Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by GUMP

Mark,

As a point of reference, how much did you earn 50 years ago? Also, how much of that went to racing?

Daren, It's really hard to say about the earnings. I would work out of town (Virginia, Maryland and Delaware), for 3 weeks at a time. Then I'd alternate with the married guys. When I was back home, I'd go racing for a few weeks..Gainesville, Pomona, Columbus and so on.
I was fortunate to win some local eliminators that might buy you a new pair of slicks , or get you to the next race.

By 1975 , S/S was already getting out of hand, with the broken valve springs, and then re-honing all the time.
Stockers got back their headers and slicks back, so I went that way. Those cars were basically, .030 over cast OEM pistons, and a Stocker cam that had to check at lift, duration, overlap, and valve spring pressure .Those engines would last several years, with minor maintenance.. All the goodies we have now, were added ,bit by bit, every year, since. I do believe it was cheaper to race back then , in today's dollar.

As far as how much I spent? You know the answer...All of it!