Wheelie Bars are not needed for Safety on Stockers!

[Bruce Noland]

Larry,

They sent an email that said the notches must be fixed by Aug. 28, 2013. Sounds like you don't have to make the changes before the Chicago National. I know Bruce Bachelder is skipping a few of the Nationals this year but I would ask for a few minutes of his time if he is in Chicago.

[Ed Wright]

It's an insane deal that needs fixed. Maybe they can talk to some chassis shop owners for more information. I don't have a Stocker, but do work with Patterson's COPO some, and know what that thing can do at times. I would not want to drive that thing without wheelie bars. The track can just come around a little and it will decide to go straight up. Very touchy deal. So, they need to tear up the rear fascia when it decides to do that? Makes no sense.

A talk with one of the guys at ATI explained why the local big block 10.5" nitrous cars can hook on one stage of nitrous when my 350" SS Firebird would spin on the same track & tires. Stock & SS converters hit much harder than what they sell to bracket racers and small tire heads up cars. He said with my converter those small tire heads up cars would never touch the ground. But, their cars are just like ours, right? LOL

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

A talk with one of the guys at ATI explained why the local big block 10.5" nitrous cars can hook on one stage of nitrous when my 350" SS Firebird would spin on the same track & tires. Stock & SS converters hit much harder than what they sell to bracket racers and small tire heads up cars. He said with my converter those small tire heads up cars would never touch the ground. But, their cars are just like ours, right? LOL

Don't know who you spoke to but you nor he can make that blanket statement!

My cars equipped with ATI converters have gone 1.28 60 foot at 3880 lbs. and 1.17 60 foot at 3144 lbs. launched of the footbrake and with less gear than a comparable stock/super stocker. Show me one B/SA stocker Chevelle or one GT/AA 4th Gen Firebird that has done the same.

Oh and I agree stockers don't NEED wheelie bars. Plenty of stockers new and old running without them. There are ways to control the front end with shocks and springs. My chevelle launched wheels up for thousands of passes without them too and on small radial slicks...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbKYio6OvKM"]THE PROOF IS IN THE PERFORMANCE - YouTube[/ame]


and this guy don't have them last I saw at ETown...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91mgz6b7AU"]2012 COPO Camaro Testing - Victor Cagnazzi Racing, Dave Connolly and Brian Macy - YouTube[/ame]

The NHRA screwed up when they allowed you guys to run fuel cells, THAT made running wheelie bars much easier with the removal of the stock gas tank. Now the cry for allowing notches, what's next? These cars are already anything but "stock"!

[Ed Wright]

Do you really think we are interested in seeing ANOTHER picture of one of your cars???
Nobody cares!

[1320racer]

a man of your age showing his jealousy is pathetic.

[Bruce Noland]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

a man of your age showing his jealousy is pathetic.

Sir, I can assure you that no one on the board is envious of anything you have or have achieved in your life. It is you that demonstrates envy and frustration on a regular basis.

It's fine with us if you offer your thoughts but they mean nothing since you are not racing in our classes. You can go out to the track and risk flipping over your bracket cars all you want but the majority of us have more sense than you.

[Hagen Gary]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

Sir, I can assure you that no one on the board is envious of anything you have or have achieved in your life. It is you that demonstrates envy and frustration on a regular basis.

It's fine with us if you offer your thoughts but they mean nothing since you are not racing in our classes. You can go out to the track and risk flipping over your bracket cars all you want but the majority of us have more sense than you.

X2

Really weird how the non Stock racers (including NHRA management) have one opinion, and pretty much everyone racing a Stocker has a different. Have we heard from 1 single C and up stocker that says they don't need them for safety? I know for a fact that you need to get big block first gen Camaros on the bumper for it to hook every time. Wheelie bars are for safely launching a higher class stocker. Not bracket junk like the 1320 experts. These guys have zero clue about a stocker but hey, they know everything about racing, down to every foot of the drag strip.

[Signman]

Ed,
You are beating a dead horse.
For years on message boards you have shared what worked for you and have gotten the same responses. Your head must hurt beating it against the wall.
From the point of view of class racers, you've never jumped in just ran a couple of cars that may have been stock or super stock legal other than engine and trans. Have some friends who are or have been class racers. Never ran either of those cars at a division or national event to experience the track conditions which are not the same as a bracket race at the same facility.
For credibility sake why not jump in?
Other than that you are stirring the pot, contributing nothing the original OP issue. But it is fun!

[Bruce Noland]

Ed 1320 using wheelie bars that are not NEEDED?

http://classracer.com/classforum/alb...pictureid=5265

[cutta]

I think some of you are missing the point here. The argument is not whether stockers can control wheel stands without wheelie bars, the argument is whether or not it is safer, more cost friendly, and damage preventative to have wheelie bars?

I don't think anyone here believes that you can't control wheelstands without wheelie bars but most want to protect themselves from the risk of damaging there cars. With the drag racing community already being down, why would anyone want to risk damaging their cars by not running wheelie bars. We had our first uncontrollable wheelstand in our bracket car a few weeks ago and with us being on a budget, we are already considering wheelie bars for safety and to help control the car in unpredictable circumstances. Replacing parts is expensive and I don't see how anyone could suggest running without them with the only justification being "Its more stock appearing" or "saying their sissy sticks". Notches should be allowed to accommodate that in my opinion.