CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post

Chris Barnes · 12-02-2010, 06:23 PM

I've been bracket racing for sixteen years and class racing for five. Bracket racing is fantastic practice for class racing, better than any practice tree. Unfortunately, a competitive stocker is fragile and expensive compared to a typical bracket racer. Taking one to a bracket race is almost like shooting at cans with a $$$ Olympic target pistol. I took my C/SA Max Wedge wagon to the local season opener to shake it out this year and wounded the motor in the third round, causing me to take the season off. Ouch! I really wish I would have done it in the third round of an NHRA event.

Bracket racers frequently think of class racers as snobs but unless you've raced in Stock/Super Stock you just can't know what we know. I could probably bolt together two or three nine second 440 bracket motors for the cost of one legal Max Wedge but try telling that to the guy in the primer grey Duster in the other lane. He cuts .00 lights all the time and is gunning for his fourth straight track championship. He hasn't touched his motor since he pulled it out of Aunt Bessy's Imperial eight years ago. Our kind of racing makes no sense to him. Why should it? On the other hand, it's interesting to consider how many things that we class racers do that can actually make bracket cars cheaper. We learn the tricks that make stock equipment fly because we have to. If a bracket racer follows our lead to make his race car launch harder and more consistently on stock style suspension then he doesn't have to buy and install an aftermarket ladder bar or four link set up, for example.

I've had some good fun by building and racing a bracket cars but to tell you the truth I'm addicted now to driving my stocker now. I'm not a snob. I still go to the local bracket races but I got a driver. He's having a blast and I love it when he wins rounds! I guess the most important thing is just to be at a drag race in the first place since I have so many good friends that I have met and will meet in drag racing. It keeps me coming back no matter what's racing, except junior dragsters, wait a minute, I've got a four year old and a six year old...

All wins are great. I still remember my first win light. My favorite so far is my divisional Wally. He sits on a shelf and tells me it's okay to keep throwing good money after bad at this crazy habit. He wants a big brother.

Happy Holidays
Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock #6621

12-02-2010, 06:23 PM	#52
Chris Barnes Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Class versus brackets winning a round I've been bracket racing for sixteen years and class racing for five. Bracket racing is fantastic practice for class racing, better than any practice tree. Unfortunately, a competitive stocker is fragile and expensive compared to a typical bracket racer. Taking one to a bracket race is almost like shooting at cans with a $$$ Olympic target pistol. I took my C/SA Max Wedge wagon to the local season opener to shake it out this year and wounded the motor in the third round, causing me to take the season off. Ouch! I really wish I would have done it in the third round of an NHRA event. Bracket racers frequently think of class racers as snobs but unless you've raced in Stock/Super Stock you just can't know what we know. I could probably bolt together two or three nine second 440 bracket motors for the cost of one legal Max Wedge but try telling that to the guy in the primer grey Duster in the other lane. He cuts .00 lights all the time and is gunning for his fourth straight track championship. He hasn't touched his motor since he pulled it out of Aunt Bessy's Imperial eight years ago. Our kind of racing makes no sense to him. Why should it? On the other hand, it's interesting to consider how many things that we class racers do that can actually make bracket cars cheaper. We learn the tricks that make stock equipment fly because we have to. If a bracket racer follows our lead to make his race car launch harder and more consistently on stock style suspension then he doesn't have to buy and install an aftermarket ladder bar or four link set up, for example. I've had some good fun by building and racing a bracket cars but to tell you the truth I'm addicted now to driving my stocker now. I'm not a snob. I still go to the local bracket races but I got a driver. He's having a blast and I love it when he wins rounds! I guess the most important thing is just to be at a drag race in the first place since I have so many good friends that I have met and will meet in drag racing. It keeps me coming back no matter what's racing, except junior dragsters, wait a minute, I've got a four year old and a six year old... All wins are great. I still remember my first win light. My favorite so far is my divisional Wally. He sits on a shelf and tells me it's okay to keep throwing good money after bad at this crazy habit. He wants a big brother. Happy Holidays Chris Barnes Wagons of Steel Stock #6621