Criteria used for picking car

[Dan Virt]

Guys, Thanks for all the positive feedback and even the not so.
Billy, I don't do frogs, and Dan, stop the fat jokes, I'm not that fat, just a little overweight. LOL

[Signman]

To begin go to the track to spectate walk the pits stop and talk to racers befriend a few over time.
If possible get involved with a car. What you will learn is invaluable will speed up the learning curve many years.

Pick the brand you prefer, pick a few bodies, years and engines you like. Study the Classification Guide and Engine Blueprint Specs.
Ask questions and look over these cars/combinations at the track. Be a sponge not a brain picker. Subscribe to Nitro Joe's Stats.

Pick a car you like or love because this takes a lot more time, work and money than you can ever estimate.
There are some benefits to just buying an existing race car so don't rule it out if not up to the monumental effort it takes to build a car from scratch.

As far as how fast it needs to be on the qualifying sheet is pretty much defined by the combination and your wallet plus work ethic: Wallet the most important.

You have to know why your doing this:
If you want to win races the car needs to be able to run 1 second under the index at tracks you will compete to be a threat in heads up races AND be consistent AND you have to be able to drive both ends of the track. You don't have to run the car a second under just be able to. The car must be a weapon and the driver has to know how to use it.
If you want to go fast meaning 10 seconds and under and qualify on the top of the sheet it takes deep pockets if you got it go for it. These faster cars tend to be more consistent and more easy to drive in the eliminator for several reasons including you'll chase a lot.
If you don't have the buck$ and just want to be part of the scene and have fun disregard the above buy a car you like and enjoy it.

Good Luck!

[Dwight Southerland]

You also have to build a car that you will enjoy working on. You can rationalize a good combination, but if you do not really "like" the car, you will not work on it. So, know yourself well.


If you do not feel that you have the desire or ability to be a maverick and go through the research to find good viable combinations that could be competitive but are untried, then by all means review Joe's publications, go to races to observe and watch the class winners at national events. On the other hand, if you are looking for a personal signature and want to follow your own path, be sure to research well what you are doing. There is a wealth of information available, but the answer will be yours.


Finally, be realistic about your time and money. If you are forced to shoestring the effort, your choices are many but limited. If you don't have budget or time, you will be better to attach yourself to a local racer and enjoy being that level of participation. If you have the budget, then you can do what you like about building, buying or having a car built.


The best advice is to figure out how to enjoy. The previous post about building a bracket car that can race classes is a great perspective this day and age. It increases your ability to race successfully at a class race and gives you a much bigger stage to learn to enjoy.

[4284spd]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

You also have to build a car that you will enjoy working on. You can rationalize a good combination, but if you do not really "like" the car, you will not work on it. So, know yourself well.


If you do not feel that you have the desire or ability to be a maverick and go through the research to find good viable combinations that could be competitive but are untried, then by all means review Joe's publications, go to races to observe and watch the class winners at national events. On the other hand, if you are looking for a personal signature and want to follow your own path, be sure to research well what you are doing. There is a wealth of information available, but the answer will be yours.


Finally, be realistic about your time and money. If you are forced to shoestring the effort, your choices are many but limited. If you don't have budget or time, you will be better to attach yourself to a local racer and enjoy being that level of participation. If you have the budget, then you can do what you like about building, buying or having a car built.


The best advice is to figure out how to enjoy. The previous post about building a bracket car that can race classes is a great perspective this day and age. It increases your ability to race successfully at a class race and gives you a much bigger stage to learn to enjoy.

Perfect. If I could afford to un mini-tub my 68 CJ, I would turn it into a stocker. Its the car I love. Racing a V-6 TBird would do nothing for me!

[lewis Becker]

This is one of the very best threads based upon the content i have read since following the class racer web site over 11 years ago.outstanding and accurate replies.regards ,the zinga.

[Philip Saran]

Also the cost of buying a car or body to build a race car is not like it was in the
80's. Back then you could and I did buy running Dusters and 67-69 Cuda's for
$100 - 400 and drive them home.

Now people want big money for junk bodies. The 1974 Duster 360 I bought in
2000 for $400 and drove home now goes for $5000- $7000.

Just my $0.02

[James L Miller]

I was hoping that Dwight's website had a thing where I could look up a class (L/SA for me) and then see all the possible cars that fit in the class. I think that would be a lot of work, so maybe that is a dream? I wonder how many car/engine combinations are in the classification guide?

[Timetraveler]

Originally Posted by lewis Becker

This is one of the very best threads based upon the content i have read since following the class racer web site over 11 years ago.outstanding and accurate replies.regards ,the zinga.

Lew your too young to remember but this website built my U/SA back in 2001 and 2002 and I have a Wallly from the Gators to show for it. Listen to everyone and you will get some great advice.
Bill

[Isaac Zane]

We found a nice looking car, decent factoring, and IN OUR PRICE RANGE. And it even came with delivery! Turned out pretty well for us. 2004 NHRA Stock Eliminator National Champion! 73 Buick Apollo, 350 4bbl. From Tommy Pettigrew. There was a well used chat room where some racers gave it thumbs up!
Do a little bit of homework and research. Go with what you like!