Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Got me thinking why I picked what I picked. Just exactly why did one guy pick a combo. I'm talking about back when we first got started? How many of us made stupid choices? Personally, I just knew that I wanted a car that was faster than I had ever been in. I certainly didn't want to race something that was slower than my street driven car. In highschool I was driving a 1969 L-88 Camaro back and forth to high school.Set of 4.88's and a set of Hookers made that baby a handful.Bought it with my paper route money. 11.80's @ 116. In today's world it would be a slug. A few years later I purchased one of John Lingenfelter's 383 package Corvettes that I drove back and forth to work. 11.50's. That car was a ball as I hid a delay box in the center console, wired in 4 wheel line locks and ran Super Pro with it. There is something about driving to the track with the Bose stereo blaring, taking out Super Comp and Super Gas cars all day long, then driving home with the prize money. I honestly picked my "real race car" because it did big wheel stands and was faster than I was driving for transportation. You guys bring up a lot of valad points though..

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Harry is my hero too! Could not have been more proud of him when he won in SS. There was no quit in Harry! But more proud to just call him a friend!

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

I think Harry would be the first to tell you that it would be easier to win with a quicker/faster car! My view of a slow stocker with very little chance to win is that of 4 or 6 cylinder with a small carb - probably T/SA or slower which are the ones that are very difficult to dial over a 4 or 5 day race (not many of those now adays - but still holds true where you have to run first round early in the morning without a time trial). Most of these cars are capable of being low qualifier as they have not had many people racing them, getting them consistently factored over the years. But it's one thing to qualify low vs going on to win the race. Lot easer 1976 and earlier when you could run flat out... Wallace and Reider Pinto Wagon .. comes to mind.

I drove Harry's Comet with a stick in it for about 3/4 of a year - the fall of 76 thru the Summernationals in 77. Made it to the semi finals of stock at Englishtown that year with the car and broke out (air was getting better as the afternoon cooled off and progressed into early evening) We used to use carb gaskets with smaller bores in them to restrict the performance. Put the smallest one we had in for that semi final race and still broke out. I said that's it, I am not running a slow car again that is so weather dependent and I didn't.

This thread has been an interesting read. I have started it a few times, but this is the first time I have read it to the end. I loved class racing when I raced; always worked hard to be the fastest in class as that meant something to me. I admire those who can continue to race without winning on a fairly consistent basis. Those that struggle with front wheel drive vehicles. I believe my friend Billy Owen has finally sold his front wheel drive race car and is going back to his Camaro. It is so hard to be consistent for 7 rounds in one of them. Mark Y, you are forever one of my hero's. And Gary Hampton; more power to you, hope you achieve your financial freedom and achieve your racing dreams! I was impressed with your D7 win a year or two ago.

When one's racing career is finished, I don't think it will be the wins and records one set; but the many friends all over the country that he has made that makes the journey so worth while! Going to a good friends birthday tomorrow that won division and national meets with what many considered slow cars in the L thru N or O class automatics classes and hope to see many other old stock racers there.

Now why are they live streaming the D1 Atco race and not the Joliet D3 race? Why not both?

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Id like to see more slower stockers being built T/SA on down.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

It can be done

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

I have a P/sa car we are playing with now. Hope to be competitive 12:80- 12:90 car for next year.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

What no Matty Box?

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Just maybe a veteran racer like Lyn Smith with his fancy new Q/SA '55 can ruffle a few feathers next year. I hope so.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Actually it's funny you ask. The guy that kept beating me was one of the dirty dozen.I did beat him in a final but he beat me like a red headed step child for two summers before I finally got around him.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Jeff,
I'm glad that you took my friendly dig in a good natured way. The Dirty Dozen.............I hate those guys.
The Matty Box is a crude and primitive tool compared with what's out there today, and good grief its hard to detect.


Sorry to stray from this thread's intent.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

This weekend was a NHRA Open @ Bremerton Raceway. We only had 10 Stock and Super Stockers show up for the combo. Here is the list of cars.

1 u/sa 72 comet
2 gt/la 91 olds calais
3 l/sa 65 valiant
4 t/sa 72 maverick
5 w/sa 76 pinto wagon
6 i/sa 66 chevelle
7 u/sa 79 mustang
8 p/sa 89 mustang
9 ss/la 76 roadrunner
10 n/sa 74 grand am

At the 1st race on Sat the winner was the u/sa 79 mustang of Gary Gandee, jr. Sunday's race was won by Darrick Ellam in his w/sa 76 Pinto Wagon.

Yes, Bremerton is an 1/8 mile track, but a win is still a win. Congrats to slow cars winning.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

When I raced Division 3 out of National Trails there was a 1964 Nova 6 cylinder 4 door if I remember correctly. The thing ran something like 18 seconds and trust me NO ONE. Wanted him in the other lane!

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Gary Gandee didn't get the memo that slow cars don't win and doubled up this weekend winning both races and $4,000 with his U/SA Mustang at the Northwest Class Racers double-header race at Renegade Raceway in Yakima, Washington.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

First, Congrats to Brent K for his r/u in race 1 last weekend.

I hope he doesn't mind me mentioning this, but there are no secrets on the 'net anymore...It was on NHRA TV, NHRA Y/T, Div. Live Timing, and DRC.
Every run, around 70 mph. Even the announcer mentioned this.The car runs about 83-84 mph.

For the dozen who will read this, and the half dozen who might reply, .....
Spot dropping? Holding and then working the finish line brakes? Giving it up and hoping the other guy is holding, big time? Trying to dial on the money, and hoping the other guy has no room?
What works for you? What doesn't ? Mum is the operative word here?

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

It could or even should be any of the above, with the decision made in the final 500 feet of the racetrack. Why give the opponent a stationary (relatively speaking) target to hit?

I love watching that car go rounds, which it does pretty regularly. Congrats on a great day!

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

A couple of years ago,

http://www.1960plymouth.com/AMC/winner_circle.jpg
winner_circle.jpg

Runner up the same event last year. Always had good luck at Atlanta, sad it's gone.

http://www.1960plymouth.com/AMC/IMG_2411.JPG



My first stocker, slow, but have had good luck.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Did you know Brent was 2002 Div 5 sportsman et champion, along with being voted et driver of the year? At last years class racer revival race his stout little Mopar won the cic race over some very good cars. He has worked hard on his combo and his driving and it shows. It's not what you drive it's how you drive it. Showing my age but how many people remember Brett Kepners how to in SSDI Doctor Dirt story of how to win in a slow car. Tim Nicolson super gas car dropping going 100 when most cars are going 150 plus, many other racers are doing the same thing. Hopefully everybody is having fun, whatever they are doing. Tom

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Very belated thanks for the nice comments you said about my wins early this year, and 2yrs ago yesterday Mark. When I look back on that race I have to give GOD Big Time thanks that I won several of those rounds, because one or two thousandths of a second (or even .009 difference vs Jody), could've taken me out in a few of those races. Fortunately for me it must've been my day, and I will be thankful for all the luck I had! I went to that race feeling really good thanks to my quarter-final finish two days earlier, and losing a very close race to the Super Stock Mustang of John Calvert 2wks prior (that was winnable also).

I watched Brent's race, and maybe he did lift a little....I've done that more times than I care to remember! It's absolutely harder to judge a car that spots you 4 + seconds at the starting line, but you Mark, Brent, myself and Bill, Billy, Rob in FWD Stockers, and all of the slow running RWD others have proven it's not impossible! I was rooting for you Brent, and echoed the sentiments of the great Alan Reinhart, when it went the other guys way, and by how close it was! Sometimes you get penalized for slowing down too much, not enough, or not at all.

Keep doing what you're doing Brent, and I will do my best to do so as well!

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Just a honest opinion from a fan that travels all around taking pictures but races in other sanctions, the normal spectators always root for the slow cars to lose early so they don't have to watch them! Just a honest opinion! I have had several FWD guy's ask me why I don't take any pictures of their cars and honestly, it's because I have zero interest. I want stick cars and ones that make a great picture.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Gee, lucky for me I'm not a picture guy!

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Bob, my experience is opposite of yours. Maybe not the great photo opportunity but I always root for slow stockers, my favorite being Darrick Ellam’s dragon slaying pinto wagon “woody”. Have heard the roar of approval many times when the slow cars take out the big dogs, who roots against the underdog?

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Being from out on the west coast Darrick's wagon is one of my favorites. Jim Mantle's Pacer Wagon is another and , YES, I root for the slow cars to win. They don't always accomplish the goal, but is really fun when they do. I know there are many more SLOW stockers out there, these are just 2 of my favorite cars to watch.

Really fun when they are being chased by a new Copo, Drag Pack or Cobra Jet.

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Hope you will be cheering for me. Just bought Michael Beard's 1987 Tursimo DF/SA. Will have it ready for the 2023 LODRS. It should be fun!

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

Great..We'll watch for your name..

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

I wasn't able to race as much as I wanted to this year, grandkids in sports kept me busy. But, I don't think I had anybody say they didn't like my car. I had plenty say they did, especially if "The Buzzin' Half Dozen Too" went a few rounds.

#5458

Curt Rees

Re: Misconception on a slow stocker winning
 

On DRC check out Darrick’s rounds yesterday at Famosa. Took out Sorensen (no small feat and revenge for Vegas D7 final 3 years ago) and then Jody (unquestionably the best “slow” racer).