see it as trying to make fun of anything. He HAS made a good "point" of bringing out just how the Racer's personal agendas have brought the sport (MY sport) to a point of specialization where an "average" 20 year old who has no other family involved largely wouldn't have the funds or knowledge to compete. I don't see him laying blame on the NHRA anywhere in his posts. ALTHOUGH we both know that certain Racers have an easier way of pushing their personal agendas than others and certain companies seem to have their products forced upon us whether they're needed or not.
Where DOES this go?

[PozQB14]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I think that YOU'RE missing the point. I don't see it as trying to make fun of anything. He HAS made a good "point" of bringing out just how the Racer's personal agendas have brought the sport (MY sport) to a point of specialization where an "average" 20 year old who has no other family involved largely wouldn't have the funds or knowledge to compete. I don't see him laying blame on the NHRA anywhere in his posts. ALTHOUGH we both know that certain Racers have an easier way of pushing their personal agendas than others and certain companies seem to have their products forced upon us whether they're needed or not.
Where DOES this go?

The average 20 year is old is swapping that worthless stock 283 for a readily available 5.3 or 6.0 LS that he...or she can go pick out in a junk yard. A quick freshen up, upgrade the rods and pistons to gen IV ones and slap on a cheap 88mm turbo. Spend roughly 3-4k for someone to fab up some piping. Get a used holley ECU and make sure you have a well known "power adder" machine shop sticker like you see on the street outlaw cars. So you have some creditability at your local test and tune. Make around 15-20 lbs of boost and voila!!! Easiest 1200 hp you've ever made. You'll have as much in your engine as some guys have in their stocker heads and intake alone.

The average 20 yr old doesn't see us on TV like they do the scripted street outlaw guys. NHRA had a perfect opportunity to give sportsman guys some spotlight during the rain delay at Topeka by at least showing just the finals. They won't do it and risk losing sponsorships for the pros.

Btw, we've all see tons of guys that only go 3-4 under the index holding up Wally's. Much more that top 5 qualifiers. I think a lot of guys rather leave second on the tree rather than be high up on the qualifying sheet.