Why Class Racing Is COOLER!

GUMP · 02-21-2025, 05:04 PM

Dawson worked his butt off on his cars this Winter. His wagon moved a good ways up the ladder. The .90 car still runs .90.....

Larry Hill · 02-22-2025, 12:20 PM

It is kooler cause at the races you look around and try to figure who if any I am quicker than. If my car is behind , by how much? Who is protecting and by about how much? Where can I see a copy of my competitor time slip without trying to draw attention to my fact finding mission.

JP1738 · 02-24-2025, 10:07 AM

I appreciate the kind words and shoutout, Gump!! I've worked incredibly hard this winter on BOTH cars (yes the sst car still runs 10.90 but it needed a freshen up and a set of rods, so I've had that going on too). I would, if you all don't mind, like to give a readers digest of what my last 10 days have been like to give you all an idea of how crazy it's been for me this winter. Mind you every weekday of this synopsis I also worked a full day and drove straight to the shop afterward to make progress.

2/12- Replace fuel regulator and needle/seats in my Mazda after they failed on first start up (I had spent the week prior putting that car back together)
2/13- Dress stocker motor and get it sat in the car
2/14 and 2/15/25- shockingly I do have a girlfriend (for now) so these days were off limits
2/16- after church, driveshaft, transmission lines, converter bolts, shifter linkage
2/17- ignition system, alternator, plugs, headers, q-jet, throttle, water pump, radiator, shroud, wiring, starter, oil pressure, etc.
2/18- first fire up and health check, lash valves, replace wheel cylinder, bleed brakes, put wheels/tires back on
2/19- first drive around the block, trans fluid, load up and organize trailer
2/20- work half day at work and drive 10 hours to Orlando
2/21- Race D2 opener, went .30 faster than I've ever been in my stocker and went a blistering .67 under!
2/22- Lose first round and drive 10 hours back home
2/23- went to local track and bracket raced in footbrake for more seat time, got home around 6 after losing 3rd round, took the transmission out of my mazda, swapped flexplates and starters, reinstalled everything, went to bed at midnight
2/24- writing this at work lol.

I'm working really hard on my entire program, and I don't mean to brag, but I'm really proud of everything I've been able to accomplish. Now to work on those results on race day.

GUMP · 03-01-2025, 01:26 PM

How about that........CLASS WINNER!!

1320racer · 03-01-2025, 01:45 PM

Congrats Dawson

Rory McNeil · 03-02-2025, 07:10 PM

AND,..he made it to the semi finals at the Gainesville LODRS race! Nice Job!

Paul Sarvas · 03-02-2025, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

AND,..he made it to the semi finals at the Gainesville LODRS race! Nice Job!

You go Dawson...Congrats

pS

JP1738 · 03-03-2025, 09:46 AM

Thank you all so much for the kind words and support. It's been an unbelievably humbling experience joining this community and learning the ropes of class racing. My little N/SA wagon carried me to the semis in the divisional and outran the other gentleman in N/SA class for my first wally in the car. I have a million people to thank, not just for parts and advice, but just for the encouragement to keep working and not give up on this project.

Thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart!!! Now back to the garage for more work! I gotta figure out why it crab walks down the track

HR9121 · 03-03-2025, 11:01 AM

Congratulations Dawson on winning class we all know what know the work you've put in and it's impressive in one years time to be where you are. Congrats and enjoy it but keep working because the ones you beat for class will be working to catch up to you.

curtis reed · 03-03-2025, 11:34 AM

Congrats Dawson. You worked really hard to get there and did a great job once you made it. I hated the trip was so rough for you but enjoyed reading about how you persevered to make it. The generator running in the bed powering the battery charger was great. Reminded me of the old days of doing anything it took to make it to the track to race.

02-21-2025, 05:04 PM	#1
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,821 Likes: 2,165 Liked 2,344 Times in 551 Posts	Why Class Racing Is COOLER! Dawson worked his butt off on his cars this Winter. His wagon moved a good ways up the ladder. The .90 car still runs .90..... __________________ Daren Poole-Adams NHRA Stock/SS 2007

02-22-2025, 12:20 PM	#2
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,633 Likes: 1,927 Liked 10,687 Times in 2,225 Posts	Re: Why Class Racing Is COOLER! It is kooler cause at the races you look around and try to figure who if any I am quicker than. If my car is behind , by how much? Who is protecting and by about how much? Where can I see a copy of my competitor time slip without trying to draw attention to my fact finding mission. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

02-24-2025, 10:07 AM	#3
JP1738 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 566 Likes: 1,606 Liked 1,171 Times in 333 Posts	Re: Why Class Racing Is COOLER! I appreciate the kind words and shoutout, Gump!! I've worked incredibly hard this winter on BOTH cars (yes the sst car still runs 10.90 but it needed a freshen up and a set of rods, so I've had that going on too). I would, if you all don't mind, like to give a readers digest of what my last 10 days have been like to give you all an idea of how crazy it's been for me this winter. Mind you every weekday of this synopsis I also worked a full day and drove straight to the shop afterward to make progress. 2/12- Replace fuel regulator and needle/seats in my Mazda after they failed on first start up (I had spent the week prior putting that car back together) 2/13- Dress stocker motor and get it sat in the car 2/14 and 2/15/25- shockingly I do have a girlfriend (for now) so these days were off limits 2/16- after church, driveshaft, transmission lines, converter bolts, shifter linkage 2/17- ignition system, alternator, plugs, headers, q-jet, throttle, water pump, radiator, shroud, wiring, starter, oil pressure, etc. 2/18- first fire up and health check, lash valves, replace wheel cylinder, bleed brakes, put wheels/tires back on 2/19- first drive around the block, trans fluid, load up and organize trailer 2/20- work half day at work and drive 10 hours to Orlando 2/21- Race D2 opener, went .30 faster than I've ever been in my stocker and went a blistering .67 under! 2/22- Lose first round and drive 10 hours back home 2/23- went to local track and bracket raced in footbrake for more seat time, got home around 6 after losing 3rd round, took the transmission out of my mazda, swapped flexplates and starters, reinstalled everything, went to bed at midnight 2/24- writing this at work lol. I'm working really hard on my entire program, and I don't mean to brag, but I'm really proud of everything I've been able to accomplish. Now to work on those results on race day. __________________ Dawson Pauley #2827 N/SA 1980 Malibu SW 2S 305/180 #2827 S/ST 1978 Mazda RX7 w/ 383 sbc/glide

03-01-2025, 01:26 PM	#4
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,821 Likes: 2,165 Liked 2,344 Times in 551 Posts	Re: Why Class Racing Is COOLER! How about that........CLASS WINNER!! __________________ Daren Poole-Adams NHRA Stock/SS 2007

03-01-2025, 01:45 PM	#5
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: Why Class Racing Is COOLER! Congrats Dawson

03-02-2025, 07:10 PM	#6
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,311 Likes: 316 Liked 1,103 Times in 301 Posts	Re: Why Class Racing Is COOLER! AND,..he made it to the semi finals at the Gainesville LODRS race! Nice Job! __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

03-03-2025, 09:46 AM	#8
JP1738 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 566 Likes: 1,606 Liked 1,171 Times in 333 Posts	Re: Why Class Racing Is COOLER! Thank you all so much for the kind words and support. It's been an unbelievably humbling experience joining this community and learning the ropes of class racing. My little N/SA wagon carried me to the semis in the divisional and outran the other gentleman in N/SA class for my first wally in the car. I have a million people to thank, not just for parts and advice, but just for the encouragement to keep working and not give up on this project. Thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart!!! Now back to the garage for more work! I gotta figure out why it crab walks down the track __________________ Dawson Pauley #2827 N/SA 1980 Malibu SW 2S 305/180 #2827 S/ST 1978 Mazda RX7 w/ 383 sbc/glide

03-03-2025, 11:01 AM	#9
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,467 Likes: 146 Liked 3,363 Times in 731 Posts	Re: Why Class Racing Is COOLER! Congratulations Dawson on winning class we all know what know the work you've put in and it's impressive in one years time to be where you are. Congrats and enjoy it but keep working because the ones you beat for class will be working to catch up to you. __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA. SS/JA

03-03-2025, 11:34 AM	#10
curtis reed Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kiefer, Ok. Posts: 167 Likes: 64 Liked 125 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Why Class Racing Is COOLER! Congrats Dawson. You worked really hard to get there and did a great job once you made it. I hated the trip was so rough for you but enjoyed reading about how you persevered to make it. The generator running in the bed powering the battery charger was great. Reminded me of the old days of doing anything it took to make it to the track to race.