I have a question or two for all steel block sprint car racers. If you were guaranteed a minimum of a $100 dollars to show up and a minimum of a $150 dollars to start would you consider running with a true series? Well, you now have a great opportunity to be a part of a new organization that was designed for you the blue collar racer. Let’s face it the cost of racing has blown way out of the stratosphere and it shows no signs of coming back to earth any time soon and with the economic times as they are all of us are weighing our options of where to go and how many times can we race or worse yet just hanging up the helmet and covering up the car and calling quits all together until things improve in the pocket book. I think I might have something for you. So before you give it up for the year or put a for sale sign on everything you own, you just might want to look into the S.C.O.R.A Sprint Car Series. I have been racing in the modified class for years so when I tell you that I know what it’s like to spend thousand and run for little to nothing you can be assured I know what I’m talking about and I know what your going thru but those of you that have a sprint car with a steel block engine have an opportunity and a choice that I didn’t. You actually can be a part of a true series that was created for guys in your class whether it is economics or equipment wise. The S.C.O.R.A deal is perfect for the weekend racer that is looking more than just a Saturday night same old routine. I mean I had to ask myself how hard do I have to run to finish high enough in the modified class to make a $150 bucks or in your guys case how much does it pay to make a show and if god forbid I don’t make it then what does the B main pay to start? I’m not chopping any ones home track so please don’t think I am but if your racing against bigger funded teams for a $100 bucks to start or $50 to $60 to start the B main and are feeling like a small fish in an ocean of sharks the S.C.O.R.A series might be just the shot in the arm that you need to re-energize your excitement for racing again. Give the S.C.O.R.A Sprint Car Series a chance and who knows you might find a new home. Thank you John Gurley

John, Well said! Come guys take a look at what we are building for you. The support will make it grow. Sam Stockon

What kind of money will it take to put together a steel block engine and still be competitive and that will live?Are these guys throwing a ton in these engines also?Are they buzzing them 8 grand plus?

What I look at is...when I'm done with it, who will buy it? How many iron block series/classes are there?

The other thing I wonder about...so you run good with an iron block and decide to be more competitive. Now, you gotta go buy all new stuff (meaning alum block).

I ran iron blocks back when the aluminum blocks had to bolt on 50 # weights. It didn't take much of a crack and they were junk. I've seen/had alum blocks that had the bottom end blown out. All repairable and ran fine.

I appreciate trying to give the low buck guy a place to go, but it seems reasonable to me to have a set of rules where everyone can participate on an even level.

Good for discussion.

I can only speak for us. We're running what would be considered a lower-line ASCS motor. It is a 360 ci, GM 4-bolt block, Eagle rotating assembly with SRP pistons, Brodix ASCS heads with stainless valves, wet sump oil system and Kinsler 2-1/2" injection. I have approximately $9000 in the motor. I do the majority of engine work myself, other than machine work. The motor will live just fine at 8400 RPM.

We honestly feel that, without a wing, we're as competitive as anyone with a steel block. And, although we're probably just kidding ourselves, we feel we can race with the 410 aluminum block motors and, at least, they'll know we were there. We've even been able to pass a few of them. The way I feel, if you're able to spin the tires at will, you've got plenty of motor. We've made the conscious decision to invest our money in good chassis and running gear in order to get all the motor we have to the ground. It seems to me that, if you've got 850 HP and you're getting 400 HP to the ground, and I've got 650 HP and am getting 400 to the ground, we're both getting the same to the ground. But, my 650 HP costs considerably less than your 850, which is why I can continue to do this entirely out of my own pocket.

Spicoli brings up a good question. The reason we stay with the steel block 360, ASCS head motor, is that it is legal (once we install the 2-3/16" injector sleeves) for ASCS competition. This way, it's worth at least something to someone. And, since we've limited our investment into the motor, we're able to sell at a lower price than others. And folks, don't kid yourselves into thinking that the steel block motors are all that less expensive. Gary Wright won the WesMar ASCS motor at the Devil's Bowl last year at on of the ASCS shows where they were giving out contingency prizes. The motor was valued, by WesMar, at $37,000.

Tim Simmons

I and the entire staff understand the concerns. Believe me we do but heres the question,"what do we do"? What can we do to curb the cost of racing and try to get back the car owners that have hung it up do to the ever rising cost or how do we bring in some new blood into our sport?? Now I now those are loaded questions and I know I'm going to get DRILLED but they are valid questions. I understand Spicoli's concern as well. What do with this stuff when I'm done? The good news is that there will always be a need for steel blocks and/or short block assemblies as long the modifieds keep raising the horse power bar and keep the rules (stupidly) as open as they are. The question remains though if not steel blocks then what? The main reason for the steel block deal is that your aluminum engines and it's rotating assemblies can be reasonably transfered into a steel block. If we went to a 305ci or 355ci or even a carburetion set up then I think we would have definitely cut the car count down to zero. All we have to do is look at the MSCS deal. They have done a great job with their series but it has turned into a USAC type of deal and to be honest I think that if the MSCS staff wanted to they could go head to head with USAC on any given Saturday night and come out on top but thats only my opinion. The fact is the average weekend racer has very little chance of breaking into the top 10 let alone the top 5 at an MSCS show and thats where our deal comes in. I guess I'm back to my original question, if not steel blocks then what can or could we have done to make it as easy and as painless as possible and keep it as cost efficient as possible. The biggest hurdle is to keep the transition easy from aluminum to steel a simple one. Sam didn't want to get into a spec series and limit his car count he wanted to make as easy as he could for everyone. So again what could he have done to make it better and your right this is a great discussion.

From a rules standpoint Sam did the right thing. The fewer rules you have, the less you need a tech staff to insure rules are being fllowed. This also opens the door for a "run what you brung" mentality. Everyone is invited, as long as a magnet sticks to your engine block and you run a DT-3 right rear.

Where there does seem to be some controversy, however, is the 16 car feature starting field rather than traditional 20, or even 24 car starting fields. We're a bit unsure as to the reason for this, especially if you are trying to build a class. The additional $50 for the additional cars helps to defray costs for more competitors, and the additional cars on the track gives a better show for the fans. The requirement for a 14 day pre-entry in order to get passing points, etc. also conflicts with the intent for "blue collar" racers to be able to do this. This also comes into play when the schedule is not concrete early in the season. Many blue collar folks have a non-standard work schedule which limits their ability to forecast their availability to race. And they're asking us to go past closer race tracks to support the series for essentially the same tow money.

Lastly, as I outlined in an earlier post, after racing your guts out in heat and qualifying races to get as many finishing and passing points, you're then still subject to the luck of the draw with some sort of invert depending on the second draw. I'm OK with the invert (it might give the fans a better show) but, to reward the drivers for being subject to the second draw, passing points should also be added to the overall point calculations for the championship. The winner of the race is still the winner of the race, but he may not be the highest point winner for the race, especially if someone starts at the back and finishes second.


Just a few things to consider.

Tim Simmons

Tim. I will bring up your concerns to Sam today. I think there is always room for improvements and your not the first one to bring these items up to me this week and I'm sure Sam will take a hard look at those rules that are in question.Thanks for all your suggestions and please keep them comming after all we are trying to better the sport anyway we can. You can also email me direct with any and all comments or suggestions at jg_fpm@yahoo.com and all comments and concern will be past on to Sam and thanks again...

Tim,

I agree with you completely. I have questioned the points you have made myself. I think Sam is a reasonable guy and truly wants to grow this division. He has put a lot of time and effort into putting this thing together and will do what it takes to insure it's success. Something this group does is listen to the drivers and owners.

The racing on opening night was great. What we need now is more support from racers. We need to get the car counts up at least another half dozen or so right now. This group built the MSCS series, they can also build the SCORA series into a great division with the support of the drivers. The tracks and promoters are behind it, but the bottom line is we need to deliver a great show to the fans. I applaud they guys who raced in the first race at Charleston. You guys DID put on a great show. Please continue the support and help us grow.

As this thing grows, you will see adjustments being made as we learn what works and what does not. We want this series to be fun and safe for everyone involved. Keep up the input, that's what we need.

Joe Chambers
SCORA Race Director

I help a guy that runs a two barrel 350 wigned sprint class here in Oklahoma. It is a steel head and steel block class. At Okc we avg on a good night 25 to 30 cars this is on a Friday night. There are two tracks in Oklahoma within at least a two hiour drive that run the same rules. There is a series out of Tulsa that runs the two barrel class and they avg about the same number of cars.