Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

I have not given up on my pursuit of joining this awesome fraternity and have a question about what class to run. I'm finally recovering from the '20 "slide" and it's looking really good to have something in place to buy a ride in time for the upcoming Divisional schedule.

Understanding fees, travel expenses and having the tow rig and transport already on hand. I'm focusing on the ride purchase, as I have read on multiple occasions that it is best to buy than build.

Would you fellas go Stock or SuperStock racing as a first-timer?

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

Justin, after completing my freshman season getting my toes wet at this, I offer you what I feel are the 3 best pieces of advice I've ever seen posted throughout this forum for beginners:

#1 Talk to a fella that roams around these parts named Billy Nees if he's willing to talk for a few minutes 😀. I did, and he will shoot you straight on things.
#2 Run a stocker to learn the ropes of these treacherous waters
#3 Stick to your guns on buying a complete running car versus building one you have into a stocker. I can assure you, at least in my own personal experience, it would end up cheaper doing it that way. If you decide you don't like it, can always get rid of it. Good luck!

Corey Griffith (Bobby's son)
3367 I/SA

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

^^^ Great advice! ^^^

I would also add don't worry about having the latest and greatest and lightest $5K must-have _______ (fill in the blank with any number of go-fast parts) or rotating the Earth with a 1+ under pass. Chasing those hundredths and tenths can come later and may, MAY, take the fun out of it initially. Find a complete turn-key deal (great advice above) that will run the index and have fun!

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

Buy the race car at the track after it made sub index run. Check head casting number, intake casting number and other things that are verified correct. The best way is to know the car and the racer.

We all look forward to seeing new racers at the track. Good luck and be safe!

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

All Solid Advise from all. The only thing I would add is, look at makes that allow you to claim various years with the same body and have multiple engine combination options to run.

Good luck, Steve Teeter Stk/SS 620

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

Justin, most people that race stock and super stock probably had racing experience. I assume you have bracket raced before or at least have made passes down a track?
I’m in SoCal and the only track close with a lot of different programs is Bakersfield, head on out and talk to the racers. I’ll deviate a bit and say get a running car if you can but get a car model you LIKE, it will be a lot easier sinking a lot of money in it.
I’m on my 3rd build starting in super street for about $9,000 in the 80’s moved to super gas in the 90’s with a cost around $20,000 now I’m building what I hope to be a competitive stocker for A or B/SA and the cost as zoomed way up. (buying a running car is way cheaper) Don’t forget a rule book.

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

Some great advice here, Look for cars with combos that are common and easy to find parts for, that are flexible and reasonably competitive and fit your budget. Most importantly. When you find combos that fit the above criteria, make sure you like it.

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

I feel that it is very important to pick a combination that you know you will be happy with. Buying the car is just the beginning. Be prepared to put a lot of time, money, and emotional energy into your new project.

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

That is great advise!

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

LOTS of good advice here. There's just one thing I would like to add here, don't get in over-your-head. I see and hear of more well-intentioned projects not being finished because of a lack of time or money or both. Get involved with a combo that you know that you can finish!

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

Given that your in Montclair, take the short drive over to PMR in Rancho Cucamonga and introduce yourself to Phil and Tony Mandella. Let them know your looking to buy a car. They have a wide customer base and talk to a lot of local racers. They may be able to hook you up with someone wanting to sell. Plus they are extremely knowledgeable about stock and super stock, will be very good resource down the road if you have problems.

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

Take the advice given. Buy one already done. I have a Malibu wagon stocker that I’ve been trying to find a motor for going on 6-7 months. If I had known that I would have bought a turnkey car.

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

Here's my two cents: From one with too many fine rides. If you read the whole thing you can appreciate my pain.

Totally agree with the buy a well built one. Its 2022 and build costs have effectively doubled since 2010. And thats not taking into consideration parts shortages!

Make sure you like the car, you can't play with it much so it better bring a smile when you open the garage or trailer door. If you don't like its color, thats not exactly a $ less change!

If possible, buy a car with additional value. Understand that stock and superstock is actually one of the coolest car shows on earth with as a bonus amazing engineering, math and strategy. Develop a realistic plan of attack for what class/classes and what budget you have to work with.

Things I try to do/find:

#1 a real muscle car from when it was born which you can verify with the vin, OR #1A a born as a race car body in white.

A born as a race car only model, will not have a title, but its about a 95% bet you will find a nice clean body as its never been out in the snow etc.

Race car with history is always a bonus.

#2 Title, detailed history of the car, original parts if possible, etc. Who built it, when, and where.......a nice looking car can still be illegal and dangerous as hell, the JB Welded roll cage. So get it looked at by a professional chassis guy.


#3 all the race car specifics how fresh how fast, how good of a fit it is for you. You will 95% of the time be going to inspect a car in person, bring your magnet, take boatloads of photos, etc.

#4 If you find a possible car talk to the owner, put together a list of questions before hand.

#5 Get the recipe on how its being run now........95% of the time you can't run it faster than the car thats been scienced out.......

#6 More advanced is the aquiring of a very flexible car ie one that can run small and big block stock, superstock, FGT, and bracket/index racing.

BOLD ADVICE HERE: Listen to your engine and chassis guys advice, along with fellow racers the "I wouldn't run it" has saved my *** a few times.......failing to listen to my chasiss guys advice has cost me cubic $'s

Good luck and have fun! Low dough car doesn't have to be uncompetitive. Don't get into this if you don't have the confidence to pull up to the lanes in anything, in 2005 I bought a

1970 big blockchallenger purchased in VA as a ex-stocker with all its original # matching parts etc. But determined it would require some extra $ to do stock with at that point. Investment car, my first and only e-body. Got and followed the how to race it, so it run on video before I purchased it(right before)

2007 bought a stocker dakota in MI, which was going .90-1 under the index, it was also a pilot vehicle...which made it worth the $ to me, it was bought site unseen, but I did see the time slips, and talked with the owner a lot and got and followed the recipe. Its now the Bounding Beagle, a freak of physics

2009-10 drag pak challenger build, not going to lie, having a car built is not a cheap process but done properly is a very nice experience. Note I wasn't new to this by then and knew not to try any of it myself. Extremely nice car, nice to get what you paid for!

2012 Bought the Gremlin, as a stocker, lil bad *** ride for my kids and wife....you can't put a price of the fun factor, this one was built prior owner with advice from the stocker Budda Billy Nees.......I saw it in the lanes racing in stock, it won a divisional etc. Kids got to learn, and its since won a few rounds, a great little car.

2017 or 2018 body in white dart sport car with race history, etc. in OH It patiently waited for a slot in the chasiss shop and now is a very nice FGT car that will be getting tweaked in the spring. Its build cost was roughly twice the 2010 costs. Well worth the money though, nice car....

Leaving me at 2017 time was a 72 340 4 speed challenger bracket car, that could have been a fine SS/GT car, but cost of conversion would have been more than the cost of the body in white car.

2018/9 a # matching 78 lil red truck with a 440 bracket motor leaves me as it would be too much $ to convert to a 1980 model and GT truck

Was down to 5 cars till a

2020 1966 nova SS L-79 car stocker became available in NY, with title and history proving it SS part, history back to late 60's as a race car. couldn't resist. Got the recipe on how to run it from the prior racer owner in Canada. Doing a seach based on the old registration found the 2nd owner what had the # matching motor in his garage...which demanded a trip to FL to snag that! Its so nice it hurts.

Have fun. Good luck, try to follow some of the advice you get on this site.

Eric
stock and superstock 1883

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

Eric, I can't take "responsibility?" for much of the Gremlin. That credit should go to Tom Goldman!

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

I'd like to thank everyone who's posted a comment here. I am very grateful for the input from respected names I've seen many times and will certainly heed any advice given.

I've been sent a few leads that will hopefully, at least one will come to fruition. It's a really good feeling knowing I've reached to some great people.

Thank you all again for your words of wisdom(s). MERRY CHRISTMAS

Re: Advisory for a "New"bie direction
 

I'm definitely familiar with the Mandella's. Their shop used to be minutes from my house before they moved. I've actually gotten to know Junior fairly well, talked to him at Fontana and Pomona. Senior shared his opinion on a direction that I should take and that's stayed with me since.