First let me apologize if this is too far off topic and wastes moderator time clicking delete. Today's thread about Richard Schroeder p***ing (RIP) fanned a flame that's been burning in me for over a decade. And maybe the HAMB has the expertise to point me in a direction. Like lots of car guys, a lifelong dream was to campaign a race car nationally. Then started hanging with some actual bracket guys and realized how far bracket racing was from what I loved as a street racer. And even with HUGE budgets, hard to be compe***ive in any national cl*** without a 6 figure expenditure every year. Thought hard and took stock.... I love the machines, and I love doing something different than what everyone else is doing. The actual compe***ion part isn't that interesting. I'm all about the technical exercise and doing what the next guy can't. Honestly don't care who makes it to the line first. And then it dawned on me, everything I love about drag racing and bad*** cars are contained in one kind of car- THE WHEELSTANDERS. That was 10 years ago and haven't shaken it yet. So I ask the HAMB- does anyone know what it takes to operate an exhibition car of that sort? The kind of things I wonder.... *Do the wheelstanders have to provide their own liability insurance before track owners will consider em? *How does a guy actually break in once he's got the car, is it as simple as calling tracks and promoters and talking to anyone that will listen? *What about licensing, standard NHRA/IHRA stuff for the ET the car will run? *What kind of appearance payment are we talking, is there any hope I could recoup travel costs through appearance fees? Or am I just lucky they'll let me on the tarmac? It ain't about money, but having travel expenses covered could mean the difference between 4 appearances a year, and 14. And there's probably a million questions that I'm too green to even know to ask. But now it's out there so chime in and dash my dreams...
Just called a buddy, He'll post some answers as soon as he gets home. He is a former track promoter, should be able to help!
Richard Schroeder died??? LAME, that ****s...RIP - a legend along with Bob Riggle, Chick Poole, and "Maverick" Bill Golden...
I've been contemplating this with an A-100 Van and a "Smokin' Diesel" for motivation. What did you have in mind? That could be an interesting exhibition.
Honestly, trying to be financially realistic about the plan and have watched used wheelstanders whenever they come up for sale. Seems an entry level car like a panel vega goes for between $12K and $30K depending on level of completeness. Steep, but still attainable for a guy who puts his mind to it, and comparable to what a 9 second drag car costs. Which makes sense since some guys run 9s on the back wheels. Like anything else, you could work up from there once you got a feel for it. Not going to pretend that I'd build my own first car. The learning curve would probably be too steep, and it'd be real easy to get it wrong cause the average ch***is shop would have no idea what the "right way" is. 2nd or 3rd car the experience level might justify scratch building. Tinman, thanks very very much for referring your buddy. Much appreciated
I'm thinking a rear brake lever like the front lever on a dune buggy/rail buggy would be necessary for steering.
da Tinman gives me way too much credit for this one, but here goes. wheelstanders fall into the same catagory as jets.....special license is required, issued by either NHRA or IHRA. it's more than just building the equipment and offering yourself for hire. the vehicle is very special as well. you may know that the steering when the wheels are up comes from individual rear wheel brakes like on most field tractors but controlled by levers normally to the driver's right where most shifters are. sight down track is from plexigl*** in the floors. all have serious counterbalance to insure the front lifts....for example Poole's Chuckwagon had a tailgate that weighted over 800#. the first time we booked him, he unloaded in the rocks and did a wheelie just parking the thing! there's a ton of stuff that has to happen before you tackle this project, way too long to delve into here. send me an email address and/or phone numbers and we'll do all we can to get y'all on the right track. when the time comes, da Tinman is the fabricator of choice, folks!!
N.H.R.A. has a bunch of rules such as center steering and stuff. I spent some time talking with Gary Kleckner who has the Chevado and he said the rules have made his car obsolete.... the same for the style of the Red Wagon and the LA Dart.... If you look at the newer ones like the Pull Your Part Chevy truck at Famoso, they have center steering and stuff. Gary said it would take what amounted to building a new car to have his '55 Chevy Nomad insurable.... even though he's one of the forerunners of the cl*** and knows what the heck he is talking about.... we talked about how cool it would be if somebody got together and did a "nostalgia" wheelstander cl*** for exhibitions.... There is a Wheelstanders Yahoo group... I haven't been by there in ages though...
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Man.....this is bringing back the memories! Shrewsberry was one of my dads buddies back in the day. I remember being a kid and sitting in his shop while they worked on the cars. My favorite was the Knotts Berry Wagon Model A sedan delivery he had.
Perry actually stayed here in the midwest a while, kept his stuff in a shed near the track. He had a tank too if y'all remember that one! All of them had hydraulics on the wheelie bars in order to do some kind of burnout. Without them, it would just have been wheelies. Thanks for all the pics....way kool!!
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