Why do you run what you run?

[Joe Toller]

Why did you build the particular car you run, and why? Just want to know what everyone's thinking was, whether it was what you had, bought it, had a wild hair, etc...

[Dennis P Chapman]

I like the FWD cars cheap to build and maintain fun to drive. Year ago used to race 68
chevelle wagon still have it.

[Mike Carr]

I've raced FWD Stockers for the past several years. Two were '85 Sunbirds (AF/S and HF/SA) owned by Billy Nees. My current car I bought from Tom Kasch, a '92 Olds Toronado (EF/SA). Main thing for me is the challenge. I could have bought a FWD car back in 1997, but I let everyone talk me out of it. "Oh, you don't want a FWD car...they are inconsistant....you can't dial them...can't cut a light in them....can't drive the stripe in them..." And so on and so on. After a pair of eighth place Div 1 IHRA Stock finishes and some other good results, I showed that it could be done. It is very dificult, but doable. The down sides are the ones mentioned above. The up sides are they are fairly cheap to build, usually easy to find parts for, and can go Stock racing with very little start up costs, at least compared to many other Stockers. Plus, i like odd or rare type cars. So many '69 BBC Camaros in Stock. I appreciate the odder and one-off type stuff, FWD cars, and lower classified Stockers. For anyone reading this, and wonder what a good combo(s) would be, get in touch with Billy Nees, Bob Shaw, Mark Yacavone, to name a few...I'm sure there are others with knowledge into what to build, for less than an arm and a leg, and still be competitive.

B.D.

[Billy Nees]

Iraceitall, see my post under inline six cyls.

[Jeff Lee]

I actually did a lot of research looking for an untried combo. Back then you had to give NHRA $400 for the complete class guide and engine blueprint specifications. The '70 AMX, while I was always interested in, looked appealing after looking at it in the guides. And I looked at a lot of others too.
Some cars are picked for no other reason than it was laying aroound or the racer always wanted that type of car.
If you really know your stuff, you can look through the guides (now available free on-line) and find errors that will be to your advantage. There are numerous examples which I won't point out. Other ideas are superseded parts being allowed which offer much more to the racer.
If you don't want a belly-button race car there are plenty to choose from. Even if you want a belly button race car you will have fun and should be competitive. Just be aware some classes and some combo's require infinite knowledge and / or $$ infused into the car to be competitive.

[Tom Goldman]

I've run the AMC's off and on for 38 years. ....Sometimes because thats what I had, but mostly for the challange. ......As I got older[lazier], I discovered I wanted to spend more time racing,instead of working on the car all the time,so I went to big block Chevies and Super class racing ..........Nowdays, it's become financially impractical to build a oddball combo for Class racing ,unless you dont care about the money or if it's ever quick enough to be competitive. ..........Tom

[Chad Rhodes]

well, Dad bought the 68 corvette in 70. He's had it longer than me, and its been a race car since 73. My dad has had no interest in racing anything other than a big block vette. Its been a 427/400, a 427/435, and we are now building an L88 for it. Dad's been considering building another one just like it to retire this car since it is an original 427/435 4 spd car.

I would love to build a 66 Chevy II 327/350 4 speed car, i am currently looking for a good car to start with. Unfortunetly the budget is not cooperating

[Pistol Pete]

I had always loved Camaro's.
Had a 69 Camaro that ran Super Stock from 1974-1979.

Now after 30 years of not racing, i'm building a 87 Camaro Stocker.


CAMARO'S RULE......................



Pistol Pete

[james schaechter]

My brother and I raced a 69 Camaro in SSBS. 316 in Jerico. It was low buck. Everything was used in it. Our buddy and mentor Bob Gipson got back into racing at our behest in a 65 Chevelle stocker. A 66 Nova stocker came up for sale and we bought it. It allowed us to share technology and was a great way to get going in a hurry as many of the same engine parts could be used between the two cars. It is a great car and has a lot of differnt classes to be run. We have run in K, J, I, H, F, E, D, C stick with the same car. It is a lot of fun. The nice part is that we can actually afford new parts now and again. The old Modified car was just too much $$ for us.

[Ed Carpenter]

I always loved 66 Chevy II's. I raced my dad's old 65 Chevy II for years and sold it. I decided I wanted a 66 and finally found one a few years ago. The first thing I had to do was get rid of that damn auto that was in it. I bought a Jerico and now my son and I have alot of fun with it. ED