HA/GR videos, Where's the smoke?

[vectorsolid]

I watched all 20 videos on youtube that came up for HA/GR and what I could find from the HAMB nationals.

The value and necessity of it aside, where's the one guy in the crowd that can't help himself and has to ruin the tires every single time? I love that guy... I didn't see one. :o *sniff* <insert sulking and sadness here> *sniff*

If you have a good HA/GR burnout, post it!!! Here are some examples of what I'd like to see.

This is good, :) the squealing is the fronts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39wp2RmTgqM

This is better, :D also my favorite pass with the car. 20sec@49mph
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHElHPqkO7g

[mudflap261]

a light haze is about all you get off these cars and it doesnt last but a heartbeat

[vectorsolid]

a light haze is about all you get off these cars and it doesnt last but a heartbeat

Hmmm. We'll have to fix that. :D Is it the Cokers that don't go up, or a power related issue? I'm here to tell ya, if we can't get these things to smoke, I'm less interested. Having fun in the burnout box is a big part of the entertainment.

I'm starting to think front brakes may be in order for mine then. ;) And maybe hang the battery off the front axle... whatever it takes...

[64 DODGE 440]

Hmmm. We'll have to fix that. :D Is it the Cokers that don't go up, or a power related issue? I'm here to tell ya, if we can't get these things to smoke, I'm less interested. Having fun in the burnout box is a big part of the entertainment.

I'm starting to think front brakes may be in order for mine then. ;) And maybe hang the battery off the front axle... whatever it takes...

You can make it as complicated as you want.:D

[vectorsolid]

You can make it as complicated as you want.:D

I don't know that anything needs to be complicated, but we all have ideas we bring to the table. I believe a drag car should smoke 'em. ESPECIALLY vintage stuff. :)

[Old6rodder]

I don't know that anything needs to be complicated, but we all have ideas we bring to the table. I believe a drag car should smoke 'em. ESPECIALLY vintage stuff. :)


Damn! And after all these years of desperately trying to keep my street hides from smoking my traction away ...........

:D

[vectorsolid]

Damn! And after all these years of desperately trying to keep my street hides from smoking my traction away ...........

:D

You gotta stop racing for money... :eek: :D

[vectorsolid]

C'mon, somebody somewhere must have a video of an HA/GR car with some decent tire smoke happening? :D

[mudflap261]

C'mon, somebody somewhere must have a video of an HA/GR car with some decent tire smoke happening? :D
only three cars have over 200hp ron golden /348 roy merritt/red baron dave lewis . all the rest are less than . rember you are running on VHT they spin them and leave black tracks very little smoke

[vectorsolid]

only three cars have over 200hp ron golden /348 roy merritt/red baron dave lewis . all the rest are less than . rember you are running on VHT they spin them and leave black tracks very little smoke

Well, I'm gonna be frank here... that sux. :)

The drift guys can have tires that smoke in colors for pete sake. Surely somebody can make us dry ass tires that go up like a Cheech and Chong wet dream...

Drag racing without excessive smoke is like a hot dog without a bun, like Kenosha without brautwurst, like a hokey game without a fight...

we need to get somebody on this. ASAP. :D

What about trailer tires... do they smoke?

[nexxussian]

Well, I'm gonna be frank here... that sux. :)

The drift guys can have tires that smoke in colors for pete sake. Surely somebody can make us dry ass tires that go up like a Cheech and Chong wet dream...

Drag racing without excessive smoke is like a hot dog without a bun, like Kenosha without brautwurst, like a hokey game without a fight...

we need to get somebody on this. ASAP. :D

What about trailer tires... do they smoke?


When I checked into those color smoking tires (they even have smells now from what I hear:rolleyes:) they were between $1100 and $1800, EACH.:eek:

If you want smoke, wind the engine tighter, you'll get a ball of 'smoke' that even C&C would even be afraid of.:eek:

Trailer tires probably smoke, but I doubt that a sanctioning body would allow you to use them (liability and all).

From what I understand the Goodyear 'Polyglass' tires were about the best 'smoke factories' that could loosly fit the class. I heard a rumor someone was making them again (as I don't figgure I would want 38 ish year old tires burning off that close to me). A HEAVY flywheel would help this as it's easier to keep them lit, than it is to light them in the first place (assuming the trans and diff don't grenade, geartrain suppositories hold no interest for me :eek:).

If you REALLY want them to smoke, might I suggest a concealed pair of sprayers aimed at the tires with a bleach solution? Cheating? Yes. Likely to get you kicked off the track? Yes. But that's the risk you take. I would think that if you were really into the smoke you would want an 8EL or 8EQ Lincoln 'big block' flathead OR the Caddy equivalent, lots 'O torque, plenty of weight (to put forward, you're talking about smoke after all, traction is the enemy of smoke :D).

And finally, all kidding aside, if you just want smoke, I remeber seeing someone selling a system that used some kind of aerosol can and a 'fogger' system to make smoke, wherever you wanted it (aim it at the tires, if you can get them to spin it'll look like they're smoking) even though that would likely be 'cheating' too, cheating as it's not legitimate, rotate the earth under the car with raw tire shredding power genereated smoke :rolleyes:, but should be fun nonetheless. And no, I'm not talkin about cans of Lucas replacement smoke, white, grey, OR black.

[64 DODGE 440]

When I checked into those color smoking tires (they even have smells now from what I hear:rolleyes:) they were between $1100 and $1800, EACH.:eek:

If you want smoke, wind the engine tighter, you'll get a ball of 'smoke' that even C&C would even be afraid of.:eek:

Trailer tires probably smoke, but I doubt that a sanctioning body would allow you to use them (liability and all).

From what I understand the Goodyear 'Polyglass' tires were about the best 'smoke factories' that could loosly fit the class. I heard a rumor someone was making them again (as I don't figgure I would want 38 ish year old tires burning off that close to me). A HEAVY flywheel would help this as it's easier to keep them lit, than it is to light them in the first place (assuming the trans and diff don't grenade, geartrain suppositories hold no interest for me :eek:).

If you REALLY want them to smoke, might I suggest a concealed pair of sprayers aimed at the tires with a bleach solution? Cheating? Yes. Likely to get you kicked off the track? Yes. But that's the risk you take. I would think that if you were really into the smoke you would want an 8EL or 8EQ Lincoln 'big block' flathead OR the Caddy equivalent, lots 'O torque, plenty of weight (to put forward, you're talking about smoke after all, traction is the enemy of smoke :D).

And finally, all kidding aside, if you just want smoke, I remeber seeing someone selling a system that used some kind of aerosol can and a 'fogger' system to make smoke, wherever you wanted it (aim it at the tires, if you can get them to spin it'll look like they're smoking) even though that would likely be 'cheating' too, cheating as it's not legitimate, rotate the earth under the car with raw tire shredding power genereated smoke :rolleyes:, but should be fun nonetheless. And no, I'm not talkin about cans of Lucas replacement smoke, white, grey, OR black.

Good ideas!! Stay out of the "water box" too, that just keeps the tires cool and prevents smoke. Front brakes and a "line lock" will help too. Who knows, we might even have a burnout contest with HA/GRs. :p

[REJ]

No video, but a pic that Jim Marlett took of mine at the HAMB drags this year.
Coming out of the water box with my one legged HA/GR.

[mudflap261]

OK heres the plan two 235s should make smoke maybe . we have a261 in the hornet it doesnt smoke it just leaves

[Old6rodder]

Large, cheap, cigars. :D

[64 DODGE 440]

Perhaps a spray down of the rear tires with two-stroke oil before staging??

Than again, out here on the left coast in The Peoples Republik of Californicate, they have banned smoking in most public places.

[Oilcan Harry]

Use the skinniest tire you can find, pump up the tire pressure, and leave at a terrifing RPM and you should get smoke. What you won't get is a decent ET, but hey if you're a showman go for it.! Just keep in mind, a spinning treaded bias ply tire doesn't have much directional control so , build a long wheelbase car, and pull that chin strap and seat belt good and tight. We don't anyone bustin' their ass and making things more difficult for guys looking for a place to race.

[vectorsolid]

No video, but a pic that Jim Marlett took of mine at the HAMB drags this year.
Coming out of the water box with my one legged HA/GR.

I've got that pic. It's the best tire smoking picture on the web. :) You get the un-official "cool guy" trophy in my book. :)

[64 DODGE 440]

Use the skinniest tire you can find, pump up the tire pressure, and leave at a terrifing RPM and you should get smoke. What you won't get is a decent ET, but hey if you're a showman go for it.! Just keep in mind, a spinning treaded bias ply tire doesn't have much directional control so , build a long wheelbase car, and pull that chin strap and seat belt good and tight. We don't anyone bustin' their ass and making things more difficult for guys looking for a place to race.

Hey.......AA/FAs are short cars and don't go straight very often, but what a show we have to live up to.

All you need is quick reflexes to keep it between the lines and hang on and let her buck.:D

[Oilcan Harry]

Yeah....... and it seems NHRA would like all HA/GR s to be built to the same safety levels as a fuel altered. Ridiculous. I'm just saying lets not give any sactioning body or track a reason to enact other even more difficult rules to race by cause we put too many of them in the wall or on their heads. Insurance and profits rule, if they think these cars are too dangerous the HA/GR guys will pay the price by having fewer places to run.
These cars don't put on fuel altered shows. They are way different. Oh well, seems you and I don't agree on much of anything. No problem suits me fine.

[Jim Marlett]

I'm not so old that I've seen "Bug" era cars run, but my impression is they didn't ordinarily make smoke. Could be wrong.

[64 DODGE 440]

Yeah....... and it seems NHRA would like all HA/GR s to be built to the same safety levels as a fuel altered. Ridiculous. I'm just saying lets not give any sactioning body or track a reason to enact other even more difficult rules to race by cause we put too many of them in the wall or on their heads. Insurance and profits rule, if they think these cars are too dangerous the HA/GR guys will pay the price by having fewer places to run.
These cars don't put on fuel altered shows. They are way different. Oh well, seems you and I don't agree on much of anything. No problem suits me fine.

You might be surprised at how close together we think on some of these things. I'm not looking for problems, just looking to live in the past like most of the guys building these things.

Still remembering when hot rods were built not bought, and design engineering was done in the garage and not on a computer.

So far the HA/GR safety record is pretty good and I don't plan on tarnishing it. I just remember when a car would launch sideways and the driver would just drive out of it with skill, throttle and steering and don't recall that many times when it caused a problem. Of course that was when you raced on asphalt, not contact cement covered stickum.
What would really be nice is if there could be a few tracks made that just used pavement without the spray gunk. Then our 6" tires would really be an equalizer.

[nexxussian]

Good ideas!! Stay out of the "water box" too, that just keeps the tires cool and prevents smoke. Front brakes and a "line lock" will help too. Who knows, we might even have a burnout contest with HA/GRs. :p


Ah-yup.

[Oilcan Harry]

[QUOTE=64 DODGE 440;3236607]You might be surprised at how close together we think on some of these things. I'm not looking for problems, just looking to live in the past like most of the guys building these things.

Still remembering when hot rods were built not bought, and design engineering was done in the garage and not on a computer.

I'm old enough to remember cars built on full size frame patterns painted on the garage floor. Computers were science fiction, and guys building cars using sound science and engineering principles were seen as just trying to make up for not being able to build enough horsepower. The always wanting a bigger hammer thing. LOL
I guess what concerns me is as an example: Someone has a great hotrod get together going. Everybody loves it, raves about it, and then one or two morons decide doing doughnuts in the middle of a crowd of people is just the exciting touch this event needs. Then the folks that put on the event spend a year apologizing and promising the world to the powers that be, for permission to put the event on the next year. We've seen this too many times. I don't want to see anything give nhra or, anyone else a reason, or maybe better an excuse for refusing to allow them to run.
I don't have a GR yet, but I hope to someday. [Still have a pile of parts I pour thru.] But I don't want the rug pulled out before I get a chance. Maybe we aren't as far apart as I thought, but as iffy as things have become with liability and insurance, it doesn't take much for people to say its simply not worth the risk and hassel.
By the way I've spent quite some time at Indianapolis Raceway Park and I've seen several altereds that couldn't keep it between the lines, or even between the walls sometimes. Ouch! lol

[vectorsolid]

Still remembering when hot rods were built not bought, and design engineering was done in the garage and not on a computer.

I'm with ya, but it's also worth noting that aren't we are going about 2 times faster now...as a whole? And a helmet from today is leaps and bounds safer. We've learned some things about safety.

What were some drag race ET's from 1940-1950? Were they timed back then? I don't think we had the NHRA until early 50's. :o

<---has no idea, at all.

[348chevy]

In 1956 my 40 Ford ran C gas and went 78 mph in the high 15's. There was a 40 Ford that came out with a 265 chevy which I'm sure was all stock Chevrolet and blew all us flatheads away with runs in the high 80's and in the high 14's or low 15's. I built a C gas dragster out of PBY wing struts and a 3/8 X 3/8 flathead which went 104 mph and in the low 13's. It would have made a perfect HA/GR. This was in 1957 and I should never have did it because guys were running 265 chev. and going 120 and in the low 12's by the middle of 1957. There was no class for flatheads or inline then you ran cubic in. to weight.Cars including dragsters made very little tire smoke back then. By 1962 the AAF dragsters were smoking the M and H's the lenght of the track. In 1958 my cousin built a 32 Ford Caberlet [sp] with a 283 Chev a Duntov cam a 6 97's which ran B gas and won allkinds of trophies and he drove it back and forth to work. It was in the mid 13's and 98 mph. enough talking about the 50's. :DRoy

[Ron Golden]

Hell, I think we timed most of the cars back then with an hourglass filled with sand.

Ron

[FiddyFour]

i'm kinda blown away at how stupid of an idea it would be to want a race car that spins its traction up in smoke.

i think i can say with certainty than not one HA/GR car has been built for "cash racing", but with the intent of the pure joy of real heads up action... its not about flash, its not about exhibition of power... its about who gets passed the 1320 mark first.

if you wanna show-boat, build a wheel stander

[vectorsolid]

i'm kinda blown away at how stupid of an idea it would be to want a race car that spins its traction up in smoke.

i think i can say with certainty than not one HA/GR car has been built for "cash racing", but with the intent of the pure joy of real heads up action... its not about flash, its not about exhibition of power... its about who gets passed the 1320 mark first.

if you wanna show-boat, build a wheel stander

I'm just saying tire smoke is part of drag racing. People don't go to the track to see slow cars. they have a slow car at home, it's what they came to the track in. They want to hear loud, see smoke, and watch fast stuff. Show me something I haven't seen. And track owners need ROI or we have no place to race. Show me something I haven't seen, that's what I'm saying. If you ended up at the track on some oddball day and all that was running were rock stock Chevy Astro vans at 21 seconds without so much as a tire squeal... The only one that would catch your eye (and you'd look forward to) was the one dude that figured out how to get his junkbox to smoke in the waterbox that everybody else was driving around. "Dude, here comes that blue van, watch this!!"

If a guy wants to spend WAY to much time in the waterbox, for my pleasure... God bless him. that's all I'm saying. If he's willing to smoke 'em off the line and through second, handing a win to somebody else, good for him. If it was on purpose, REALLY GOOD FOR HIM. He hasn't lost sight of the fun of it all, and isn't worried that he might not go a few more rounds so he can win 50 bucks. As long as you stay in your lane and the track officials feel you're safe and not endangering anybody else, it's your business how you make a pass.

But the real winner to the crowd was the guy that smoked 'em the whole pass, don't kid yourself. :D That's because it's "old school", and something you don't see all the time.

And for the record, I don't know if it's showboating if it's the same exact thing you were perfectly willing to do at home in the driveway (by yourself) or in the alley behind your house (by yourself). I have a long driveway on private property, out of the city limits. What I do there in my car, is my business, and I asked the sheriffs department to be sure. For the record, it looks like airplanes must land there. No other good reason for that much rubber to be in any one place... :) And I couldn't care any one lick if people watch or not, I do it for my own entertainment, every single time. I'm sure my wife hears me get in the rod on a quick trip to pick up milk at the store. She hears the engine warm up, here's me pull into the driveway and stop. Next thing you know, there's lot's of loud engine noise that just drags on and on and on, and perhaps a little smoke comes in the kitchen window. I'm sure she's thinking "does he have to do that every single time"? The answer is, yes. Yes he does.

I think tire smoke to me must be like crack to crackheads.

And then, how cool to get to do it at the strip, where's it's also legal and people appreciate the effort. I'm willing to do it by myself at home. So I don't know that it's showboating if it's something you do all the time anyway. Only the people that haven't seen it might consider it that if they haven't seen it before.

Interesting debate topic.
(don't be a street squirrel, take it to the track) Keep shit like that off the streets. Unless you own that street, then have at it.

[vectorsolid]

i'm kinda blown away at how stupid of an idea it would be to want a race car that spins its traction up in smoke.

Yea, nobody wants that...:rolleyes: ... What was I thinking? I can't help but think the crowd surely stormed the gate and demanded their money back. I can't wait to bog my HA/GR car outta the hole in 2nd, wrap it to 4 grand and cross the line at 75mph... knocking out a SOLID 15 second pass, going 4 rounds and winning 50 bucks. I'm afraid there's more to drag racing than winning. ;)

Hmmm, vintage car on trailer, vintage car bogging out a 15 second pass, vintage car up in smoke the whole pass. Can't decide which would be better. And you don't have to pick one, you can have them all. :)

I'm still building one, but winning isn't the only criteria for the build.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m79/kiwikevinp/scans/scan0003-5.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j38/royalshifter/dckaug64fernando__Large_.jpg

http://i8.tinypic.com/8bnv6af.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k143/Rockin_Robin_WKR/21196210.jpg

http://www.draglist.com/artman/uploads/daily_stories/gatt-1.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m79/kiwikevinp/scan0017-1.jpg

http://74.52.154.242/%7Eetracing/Recovered_JPEG_235aa.jpg

http://www.frontenginedragsters.org/images/roly1.jpg

http://www.oilnspeed.com/albums/d/396-5/dragster2.jpg

[vectorsolid]

How many here looked at those pictures and could actually hear the pass while looking at it?

[Jim Marlett]

The images posted are not HA/GR-like cars. In fact, they are nothing like HA/GRs. Sure, those cars would draw a crowd, but they just aren't HA/GRs. The cars pictured are the cars of my era, except the funny car, which is a little too modern, but close, and the double-hooped repro dragster, which is pretty good update of an era correct car. If you want to build a smoker, go right ahead, but it shouldn't look like an HA/GR.

[FiddyFour]

Interesting.... you say people don't want to see "slow cars" and that the croud can see a slow car at home?

i guess you've never been at a track, watched a wheel stander make a fast pass, then a rocket car blast its way down the track, only to watch the people in the stands come to thier feet and CHEER LIKE MAD when a pair of HA/GR cars come "slowly" past the stands...

it aint all about how fast you go... its about how cool you go fast. its about style. period

[64 DODGE 440]

it ain't all about how fast you go... its about how cool you go fast. its about style. period


This thought pretty well sums up a big part of why we build our class of car, it's done for the love of the running, not the search for wins or records.

That said.......we all want to run as quick an fast as we can.:D

[vectorsolid]

The images posted are not HA/GR-like cars. In fact, they are nothing like HA/GRs.

That's because I couldn't find any images of HA/GR cars smoking the tires. It was simply an example. :)


Interesting.... you say people don't want to see "slow cars" and that the croud can see a slow car at home?

it aint all about how fast you go... its about how cool you go fast. its about style. period

That had to do with your comment that it would be stupid to want a car that can smoke the tires.


"...i'm kinda blown away at how stupid of an idea it would be to want a race car that spins its traction up in smoke..."


This thought pretty well sums up a big part of why we build our class of car, it's done for the love of the running, not the search for wins or records.

That said.......we all want to run as quick an fast as we can.:D

I agree, and I simply would love it if my car also smoked the tires. I'm hoping that's not to much to ask. :D I've got other cars to go fast in, as do a lot of you. I'm not particularly worried about going fast or consistent in the HA/GR car. I'm interested in building something that reminds people of that period and have a good time. I just want to build it, and be able to smoke the rinds off it now and then. And if I have to buy 3-4 different brands of tires to find the best smoking ones... well, that's just part of it (for me). :)

everybody has their own level of commitment and what they bring to the table. And what they'd like to see from it, or hope to get out of it. I hope to enjoy the build, and to run slow with my buds at the track. tease 'em on the way home for redlighting etc.

My buddy, who's car were building first, is insisting on front brakes... It ain't for safety reasons. ;)

[buffaloracer]

Like Jim I'm old enought to remember the bug and I don't remember any smoke then. I remember when all of the fuelers smoked their tires except for GBP and they kept on winning. Smoke 'em all you like but I plan to follow the other path.
Pete

[vectorsolid]

Like Jim I'm old enought to remember the bug and I don't remember any smoke then. I remember when all of the fuelers smoked their tires except for GBP and they kept on winning. Smoke 'em all you like but I plan to follow the other path.
Pete

Can't fault a man for doing what he wants. :)

But I would like to add, why does it seem a few folks aren't interested in following BOTH paths? Car can do both. :D To much concern for winning?

and this isn't directed at anybody in particular, If you are taking your HA/GR car to the track to show people... you're their to put on a show. Argue how you will. I'm hoping to add to the show. ;)

Just like fiddyfour said above: and I agree.
"...it aint all about how fast you go... its about how cool you go fast. its about style. period..."

Here's my kinda style.
http://i8.tinypic.com/8bnv6af.jpg

[Ryan]

Vector, don't take this the wrong way... But I really don't think the HA/GR class is for you man. I say that based on what you say you want.

Go get yourself an FED and raise some hell. You'll have a blast.

[Old6rodder]

I guess the gist of the answers to your HA/GR smoke question is that there is no film of it due to its lack of application to the class.
Any build with 300 ponies should smoke 6"ers on a light car pretty well in spite of the gum on todays tracks.

And it'll look impressive too.
Right up 'til the "non smoker" (pun intended) leaves you behind, just like it was "in the day" of these cars, circa 1950. With that little meat on the ground, "going up in smoke" meant losing, so good pedalling of the clutch was the order of the day. Smoke runs were a short (albeit popular) '60s phenom that soon bowed before (wait fot it now ......) improved clutch tech. :D

In spite of those with less than patient opinions the nut is as it's always been; build it, run it, enjoy it, to your tastes. :cool:

[vectorsolid]

Vector, don't take this the wrong way... But I really don't think the HA/GR class is for you man. I say that based on what you say you want.

Go get yourself an FED and raise some hell. You'll have a blast.

No offense intended or taken, it's just a car. I know where your coming from. I will add, if the goal is to "show the people", I need to show local people. Local rules are different. If I build it for one race only, the HAMB nationals... how many of those people need to be shown? They already get the concept, seems like the wrong crowd to show if that's part of the idea of "keeping it alive and showing how it used to be done".

Everybody has a different driving style. And a favorite color and a different name. Should we all be named Bill or Bob or Hank and drive red colored race cars? How dull would that be? maybe I'm misinterpreting the "spirit" rule.

Mind you, all this could be solved with an additional rule, #27, No smoking of the tires, they didn't do it then, we don't want to do it now. That debate is then over, simple enough. :)

We're in the middle of working around rule #23, and rule #25 and doing our best to build them so they look like the rest.
---------------
23. ....Must pass all tracks general safety rules.
25. Cars must be built in the spirit of the “Bug” and other early rail jobs. If ya aren’t familiar, ya better ask…
---------------

For us, and our tracks safety rules for the chassis HA/GR must include a few more things in the roll cage area. Just like #23 mentions. We've had to meet a few additional safety rules...locally.

Other than that, I think the spirit is in the right spot.

Other than the roll bars, with few exceptions, I think we'll do a decent job of representing the spirit of it. :)

we're not trying to re-write, change or alter your killer idea, the concept, or anything about it. But if we're gonna play locally, we need to alter the cage for our tracks. And if it's no longer a "purist" Ha/GR car, then that's fine to. it'll be a V/GR vintage gas rail. The name isn't as important as the concept and what it represents. it's just words.

Ironic that the car with the legal cage (you'll notice I didn't say better) would actually be the one considered "Hokey". ...lol...

Ryan, we just want to build cars and have fun. Don't take it any other way. Just put a smile on your face, chuckle and point if you like and say, "look what those goofy bastards are doing". I'm okay with that, really.

[Ryan]

Not at all... but remember, this class was built around rule #25. That's kind of the whole point.

[vectorsolid]

Not at all... but remember, this class was built around rule #25. That's kind of the whole point.

I agree, it's about the spirit. Although I might add that "spirit" and "blueprint" are not the same word. "spirit" has no shape requirements to it. :)

It's your idea, we're gonna our damndest to pull it off. If we fail, we fail. It's about the spirit and fun of the build.

If when we're done, somebody looks at the car and says, "you know, it just isn't an HA/GR car, we're not going to let it run at the HAMB nats. Or something like, "Vector, a group of us got together and decided that it's not an HA/GR car, we're sorry man".

I'm okay with that. We did our best. But before we get our panties in a wad, maybe we should get our builds started and then we can debate what doesn't look right. As is, we're debating speculation on these builds.

[64 DODGE 440]

So stop typing and start building. :p

[348chevy]

While I would like the spirit of the build to be true to the 1950's I cannot justify to myself the expenditure of money in a car that I can only run once a year. I would have kept my 58 Chevy and went to cruzeins and sat in a lawn chair. I believe that we can still have a couple of rollbars to satisfy the techs and it makes my wife feel better too. I have spent money and respent money on things until I am broke. I now have the car where it only costs me the money to enter and gas to get there. I don't believe it will break. This is supposed to be a low buck venture and if you break everytime you go out it becomes a downer. I paid 500 bucks on a transmission and it lasted 2 runs. I want to run at different tracks and would even like to run Bakersfield. The last time I ran a car at Bakersfield was 1960. I see cars that nobody drives at shows and other cars that are undriveable and I wonder why. To me a car is meant to be driven, if it is a race car it is meant to be raced. I love the Hamb Nationals and Ryan is a hell of a nice guy but I want to race at other races and that means I must compromise with the techs at those tracks. I watched Garlits fire up his dragster at KC and idle down the track because his rollbar was not up to NHRA specs. He couldn't even blaze the tires for 1/8 mile. I am not ranting here to change any rules ,I believe the rules are good but some of us like the spirit of racing and Toymaker will get the itch to make his car faster. I want the cars to look like they could come from the 50's and race heads up with old engines and narrow tires just like they did in the 50's. Make stuff for them instead of buying bolt ons. Geezerspeed would love to be in the 14's right now and I'll bet he will burn the midnight oil trying to get more speed out of the car. It's the competetive nature of us, we can't help ourselves.:) Roy

[vectorsolid]

While I would like the spirit of the build to be true to the 1950's I cannot justify to myself the expenditure of money in a car that I can only run once a year. I would have kept my 58 Chevy and went to cruzeins and sat in a lawn chair. I believe that we can still have a couple of rollbars to satisfy the techs and it makes my wife feel better too. I have spent money and respent money on things until I am broke. I now have the car where it only costs me the money to enter and gas to get there. I don't believe it will break. This is supposed to be a low buck venture and if you break everytime you go out it becomes a downer. I paid 500 bucks on a transmission and it lasted 2 runs. I want to run at different tracks and would even like to run Bakersfield. The last time I ran a car at Bakersfield was 1960. I see cars that nobody drives at shows and other cars that are undriveable and I wonder why. To me a car is meant to be driven, if it is a race car it is meant to be raced. I love the Hamb Nationals and Ryan is a hell of a nice guy but I want to race at other races and that means I must compromise with the techs at those tracks. I watched Garlits fire up his dragster at KC and idle down the track because his rollbar was not up to NHRA specs. He couldn't even blaze the tires for 1/8 mile. I am not ranting here to change any rules ,I believe the rules are good but some of us like the spirit of racing and Toymaker will get the itch to make his car faster. I want the cars to look like they could come from the 50's and race heads up with old engines and narrow tires just like they did in the 50's. Make stuff for them instead of buying bolt ons. Geezerspeed would love to be in the 14's right now and I'll bet he will burn the midnight oil trying to get more speed out of the car. It's the competetive nature of us, we can't help ourselves.:) Roy

Well said. :)

[Ryan]

Fellas, no way I will ever shit on your parades. That's a promise. If you're having fun and you're drag racing - cool!

That said, my only job in this deal is to protect the original intent and I'll do so regardless of the people it pisses off. I owe that to the fellas that started this mess.

[vectorsolid]

Fellas, no way I will ever shit on your parades. That's a promise. If you're having fun and you're drag racing - cool!

That said, my only job in this deal is to protect the original intent and I'll do so regardless of the people it pisses off. I owe that to the fellas that started this mess.

We know, I don't think anybodys chuffed... :) it's all good. :D

[vectorsolid]

I thought I had about all the images I could find. Found this. look... SMOKE!!!!:D

http://flatheaddrag.com/07hamb/images/0708_2464.jpg

http://flatheaddrag.com/07hamb/images/0708_3198.jpg

[Old6rodder]

Nah, just a bit of steam from the morning dew between the sun warmed tread. :p

Second one's only a wet spot of VHT caught up in the tread and evaporating, you can see most of it's still on the track. :D

[nexxussian]

Nah, just a bit of steam from the morning dew between the sun warmed tread. :p


Fer a split sedcond I thought that was gonna end with 'out the boiler reliefs'.:eek::D

[vectorsolid]

What's the opinion on this tire for the HA/GR? Not slick, not cheater slick, bias and 6" tread width.

http://www.mandhtires.com/store.php?crn=73&rn=311&action=show_detail

[348chevy]

It's a racing tire. I've already looked into it. M and H makes a racing tire that would probably give a lot better bite than the Cokers but it is a racing tire. I would vote no on it, even though it would solve a lot of my bite problems we need the evenness of the Coker to give everyone the chance to compete. The flatheads don't make lowend torque so you rev them up and they come out like gangbusters. The GMC makes goobs of lowend torque and will eat the flathead alive if it were not for the tires. I want everyone to race and have a chance at being competitive. The real leveling factor is the tires. I for one would entertain a motion that all cars run street Coker Classic tires. I know that is brand specfic but still keeps the playing field a little more level and the fun factor up. If I lose a race to Cowboy Bob or 2B because I went up in smoke then I need to feather it a little next time. The Hornet doesn't make a lot of lowend and Bob just floors it and comes out and he wins if I come out to hard even though I have him by as much as 10 mph on the top end. Now that is fun. It makes the driver's skill a factor not just HP.:pRoy

[Ron Golden]

I agree with Roy. He and Bob Hindman kicked our butt even though we were several MPH faster. They were able to control the launch with their automatics much better than we were with our manual tranny. With just 4 runs on our car we have to perfect our launch. Watch out guys, we're gunning for you next year.

Ron

[2b-banjo]

I just put a video on youtube.com, titled "2b-banjo in hamb gas rail at Cordova, IL". This is the most smoke that I can muster, but its there. The burn out is blocked out by 2 guys but you can still see it. Looking forward to racing you guys in 2009!!!!

[2b-banjo]

I forgot to mention video was shot by Billy Moon.

[vectorsolid]

And THAT, is how you generate interest in a car!!! :D

Here's a link to the video he posted. Among, if not thee best HA/GR videos on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypjMWD9kbFk

Your an evil Bastage... Now I'm debating flathead again...;) Freaking awesome.