New class for Bonneville

What a bunch of drama queens

 

I would rather see more hotrods on the salt than late model Camaros.

I see the only major gripe so far is racers don't want any new cl***es making the staging lines longer. Fine, run the Hot Rod Cl*** later in the week or at times when there are less cars running.

As for "slow" street cars? Anyone read about HRMs Drag Week? Granted they are not vintage cars but the new STREETABLE is a 6 second doorslammer. Granted drags-salt is apples and oranges but the definition of streetable is not.

 

So, to make cl***, all I would have to do is be street legal? That means my Bonneville build would make cl***!

In my neck of the woods, there are no car inspections. I simply pay my registration fee, insurance , and I'm good to go. I'm 'street legal', until I'm issued a citation stating otherwise. I'm pretty sure your intention is NOT to have a car like this running in this cl***.

I don't have a pony in this race, so it makes no difference to me either way. I sure do like the idea of 'The Rolling Bones Challenge" though!

 

The point everyone is missing is that there is NOTHING that is keeping a hot rod from running now. We don't need a hot rod cl*** when hot rods can already run in the existing cl*** structure. Like I said in my first post, all this new cl*** would do is open up a few slots in the rule book so someone can lay claim to a record.

If someone really wanted to run they can now. I think the other big misconception that's running through everyone's mind right now as they read this is that this would be some kind of street car cl*** where you might need less than what the safety standards are now. Nope, no way, no how. You'd still have to meet ALL the tech minimums with this new cl*** which is no different than what you'd have to do now!

This cl*** would not be any kind of entry level cl*** where people can "run-whatcha-brung" and take a joy ride down the salt. Everyone knows the SCTA has extremely stringent safety regulations so to think this cl*** would be the budget hot rodders cl*** is naive. This cl*** would still require fully built race cars. If these hot rod race cars happen to still be streetable afterwards then more power to 'em.

We don't need another cl*** because these guys can already run in the cl***es we have. I'm sorry if some people don't feel like their car of choice is compe***ive and probably won't ever set a record but there are still lots of folks who do this for the fun of it. Is a legit dash plaque not enough any more?

 

^^^What Stewie said^^^ Well put, Nathan. While I'd like to see an opportunity for this type of build to be compe***ive in a recognized cl***, I believe that an all-volunteer organization has to limit its growth somehow. If cl***es were eliminated to alllow new ones, ok. (Maybe get rid of rear engined modified roadsters? they're just really lakesters, anyway...) vic

 

I choose to ignore all that other mess but if this is what YOU want then YOU need to do the leg work. YOU do the research and YOU write the rule proposal. Put pen to paper and come up with this early OHV cl*** rules. Maybe you'll better appreciate the painstaking efforts that go into putting a legitimate cl*** together and making it fair and compe***ive for everyone. Maybe this early OHV cl*** is the greatest damn idea EVER but for now it's only an idea. It's the execution that will make this deal real or not and the devil is in the details.

And a few thoughts on a pe***ion... I could be wrong but in my experience, the only thing that really matters to the SCTA is the voice of it's members and real participants (ie people who actually have and actively race a vehicle). You could get the entire HAMB membership to sign a pe***ion say "I do solemnly swear to build and race a car if you start the hot rod/early OHV cl***..." and it wouldn't mean squat to the SCTA because they are plenty of people who think they'd like to try landspeed racing one day and then there are those that actually do it and they know what it really takes. Get some racers on your side who would actually fit into the cl*** you're proposing and it might actually happen.

If you really want it you'll make it happen. Otherwise it's just talk on some forum. Good luck.

 

Well Said.

This new cl*** seems like a silly exercise for a self serving agenda. If its a timing tag one needs, they pop up on that other site all the time.

 

See above in orange.

 

firingorder , we were staged next to you and thought your racer was kool as hell . Never worried if they made a special cl*** for you just enjoyed seeing you run. As far as how fast our cars are - not very. With the roadster powered by a 276 with three 97's we adverage about 120 with a best of so far of 127.9 . We are building a 29 for the same cl*** to go after that " soft " record of about 153.+ cause you know we " cherry picked " that easy fxgr cl*** . Keith 57 y-block powered coupe could only manage 137 about two thirds down the mile at maxton but he had to keep it there due to the 135 limit . He's building a stronger y-block and making his coupe bonneville legal for this year.

 

We pe***ioned the SCTA over the summer .

 

Do you want to run for bragging rights, points, or a SCTA record?????
Maybe run in a cl*** and hand out your own rewards based on your performance. I dont see anything in what your proposing that needs a new cl***.

As far as your rules, pre 67 chevys is not going to happen. Any 4" bore SBC can be made into anything that would kill your cl*** performance wise. You would have to make it pre 55 to do what your after, which is kill the chevy V8.

 

So Steve aside from the personal attacks and your interest in our underwear in your opinion there should never be another new cl*** added ?

 

I think Rich might also agree that in the XO cl***, the overhead and flathead motors go "head to head" so to speak. We ran our little turbo flathead six stude motor in a cl*** which also included the GMC 6 and Buick 8. I think a cl*** for the flatties would be fun and keeping with the true spirit of hot-rodding.

 

Sorry I missed you. The big difference is I built my sidecar to fit in an existing cl***. My best with it was 125.715 and I didn't think I was hanging around causing delays. And I would think the same of 127.9. Thats not hanging around either. Theres nothing wrong with cherry picking. I ran on a 500cc sidecar fuel record of 101 and a gas record of 98. I upped them to 119 and 117. Was it cherry picking? Not sure and don't care.

As I said I don't have a dog in this fight. But I keep getting the feeling that if this cl*** was to come into being someone will build a megga buck monster that will meet all the rules and go to Bonneville and run 280 or some hideous speed and that will kill interest in the cl***.

I see the "ingenuity" that has been applied to early engines and it never fails to amaze me. I can see some guy building a KB that looks exactly like an early ohv and being able to convincingly argue that he's legal.

 

Tman , For us and it sounds like for you and many others it's the being there. running your hot rod / race car / or tricycle on the salt . just being a part of it . We run in a cl*** with a hard record , never once thought " gee we will never break it " To us our hot rods are our personal time machines . Trophies and awards are not any part of it . It's about going fast in a hot rod that when you suit up and get in your 65 and when you shut it off at the end on the three mile your 16 . They are our time machines . With the roadster the flathead engine is an equalizer . We may not ever get close to the record but we are at least on somewhat equal footing and running with simalr cars . Keith and others we are sure ,has always been in to early v/8's. they are what powers his time machine. There is no place for them .
We have long been friends with Morty and the idea of having a group of guys running hot rods with early overheads similar to his 100 mile club sounds interesting . If there are any of you out there contact us by pm. We don't want to offend any one else by being so arrogant , stupid and self serving because we asked one of the board members for their thoughts on the matter . There are only so many high horses out there and there seems to be a line to get on .

 

Tman, as right as you are it kinda doesn't really matter if your car is legal, almost legal, or not legal at all for a particular cl*** UNLESS you're in contention for the record. I've inspected many many cars that were illegal for the body cl*** that they were entered in and I always ask the owner "you do realize that your car is not legal for the cl*** you've entered and that you'll be thrown out of impound if you qualify for the record". And the typical response is "ah yeah well ya see the record is 250 mph and this here is my old street car that I've now built to race out here...I'll be happy if I go 125 mph". Lately, there have been more and more of these kinda guys showing up which I LOVE and I just smile and happily sign off on the inspection form and send them on their way.

I certainly hope to see you out there some day.

 

And what was on the pe***ion?

And further, just to show there is no animosity here despite the dramatic remarks, I happen to know the head of the SCTA vintage engine committee pretty well and I'd be more than happy to get you in touch with him.

 

LOL, tell your dad I said Hi Nathan.....

And ya might mention that this member of the SCTA & LSR enjoys vintage engines very much, he just doesn't want to see any more new cl***es......

 

Beef Stew, when I get to Bonneville, I'm buying you an ice cold beverage.
Not because I am on one side of the fence or the other, but because you handle yourself in a respectable manner.
See you on the salt.

 

Good, now I see folks are starting to actually DISCUSS!!!

I don't think that anyone wants to clog the event and slow down the amount of cars that can run in a given day. I am all for finding a way for this group of cars to run w/o getting in the way of ANYONE.

At this point I am internally conflicted. I have the Tudor going together that HAS to be finished but I also have been collecting lakester parts since I was last at the salt. I do not do anything half ***ed to part of me wants get the A done (and able to run) so I can move right along to my long planned lakester!

 

Hhaha! I've seen both of those names numerous times, and never made the connection!

 

I can't see the number of cars that possibly would be built affecting the amount of time being spent in line.

If this proposed cl*** was to come into being how many cars would be built? The SCTA has some pretty stringent safety rules. How many people would be able/willing to build or modify their cars to meet the rules? Helmet, firesuit and HANS device alone can put a big dent in a budget. Just getting a car to SCTA standards is expensive. The SCTA has an impressive safety record and I don't think they will lower their standards.

My sidecar has only hit 125 but my helmet and leathers have to meet the same standards as Noonan's 260 mph.

 

Yes, those of us talking know the costs involved with safety gear and what it takes to to p*** tech. It will weed out some dreamers.

 

So, since it's a "discussion" now tell me why we need another cl***?
We have hundreds of cl***es and as Rich Fox has pointed out severial times Jimmys, Packards, 4 cylinder Dodge ohv conversions fit in the current cl*** structure. If you can't be compettive within that structure you might need to look at a different goal.

Tman, personally I'd like to see you run a Lakester (the SCTA already has that cl***). Would you choose gas or fuel, blown or unblown, AA or down to k engines? Not forgetting the V4, V4F, XF, XO, **F & **O vintage engines. Wow, thats 79 cl***es right there! (for those of you that don't know what a V4F engine is you might not want to be so fast to jump on the support bandwagon for a new cl***, get a SCTA rule book) There are already plenty of cl***es, JMHO.

 

The idea that any of this would make a big difference on the lines at Bonneville are silly. Those of us who remember the old three run record single course days remember serious waiting in line. Take my word for it. If you are a fairly new guy you got it good. I have offered to be somewhat involved in a "Cl***ic OHV V8/Rolling Bones Challenge" numerous times. After all a Packard V8 should meet the requirements and I have been running one since '07. If anyone wants to PM me,feel free.

 

Between the cars and bikes one would think there is more than enough cl***es. But I'm curious to know how many people would get a rule book, read it, realise how much work is involved, and actually build a car.

I know there would be plenty of people willing to dust off that old Bell open face hemet thats been laying in the corner of the garage for 35 years and head for Bonneville with no other preparations.

 

Wow, I'm glad I purchased a rule book and made numerous enquires and I probably shouldn't respond to this post, oh well....

I am building an GL/XO car..... August 2011 will be my first step on the salt, with this car....

Yes there are numerous sub-catogories, ie: gas, fuel, blown, aftermarket heads, etc within the THREE current vintage engine cl***es, however; there is nothing to capture a VINTAGE OHV ""BENT"" motor.

Why couldn't there be another cl*** for the Baby Dodge Hemi, Nailhead, Y-Block ? These motors will not stand up to any Hi-Teck SB Chevy...

Case in point, Gary WELDON from Ontario Canada, faithfully running his injected 401 Nailhead in his gas roadster for years just trying to capture the ole' 200 MPH "PERSONAL RECORD". But is this a record, NO, it is a personal record for Gary as he is running against $50,000 hi-tech SB Chevy's who have far exceeded the 200 MPH record with a new motor compared to the old nailhead.....

Wouldn't it be a terrible idea if we had just two more engine cl***es ! With the sub-catorogies that would total, I don't know, maybe a dozen more cl***es..... EXCELLENT idea.....

Pre-'62 V8 OHV engines under 325 CI and Pre-'62 V8 OHV over 325 ci, EXCEPT SB Chev........... Perfect.....


V4F - Vintage, 4 cyl, flathead......

 

Rich, I've been around long enough to remember helping set records on a single course & making three runs. Yes the waits were long with what 200 compe***ors? Now we have almost twice that many but have worked in 3 tracks to run on. If we lose even one of these IMO you'll see pandamonium by those that don't know what a long wait in lines is. You've already pointed out the ability to run in the existing cl*** structure. So You've helped make my point..... We don't need any more cl***es.

Candy-man, Your last statment "wouldn't it be a terrible idea if we just had two more engine cl***es!"
I think that's the same argument that was used to bring in the Rear Engine Modified Roadster cl***. I think some folks are choking on that one now.

So far no one has given any compelling reason for a new cl*** except it would be cool. Y-blocks are cool, so are nail heads & poly motors, but I'm sorry they don't need there own cl***.

 

Excellent.....