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Post by Jeff Kempton on Oct 29, 2017 19:46:53 GMT -4
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Post by Don @ Maritime Drag Racing on Oct 30, 2017 8:13:33 GMT -4
Been a fan of Wayne's for many years but maybe he should do an article on how the mega $$ factory cars, "NHRA accepted" aftermarket parts and continuous rule changes are driving the lesser funded teams away from the class. Hard to justify spending more to build a competitive 350/Q-jet stocker engine than a giant big block with more than twice the HP. Don't get me wrong - I'm probably one of the biggest Stock/Superstock fans on the planet and would be happy as a clam with a V/SA or slower ride but it's just cheaper for me to go a lot faster with a bracket car. Plus I'm still ticked off that a Saturn is not legal for SS/GT......
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Post by Jeff Kempton on Oct 30, 2017 15:45:23 GMT -4
Don, I don't think that the author or anyone else involved in Stock or Super Stock is going to say that it's inexpensive, especially if a person chooses to run one of the iconic muscle car body/engine combos. And yes; for going fast on a budget you can't beat a used dragster (or motorcycle). However there are ways to run competitively in our series on a budget too, and every year we have seen multiple cars joining our ranks. Four of our five races in 2017 had over 30 cars, compared to less than 10 racing in Stock or SS prior to the ACSSA being formed. In the last two years our members have won both National Opens and Divisionals against the best that NHRA Div. 1 has to offer (including the factory cars), plus they've set numerous NHRA National Records too ..... hardly a sign that the "lesser funded teams" are being driven out of the class! Also, Vince Hazel debuted his V/Stock Camaro V-6 car this year with the full intent of running with the ACSSA at our races once he works a few bugs out, and I'm betting he doesn't have a fortune tied up in it.
Combos still exist in the Guide with soft horsepower factors and are raced without breaking the bank; you just have to be willing to go for the oddball stuff. Being #1 Qualifier at the US Nats is the ultimate proof of a fast car, and recent years have seen a 302 Ford powered Mustang, a PT Cruiser Turbo, and a V-6 C10 pickup pull that off. All of these combos still have soft enough horsepower factors that they can be built on a modest budget and run solidly under the Index.
Finally; while there are budget classes in our series, SS/GT is not one of them. It sucks that your Saturn isn't in the Guide, but a person could buy or build a nice stocker for less than the cost of a SS/GT car.
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