Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Schatz’s sponsor and WoO sponsor Artic Cat sold to Textron, $247 million, old news here but I didn’t’see it,  an aviation and defense contractor.  And huge, building Cessna and Beechcraft airplanes, Bell Helicopters, Golf Carts, $900 Million Net Income and $17 billion revenue 2016.   But it was odd that Schatz’s uniform after the win at Vegas did not have the Ford emblem on it and its not on the grandstand side top wing. TEXTRON takes up too much room I think.. 

As Ron Shaver said in January Speed Sport, “Ford engine should be ready in July”.  Who believes that?  Shaver went on to say as printed on Hoseheads previously, the Chevy-based engines he builds for Schatz and others were “producing 942 HP last year and for 2018 those powerplants will produce 18 HP more than last year”.  960 is a big number to meet for sure.    

It’s funny but you get blasted if you mention a sprint car as having a Shaver Chevy or Kistler Chevy or a Fisher Chevy or pick-your-builder Chevy engine.  Can’t use the word Chevy here.  But its ok to use the word Ford as we’ve witnessed here whenever talking about Schatz’s future engine and that’s an engine that ABSOLUTELY does not have anything at all in common with any Ford engine EVER produced other than having pistons and valves, etc. You could call it a widget if you want.  Several times over the years I’ve asked WoO crew members or crew chiefs, what engine was in most of the sprint cars and to a man all thought they were all Chevy engines except for a MOPAR or two.  The point is, they had no problem using the word Chevy.   And as engine builder Paul Kistler on his webpage says he uses “all Chevy small blocks” in his 410 builds.  In the February issue of Flat Out long time Flat Out monthly writer Bob Mays on his page nine editorial, in bold print says “The same basic Chevrolet small block engine, which is in 99% of Sprint Cars today, is the engine that sat in the frame rails in 1956”.  Obviously with expensive and stronger internal parts, no doubt, as the engines have to last under huge pressure and RPMs that a stock Chevy car/truck don’t need.  Again, the word Chevy.   I would have expected May’s to be raked over the coals in this forum, but probably better to not mention it at all, after all, how many forum members get Flat Out or Sprint Car and Midget magazine, so keep that and similar statements quiet.  

Google “sprint car engines” and it will routinely say,  “the engines are usually Chevy based small block”.   Seriously though, Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart have to be having mixed feelings about their Ford contract.  I mean those Chevy sprint car engines (pardon my language) are tearing it up.  Ya don’t build a house overnight.  But it’s been two years?  IMHO

Schatz’s sponsor and WoO sponsor Artic Cat sold to Textron, $247 million, old news here but I didn’t’see it,  an aviation and defense contractor.  And huge, building Cessna and Beechcraft airplanes, Bell Helicopters, Golf Carts, $900 Million Net Income and $17 billion revenue 2016.   But it was odd that Schatz’s uniform after the win at Vegas did not have the Ford emblem on it and its not on the grandstand side top wing. TEXTRON takes up too much room I think.. 

As Ron Shaver said in January Speed Sport, “Ford engine should be ready in July”.  Who believes that?  Shaver went on to say as printed on Hoseheads previously, the Chevy-based engines he builds for Schatz and others were “producing 942 HP last year and for 2018 those powerplants will produce 18 HP more than last year”.  960 is a big number to meet for sure.    

It’s funny but you get blasted if you mention a sprint car as having a Shaver Chevy or Kistler Chevy or a Fisher Chevy or pick-your-builder Chevy engine.  Can’t use the word Chevy here.  But its ok to use the word Ford as we’ve witnessed here whenever talking about Schatz’s future engine and that’s an engine that ABSOLUTELY does not have anything at all in common with any Ford engine EVER produced other than having pistons and valves, etc. You could call it a widget if you want.  Several times over the years I’ve asked WoO crew members or crew chiefs, what engine was in most of the sprint cars and to a man all thought they were all Chevy engines except for a MOPAR or two.  The point is, they had no problem using the word Chevy.   And as engine builder Paul Kistler on his webpage says he uses “all Chevy small blocks” in his 410 builds.  In the February issue of Flat Out long time Flat Out monthly writer Bob Mays on his page nine editorial, in bold print says “The same basic Chevrolet small block engine, which is in 99% of Sprint Cars today, is the engine that sat in the frame rails in 1956”.  Obviously with expensive and stronger internal parts, no doubt, as the engines have to last under huge pressure and RPMs that a stock Chevy car/truck don’t need.  Again, the word Chevy.   I would have expected May’s to be raked over the coals in this forum, but probably better to not mention it at all, after all, how many forum members get Flat Out or Sprint Car and Midget magazine, so keep that and similar statements quiet.  

Google “sprint car engines” and it will routinely say,  “the engines are usually Chevy based small block”.   Seriously though, Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart have to be having mixed feelings about their Ford contract.  I mean those Chevy sprint car engines (pardon my language) are tearing it up.  Ya don’t build a house overnight.  But it’s been two years?  IMHO

NEWS FLASH.....There going to get Dave Blaney back in the #10 Luna ford so all you blue oval guys have something to cheer about. 

Big f'ing deal for a few thousand more I can go buy  Dodge Challenger Hellcat with 842 HP that I can drive on the street with airbags & air conditioning. 

I'd say the engine builders better step it up. 

Schatz’s sponsor and WoO sponsor Artic Cat sold to Textron, $247 million, old news here but I didn’t’see it,  an aviation and defense contractor.  And huge, building Cessna and Beechcraft airplanes, Bell Helicopters, Golf Carts, $900 Million Net Income and $17 billion revenue 2016.   But it was odd that Schatz’s uniform after the win at Vegas did not have the Ford emblem on it and its not on the grandstand side top wing. TEXTRON takes up too much room I think.. 

As Ron Shaver said in January Speed Sport, “Ford engine should be ready in July”.  Who believes that?  Shaver went on to say as printed on Hoseheads previously, the Chevy-based engines he builds for Schatz and others were “producing 942 HP last year and for 2018 those powerplants will produce 18 HP more than last year”.  960 is a big number to meet for sure.    

It’s funny but you get blasted if you mention a sprint car as having a Shaver Chevy or Kistler Chevy or a Fisher Chevy or pick-your-builder Chevy engine.  Can’t use the word Chevy here.  But its ok to use the word Ford as we’ve witnessed here whenever talking about Schatz’s future engine and that’s an engine that ABSOLUTELY does not have anything at all in common with any Ford engine EVER produced other than having pistons and valves, etc. You could call it a widget if you want.  Several times over the years I’ve asked WoO crew members or crew chiefs, what engine was in most of the sprint cars and to a man all thought they were all Chevy engines except for a MOPAR or two.  The point is, they had no problem using the word Chevy.   And as engine builder Paul Kistler on his webpage says he uses “all Chevy small blocks” in his 410 builds.  In the February issue of Flat Out long time Flat Out monthly writer Bob Mays on his page nine editorial, in bold print says “The same basic Chevrolet small block engine, which is in 99% of Sprint Cars today, is the engine that sat in the frame rails in 1956”.  Obviously with expensive and stronger internal parts, no doubt, as the engines have to last under huge pressure and RPMs that a stock Chevy car/truck don’t need.  Again, the word Chevy.   I would have expected May’s to be raked over the coals in this forum, but probably better to not mention it at all, after all, how many forum members get Flat Out or Sprint Car and Midget magazine, so keep that and similar statements quiet.  

Google “sprint car engines” and it will routinely say,  “the engines are usually Chevy based small block”.   Seriously though, Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart have to be having mixed feelings about their Ford contract.  I mean those Chevy sprint car engines (pardon my language) are tearing it up.  Ya don’t build a house overnight.  But it’s been two years?  IMHO

Let's get this straight.........a Gearte is a Gearte.......a Shaver is a Shaver......a Ott is a Ott......a Kistler is a Kistler.......a Wesmar is a Wesmar.....etc....etc....etc.......got it?!

The big 3 Ford,Doge,and Chevy are building cars with over 850H.P. with warranty so they are very capable of making go fast crate motors that sell for a lot less than a 60K plus sprint car motor.They also could supply NASCAR.My friend had a HEMI dart and while we we spinning our tires and trying to go straight the Hellcat was gone.To show how far the sprint car program has gone R&H farms had a sprinter I  think John Singer took care of? and I do know they won the Nationals .They used to get fuelie 327 Corvette motors from local dealerships and add injection  and better oiling and run them at Knoxville and if they failed get a new one under warranty at least once. Thats when 20 second laps were fast.

That sounds logical in one way, but would these 850 hp engines that the big 3 produce be durable enough in a sprint car setting.   Let's take that same high dollar street car with it's 850 hp engine and add a 25 square foot top wing to it that will add a ton of downforce at 140 mph.   How long would that engine survive, especially if it was turned high RPM?

If they get a Ford based engine to develop horsepower above the current engines it will cost sprint car racing in general a lot of money.About the time they get  to 1000H.P. they will change wing,tires ,or weight to slow them down. Donny Schatz himself tried to use a crate  based larger displacement engine to cut costs and no one was interested and it was cheaper and I think was in winners circle at least once.People would pay to see the current WOO members run a  Racesaver and they normal top 6 would still be at front.

The big 3 Ford,Doge,and Chevy are building cars with over 850H.P. with warranty so they are very capable of making go fast crate motors that sell for a lot less than a 60K plus sprint car motor.They also could supply NASCAR.My friend had a HEMI dart and while we we spinning our tires and trying to go straight the Hellcat was gone.To show how far the sprint car program has gone R&H farms had a sprinter I  think John Singer took care of? and I do know they won the Nationals .They used to get fuelie 327 Corvette motors from local dealerships and add injection  and better oiling and run them at Knoxville and if they failed get a new one under warranty at least once. Thats when 20 second laps were fast.

Believe it or not many teams are using restrictors in their 410s to limit horsepower to what the racetrack will hold. As for a Ford 

potentially making the Chevrolets obsolete it won’t happen. Look at Roush Yates when they entered 360 racing. Jason Johnson was 

able to win a championship with one, but was he really any faster than he was with his Ott Chevrolets. Look at everyone else who 

bought Fords at that time, many of them didnt achieve any better results. Schatz is talented enough he will win regardless of engine.