Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Nees
I don't believe that allowing the Copos, CJs and DPs into Stock saved anything. It just put the Eliminator into a situation where we now have 8 sec. combos racing against 17 sec. combos. If the "Factory Racers" were put into SS (where they belong), history has shown that modern showroom Camaros, Mustangs and Challengers would have found their way into Stock anyway and in REAL STOCK classes.
|
On the other hand Billy, some of us in those 17 second cars find it really thrilling to see that 8-9 second rocket flying up next to them (especially after watching that amazing wheelie they just did in the rear view to see if they are green or red and if it is going to be a race at the stripe or not). I certainly know it is what keeps me interested (and my blood pumping these days the most beyond a heads up class race for another Wally).
Fast or slow, my fellow competitors know too (I hear it in their encouraging convo pre-pass, and afterwards if I am successful against 1 of those fast bullets/rockets).
Being anywhere in the bottom half of the qualifying sheet is tough, but as you well know it makes you work harder to improve things you can over time.
I go there knowing my quadrant on the ladder will be deep with the FS/ Stockers, right now just working on the car to move up that Q sheet a bit and attempt to get away from them as a guaranteed 1st rnd opponent, and on myself w/the car to steal the tree an 1/8th mile before they even see their yellows drop and give myself a fair shot at the stripe.
I have seen a lot of red lights in my lane over the years (but never as many really close ones as my 1st year back racing stk -.002 to -.010 just knowing I needed every bit of as close to trip zip as I can get to even have a chance against that usual late model rocket ship that I find most in that other lane now. But, it is making me young again!
It certainly makes me smile more lately. It has been costly, working really hard for every single tenth of E.T./under index improvement, and it is all worth every minute of the work knowing there are almost zero off the shelf go faster parts to be found. The research alone is amazing andI am learning a lot.
I cannot wait to get a chance to possibly line up next to that beautiful Supra and even get the chance to race Darren Poole-Adams. I know he has worked as long and as hard as I have, his is newer and faster, but neither was just a purchased proven combo, but a massaged very personal pc just to get there on the Q-Sheet that took dedication and time that of all people I know you appreciate as you have done it to so many combos over time.
If nothing I salute him for his tenacity and hard work getting there. Are there things that bother me about the rules...yes, he got to drop from 17" wheels to 15's, and I cannot drop from stock 14's to 13's (so I could just have more FWD slicks choices). But, that is my cross to bear I guess.
Adding new info...
It was just pointed out to me a bit more info, some I knew existed, some I did not know (I assumed other combos came with a smaller rim size that did not come factory with them but run smaller). I already knew about the FWD traction device exception of any traction device allowable, and do agree highly that FWD tires/wheels are the absolute in traction devices that fit, but the conflicting rule in minimum 14" Unless it came Stock with a smaller rim size (wheels/tires in 11A), along with the G.R. of 12" minimum. It was the conflicting rules (that make things tough), that I was pointing out, but the exception (for FWD cars only, making up for the non-FWD cars ladderbars, etc), I think in this instance would overcome the actual written. In this particular case I would if I wanted to go that smaller size, get a written opinion before proceeding to do it (even under the known exception being very open and really easily defended), even if others are already doing so.
Either way I personally appreciate the input.
Toyota/BMW/GM/Ford front to rear no matter what is a very interesting STK Elim. combo. (Try to find anything like it in the guide anywhere...lol.) To me personally in the lane next to that very cool car....It would never be anything but a very cool bracket race. No chance for a heads up match up (closest is an index against index class combo matchup), so it is just a cool faster against slower combo racematch up,
Looking forward to see the front wheels in the air leaves and how far under he runs with it!