Some *****in cars are part of that East Coast G***ers, I see FlamedAbone's old Henry J is part of them now.
It is not often that you find a bunch of old *******s that all love g***ers. How about we meet every Friday for lunch for "Old Guy Hamburger Day." Jamies in Capital Hill is the place...best food and company that a g***er guy could want. Ron.
Esat Coast G***ers are all about bracket racing, which is fun to DO, but boring to watch. Bracket racing isn't "just like the old days". Watching cars that werre once capable of running in the 8's and 9's that now run 12's and 13's is like watching Marylin Chambers doing straight roles. Heads up. run what ya brung, cubic inch to weight, stick or auto, put 'em in a cl*** and kick ***. That's racing the way it used to be. But boy the new batch of copies sure are pretty and polished... Spike
I think the Central States g***ers have a better idea. The East Coast G***ers should follow thier lead. Spike
If you take a look back into the history books, not all "g***ers" were created equal. In the 50's, the blown gas guys (there were very few of them) ran with the unblown guys. Originally, the gas cl*** cars were street/strip cars... and the cl*** was intended to give the little guy a cl*** to race. In 1960, the NHRA changed the designation to A/G, B/G and C/G for UNBLOWN cars and A/GS, B/GS and C/GS for the Supercharged or Gas Supercharged cars. There was also an interesting trend that was happening with the cars themselves... the racers were looking for free horsepower, so the body styles began to lean towards the lighter variety. While there may have been a few Tri-Five Chevies running blown motors in the late 50's and early 60's... they quickly got their ***es waxed at national events by the lighter Will-eez bodied g***ers. But that body style was alive and well in the unblown A/G, B/G and C/G cl***es... and those cars ran in the 12's and 13's in that golden era... the early 60's... So, I tend to give those cars a break... with a SBC, and maybe an injector... 12 second et's, while WEAK by today's standards, are "period perfect" for the tri-five guys with "g***er" style cars... running 283's, 292's and 302's... But yea, to see a '33 or especially a '40 Will-eez with a single carbed SBC in it running 12's is BORING! You got a car like that, step up and run 10's with it baby! (if it's a dual purpose car) If you're barely street legal... or just run it at the track, no reason why you can't run 9's with something that has, or should have, a blower! Personally, if it's a dual purpose g***er style car... like a tri-five chevy... man, its gotta run low 12's... AT LEAST! I ain't stopping until mine can drive to the track and rip off a mid 10... with a four speed... Now, the poser-g***er... like all the Falcon Wagon's and Plymouth Valiants... those cars have a free license to run 15's! Sam.
Oh... and bracket racing... You know, I always cheer for the under dog... and the little guy... and they are the reason bracket racing exists. We have a little microcosm here on the HAMB... guys don't build drag styled cars to go fast here... they build them to LOOK COOL. So sure, heads up racing may appeal to people here... especially if we're all on the same financial or knowledge level. But lord help you if someone shows up with money or knowledge... The Goodguys has a real g***er cl***... AA/GS... and they use the basic rules from the 60's... What wins in those cl***es? Money... and lots of it... the AA/GS cars run the quarter mile in the 6 second range at 200+mph! I'm sure you could enact a bunch or RULES to make things like the old days... but real racers HATE rules... the rules they like are simple ones... motor/weight/tire/size blower/type of fuel and that's IT! Mess with what KIND of car they can put it in... and they get PISSY. The past has p***ed... I'm as sad about it that I couldn't have been there more than anyone... Sam.
Sam- I agree with you. And my personal idea of a g***er will always be pre-war Willys from the late 60's era of g***ers. Seeing one of these Willys running 11's and 12's is just plain sad. But I'm just speaking as a fan. A spectator. I'm not an expert, I just know what I like to see. I would much rather see a bunch of primered g***ers from the Mid-west than shiny bracket racers from this coast any day of the week... Spike
Had a friend drop by the shop today and show me a pic of another g***er around the area....an Austin....like Jr Thompson's old car. He asked if we would consider adding another cl*** to our show. We now run Nostalgia Super Stock and Nostalgia Muscle car with our Texas Outsiders deal. Yes I said....We would love to add G***ers to the show for next season. Anyone with suggestions or info please call or email.... Mark Artis C/O Texas Outsiders 972.712.6558 www.texasoutsiders.com
Sam, I am going to disagree with you. How can you possibly call the Goodguys a "real g***er cl***"? Those are Pro-Mods, plain and simple. No g***er ran 6 sec. at 200mph even close to the demise of the g***er cl***. I have spoken with those involved in the Left Coast nostalgia circuit and they admit that the cars are pro-mods. There are more "traditional" AA/GS out there than you think. The problem is that there are only one or two that run the correct speed and ET. The rest choke, puke, and sputter down the track and are a travesty to what the cl*** actually was. You have racers calling their cars and racing "All Period Correct" g***ers... I don't remember high cube crate motors going in between the frame rails of a g***er... Mid 9s about about 150 was the norm for a good AA/GS in the late 60's but you have researched this stuff, you know this. When these cars ran on a non-NHRA track they would run alky and go high 8's at around 165. The best g***er racing came in match racing. They were paid to perform and the fans loved it. That could come back if they all got on the same page. Bracket racing has it's place. But it doesn't belong at a nostalgia drag event. And yes, I wish I could have been there but at least I can still talk to those who were. They are all around us. Learn from them before they are no longer with us... Kevin P. Tucker Rod & Kulture
Good points in all of these posts. Here's my deal. When I restored an old altered back in the early 90's, I wwent to a couple of events where there were big name guys. KS Pittman was there, really cool cause I always loved his cars. But the same guys that built the cars in the 60's had giant enclosed semi trailers with 600 CID Keith Black aluminum motors and GOBS of money to fund it. I was impressed with the craftsmanship of the cars but my heart kinda sank after reflecting on it. The guys don't really want to "go back" to the glory days, they want to build something with todays technology and run todays times because people aren't impressed anymore with a 10 second Willys. It's hard to build a "period Correct" motor and driveline. Trust me, I have been fighting one for a long time. I wanted to keep the motor 100% 1964, which I have minus a few hard parts but it has been very difficult. It won't be as impressive as if I had built a 406 or some ****o motor, but it is more of a preservation project. What the guys considered to be bigtime racing parts back then are really mild street stuff now. There is a gr*** roots type of movement for the old g***er/altered cl***es and I am glad to see it. I love this stuff even if it takes me a little longer to get to the final results. Let's just hope it continues and people stay interested.
You will be welcome....for sure...to some of our Okie hospitality. Make it on Friday - stay Saturday and you can include a trip to Thunder Valley Raceway to watch us race (Central State G***ers). We don't just drive our cars to car shows, we take them to the track and wring them out. Break them...blow them up and rebuild. That's the life of a g***er.
yes I have a 48 prefect 4 door rear deal g***er from 1964 no drivetrain or floor but perfect body been in b arn for 41 yrs just out and cheap see in clasifieds there are pics of it
Roothawg, you're absolutely right about those guys... and the reason is, they are racers first... and just because they were there in the beginniing, they happen to know about the past. They have an adreneline rush, a trill to seek... and they want to haul ***. Nothing wrong with that, in fact, I tend to lean towards "wanting more" when it comes to power. But on the other hand, I appreciate, and study the past like you. I got hooked when I was 11, and attended the first "Nostalgia Drags" in Fremont... where a bunch of those guys showed up with their old iron, and RAN IT. Push starts, nitromethane... and MANDITORY tire smoke were the norms. But these same guys wanted to win... and the next year, showed up to win with something a little more than the next guy. Well, over the next 24 years... "Nostalgia" racing has morphed into "New-stalgia" racing... Sure they are impressive, but I get my jollies from old iron running hard. There are guys who have period correct looking cars... but then when it comes to the motor, they step up and buy the beans. This in my opinion is the cats ***... old looking iron that runs HARD. There's a young guy out here in California that hooked up with Dode Martin and built a Dragmaster ch***ied digger. Period down to the camel hump heads... it had *gasp* new torque thrust D's on the back, and new slicks... oh, and an extra hoop... but when it fired up and ran in the 7's, uh, we forgave those little hiccups. But man, what a neat deal... and you can bet that motor in all 2005 in the inside... Take our car for instance, it has all pre 1964 technology, except for the camshaft, tires and ******... a poked out 283 that my buddy's brother built over 35 years ago... I freshened it up with a cam... but that's it. It runs 10.40's all day long. But quite frankly, that's kinda SLOW for the type of car we have. In 1961 we would have won Top-E at a national event! But man, when I get in it, it's fun for the first 330 feet... then after that, I want more! So we're stepping up with a 14:1 355... it'll look old on the outside... but is it un-cool because it's new on the inside? Sam.
"Sam, I am going to disagree with you. How can you possibly call the Goodguys a "real g***er cl***"? Those are Pro-Mods, plain and simple." I disagree with you... too. The rules have been basically the same for the past 45 years. Motor/blower/type of fuel/car... take a look at teh difference between 1960 and 1967! In that short time, the cars went from running 10's to 8's... It's just that your (and mine) view of a "g***er" happens to be from the golden era of g***ers. Nothing wrong with that... you're stuck in the past, but all the racers kept improving their iron. They morphed into Super Gas cars... then into what they are today. FWIW, I tend to agree with you. When I think of a "g***er", I think of Stone Woods and Cook's Will-eez... But my point is... guys want to create a "g***er" cl***... so they enact the old rules... and then someone shows up and runs 6's... So what are you supposed to do? Make a rule that the cars must have a straight axle and sit up high? Ok. After that, someone shows up with all the motor... 2000hp blown alcohol early hemi... and blows everyone's doors off. Not fun now? Make a rule on motors... limiting them... I'm sorry, but I've been around this too long to think it is possible to have anything but an exibition organization for g***ers. Which, would be a kick in the pants! Sam.
I've always found it funny when a "G***er" runs alcohol. The whole racing thing got screwed up in the '60's as popularity grew and money took over. Glad I have memories of the real thing - Ingenuity in Action. Mutt
OOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW!!!! Sam, you really know how to hurt a guy ! That went straight in my heart! LOL. I agree with everything you said,and yes it's gotta run low 12's....AT LEAST !! What is the sense in having it if it don't? Unlike ALL THE OTHER Falcon wagons, mine is going to be a dual purpose machine. So, I aint stopping untill I can drive to the track and rip off a high 11- low 12....with a four speed...Thats what my current finances are allowing right now. I am really looking forward to driving it on the street. Although the g***er books don't show Falcons, Novas,Valiants, etc. at the national events, there werelots of them running in gas cl***es at the local hometown strips allaround the country. One of the more unique ones here in NY was a 64 Falcon COVERTIBLE!! With a Boss 302 that redlined at 9500, it had a sound all it's own. It would come out of the hole like Gene Schwartz 51 Chevy! Saw that car (Schwartz) and the Jim Zakia 55 at a g***er meet here in NY acouple of weeks ago. Great stuff.No Falcons there though...hopefully there will be next year!! Although, I feel so bad now, I don't even feel like working on it! By the way , what are you building? Take care..... Bernie
I don't think it would be "uncool" to have new parts in a motor. Sometimes I think about converting to the dark side. If it wasn't for the family history behind my motor, I would probably switch to something with a little more cubic inches...but not a 350 or a 400.
Mostly the Northeast, Atco NJ, Island Dragway, NJ, Lancaster Dragway ,NY, Lebanon Valley, NY, Epping NH, Beaver Springs Pa, Thompson, OH.
Bernie, "poser" isn't a bad word! I like your wagon! Root, you know you really want to put a 383 in that thing... just think of it as a 283 with 100 more cubes! Sam.
Hey folks, I gotta weigh in on this "heads up" deal. Not all g***ers ran heads up with each other. Yea, your cl*** eliminations were heads up, but after you ran that, you ran for Compe***ion Eliminator or Modified Eliminator for the real bragging rights and the eliminations were run with spots based on cl*** records. The only old rule book I can put my hands on right now is 1971, but the older rules read about the same. "The 4 Sportsman catagorie-Compe***ion, Modified, Super Stock, and Stock Eliminators- all use the NHRA electronic handicap system which affords cars with slower elapsed times a headstart over ones with quicker times. The amount of timed head-start is based on the the time differences between their respective cl*** marks-i.e. a car with an 11.00 second record gets a half second head start over an opponent with a 10.50 record." Guess what, this is where bracket racing got it's beginning. Every car ran off of it's own "record". It worked pretty good until all of the electronics got involved. In 71, the AA/G and BB/G ran in Comp Eliminator against some Fuel and Gas Dragsters, Fuel and Gas Altereds, and some Fuel and Gas Funnycars. I don't think they would have had much of a chance if they woiuld have had to run heads up. The A, B, C, D, G, H, I, and J/G***ers ran in Modified Eliminator (my favorite 'till this very day) against lower cl*** Altereds and Modified Production cars. So if everyone is gonna run heads up I guess we'll all have to build cars to run the EXACT same cl***. I don't think that's gonna happen. Gotta quit, my fingers hurt. .00000002 Larry T
No, "poser" is not a bad word-except when it's in reference to me,then I HATE IT!! Gotta hand it to you Sam, you busted on me good there! After I read that, I was talking to Tagman on the phone. He had read it too. I said "He didn't say Falcons, he said FALCON WAGONS. He's talking about ME" OOUUCCHH!! Thanks, we had a good laugh! Speaking of Tagman, here's a question for you all. He has a 46 Chevy pick-up 1/2 ton,that he'sthinking of doing up g***er style, for street/strip. Being quite the open minded-dare to be different type, I think it would be pretty cool. Would this work? Would this be "poser"? Seriously- what do 'yall think? We need opinions on this....... Thanks in advance! Bernie
Exactly, that is what we at the central states g***ers are having a time doing, we just want to race cars like ours is all we want it is more fun and just plain cool. I sold my super pro super gas studebaker roadster picup that ran 990 with a sbc and 8.60's on nitrous at the races of that type , had all the electronics was a track champ in 99 and now i want to have fun and not worry about points or winning 20k at a big money event with the enclosed trailer and new deisel etc. been there done that and loved it but I am near 57 yrs old and really having fun with my so far 12/30 55 g***er and yes it has a 468 motor in it and according to those who havent built a real race car it should run in the 9's but reallity is i want it streetable on pump gas $2.60 a gallon (remember0..so my goal is mid elevens on pump and i will be where I want to be so a guy can put some compression in and I'm a sittin duck but damn i look good doin it... and when I am ready to sell it if ever it will bring a ton more that a race only 55............thanks for the rant but realliy is we are in the new age and all we have is memorys of the glory days and try our best to keep them alive in our rides , all of our rides regardles of taste they all have a place ..............cya in a few days and ill race any of ya , hehe Sam
Y'all take a look at the Geezer G***ers website. All the Okies are aware of it, they have some really nice old iron, Willys, Anglia's, Henry-J's and so on. Their only stipulation is pre-'52, so that knocks to '55 Chevy's out, but they have some really cool machines, and are a great bunch of guys (Probably quite a few HAMBer's a**** them).
The Jalopy Journal
