Poll: who has "official" racing experience?

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by The Toecutter

What about "unofficial" racing experience?

I think everybody has unofficial racing experience!

[rh77]

Originally Posted by CO ZX2

Since your poll criteria doesn't fit me very well.....

At the risk of self-glorification, is anyone interested in the experience of a life-long drag racer and engine builder??

Definitely! I grew up in the drag racing scene with my Dad, which started my interest in cars pretty early. What kind of racing? (Import, Top-Fuel, etc)?

RH77

[repete86]

I used to do alot of unofficial rally (and still do when I'm on a dirt road), and competed in one small local event. I've competed in a parking lot autocross event, which bored me. I'm more interested in off road than on road racing. Rallycross is the only racing sport that I am still interested in. Eventually I'll get an old VW GTI and turn it into my dedicated rally car, but I just dokn't have the time, money or space now.

[LxMike]

Originally Posted by CO ZX2

Since your poll criteria doesn't fit me very well.....

At the risk of self-glorification, is anyone interested in the experience of a life-long drag racer and engine builder??

I would luv to hear any of your stories. I have been a drag racing fan for as long as i can remember.

[Silveredwings]

The "I saw a race car once" choice was conspicously missing.

[rh77]

Originally Posted by repete86

I used to do alot of unofficial rally (and still do when I'm on a dirt road), and competed in one small local event. I've competed in a parking lot autocross event, which bored me. I'm more interested in off road than on road racing. Rallycross is the only racing sport that I am still interested in. Eventually I'll get an old VW GTI and turn it into my dedicated rally car, but I just dokn't have the time, money or space now.

Rally is by far my favorite kind of racing as well. I can only live vicariously through the pros when I work the Nationals (which is coming up in February -- I can't wait!) I really want to race, but it's not feasible for me right now -- instead, I'll volunteer at the events. Last Year's Rally America National Highlights from Missouri.

RH77

[psyshack]

Ive ran autocross. Hell was raised in it.

Drag raced cars and bikes.

Road course auto and bikes.

Rally,,, man is that fun!!! autoX is still a bigger rush to me tho.

I haven't ran anything in several years. Basically I don't have the time or money anymore to keep a racing stable healthy and active.

My brother is building a ground up Fiat x/19 for autoX. The car should be a hoot to run. I'm sure he is going to have to run it in open class with the big boys. Cause there in nothing stock on it except for the olive wreath Fiat emblem. Arbarth rods and pistons. Rolley head work. Brake mods. And a whole host of not so glorious mods,,, but important ones. It will be fun to go out and watch him run and help with the support work. Might even get cross with my Civic.

Its funny this comes up tho. Might have been two weeks ago now. I drove the Ranger to the store. Here I come fas'ing down the street and I had a moment. all the sudden. I e-brake parked the truck. I bump started it just before I got to my drive way. Pulled the e-brake release. then stabed the e-brake with my foot. locked up the rear wheels. Pitched the truck to the left for the driveway hard. Then dumped it in 1st gear and romped on it. the truck hooked up and lep into the driveway. When I got in the house the wife was in the floor LHAO. She suggested that I get back into some type of racing. I need a relief valve from all this hypermiling.

I hope to be buying a new motorcycle this spring or summer. Dead set on getting a Yamaha Warrior. It would be a fun drag bike. They seem to be lethal out of the hole. But I have a feeling that wont take care of the problem all by its self. So I'm hoping maybe supporting my brother can help me also. The wife did bring up maybe looking into a mini sprint or a mini stock, stock car. When i start showing her the money needed to make a full race season in a couple of diff. types of racing she will get low blood pressure. and take back some of her words.

My fav. auto racing is hill climbs. Man that is a full out rush!!!! I was hooked the first time my father ever ran one way back in 1967. Ive been lucky enough to run in a few in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Also did some Pikes Peak outlaw runs.. Getting all tingly thinking about it....

have fun

psy

[CO ZX2]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CO ZX2
Since your poll criteria doesn't fit me very well.....

At the risk of self-glorification, is anyone interested in the experience of a life-long drag racer and engine builder??


RH77: (Definitely! I grew up in the drag racing scene with my Dad, which started my interest in cars pretty early. What kind of racing? (Import, Top-Fuel, etc) RH77

Some of my racing experience. CO ZX2

I will relate this in short installments. Don't want to be a thread-jacker.
OK Metro? By the way, I did fill in the poll.

I have owned 11 race only cars. An econo-rail dragster, an asphalt super modified, a dirt track stock car, the rest being stock body NHRA Super Stock and Stock class cars. I did not drive(much) the super modified or the dirt stock car. Too dangerous for me. I had a family to consider.

My own drag cars have held 22 NHRA National Records and many track records. Plus some AHRA and IHRA. My engine customers have held 35+ NHRA and AHRA National Records. My customers once set 8 NHRA National Records in 1 day at 3 different NHRA Points Meets around the country. I will never forget that. A bunch of hard-working guys with a once-in-a-lifetime achievement to their credit. I am very glad to have been a part of it. Not many find a way to make a living doing something they love. Very thankful for this blessing.

NHRA Super Stock and Stock classes require original car weight, engine HP that came in the car, cubes, compression ratios, cyl. heads, valve sizes, original carbs(no matter how ugly), and more. I enjoyed the challenges that these restrictions presented. NHRA checks all this very closely on National Records and race winners. I am very proud of the fact that no engine I ever built was found illegal. Not many can say that, looking for an easier way to win.

Enough for now. Thanks for listening to me brag. Comments? CO ZX2

[LxMike]

NHRA Super Stock and Stock classes require original car weight, engine HP that came in the car, cubes, compression ratios, cyl. heads, valve sizes, original carbs(no matter how ugly), and more. I enjoyed the challenges that these restrictions presented. NHRA checks all this very closely on National Records and race winners.

getting the most out of what you have to work with!

[CO ZX2]

[quote=CO ZX2;37660]Quote:
Originally Posted by CO ZX2
Since your poll criteria doesn't fit me very well.....


I will relate this in short installments. Don't want to be a thread-jacker.
OK Metro? By the way, I did fill in the poll.

Performance driving and racing schools.

I would like to clarify my entries in the above poll. In the first 2 entries related to attending 'performance driving school' and attending 'racing school', I attended these events as organizer and instructor.

I rented race tracks many times for these events. Tuning and driving techniques were always the focus. Basicly these events were for the benefit of my engine customers and me. Invariably, in the process, I learned as I taught. I attribute to these sessions a very valuable part of our racing success.

Some years ago, I was approached by the University of Colorado with the offer to instruct full-credit automotive performance classes. I was honored to be asked but my engine business and my own race cars precluded any consideration by me.

I have received numerous inquiries as to my interest to instruct performance auto classes in specialty automotive colleges. There again, a person can only do so much. As it was, in the early days of my engine business, 16-20 hour work days were common. I could never done that in a job that didn't hold the special interest of racing performance. I look back and wonder how I did it.

No brag, just fact. CO ZX2