Did anyone run the new Stanton/Mopar @ The Chili Bowl ?

Last time i say a belt driven overhead cam engine was the Moser, which was run on a Chevy V-8 sprint car at Terre Haute. It was a cog type belt (gilmor) i believe. Went pretty good until it popped a belt off.

The problem with using "rare" motors is the cost and development time required for success is high and so is the likelihood of the rulesmakers handicapping you.The old "Class A Offy" vs "Class B Ford" days don't exist anymore. More like Class A and Class AA with purpose built racing motors allowed an advantage in size over anything you can find in the boneyard. A new SOHC setup for a purpose built lower end helps no one.

I did not see anyone running it. I could have looked closer I guess. But Looked like everyone was either running a W9 or R9

You asked what I would build & isn't it overzealous rule makers & class splitting one of the main reasons Midget Racing is in the state it's in ?

Racing to me is about who can build the better mouse trap ! ( I get a big chuckle on all the Swindell bashing @ the CB )

For example If you are a better driver than me should you start a lap down ?

This is the problem I see with over regulation & trying to make a fairness doctrine outta everything

Take the handcuffs off the stock block/head dohc efi engines race one class/rules across the country & let's Get it On !

The Esslinger engine is built on the specs for the 2.3l OHC motor and it uses several stock (or equivalent replacement) parts.

You can bolt their heads to a stock block or vice-versa...they use OE headgasket, rear main seal, valve cover gasket, main bearings and rocker arms, along with a few 2.0l EAO-based parts in the head (adj. studs and springs).

The valvetrain on the short heads have stock geometry...the tall heads have custom stuff, but the short heads are just worked-over (better ports) aluminum 2.3 Ford head.

The EST has even more stock parts in the EFI system.

The pinto origins of the Esslinger aren't being denied but 161 cubic inches is a long way from the 140 of the OEM motor.So is the 174 inches of the Chevy II "based" Fontanas.

Design or where it came from isn't the cost driver on midget motors. Being able to go to the pick-n-pull and get the major pieces of your motor has been the basis of Class B {for blue collar} midget racing since the begining of the sport.

The opportunity exists today to have great, reliable OEM based motors at extremely low costs. You just can't race them in most clubs. We'll show how at the Circle Track Expo in St. Charles Illinois Feb. 22-24. The SET Racing gang will be converting a pick-n-pull Ecotec while the TAS [Teer-Allen-Schultz] group will be doing the same to an Ohio made Honda K24.
Both motors will be "restricted" to 215 reliable horsepower to compete in the Illini Racing Series. Projected costs is less than $5000 per motor including EFI, headers, and other mods.

Chuck Schultz
Winfield, Illinois

U guys get 215 hp???? Will the "Nat'l" engines get bigger restrictors in 2013? lol

Jason Dull
815 494 6002
jdull99@hotmail.com
jasondull.com (For all the Racing News)

A previous post had said that the Esslinger was a full-tilt racing engine that wasn't anywhere near a production motor and didn't use any factory parts. I was just showing that that wasn't the case. It still has the factory bore centers, so it uses smaller valves than the "half a V8" motors.

Oh yeah...stock timing belt as well...not from a Pinto, but another Ford production motor.

I know a lot of people want a cheap engine to race with, but not everyone wants something homemade from a salvage yard. If you want to race, it's gonna cost money...but the key is not to buy something cheap that's going to bleed you dry over time.

How many decades should one allot for the development of a race car motor until looking for a replacement motor. These motors date back to the Texas Instrument TI30. At this rate one would could expect to wait until 2099 for a Laptop Computer to be developed.

The motors are out there, they could make racing much more economical. Why do people sit around on their butts and keep these old antiques alive?

In 75 years of racing the midgets have had several predominant motors, the 110 Offys, V8 60 fords, Iron Duke Chevys, VW's, and now Esslinger Fords. The Esslinger Ford was Old School stuff when they started developing it as was every one of these other motors except for the Offy.

Honest Dad himself