what a bunch of ideas, so I`m going to put my 2 cents in. I think you have to run index classes so the all out big bucks guy`s don`t dominate. It doesn`t matter to much to me because most of the interest so far is on the Midwest and east coast. It is a proven thing that you`ll get more entrys with index racing like the fuel altereds that run out here( they run a 6.00 index)
I would say the extent would be aluminum heads but they would have to be painted. If you go with aftermarket blocks the cost will hurt the participation. I know that are far superior to factory blocks, but that's how it starts......
I don't think there would be a problem with factory block and make it part of the rule. It would keep the cars slowed down and make it old school.
In Michigan we run a Nostalgia Comp class at select races. It is a pro tree ( 4/10 yellow/green), half second index class, no electronics - trans brakes OK, for FEDs and center-steered altereds. That means you can run any engine combo you please, from blown alcohol hemis to inline sixes on gas. I run the latter, a Logghe Stamping Company altered with a Ford 300 (not my avatar car - an older one). I slowed the car down from its "hey days" of the '70s to run low 10s at mid 120s so I don't have to jump through the pricey NHRA re-certification hoops every two years (which it will pass). At a recent race I dialed my six at 10.50 and ran a blown AA/A at 7.50. I just barely beat him on a hole shot but boy-howdy when he blew by me , chutes out, at 178 mph I thought "now THIS IS LIVIN'!" After that race a fan came up to me and told me that was the best matchup of the entire weekend. He said fans were on their feet as we went through the lights. My suggestions: Don't get too hung up on engine restrictions or you will exclude some neat cars. Placing restrictions like no radiators, no overhang, yadda,yadda will also reduce car count. I'd rather watch a 16 car show with varied eras of nostalgia than a 3-car show where all three cars fit into an era narrowly defined by a singular wheelbase, transmission, tire type, graphics look, roll bar, or lb/ci rule, etc. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-last-logghe-altered-restore-it-or-race-it.352899/ As for pulling it around by my motor home in a enclosed trailer - WTF does that have to do with having a good time? I'm having a ball!
i ran a kb block in the 65 for years. i painted it the correct race hemi orange and only two people ever figured it out. a aluminum block can be sleeved, saddled and welded over and over again. a iron block that is damaged just gets thrown out or is repaired at a huge expense. price fixing a iron block after you throw a rod to see for yourself. it has very little to do with going faster. if your only reason to eliminate a alloy block is due to cost your very misinformed. the reason i first went to a aluminum block was to save money. i went through three iron blocks in one summer. i switched to alloy and used it for who knows how many years. if they ever make a alloy water block to replace the iron early hemi i have now i would order one tonight. the used market is full of used good blocks. affordability is all relative to how much someone has to spend. racing has never been cheap. as far as index racing its no different than bracket racing. i watched some of that class action at bowling green last fall. it was boring as hell. every car did the same thing. there were no wheelies no big burnouts no show of any kind because they all wanted to run on the index. if the group stays true to vintage looking racing the big money guys won't get involved anyway.
Just my take on index racing. I ran a class with a 7.0 index. I ran a 7.08 and was number 12 qualifier out of a 16 car ladder. this class was no electronics , pro tree, all functions controlled by the driver. To me that`s racing, not a parade. It`s called racing for a reason
All good input. Just keep in mind, that the main goal is to have fun. Most guys don't have the jack to race every weekend to hone their skills. This would be a two or three times per year deal. The motorhome comment wasn't meant to offend. I am an rver myself, it's just an observation. I like to see the cars going down the road, but I can see where security would be a plus. My wife keeps bugging me to buy an enclosed trailer, but I am on the fence. Around here the tweekers steal them for the contents, hoping for tools and lawn equipment to hock. To be honest, I have mentioned this before a long time ago and it never came to fruition, due to the arguing amongst potential participants. I would like to see this get off the ground. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
yes index racing is racing. I have participated in some of it. i can appreciate how difficult it is to make a fast car run the same every pass. what i don't like about it is they still hit the brakes like a bracket car. also seeing the cars in the pits wondering how fast they go is blown as soon as the class is called. the surprise factor is gone.
now that there is some interest in actually putting cars on the track lets plan a date and make it happen. i stated before the melt down would be a good place to start for several reasons. the event has a huge established following to help spread the word about our style of cars. attendance was 12,000 spectators last year. that's a lot of eyes watching. it could certainly generate interest and more participants. the event has major magazine coverage further spreading the word. the event attracts the right kind of crowd. the way the racing is run the racers themselves control who runs who. if you want to go run a particular guy then you set it up and go to the staging lanes. we could match similar cars based on et or looks and go have fun. no rules needed accept for the ones required by the melt down crew. visit their website to see if you fit in. if your car doesn't fit in this year i know the guys running the melt down. i could talk to them and explain what we are trying to do. they might provide some leeway to get this off of the ground.
OK, if anyone on the left side is interested, I`d be willing to have a sit down to form a class committee. we`ll see if this is viable. Just so there are no preconceptions, I run a 112 in. wheelbase bantam coupe(ala bleeker) with an inline six. low 11`s, soon with an injected small block chevy, as funding allows. My opinion is , if it looks retro from the stands, has no electronics other than rev limiter and break, you`re good after tech
what i don't get in all this index and class racing stuff is, if class and index racing works so good, why does it cost so much money to run it. didn't class racing go away because big money got in it over the years and killed it for the average low buck racers? here's a thought. how about everybody run all out and pair them with each other that way. a bit like heads up. of course, this would mean no sandbagging in qualifying. besides what is there to gain by doing it? if you set it up, say, within 2 tenths it would be close. anybody caught sandbagging in eliminations would be disqualified. this also assumes racers don't cheat, do they? ok, now start picking it apart.
I would love to go to the meltdown. It quite a haul for me, but hey it's just once a year! My car is on blocks right now. It has a few issues. I was hoping to get it up and running by next year, if the funds hold out. Bought some new goodies for it. How many altereds typically show up at the Meltdown?
not many. like most races the gassers and super stocks make up the majority. only a handful of cars on nitro. there is something for everyone.
nitro is a slippery slope. once you run it you can get hooked real bad. i will help any way i can. i just can't be responsible if you wake up naked in a gutter somewhere begging for money so you can get another nitro fix.
You can build a safe nostalgia looking altered without breaking the bank, Ours is NHRA cert to 7.50 running an injected SBC on methanol, We have talked about a blower and hilborn two port for our car , but it takes two new firesuts as both my son and I drive, I think an injected class would work, just a thought, if you required a rectangular steel frame rail it would the new chassis low rider cars out.........
COBO Hall in Detroit... Early Autorama....392 powered... put Ratican Jackson and Stearns Olds powered Fiat Altered right back on the trailer!
Not sure if this car is OT because of the lack Period Perfect Estrogen here but it is Cool and it is a grand display of craftsmanship. This is Bob Sweatt's El Toro... now being restored...currently in Al Berglers shop. This interesting piece of machinery built by Bob ... Chassis he copied from Walts Puffer Monza FC which was Woody Gilmore's last chassis built. El Toro is a basically a Bob Sweat built replica of Walts FC chassis with Bobs unbelievable craftsmanship... As far as the drive live is concerned Bob uses a shorter gear than Walts car. I believe it was 471 Donovan powered and sported a FC Vega body for about 6-10 passes. The car shown here is a Pic I stole off the internet and is missing the front wheel conards which kind of added to the Latin Bandido kind groove Bob loved so much...
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