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Getting a car?!
i am looking to purchase a sprinter here before the next season. but i have no idea what to look for. i read all the time about 88/40 and 86.5/40. is that just axel to axel and the width of the cockpit? what do most people run? how much harder is it to run nonwinged with a winged car? i mean if anyone wants to give me the DL on what is good and what is not, i would really appreciate it.(by the way i will buy a winged car because of where live.)
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Re: Getting a car?!
88/40 means the wheelbase (center of axle to center of axle) is 88" and the front of the motorplate is 40" from the center of the rear axle (that's called engine setback). There are cars that are 86/40, 87/40 etc. There are also 39" cars but I believe they're not suited to wing racing. Some wing guy can get on here and tell you which is best for what you are going to do. I have some friends who run pretty good with a wing. They have an 88/40 Maxim chassis with the raised leftside lower frame rail. Most 40" chasses work fine with, or without, a wing.
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Re: Getting a car?!
Best advice....Spend a season as a crewmember helping an experianced team.racing a sprint car is to risky to go at it half cocked.Besides having some friends at the track to lean on when you do gear up and go racing never hurts.
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Re: Getting a car?!
I would say if your going to run a sprint car.. drive with the wing on or with out it at first, and run the same track till you get to know the car's,and the sit up's, it's not easy running a wing car then taking it off the next weekend. stick with one for a time.... Good luck.....
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Re: Getting a car?!
Sometimes it's just as easy to learn by doing than by watching. That said, if you have never raced anything, you really should learn more about it before jumping into a sprint car.
The most common cars are Maxims,J&J's, and Eagles. JEI also has several winged cars in the East. I will never tell you good equipment doesn't help, but having great equipment and little experience leads to an expensive learning curve that drives some out of the sport before they really have a chance to gain experience. Before worrying about having the perfect chassis and shock pkg.; you must first learn how to drive and then you have to learn how to race. After you learn how to drive and race then you can worry about going fast. I would suggest asking guys who run at your local track for suggestions and then looking around to see if you can buy a complete operation if someone wants to get out. That way you get all of the little nick nacks that you need. The D.L. is that there are many, many different ways to go racing and you have to find what works for you. Everyone that does it has cars and people that they trust and like, but it isn't a one size fits all. |
Re: Getting a car?!
Originally Posted by ATrimble: What track(s) do you plan on racing? What Sanction? What engine size? |
Re: Getting a car?!
Originally Posted by dant: Another idea would be to go get a parts catalog and start looking at the prices. This way when the car come backs on a hook, you will have an idea on how much your hobby is going to cost you. Also, do you have all of the other items neccessary to make this thing work? Truck, Trailer, tools, garage space, safety equipment? The first year racing you spend almost as much money on things that don't go on the car as you do things that do go on the car. |
Re: Getting a car?!
when i first started racing i built a car and that was it. had no way to get it to the track or anything like that. fortunately, a lot of people in my area (cincinnati) were interested in being involved in racing, or were involved already so, i was able to borrow a flat bed trailer, and a friend asked me if he could tow the car, etc. between the resources i had, and friends and acquaintences, we were able to get to the track and race. it was a rag tag deal but we had a ball. as time went on i was able to accumulate the equipment i needed to get everything to the track and race.
oh, don't forget.....you'll need access to a quad runner, as well. those sprinters are hard as h$ll to push by hand, especially with that stagger!!! Good Luck! |
Re: Getting a car?!
i am 20yrs old now and i have been racing since i was 11. i have drove Qm's, shifter karts, modifieds, latemodels, minisprints(1200cc upright), and a midget. here in CO there is not a'hole of racing. the main deal is the ASCS rockyMtn body. they run 360's. but i dont really plan on just running 360's. i would like to run a few 410 shows too. the rockyMtn region is all winged, but just down the road 5hrs they run non winged 360 in Alb. New Mexico. and maybe a show or two in Phx. AZ with the non winged 410's. the biggest plan i have is when i get out of college i plan to move to IN. and i want to have a ride when i get there, so if i bring a car that can compete that would be a good deal.
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Re: Getting a car?!
Originally Posted by dant: |
Re: Getting a car?!
Originally Posted by ATrimble: steiny |
Re: Getting a car?!
On the West Coast, I really only have one friend who races winged sprint cars.
As of last year he was getting rid of his Eagles and switching to Maxims. He had 4 engines. Two 360's and two 410s. I think at that time he had two Eagles chassis and two brand new Maxim Wide Bodys. We bought one of the Wide Body Eagles with a Don Ott 360. I would say the Don Ott 360 is really nice engine. Our's screamed and we ran it without the wing. The Wide Body Eagle had the wing mounts. The Don Ott 360 had a cast iron block. Two of the four engines he had were Kriners and when we went to the San Jose Swap meet for Winged Racers in northern California I saw one Kriner Engine 410 for sale. So what I'm saying in California a Kriner or Don Ott Engine is not a bad choice. I know some peope run Shavers/410s for winged racing, non-wing and 360 cast iron block and 410 all aluminum Shaver power plants. Shaver builds all kinds of sprint car engines in all configurations. He also will build one race motors if that is your desire. I wonder what your series run for a 360? All Aluminum?????? 2) We have a friend who bought a beautiful JJ with a Kriner 360 engine. Cast iron block. One beautiful Car, with some tricks I have not noticed on normal 360 non-wing car. It had shims in the lower engine mounts, supposedly installed by Kriner. The engine pointed up hill in the engine bay. That person is currently running that JJ Non-wing with a Cast Iron Block and if doin' very well. It is a Winged car that he is running non-wing. Cost. I felt we got a good deal on our Wide Body Eagle with the Don Ott Motor, 360 motor. About 22,000 dollars. Our friend who bought an almost brand new JJ Wide Body JJ Chassis with an almost brand new 360 Kriner, with cast iron block...I'm guessing he paid about 38,000 dollars. He told me the price but I really wasn't listening. The car look brand new and Hauls AZZZ! That all I can tell you. Sincerely, Larry Otani P.S. I think both cars were 88/40's and not "raised rails". Both were driven on the West Coast non-wing series, but were designed to be run with a wing. Our Friend's came with a wing and hydrualics. We chose not to buy the wing with ours, because we new we were goin' non-wing racin'.:applaud: Also some of those series requires the head to be ASCS. ASCS is not the standard on the West Coast. I heard that was goin' to change but we are not required to run ASCS 360 heads in West Coast Series as of yet. |
Re: Getting a car?!
Originally Posted by dant: i have been interested in getting a midget for a while now and was thinking that working with a team for a bit would be a good idea too. mostly just to see how everything works and what to expect when its time for my first race. also to see how everything changes through out the night. my biggest question is i know that alot of "race teams" are made up of fathers, sons, uncles, moms, friends, ect. (people that know each other), how willing are they to allow you to help out and learn. |
Re: Getting a car?!
Originally Posted by aharper33: |
Re: Getting a car?!
Originally Posted by sprntr: The more you put into it, the more you can get. Tim Simmons |
Re: Getting a car?!
Very wisely put, it's really hard to find anyone, anymore, that wants to do anything but go, and watch, let alone help, and learn, and it's even more prescious if you can find someone to help with maint during the week. I realize, not everyone has a lot of extra time, that they are willing to give of, just to learn, but that's where it needs to start, and not everyone approaches set-up the same, or has the same routine, you have to be able to adapt to changes in routines, and it all takes time. The last guy that volunteered to help me, only wanted a ride to the race, and a free pit pass, and he just lived across the street. Soon as I unloaded, he was doing something else, he asked if I needed any help, I was changing gears, if I didn't need him, he was going to the grandstand, and get him a good seat. He never went back with me, or anyone else for that matter. Sure, the first few times, you'll either feel like you're in the way, or no one wants your help, but if you're interested, pretty soon you'll be accepted, and given jobs to do, that will help in your learning curve. Everything is not as simple and smooth as it looks, some nights are easy, and some turn into next days! Bob
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Re: Getting a car?!
thanks for the help. i think i might see what i can do to find a team that needs some help around here. i used to race motocross and i know what its like to bring someone to the races and all they are worried about is getting the good seat or just using you to get into the track. i want to avoid being this guy because i know how fast word spreads. my biggest problem right now is that i am finishing up college so i dont have alot of extra time. thanks for all of the help
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Re: Getting a car?!
"i used to race motocross and i know what its like to bring someone to the races and all they are worried about is getting the good seat or just using you to get into the track".
I think racing Motocross is a lot like racing sprint cars. As a kid I got a job at Honda of Montery, Ca. There were three kids who worked in this shop and they all raced. One week they would be tuning up a CBX (Six Clyinder Honda) and the next they would be tunning up one those Four Cylinder Fours. CB 750 F or something like that. Other times the "Gold Wings" 1000 touring bikes would come in for tune ups, before a long trip. But when they were not repairing bikes, the "race bikes" went on the stands. They literally tore those bike down to the frames weekly. I remember them honing out clyinders, buying new pistons and bores/cyinders, and trick shocks and cleaning chains and letting them soak in oil for days before they went back on the bike before a race. They go racing and those bikes would come back crunched up. What happened? They would say they missed a turn or "high sided" , tryed to jump three bumps and only made two or something. Some times they came back hurt. They didn't walk very well. All I'm saying is you win in the shop, and these guys were winning proof they worked on those machines to make them perfect and invested every cent and every bit of time they had on them. They asked me what I did that weeked and I said drank some beer and found a Nudy Bar or something. They said "Why didn't you call me?" I said, "I didn't think you were interested"...lol! They said "Call me, next time". I never did. Larry "O" P.S. There are racers and then there are Wantabe Racers and the two shall never meet. :rolling |
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