Event Coverage Announcing The Gear Jam Drags, show and swap! May 11, 2013

It's just gonna be good to see you Rich!

 

I like Rich.
A lot.
But I think I'll enjoy seeing the back-up girls a lot more!!!

I may need to make him Grand Poo-Bah of the event or something in recognition of this idea.

-Brad

 

We enlisted a BUG this evening.......should be good...just need a car to back up

 

THANKS! Ya, willing to pull the wings off....heck, I even have a new set of Haydens I would bolt on the front for the Event (wire spokes)! I "assume" this is a heads-up, no Bracket Race stuff kind of an Event?...I don't own any shoe polish

 

It is definitely Heads-Up.
I'm looking for sponsors for purse money for the Quick 8... but everyone who doesn't make the Quick 8 will get to keep running!
We're going to pair off everyone else (in-class) with the car closest to their ET, and during Eliminations they will do a best 2-out-of-3 shootout with the guy closest to them.
So qualifying in the morning, and then everyone gets to run through the Eliminations Rounds too--heads-up, evenly matched. Nobody goes on the trailer, nobody gets their doors blown off.

After Eliminations, we'll do a Round Robin 3-round elimination for Mr. Top Eliminator with the 6 class winners and the two fastest qualifiers who didn't make any of the Quick 8 in their class.

I want everyone to have fun making passes, I'd like a few guys to go home with a little money in their pocket, and I want the fans in the stands to think "Damn, this was a hell of a race!"

No bracket racing, no handicaps, no electronics and all the other modern silliness.
-Brad

 

Now your talking We NEED more Races of this nature if you are ever to get "spectators" interested in Drag Racing ...again Take a "newbie" to the track and you always get asked..."Why did that car stall after it left the line and started running again" YUCK!

 

I am a firm believer in people having fun with their cars, and with the hobby in general.
Guys build vintage-styled race cars for very simple reasons: They like them, they want to race "like it was," and they want to have fun with their cars.
That means making passes with their cars, paired off against similarly styled cars, not bracket Camaros or new Mustangs. And nobody wants to get their doors blown off.

I want the serious guys to come to put on a show for the fans in the stands--which is why I'm trying to get some purse money.
And I want the guys with 13 and 14 second cars to have just as much fun as the "serious" guys and be given the same on-track respect. They used to call this "C" and "D" Gas!

Heads-up, evenly matched, everyone in the cars has a great time, everyone in the stands gets a great show.

For me, there's no other way to do it.
-Brad

 

I will tell ya...I quit NHRA TAFC racing cuz it WASN"T fun anymore....not to mention the outta site cost and being treated like a red-headed step child (by NHRA)....But I will also tell ya...I like to have "serious" fun Can I bring some of that funky "yellow fuel" to this race?!

 

Brad,
I’m one of those guys with a 13 – 14 sec. car, maybe even a little faster than that. It was actually run in Gas back in the day.

It has a drive shaft loop, lap belt but that’s about it. No roll bar or blow bell-housing

What class would you guess I would be able to run in and would I ever be able to pass NHRA tech short of rebuilding my car?

I’m thinking that really the only place old barn stormiers like my car are going to get any track time is on the outlaw tracks like Paradise and Reynolds?

There are several of us here on the west side of Atl that would like to come play, but I'm thinking we may as well all ride togather in a mini van instead of our Hot Rods.

 

For this year, my rules specifically say "Any Fuel Allowed" for FED.
If it creates a problem for next year, then we'll go with "gasoline only." But for this year, yeah, bring on the tears!

-Brad

 

I honestly can not answer your question about whether it'll pass NHRA tech or not. Their rules are published, and I'd expect the track to follow them.
What are NHRA's rules for a 12 or 13 or 14-second car?
If you're really worried about it, run up to the track and have them give it a look. But if the car is running 13s or 14s, and no slicks, I really can't see them making a huge issue of it... plenty of new cars are running those speeds with no cage, stock bellhousings, etc.

Remember too, that the rules are for YOUR protection. Personally, I wouldn't ever bang gears with a stick shift and not have a blow-proof bellhousing... My feet are worth a $100 swap meet Lakewood. Sometimes things are just a good idea whether they're in the rules or not.

As to what class you'd run in, Gas or Hot Rod--or BOTH if you want to buy two tech cards!

-Brad

 

Subscribed and calendar marked!

 

At least allow Alky! Show me a fan that isnt happy with a few tears from sniffing a little Nitro??!!

 

yall got to have a best lettering award.

 

Reynolds is a full fledged, NHRA sanctioned track, but for nostalgia events such as the "Run What Ya Brung Nostalgia Drags" events, a bit of common sense is applied to the rules and as long as you ain't squirrely all over the track, or just running like a full fledged race car , they will work with you for that event.
If yoiu're real fast for your equipment, you might be asked to back off a bit till you come back with better safety equipment. Not sure about Commerce on this.
I do agree with Brad about manual trans cars with high revving engines, SFI rated bell housing, flywheel and pressure are cheaper than prosthetic feet!

 

I am finally taking time to read this thread. All because of the BUG page on FB.

This event is stacking up to be a ton of fun. It is a damn long drive from WI, but it looks like a blast that may be worth the trip.

I might even bring two cars and some of my pals.

thanks Brad, for conceiving this event

 

Read it again! This year, any fuel is allowed...

-Brad

 

I checked the NHRA rules for street 11.99 > and I don't think I would have any problem. If I'm turning 8.0s at Paradise I should be well above 12.0 on the 1/4 shouldn't I?


The only thing I would have to add is a electricial cut off switch since my battery is located in the trunk and replace a couple feet of rubber fuel line with braded steel..



To be honest, I would be driving my car there and hopefully back! So there wouldn't be any all out, high reving launches. But everybody likes to get in a couple photo ops and be part of the show.


Thanks for the feed back.

 

Ya I read it...just didnt like the "gas only" potentially for the future.....saying at least allow Alky or you will loose half of the field!!

 

I really don't think it'll be a problem... If it really gets to the point where there are enough Alky guys and they're dominating the field in a couple years, then I'll make a class specifically for Alky AND Blown gas, and let them duke it out on fairly even footing.
Something along the lines of "AA/G"!

But I'm really not worried about it at this point.


-Brad

 

Glad to help. And if you come to the NE Georgia Swap Meet in March and April, there's probably a pretty good chance you'll find an old Lakewood with the ear mounts to bolt right in, if you decide you want the foot-saver.


Either way, it sounds like we'll see you in May!

-Brad

 

I’m actually running a vintage Hurst solid motor plate with an Advance Engineering cross member, trans mount and drive shaft loop assembly. Out back are four foot custom ladder bars on a Ford 9”, with 31 spline axels and 3:73 gears in a Currie, Tru-Trac posi carrier.

But I’m sure my little old 355 ci., 385 HP SBC motor ain’t going to hurt nothing too bad other than a few feelings. It’s kind a fun racing when everybody is supposed to out run you.

 

Dam it sounds like a great time but still in motion is the next week end and I have that down already wish I could make both Hope to see some pictures

 

Yeah, I was locked in due to the NHRA's Southern Nats the prior week... it threw off my NE Georgia Swap Meet too.
I'm hoping that the swap meet, with 150-200 vendors (VENDORS, not spaces sold) will be enough to make those committed to SIM double-up and come to The Gear Jam.

-Brad

 

Good luck Brad54 I will keep a eye on this thread

 

BREAKING NEWS!!!
The City Of Commerce, Georgia is working with us to do a cruise-in Friday night, May 10.
Cruising Commerce will feature cordoned-off city streets for us to park our hot rods, cruising up and down the main drag through the center of town, a stage with rockabilly band in the town square, food vendors, and a beer garden sponsored by the City.
Festivities in Commerce will kick off Friday, May 10 at 6pm, and run until 10pm.

Band and brands of beer to be announced.

-Brad

 

Great to hear that Commerce came through Brad!!!

 

Yeah - That's really cool. What are the chances Camping at the track will be allowed Friday night?

 

Camping?!?!?!

Josh, you're a celebrity now- it's time to tear out some hotel walls and stuff !!!

 

The chances are excellent. I've already talked to the track, and they're cool with it.
We'll have a camping area set up outside the fence in the big parking field. Need to finalize the details, but they're cool with it.

(mixing golf-carts and moonshine will be strictly verboten though.)

-Brad