Larry Morgan quitting Pro Stock

[FINESPLINE]

Having read some of the interviews of CW over the years as far as building engines and design and where it has taken him in SS/AH, I believe that he is well capable of taking a Ford or any other motor designed for racing to the level of being completely competitive within the rules.

I will not quote him but I do remember reading that with his CNC machines he said that if i can dream it ,I can make it.

If anybody has seen a Ford Pro Stock head casting next to a Chrysler Pro stock head casting, they are eerily very close to each other. He is not going into this blind. This is his own challenge and I wish him nothing but the best success in the future.

[mannymen]

Regarding joespanova's comments. He is right. You cannot compare things from 40 plus years ago. It was a much different deal that far back.

You can only go back to about the late 90's (Not the 60's - 80's) during the WJ Pontiac era for a more fair comparison of pro stock contributors . If you weren't in the mix then, then best of luck now. A majority of today's heavy hitters in PS were working as a young buck on most of those teams.

Take a look at Ford entry below. Not good and hasn't been good since Glidden retired the 89-90 red/white Ford Probe. I loved Glidden and Ford, but Ford is dead in the PS ranks. I only care to follow Dave Connolly (the best driving ability on the circuit), as we were all part of the NRP family.


DINWIDDIE, Va. - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Pro Stock at the 4th Annual Pennzoil Nationals Presented by Trak Auto:


Psn-Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type------------------------------ET---Speed

1 295 Barry Grant, Dahlonega GA, Olds Cutlass 6.926 197.97
2 2 Warren Johnson, Duluth GA, Pont Firebird 6.927 199.24
3 3 Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville GA, Chevy Camaro 6.931 198.19
4 251 Pete Williams, Cottondale AL, Olds Cutlass 6.932 198.63
5 207 Mike Thomas, Knoxville TN, Pont Firebird 6.934 197.49
6 25 Jeg Coughlin, Columbus OH, Olds Cutlass 6.946 197.71
7 357 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, Chevy Camaro 6.950 197.49
8 1525 John Nobile, Melville NY, Olds Cutlass 6.952 197.71
9 136 Bob Benza, Briarcliff Manor NY, Pont Firebird 6.954 197.49
10 19 Richie Stevens, New Orleans LA, Pont Firebird 6.957 197.06
11 44 Mike Edwards, Broken Arrow OK, Pont Firebird 6.958 197.06
12 5 Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis IN, Pont Firebird 6.962 198.15
13 387 Mark Pawuk, Akron OH, Pont Firebird 6.962 197.41
14 358 Larry Nance, Akron OH, Dodge Avenger 6.969 197.67
15 244 Mark Osborne, Abingdon VA, Pont Firebird 6.974 197.49
16 6 Tom Martino, Farmingdale NJ, Pont Firebird 6.974 196.72

--------- Not Qualified ---------

17 398 Darrell Alderman, Morehead KY, Dodge Avenger 6.975 197.84
18 8 Troy Coughlin, Columbus OH, Olds Cutlass 6.980 197.15
19 7 George Marnell, Las Vegas NV, Pont Firebird 6.980 196.03
20 368 Ray Franks, New Carlisle OH, Pont Firebird 6.982 198.01
21 1 Jim Yates, Alexandria VA, Pont Firebird 6.986 196.37
22 4 Bruce Allen, Arlington TX, Pont Firebird 6.989 197.19
23 262 Robert Patrick, Fredricksburg VA, Ford Probe 6.992 197.32
24 55 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, Pont Firebird 6.993 196.54
25 11 Scott Geoffrion, SJ Capistrano CA, Dodge Avenger 6.997 197.06
26 20 Shawn Collins, Glen Allen VA, Pont Firebird 7.010 196.27
27 351 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, Pont Firebird 7.022 196.46
28 412 Arturo Delgado, McAllen TX, Pont Firebird 7.031 196.46
29 211 Grant Lewis, Jesup GA, Pont Firebird 7.043 196.33
30 270 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, Dodge Avenger 7.043 195.05
31 233 Greg Anderson, Jacksonville NC, Pont Firebird 7.059 195.01
32 150 Kenny Delco, Centereach NY, Olds Cutlass 7.105 194.63
33 200 Vince Khoury, Harrison Twp. MI, Pont Firebird 7.133 193.09

[Ed Carpenter]

I wish Westcott nothing but good luck. When I said I talked to a crew member on Allen Johnson's crew and he told me about the springs he sure wasn't "bragging" about it. In fact it was the exact opposite. He said its a huge cost and it keeps alot of guys away. He said the rpm is so high now (over 11,500) its impossible to keep the cost down. He said 3 maybe 4 runs on a set f your lucky. Go to the yellowbullet pro stock thread Nick Ferri head engine builder for Elite and the Madcap engine builder (V Gaines) give alot of onsite about pro stock engine. It still amazes me that you can make 1400+ hp and turn 11,000 with a 500" engine.

[randy wilson]

I wouldn't know Charlie if he walked up and slapped me. But my advice to anyone competing against anyone, especially with the track record he has is, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE!

[RJDUDEK]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

Interesting article, nothing really surprising but if Morgan and others (McGaha hasn't exactly had a great year with Edwards operation, Jeggie itching to do something else? Just how long is Roy Johnson willing to keep doing this or Ken Black keep footing a big part of the Summit team?) bail and you start having 10 car fields then something has to change. There were 29 Pro Mod cars attempting to qualify at St Louis and they are getting more and more ink. The FSS cars are getting a lot of support...surely the end of PS is near. Dang shame NHRA hasn't kept the rules such that it remained viable.

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-...-pro-stock-too

-----------------------------------

PS identity Blandness creates boredom...even @ 11,000 RPMs...at this years Summer's..They were more excited to see wheels up 9.0 stockers.

[RJDUDEK]

Originally Posted by deuces wild

I like pro mods because you never know what gonna happen! Pro stock is very predictable.

'''''''''''''''''''

I think a certain, Mr. Gaines may take exception to that observation...!

[Pistol Pete]

33 Cars trying for 16 spots.

Other than Indy, When have you seen that many Pro/S trying to qualify for 16 spots.

Look at the names too, lot of the guys Do Not Even Race Anymore !!!!

[Sam M]

Wow! 5 hundreds off is the bump.....

[BOB KIRKBRIDE]

Charlie Wescott could certainly run with the heavy hitters in Pro Stock. IF he had major backing. Real major. Pro Stock, the way it is runs on nothing but money. Maybe it Larry Morgan't ideas would help lower the costs 10,500 rev limit, Cam lift limitations,etc.were followed it might lower the costs enough for more racers to compete. The Ford engine is almost exactly like the Dodge "hemi" You could take out the "almost" V. Gaines told me at Pomona that he replaces valve springs every 4 runs!!! They are not regular springs either! The way the Super Stock hemis are built now, they are not too far off Pro Stock. Charlie also built the 427 Ford Thunderbolt engine of SS/B engine of many time Indy winner Ray Paquet. A 427 with 735 cfm carbs that weighs 3,000 pounds and now runs 8.50s!!! Yeah, wow! I think he has the smarts and the technical knowledge to compete, with enough $$$$

[charlie westcott]

You guys keep talking about valve springs lasting 4 runs. Big deal.
We change our hemi springs in 10 runs.
So if I go to a race wint a new set on, and I qualify I change them.
Now to go through another set (4 more runs) I have to win.
I dont mind spending 600 to get 5K for qualifying
and another 600 to win 35K

The expenses in the class as I see it are
1) People/Overhead
2) Traveling
3) Parts

I dont have to spend 200k a year to get on the CFE program for heads
I can make my own camshafts, intakes, pistons, blocks, etc.

How much do you think Ogburn used to spend to race a hemi? Semi, uniforms, 10 people at a race etc.
My point is spending money wisely will get you a long way in life, and wasting money wont buy you a trophy.

Also people keep saying that the ford is not a good engine. They dont know what they are talking about. The heads are the same as the dodge, the block is the same except cam location is higher in the ford. The problem is (in my opinion) not the parts. The people that are running them now with little or no success, had the same results in the past with other brands. I am asking this as a question because I dont know, did Larry Morgan ever win with the Dodge? I thought I heard the last time he won a race was in 91 or something.
Anyways, its sunday morning, and I have to get back to work.
Thanks to all the people cheering for me. I wont let you down,
cw