Best thing about U/SA?
 

I know there's alot of U/SA drivers out here, some of the biggest "characters" lol around. Also some of the coolest cars and combos. So, U/SA'ers and fans of, what is the best thing about this class? Value? Parity? The camraderie? All of the above? Also, what is your favorite U/SA car or if you wanted one, what would you build?

I need some oddball car bench racing on a snowy Montana evening...

I will say all of the above, but I'm a sucker for odd, cheap, ugly race cars...

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

A U/Stocker is MUCH more fun to pilot then a U/SA!

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

I Think watching a mail jeep go from mail box to mail box in snowy Montana would be more Fun....

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

More fun? Maybe. More personal satisfaction? No.
IMHO, all of the lower Stock classes are the last place left where real HotRodders can play in the NHRA except for the occational Import in SS or Comp.
There's just something very satisfying about taking an old car that the aftermarket has no interest in, building your own parts, creating your own engine program and making it go 4 or 5 seconds faster than it should.
Or you could just get out your checkbook and be a StreetRodder!
(thanks to Bucky Hess for explaining the difference to me!)

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

I like the wagons and large trunk vehicles cause they carry the beverages. You guys have too much fun, sorta like racing in 62 and 63.

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This is hitting the nail on the head. I never thought of the beverage hauler idea.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Leave it to Jeff to think of that.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

More track time!

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Didn't Chevy make a Monza with a 28? V8? Or how about one of those AMC Hornet coupes or wagons with a 304 V8?

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Can't speak for U but T I guess is close enough.I had a great time running mt 13 second slug for 11 years.Came out on top over some high doller rides,met the greatest peopke in the world and along the way got to use a 2 diget number,set three class records,win a divisional,runner up at one and go to the semis at a national.All for not that much money
compared to what some of these cars cost now.
I think I bailed at the right time.Now I'm futzing with a 1965 (sorry Billy) Mmmmmustang
and a 1965 Rambler American s/w.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Ed, I don't know about the Mustang, but the Rambler sounds very cool. I thought of you when I saw a really cool looking Gremlin cruising westbound on I10 (west of I17) last week. That would be another out of the ordinary car to race stock with. Glad you had success with yours. :)

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Gary,

Yeah, the Monza had a 262 V8, most were 5 speeds, if I remember correctly. Am sure there were a few with automatics as well. A co-worker of mine at a plant in Greenwood, Indiana that no longer exists. Bought a new one in 1975. Raced him with my 74 Pinto 2000cc 4 cyl. His V8 beat me but not by much. Maybe a fender or so.

Agree with Billy. The lower classes are all that's left for those of us without fat wallets and deep pockets. I'd say in a couple years, the new cars will be dominate in everything from J-K on down thru A. Some of the guys with deep pockets or the ability to scrounge may keep a few of the older cars competitive. I'd be willing to wager they will become few and far between.

Another point to consider. How many people build their own cars today? They ain't no ready made cars for the lower classes! Maybe we can take a page from the local dirt track racers. Take our dime rockets and run a "Bomber Stock" class. Run N thru W, with the FWD classes thrown in as well.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Thats why I am here! I love budget racing, and I especially love taking something that has no business being a race car and getting it to the track. Its alot easier to do on the strip instead of the dirt!

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FYI, in bad weather Montana mail trucks use chains on the rear wheels, no fun to watch at all

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Nor do they make enough power to get squirrelly...

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

[QUOTE=Billy Nees;403980]
There's just something very satisfying about taking an old car that the aftermarket has no interest in, building your own parts, creating your own engine program and making it go 4 or 5 seconds faster than it should.

I think Billy hit the nail on the head and getting a chance to take on one of the new FX cars adds to the fun.

Jim Mantle U/V/SA 6632

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

What tend to be the best U/SA Cars.

There is a red U/SA Red Dodge or Plymouth wagon that goes to Mason Dixon from time to time..

D

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Brainerd 2010 LODRS.

Ray Remington, Austin MN, '67 Coronet. I have a soft spot for these cars as my Dad owned one.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4016/4...7d2a9c01_z.jpg

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Agree with "doc" billy nees and ed "im from jersey"fernandez-one of the only places left that makes any sense.
Ps,yes.ed is originally from greenwich village.the character maynard g. Krebs from the doby gillis show is loosely adapted from eds early years running a 56 nomad with a straight axle in manhattan....among other things!.....ed is groovey!

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

I had a 79 Monte 262. Factory dual dipstick oil pan, provisions for both sides. 200 i think 3 speed auto and factory 242 posi. factory aluminum trunk lid too.
Dumped the leaky 262. Should've kept the pan but forgot.
dropped in a junkyard 400 painted blue w a t 350, car was a riot and hurt a lot of feelings on the street. Never did find top speed w those gears, lol
Long live the slower stockers. Nothing like taking out a new factory car... right Billy? lol

Chris

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Count me in Robert...this down time from metro Phoenix having any drag strips to enjoy racing at since March, has given me time to get my financial house in better shape (pay isn't going up, so debt needs to go down!), and hopefully the new owners of IHRA will have a D7 Pro-Am series to look forward to next year (they have enough tracks, so why not)?

I also like that '67 Dodge Coronet that was recently posted...more Mopars to ponder are cool! My guess is that had a 273 V8, and I like that body style almost as much as the '63-'65 Belvedere/Savoy/Fury/Coronet bodies!!! :)

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

top 10 reasons U/SA is cool

1. where else can you see a 4500lb wagon and a turbo capri heads up ?
2. you are side by side long enough to insitigate an actual fued
3. you get to race a guy named wong who isnt oriental
4. you never know when NHRA will insert a ringer into the class like a -19hp ford
5. the caddy has to run with the AC on high and englebert humperdink on the 8 track
6. the first U/SA shootout pre race party ... just ask summerton
7. ron "if 1972 comes back i am ready" ortiz ... he's our class ambassador !
8. just wait until butner comes by at 1319 feet... WHOOOOSH...
9. my tree is ALWAYS clean !
and #10...
....we love it when the track sucks !!!!!!!

that and what billy said... i do it all myself, i work on the car,spend money very wisely, often sleep in the suburban >>> kinda get a rush when i qualify in the top 10 cause im in the bottom 10 in money spent !!!

captain jack

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Captain Jack hit a lot of good points, Billy is right on with his observations, and Eddie is, well Ed and well said. Below is some of my finer points of running U/SA and not in any particular order.

1. You can put a bunch of support equipment into the wagon and free up space in your tow vehicle.
2. When racing a fast car, which is usually the case, especially really fast cars, the spectators root for you.
3. Trying to gauge fast cars at the finish line is easy, why even look over when they are whizzing by at 20-30 mph difference, takes the worry out of about being close.
4. Your class designation is all american. USA.
5. Low maintenance, slicks are good for several years, usually have to get rid of them from dry rot.
6. Wear and tear are minimal, it's kind of hard to break something when you don't have enough horsepower to break anything.
7. Every run allows you to pick out friend in the stands.
8. You have the baddest cars, usually the #1 qualifier, in your class. When everyone else is complaining about under factored, or new combinations, the fastest cars are in U/SA
Example, Mike Senia, Cadillac. Lloyd MacKay, Buick factory hot rod, Bob Dennis, Banana Olds, Bob Shaw, Caddy, Paul Wong, Chevy Pick up, Gary Summers, Mustang.
9. Private parking at Belle Rose.
10. The car will still run with a rag over the carb.
11. When racing a fast car you can see great wheel stands in the rear view.
12. You can get 3 passes out of a gallon of fuel.
13. They make great pit vehicles.
14. And this is probably the best one. You can load a bunch of people up and ride to the staging lanes or finish line area no matter how full with spectators to watch the races and not get asked to leave.

So there you have it, next time your in the pits and need a ride let me know, the ride is free, but the entertainment will cost you forever.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA Time yourself for 14 seconds and see how many thing you can think of.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

And that my friends is Mr. Ortiz! LOL.... I would not change ANYTHING on this list. It needs to be on a T-shirt or bumper sticker...Good stuff Ron.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

lmao on 10 and 11. very funny

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

I forgot.

15. A wagon sleeps 2 comfortably.
16. Can actually be used as a grocery getter.
17. Attracts old people who used to have one, drove one or used to know someone who had one.
18. Impresses young people who have never saw a station wagon.
19. Continues to increase in value as an antique.
20. Because it is just plain cool to be in U/SA

Ron Ortiz
U/SA.........all contents and or comments are protected, reproduction or imitation is strictly prohibited, all right are reserved and considered reliable in a court of law, any implications towards any one, groups or organizations are void in the states of Insanity and Florida. If an erection occurs more than one minute, seek medical attention or switch sites. Common occurrences include vomiting, dizziness, inebriation, and self inflicting pain methods.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Was Mike Smith the last National event finalist in U/SA?

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

This is absolutely one of the best threads on this forum forever!

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Cool!

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I've been reading the posts on this subject and thought I would share a few of my thoughts on this post.A friend of mine who hasn't raced in quite a while called me up one day and asked if would help him build a stocker because that's what he ran a long time ago. When I asked him what he was going to run he said 1982 267motored Monte Carlo. At first I thought he was goofy but as he ran a Pinto and Mustang II with the 4 cylinder I thought well It will sure be different.As we got the car going I thought thought that there was no way that I would want to drive something that slow.As it turned out he ran into some health Issues and couldn't drive so I ended up driving for Now .I'll tell you that running it is every bit as much fun as driving the Nova I have. You never ever have to worry about spinning and I have a lot more time for my feeble brain to catch up with with what I'm supposed to be doing while I'm going down the track. I really feel that with all trend for having all these fast stockers nowadays that maybe going the other way ( slow) is the way to go. Bill

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Bill,
I once owned an '81 Malibu with the 267 as a second car. Was curious as how your friend's car runs with that combo. I always felt the dual jet carb was too restrictive. What ET are you running with it ? What MPH ? What rear gear does it run , etc. I too am a big fan of slower stockers ! Thanks !

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

This is kind of how i feel, everyone seems to want to be at the fast end of the class now. If you race something at the slow end you'll get use to racing against all these fast cars, almost every one of your runs you'll be the slower car judging a faster car. I raced a 12sec car in Super Pro for two years and got use to judging the stripe on 7 & 8sec racers. My thought is they only get the chance to race against someone that slow a couple of times if that a season where as i being the slower car will be judging the faster ones all the time.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

You might be on to something.The price of U/SA cars may be going up soon.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Joe: This weekend we took it to track and made 5 time trials with it. Started out with a 14.71@87.3mph , ended up running a 14.49@88.7. In between went 14.60,14.58,and 14.52.Started out with timing at 40, then moved it to 37,finally left it at 35for last three passes. 60fts went from1.88 to best on last passof 1.82. We're running a 5.57 gear in it now; crosses line at 6000 with 92inch Hossier radials.To me it's as much fun to try stuff with itto make it go as it is to race it. Bill

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Woo woo! I'm rich!

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

Bill, don't let my secret out!

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I should know when Mike was last a finalist, he was a friend of mine. But, it's been a while.
He was number 5 in the points one year with the red 65 Belvedere wagon that he bought from Dick Moreland (it was black when Dick owned it). I think the year was '84, I'm not sure. So that was probably the only year he was in a final, but I may be wrong. I imagine somebody has done it since?
Maybe Grape will chime in with more details.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

I am impressed with your progress. I know all about the fun factor you are having with this car. When I used to run my Monza in T with the 262 and made a good pass after flogging it , I felt like I was Larry Lombardo in Jenkin's car back in the day !

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Pretty sure Mike won @ Commerce in the late 80's, and maybe another final or two...Nat's ,Div's ??
Mike knew that car like the back of his hand...That's what it takes to win with a 14 sec. car .... Put it right on the money , with a good light. Holding back .02 against someone who's also holding .02, .03, .04...is a crap shoot at best...in my opinion
I'm pretty sure he's the most recent winner...dial in style

Bob Shaw won a CIC race in U/SA , I believe.

Franklin DeBart (Johhny D's son) might have won something with Billy's blue 6 cyl. Nova.

Re: Best thing about U/SA?
 

It was not that long ago that Billy Nees won 2 divisional races back to back with his trusty 6cyl Nova.................