12V racing battery recommendations

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Stock the batteries MUST be exactly the same size. NOT just same brand and similar model. I got bounced for less than 1 Inch difference in length and same width in the same brand and model. This was in St. Louis
at Divisional last year in my Demon.

That is splitting hairs. Seems a bit picky on that. I could see if it was a big difference. Looks like they were hunting something to bounce you which is surprising as many racers as you have helped over the years.

[Jim Hawkins]

I work on electric forklifts and other small electric powered equipment and deal with deep cycle batteries daily. In a race car if you can handle the weight run a AGM 12 volt deep cycle and forget about them for 5 years or more. I have had good luck with deka brand group 24 AGM batteries. Weigh 45# each. I had a pair of them in the car for over 5 years and then moved them to the trailer and they are still powering the winch, lights etc. Plus you can leave them for months and still hold a decent charge.
Years ago had good luck with optima brand but at some time there manufacturing was moved out of the country. After that they did not last as long, not sure where they are made now or if that problem has been corrected.

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

.... Looks like they were hunting something to bounce you which is surprising as many racers as you have helped over the years.

Well, there is that tree in Pomona...right John?

Battery size is one of those areas that racers seem to receive some latitude on....but I’m all for letting sleeping dogs lie.

[GTX JOHN]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

That is splitting hairs. Seems a bit picky on that. I could see if it was a big difference. Looks like they were hunting something to bounce you which is surprising as many racers as you have helped over the years.

St Louis was one of very last divisional races of the year....We had to go back to fix some damages to our average (Thanks to other folk's performance). I had not been back East racing for many many years.....I got the impression from the extended time spent going over my old car (Raced since early 90's) that I was not getting thru Tech unblemished. It was easy enough to go to Walmart and buy two batteries!
Perhaps the Tech guy was a tree hugger and mad at me for the tree destruction like Jim said ( Only God can make a Tree but any Fool can knock the darn thing down ).