One more vote for stick shifts. I really built mine with an auto in mind, but when Ryan stated that we could not run one, I changed my mount and went and found a truck four speed. I have to agree with the choice now. If all of our cars are built the"same", it will come down to who spun off the line, missed a shift or something along those lines. It puts the win or loss back in the hands of the driver, not all the electronics, stall converters and all the "modern" things you find in a newer race car. After all, this is supposed to be a "traditional" race car.
To address the "one race per year" (completely valid) point ........ For myself alone, it poses no problem as it is now. My three primary hobbies are an all volunteer Rose Parade float (year long build for a three hour ride), a one of a kind model train club (20+ year build, shown twice a year) and now an HA/GR (as yet only four exhibition engagements in our state, three of'em at the other end). All these are based on scratch building and show only once or twice a year so far. Obviously it's the build that I enjoy most, but one day that'll be pretty much done for Barn Job #18 and what then ? The other members of Geezerspeed (and myself as well) are looking forward to the hoped for growth of the cl*** and the increase in venues that would incur. We're more than willing to live with it for now to be in on the ground floor but do indeed expect it to become something larger. This sort of thinking is typically called "the dream", and we're dreaming it. It does include the understanding that it's "in the future" still. A**** us it's been questioned why this isn't understood by all the participants. This is a new thing gentlemen, it'll take time. And we're in it for that dream as much as the comraderie. And yes, it may even fail. Thus leaving us with an orphan car. But hell, that's part of it too. We can at that point consider converting it to a bracket racer, dune buggy, street outlaw or whatever turns our crank then (though just kidding about the dune buggy, I hate sand in my shorts). 'Til that time we'll give it our best shot, in the form it was intended to take. OK, soapbox stowed for another time. Guess I just needed to get that (and that one-haired mole) off my chest.
Amen to sticks, half the fun is sawing through the gears and my feeling about this cl*** is that the cars should be built with fun in mind and run as more of an old style "run what ya brung" match race type thing. If you want to go for records and such fine, but to me the spirit of the HA/GR cl*** is to show the world how it was in "the day" before all the high tech **** added expense to the sport and took away the little guy, weekend racers who were into drag racing just to have a good time and see how quick they could make their cars go. Hell, I can remember when guys would help their compe***ion repair their cars just so they could race them in the next round, and it wasn't that uncommon to loan parts if somebody broke something just to keep them going. That is what we are in this for or we should be getting big buck sponsors and running in the money first ranks of the NHRA Circus. AMEN Old6, it's not a worry if we only get to race once a year, it's that we get to race the way it began.
These threads where we all talk about the transmission rule are really very entertaining...its like the debate over the bias ply/radial tires. I think the only real good argument against the auto is that it has been made a rule....and that is cool. As far as the rules go...I would like to have seen the rules go all the way, one way or the other. Make all the parts on the car pre-1962 (front end, engine, trans, steering gear box and rear axle) or pick a later cutoff date that would have allowed the 300 Fords and a few other engines to compete with the 302 GMCs. I have read here about cars being built with aftermarket tube axles, S-10 rear axles and late model manual transmissions. It just seems like a contradiction to the "spirit" to have a late model rear axle or transmission...since neither of these parts are being used as "safety equipment." I guess the "spirit" applies in some situations and not in others. Well...that is just the way it seems to me.
Guys, I think all of our cars will look period correct to 99% of the people and generate a lot of interest in the "50's spirit" of the HA/GR's. I'm sure we're the only ones that will know if the car is 100% HA/GR to the letter of the rules, and I bet we're the only ones that care. When you think about it, the important thing is building the car the way YOU want it to be....and having fun. If your car is faster than my car, no big deal. I play golf whenever I can and if I ever got to golf with Tiger Woods I wouldn't be thinking about winning, I'd just enjoy the experience. Remember, this doesn't have to be about winning or losing, but it does have to do with being there and enjoying the moment. I hope my car is fast only because I've wanted to build a strong inline 6 cylinder for 20 years and this is my chance. I'd have just as much fun building a strong running Model A 4 banger. Why don't we all do what we think is best for ourselfes and support each other. Ron
Thank you Ron, you have summed up the whole matter quite well. What this thing is about is doing it for fun, the way it was done in the '50s, and building in the same style and technology. It's not the winning, it's being there and having fun. We're not buildlng cars that could ever beat a Don Garlits, but wouldn't it be a ball to have him in the other lane next to you, running one of these cars?
Tom (64 Dodge), Thank you. If Don Garlits was in the lane next to me I'm sure I'd do everything wrong, but it would be great. Just think about my braging rights IF I did beat him. Seriously guys, whenever our cars run lets hope the public likes them and the 50's idea grows. It was a great time to have grown up and hopefully the public will enjoy what we're doing. Now for a disclaimer; at some time in the future I'm sure I'll mount a set of slicks, a nitrous system, etc just to see how fast this ugly beast will really run. That will be part of the fun too. Now if I can just get it built soon. See you on the starting line, Ron
The Jalopy Journal
