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

I can answer that with one word.....RACING

Kelly is one of the good guys, even tho' he's a cheatin' so and so . I had an top of the line ASCS built in 2000 (Ostrich, not Wesmar, they're closer. If I was in Oklahoma I'd probably have a Wesmar). We're still using the same set of heads, although we'll replace them this year because the engine went to Australia and an amateur ground on the chambers. That cost us 5 horsepower and about the same in torque. They'll go onto a spare engine. Over the years we've gained roughly 40 hp by the advances in piston and injector design and they keep finding little bits of horsepower in the legal areas of head work. We've also lightened the crank and rods and pistons for more rpm. Cams are pretty much the same as they were then, grinds change a bit as builders search for horsepower. All that R&D costs time and money for the engine builder. You have to pay for that knowledge; and you learn quickly that it's worthwhile to spend money. I tell the builder, "Don't try to save me money, if it's weak or questionable, replace it." Saving money often leads to an unauthorized disassembly and that will really cost you.

The big block idea won't work. The light high reving small block can run a lot more gear and run away on the starts, the extra gear also provides more engine braking for slick tracks.

Smaller wings and narrow tires won't help, we'll just spend more money to figure out how to make them faster. Like Bob Trostle told Knoxville years ago when they made some new rule, "Ya gotta stop saving me money, I can't afford it." I dare any of the folks racing their keyboards to find one of the sprint car schools and try to make a lap with your foot on the floor and then tell me it's easy to drive a winged car. Non-wing isn't the answer, wings save lives. 11 deaths at Knoxville in 20 years without wings, three in the 26 years since. I only raced non-wing a few times but they are so much slower that you have more time to think, and the hardest crash I ever had was without a wing. Doesn't take any more or less skill to drive either, just a bit different skill set. A good racer can win in either. Look at Haud, Hockett and Steve and TK. They can go back and forth. The $50,000 this year at Paramatta was the best race I've seen, ever. That was a winged race. I've seen snoozers in both styles and good races in both. If anything, get rid of the traction control. But, if I understand it right, what's out there is really timing control. My understanding is that true traction control actually applies the brakes to stop wheel spin. There's the loophole. The rules say no traction control, but it's not, so it's legal. The rules could be rewritten but then someone would actually have to check for it.

Sorry to go on and on but message board racers piss me off. Kelly doesn't have to justify his existence to anyone. He's in a business and is entitled to charge for his knowledge and labor. Spec racing worked out well for IROC didn't it? And NASCAR has turned into a spec series and look at the drop in attendance they've gone through. Let the smart guys inovate. Spec racing is socialism.

having Kelly on here and not hiding behind a screen name is truely remarkable, I hide behind a name simply because I like my opinions read. If I shouted off my flappy lips to you, face to face, you could eathier knock my (tooth) out, or just walk away, but here , you still have to read my point even if you disagree!, its great! Anyway, thanks Kelly dont take anything I type negative, your just one of the real racers, with ID, that is one here frequently. and I appreciate the professional input .

I think calling sprintfan0 a dick head is a suitable response for the questions asked.

I've ran both, a big wing car is WAY easier to run that a small wing car.

Artie, as is becoming the norm with many things, I completely agree with you.

95% of the 60-70 races I see throughout every year are in 3/8's or smaller. Now I'll be honest, I am very fond of my yearly journey up to Knoxville though too. I have not seen a lot of half miles - but I can tell it is one of the best in the world. I am not so high on Devil's Bowl. I go there 2-4 times a year and whereas I enjoy it - racing wise i think it is probably near the bottom as far as quality. Only Lawton have I disliked more. Lawton was a perfect lil 1/4 bullring and then Lanny Edwards fiddled with it and messed it up. Nothing against Lanny - I'm sure he was trying to make it better - but it screwed up a good thing. On a positive note I heard many say they worked on it more this year and its got some multiple grooved back again.

Devils Bowl - I have seen some great races on that track. But when they shank the track prep - they shank it BAD. Much of the time - it is too heavy the first night - and too dry the 2nd night. But I should also add - sometimes that 2nd night they get it JUST RIGHT - and the quality of that night alone makes up for the loss of the first. And I really should not call it a loss. My grandpa once said something and I fully agree "The worst race I ever saw was wonderful". I agree wholeheartedly with that.

My favorite tracks are small bullrings. I love Cowtown Speedway down in Ft. Worth (Kennedale) - and I really like I-30 Speedway in Little Rock. Creek County up by Tulsa, OK can be good too. SFS in OKC - is a great show - but just cant say it's the best. It's my home track as a fan - and my favorite overall by far - but........not sure how to say it. There is a micro track that is prob around a 1/5 here in OKC too - called I-44 Speedway - and it's a great dicey lil joint. When they get that track right it is AWESOME. The biggest track in the state of Oklahoma is probably my least favorite - Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada. I could make a long list of reasons I dont like that place. It is a 4/10.

I'll see a couple tracks for the first time this year. I think I'll see a couple between Boyd, Crandall, and Abilene - which are all ASCS Lone Star Region Stops. And for sure I'll see Jetmore for the first time in about a month. And probably see Hollywood Hills in Albuquerque, NM. Lookin forward to those 2 new tracks. The next new track I'll see is a lil micro track up in Tulsa called Port City Raceway. I hear it's one of the best tracks for micro's in the country. And ascs2 is running there next weekend and its supposed to be a helluva show. lookin forward to that. I want to make it down to Lake Country Speedway in Ardmore, OK this year - but they dont really run sprint cars and thats what I follow - so it would have to be a weekend where no other viable option really exist.

Just realized all of this has nothing to do with this thread, but I'll post it anyways so it aint a complete waste of time lol.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

OKC I was thinkin the same thing the other day. You are more than welcome to come to Corpus Christi redfishing with us anytime

More weight, more regulation, more similarity in the 
cars.... that will ensure plenty of thrills for years 
to come.  Only the most average talent behind the 
wheel will be needed with such awesome equipment on 
the track!
minthess 8.28.14