Benefits and Liabilities of Stick

[Rory McNeil]

Geez,I must be doing it all wrong! I have been racing several different stick combos over the past 25 years, my 12 second Stocker, the same car with a mid 10 second bracket engine, and my other bracket car, which has had 2 different 427 and 428 FE engines, and 2 different 302 based engine combinations, that has run low 10s and a few high 9s in the 1/4. Between these 2 cars and 5 engine combinations, easily over 1000 1/4 mile passes, and other than a couple of ring and pinions in the Stocker, I hurt my Jericos a total of 3 times in 20 years,the current G101A has been in for coming up 6 years, and has required nothing but a few fluid changes. Never hurt a U Joint, axle, spool, or ring and pinion (on the bracket cars). Pretty much always leaving between 6000 and 6600 RPM. I would typically go 2 or 3 seasons between clutch rebuilds, have had the same Soft Lok since 2003, used in both the Stocker and the small block bracket engines, with the big blocks, had a different Soft Lok, that I used, with bi annual rebuilds, for over 25 years. The first year (and clutch) was a learning curve, but since then, I don`t spend much time under the car between races, and even less time under it at the track. I found once I got the clutch happy, I could usually go to at least 3 or 4 race weekends without crawling under the car, and even then, it was usually just to add a 1/4 turn of base as the disc wore, and to keep the throw out bearing freeplay in check. I installed a new RAM Billet clutch in for last year, and will be pulling the clutch out for a look shortly, but imagine with a bit of sanding the heat shields,measuring the disc thickness, checking the lever heights, and replacing the pilot bearing in the crank, it will be going right back in.
For ME, the Pros far outweigh the cons. Not only is the car considerably quicker with the stick, than it was with the automatic I used to have in the bracket car, it is a whole lot more fun and satisfying, and when set up properly, very consistent. Other than the occasional street car running Sportsman bracket, I am usually the only stick car at the track. Last year, I won a 7 round "No Box" Gamblers race, against all automatics, and I put a 10.01 dial on the window for 1rst round, and never touched the dial all day. The only thing that I would consider a "con" would be that if I am not focused for whatever reason, (lack of sleep, heat, distracted), it can be harder to be "in the zone, RT wise", and although I don`t have a log travel transbrake button, or other such aids, changing the front tire size or low side chip on the 2 step can net some adjustability to the RT. At first, I thought the the upfront of buying the bellhousing, clutch, transmission etc was much more expensive than an automatic, but after seeing how much a top drawer automatic, especially one with an aftermarket case and bellhousing, plus several torque convertors (How many racers find that their first convertor is perfect, and don`t need to try multiple convertors in their car?), the price point is about a draw. And when it came time to sell my old Jericos, they sold quickly, and for pretty close for what I paid for them in the first place. Barring a physical issue, I can`t imagine there will ever be an automatic in my car again.