I have always wanted to "go racing". My pop had a stock cl*** drag gar up untill I was about 13 years old. (now 55) I went ever Sunday there was racing. When he stopped I stopped. Once in a while I went to a race track, but I usually stayed away. Race cars are my heroin. I hear it start I want one NOW. I never had the time to "go racing". Now time is moving faster and I know I better do it soon if I want to do it. My question is If I would buy an old altered like this one, http://www.racingjunk.com/Altered/182142127/23-t-alterd-rolling-.htmlway as a basic training wheels kind of thing, How fast would it go with just a bone stock small block (250hp)? How much safety gear would I need? I know the ch***is is too much for the motor. It should be about bullet proof though. I an not looking to be the fastest, bracket racing is ok with me. Yes, I have run a street car down the track a few times. Just want something that look like a race car in the garage.
I don't really know anything about it, but I know that's not a turn key car. As far as speed, well, the ch***is looks like it's set up to be legal in some of the faster cl***es, but again, IDK that much about it. I'm just thinking you need to figure out how much that car will take and how close to NOW you can get there AND get it on the track and legal to compete.
Speed costs money, how fast do you want to go? Spend a little time researching type of racer and $$$ involved and if and when you make your choice, plan on it costing 2/4 times what you thought, 10x if you want to win. Racing at any level yesterday or today is a pricey hobby, makes anything else seem reasonable. NOT looking to discourage you, just some thoughts from a old timer thats, Been there, Done that. Good Luck and have at it, John
Pat. I know the car isn't turn key. I am ok with a foot brake car. Minimum electronics. As Wicarnut stated speed cost money. Trying to have fun. Think of it this way, ... a 15 second car takes twice as long as a 7.5 second car to go down the track. So twice as much fun for half the money.
Just like any other form of racing you have to get the rule book and study it to see what safety gear you would have. With that car expect to need a fire suit that is certified for the speed you will be running and the fuel you will be using. I don't see a thing wrong with buying that car for the asking price and putting a rather mild engine in it to learn the car with and have a lot of fun doing it. You could probably run brackets with it for a year with the biggest expenses being gas to get there, fees to get in and what ever you eat on the way, there or on the way back.
back in the 80's we threw a little old worn out 350 from a station wagon and a warmed over powerglide with a brake in a pretty light little FED and went in the mid 10's i think. as far as safety gear, you'll need a -5 suit, shoes and gloves with a current DOT or SNELL helmet. seat belts will probably need to have a current tag on them. even though that ch***is is certed, if you keep it under 10 seconds you don't have to worry about ch***is certs every 3 years. you can have a heck of a time bracket racing. flatheadgary on here has a little 239 flatty with a manual trans in a real budget altered and runs 15's... AND WINS RACES. another guy, Dan Linehan who runs the same group has a real mild small block, runs 10's and goes rounds. look around here for the C/GD cl*** that rocky runs out at eagle field. most of those cars are just basic fun cars that cant run faster than 10.00. might give you some ideas. from the way the ad reads, that car is a STEAL at 6500. might have to play around with tire size, or rear end gearing or some other thing to make your combo work, but other than that it really looks like a nice piece with room to grow. i'd be looking for something just like it if i were in your shoes. OR you could by my turn key low 8 second car with all fresh everything ad go nostalgia racing!!!
Do it....now....!!! In the race-track of life , you're nearer the finish line than the starting line... Thats the biggest reason old timers get grumpy...
A customer of mine has a similar style and setup 23t altered ...mild SBC and goes 10 flat. He says he could go faster but the 10.00 gets him out of all the license requirements , ch***is cert stuff and other $$$$ stuff required. Have fun with it. .ought to be good for high 10's with a mild motor. And do nothing but add pump gas and go.
To start off with Do you have a local track or will you have to travel? What programs/cl***es does that track provide?
Alteredpilot, Thanks you answered most of my questions. Didn't know if I would need a suit for a 10.00 or slower car. I suspected that this combo would be in the 10-12 second range. The car in that ad was just an example. I will start looking more local for a car. Dreracecar, there are 3 tracks within 40 miles of me. (With rumors of an 1/8 mile being planned within 10 miles.) All have bracket cl***es, at least one has a no doors night.
There should be cars for sale in PA. but that seems to be a good price and it's not that far. light car small motor a good combo
1. TRAILER 2. CREW 3. PROPER SUIT 4. ENGINE-TRANS 5. SUPPORT EQUIPMENT 6. S.O. APPROVAL ****** MAJOR 7 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ If you can answer yes to ALL above.....go racing
Others have chimed in and really honed in on a point I was trying to make and really my main concern for you. Getting a car that they'll let you compete with. GO GIT YOU A RULE BOOK! It'll go pretty far towards helping you pick and buy a car to race in.
rick has one too many $ signs open wheel cars are easier to work on, trailer depends on tow car/truck i've never had much of a crew my wife or a friend at one race i had no crew and was called to the tower the crews parked on each side of me readied my car. support equipment just add as you go along
Abso f'in lutely !!! I built my dragster as a similar thing. NOT serious enough to cost a bunch of money or worry about running any particular cl***. Just HAVE FUN. Simple really. ;-)
anyone who complains about how expensive drag racing is, is spending too much money trying to have fun. just build what you can afford and go have fun!!!!
"open wheel cars are easier to work on" we would spend about 30 hours a week preparing for a race........ The drag car I crewed had three guys, each spending about 5 hours a week prepping the car.....we raced two to three times a week. gas is not free, entry fees are not free, broken parts are not replaced for free (unless you had a sponsor), food is not free, maintenance on the racer and tow vehicle are not free...... I had 13 sponsors on my dirt car and we had 6 on the drag car to help with expenses.
Rick, what exactly did 3 guys do for 5 hours (3x5=15) every week to prepare the car? Was it a big H/P car with motor and clutch tear downs every week? My idea is low H/P bullet proof minimum repair.
Some food for thought mild steel cars are generally built buy hobbyis not pro shops so if looking at one take someone with you that has some experience to check it out for construction quality.
open wheel car = dragster/altered we run our car in an 8.60 no electronics index cl***. we (2 of us) would spend a couple of evenings getting the car/truck/trailer ready, go racing then spend a couple of evenings pulling maintenance on the racer. then everything would sit until the next race a couple of months later. my ******** bracket racing buddies all had setups that required nothing more than putting gas in the tank and checking tire pressure. drag racing can be so simple and so much fun if you just let it be. we're selling our car. its just too much right now. but i'll probably still put together another sub 10 second dust collector just in case i want to go out and fart around. or maybe i'll just run brackets with the t roadster i'm putting together. just for the fun of it.
The Jalopy Journal
