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#32 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Avon, Indiana
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
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I think most racers share a number of common interests, including but not limited to a love of the automobile and the mechanics and technology associated with it as well as the competitive nature to compete and win at doing something they enjoy. Learning and evolving are all part of the experience, using your talents, knowledge and expertice to turn on the win light at the end of the day.
Many of todays Pro Stock veterans started in Stock and Superstock. I, like many racers have always owned and driven a stick shift car because that was my first love. I started with a SS/L Camaro, a SS/K Chev II, a SS/A Corvette, a SS/AM Olds Calais that I later moved to A/SM in Comp and Oldsmobile Cutlass tube cars in B/A, C/A and G/A. All of those cars were very competitive usually qualifying very near the front row and occasionally #1 and #2. All the time I was in Superstock people kept telling me that I should be racing and automatic to be more consistent, "You gotta have an automatic if you want to win." I refused to listen. I just kept on working on making the car go faster and evolving as a better driver because I knew that my real goal was to take my knowledge and expertise over to comp where the rules were basically weight to cubic inch - first man to the finish line wins..... with a stick shift car. My first National event win was in Superstock at the Southern Nationals with one of my best friends, Larry Pritchett and I in the final. Two stick shift cars. I think he was in SS/GTE or F and I was in SS/B. My next National win was in Comp Eliminator at Topeka where another best friend, David Nickens and I were in the final..... two stick shift cars. He was in E/A and I was in B/A. That was also the first National win for one of my most respected Superstock gurus... Jimmy Bridges. He was in SS/E stick. Oh yeah, there's another guy on here who might want to toss in his opinion on Stock-Superstock, evolution and stick shift cars.... his name is Dwight Southerland This new clutchless rule opens the door for any Super Stock stick shift competitor learn, evolve and become a better racer and a more knowledgeable individual. Nothing in life or in this game stands still. You can either move forward or be left behind. That's just the way it is. If I were in the same position as many of you, I'd seriously consider moving to a SS Modified class with a newer car where you can now run a clutchless 5 speed. You'll have a lot more options and will have a vehicle that will easily adapt to a number of SS or Comp classes and you can evolve at your own pace. |
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