question about starting a stocker

[Rob Petrie E395]

I stripped my 200,000 mile eBay car I started with inside and out. Cleaned it up as best as possible. Then removed all the allowed stuff, trimmed rear wheel openings as allowed for bigger tires ect. . But the only thing that got painted was the engine compartment and suspension stuff. I then put it back together and raced it a couple of times cracked bondo, dents, 20 year old scratched up paint and all. Not sure if it would have ever got painted. But some local HS kids needed a project for their auto body class. So I paid for the materials and they did all the work. It’s not a world of wheels car show paint job. But looks a lot better than it did. If you’re lucky enough to have a HS that still teaches auto shop/auto body. And you HATE body work and sanding as much as I do. I highly recommend asking them if they need a project.

[BigBlockBill]

Originally Posted by Rob Petrie E395

I stripped my 200,000 mile eBay car I started with inside and out. Cleaned it up as best as possible. Then removed all the allowed stuff, trimmed rear wheel openings as allowed for bigger tires ect. . But the only thing that got painted was the engine compartment and suspension stuff. I then put it back together and raced it a couple of times cracked bondo, dents, 20 year old scratched up paint and all. Not sure if it would have ever got painted. But some local HS kids needed a project for their auto body class. So I paid for the materials and they did all the work. It’s not a world of wheels car show paint job. But looks a lot better than it did. If you’re lucky enough to have a HS that still teaches auto shop/auto body. And you HATE body work and sanding as much as I do. I highly recommend asking them if they need a project.

The other positive about doing it through the local HS is stiring kids interest in auto racing. If you let the school know where and when you will be racing I bet you could get several of the little grease puppies walking through the pits and sitting on the stands as well.

[Rob Petrie E395]

Originally Posted by BigBlockBill

The other positive about doing it through the local HS is stiring kids interest in auto racing. If you let the school know where and when you will be racing I bet you could get several of the little grease puppies walking through the pits and sitting on the stands as well.

Gateway in St Louis has a very good high school class they run on Wednesdays in conjunction with some test and tune nights. I mentioned it to some people at the schools here years ago. To give kids a place to run their cars and see if they might like racing. It was a solid no way. They want nothing to do with it because of liability. If the kids want to run they can with their parents. But the schools won’t be involved in any way. They can’t form a club, have meetings at school or anything. They won’t even allow flyers to be posted with the dates of the races. So kids can do it on their own with their parents.

The young man that did most of the work on my car wanted to drive it to prom. Basically they haul the race cars and hot rods into town on a trailer about a mile from the school. And the cops lead them to the school. Then they go into prom and the parents take the cars back home. But then he hurt himself playing sports and couldn’t drive. So it didn’t happen. It was supposed to kind of his reward for all the work. He races a little now with his dad.

[Doug Hoven]

Originally Posted by Rob Petrie E395

Gateway in St Louis has a very good high school class they run on Wednesdays in conjunction with some test and tune nights. I mentioned it to some people at the schools here years ago. To give kids a place to run their cars and see if they might like racing. It was a solid no way. They want nothing to do with it because of liability. If the kids want to run they can with their parents. But the schools won’t be involved in any way. They can’t form a club, have meetings at school or anything. They won’t even allow flyers to be posted with the dates of the races. So kids can do it on their own with their parents.

The young man that did most of the work on my car wanted to drive it to prom. Basically they haul the race cars and hot rods into town on a trailer about a mile from the school. And the cops lead them to the school. Then they go into prom and the parents take the cars back home. But then he hurt himself playing sports and couldn’t drive. So it didn’t happen. It was supposed to kind of his reward for all the work. He races a little now with his dad.

The High School classes used to be a big thing in the Northeast from what I was told. When I turned 17, in 2020, the only track left in Div 1 that seemed to do it was Atco. I went to the few races they had, and it was very good fun. I was running my 83 5.0 5spd mustang, and on the first race day, what comes through the gate? Another kid my age with an 86 5.0 5spd mustang. After the end of that season, there hasn't been any High School races at atco since. But, by the end of that year, I pretty much started my head first dive into Stock Eliminator racing anyway.

[goinbroke2]

Not sure about other provinces in Canada, but in New Brunswick, high school kids at several schools compete in what was called "school boy competition". (new name now since I raced in it in 81-83)

My kid ran Juniors for 7 years and then moved on to a bracket car so even though we were in Nova Scotia, I got permission from the school to run magnetic decals of the school mascot. Went to Miramichi NB and got 3rd place. Then covid hit.....

So yes, here in 3 of the Maritime provinces, the schools support students racing and building cars in the auto department.


(great idea about getting the car painted!! Have a high school and tech school nearby)

[Mark Yacavone]

How is this project coming?

[David Lee]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

How is this project coming?

health problems (back) and family problems have slowed it down.