Went to Ac Saturday with some of my racing buds and 2 couples from work. Kevin the engineer had not been to AC since it was Dirt, his lady had never been to a race track, they both had a great time, Tom and his wife who go to Eldora for the Sprints and midgets also enjoyed all the racing. Cheeseburger and Dave Kensler who were with me, also liked the racing.

Last Saturday our home track (FR) had the School Bus F- 8 races, so we decided to do some traveling.

We had choice of going to South Buxton Raceway (3/8 UMP Dirt) just outside Windsor, or Auto City north of flint.

well we wanted to see the Auto Value Sprints, so AC was the choice, but we were thinking we would be in for a traditional AC LONG night....We were wrong. the full card of races were over by 11:30, Just a few years ago, that was the time when features would be getting started. Many times we have traveled to AC and left at midnight, after only seeing only 1 or 2 features. What a welcomed change! Good job to the track officials!

First off the Racing was GOOOD> you have good teams who prepare nice looking cars, with hard driving drivers who race Clean.

the stands were full of locals who were enjoying the racing. Your fans are nice folks.

The Lead sleds earn their popularity with the fans, by racing hard, clean, and with a lot of heart, the feature winner and and I think the 2and or 3rd place cars (M15 winner and M1) after the feature put their cars head to head and did dual burn outs,,,way coool.,,these Racers are real sportsmans.

I like the 2 X 2 restarts for the 1/4 mile track cars.

food ,,had the Walking Taco,,Yommee...

Went in the pits, reminded me of the Old mt. Clemons, big trees for shade, and grass, talked to lots of folks. Eye balled lots of tech innovations on lots of cars,, you guys are shrewd and smart...really well prepared cars. I get some of my best Idears by eye balling cars.

will add more later,,,

I was also very impressed with the Saturday show at AC. They did a great job of getting the cars lined back up and getting the races going again after a caution. Kudos to the AC management on a very well run show with lots of good racing! I was also pleasantly surprised with the early finish, great job!!!

Derek

P.S. I thought the 1/4 mile double file restarts were great too!

Glad you ejoyed your visit to AC and of coarse the dual burnout

I liked the new innovation for the walking taco of cutting the dorito bag on the side rather than the top,,,made for easier eatin.

I know this is tuff, but the best driver of the night was the girl in the pink vintage racing coupe.

Got a lap down, un-lapped herself and finished 3 rd,,but that is not all what impressed me,,she could really work traffic, and man did she man-handle that car in the turns. The Girl can flat out drive most folks.

someone should get this girl a professional ARCA RE-max ride.

http://www.vroamodifieds.com/

click on the drivers icon

Name - Samantha Jansen
Year/Make/Model - 1933 Plymouth Coupe
Engine Size - 255 Chevy
Home Town - Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Crew Members - Paul Jansen and Andrew Cummings
Occupation - Student - 4th year in "Architecture Degree Program in Project & Facility Management" at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario
- and just completed "Sales Person Designation" with the Ontario Real Estate Association, along with part time Manager for 2 Tim Horton's locations in Cambridge.
Years Racing - started racing vintage modified just before my 15th birthday
Years with VROA - 3rd
Sponsors - Walker Racing Engines, Ouendag Motorsports and "Dad's wallet"

more tracks should copy Dixie and AC and have 2x2 restarts for the lower divisions,,,forces NEW drivers to learn how to run the out side groove.

I liked the play ground equipment for the kids,,,lots of kids were using the equipment,,,anyone remember playing on the play ground equipment at Mt. Clemons?



PS,,,anyone got wood chips left over from the storms?, the swings could use some wood chips.

This is the first race track I know of that has a "happy hour" from 5 to 7 pm and serves Liquor.

Talked to the guy in the #7 Vintage Mod who spun out every 2 laps,,,HE had an oil leak, and did not know it,,,this is for all tracks, if you have one car spinnig out on its own a lot, do a fluid leak check and send him to the pits.

In the IMCA type MODS ,,Chuck Silva did a great job of driving, even lead some, I was pulling for him to win. the mod race only had about 12 cars, but put on a good show,Maybe you do not need more than a dozen cars to put on a good show as long as they run close and hard with lead changes,,again hard driving, with a small amount of bump and run, I think the lead changed 3 or 4 times, and they passed high and low.

The Factory stocks had about 12 cars too, but that did not decrease the action,,,about any of the top 10 cars could have won, lots of side by side racing, and passing,,,Clean HARD driving.

You gotta love them Old leaf spring Camaros,Nice looking cars,,lots of chassis INNOVATIONS. I think our FR SS cars and most sportsman type cars would have a tuff time keeping up.

Arnie,

Going to AC is like going to Mt. Clemens for Me. I was there a few weeks ago and it was like spending a night at the track years ago. The names were the same in the pits, just the generations were different. We had cheeseburger, Uncle George, Jack Varney Sr. (and Jr.), The Dobners, The Bogusz bunch, Don Johnson, Rick McColl, The Menlen gang, a few Metdepeningens thrown in the mix. Heck, you and Doug Parcell were about the only ones missing. Had a great time there with so many familiar faces plus the friends I have made that race there regularly and I didn't know back in the old days. AC is a fun place to be. I also have a good time down at the Rock and over to Spartan.

Gonna go pick on Roger Williams at Crystal this weekend. Give me a call when you go to South Buxton, I'd like to see the place sometime.

Wow Joe I didnt know you were a ham and egger nice job on the burnout. Good job on second too. Also want to thank you, Lonnie and LJ for the help we needed to get the caar back out next week.

the figure 8 race was great, again, about a dozen cars,,,most were from the Lead sled class, and had already run a lead sled feature earlier, Lots of close calls in the Intersection! but NO wrecks,,good driving by all. The fans loved it, they would really react when their were close calls in the X.

I still think they should allow the Lead sleds to have extra bracing in the engine compartment ( front hoop), for durability.

I also think, that the guy who builds a 1998 to 2001 Ford Crown Vic for the Lead sled and F-8 class will have a car as good as the 1970's Cadillac Seville ( Camaro type front clip and leafs in the back). a 1998 to 2001 Ford Crown Vic has a Dirt LM rear suspension with a watts linkage, and the track width is inches wider than a metric Caprice. also they are not 30 years old , so the supply of Cheap cars and parts will be greater.

IMHO, in just a few years,,,In the Lead sled type classes,,,lots of tracks will allow a Chevy V8 to be put in a STOCK Ford Crown Vic,,,these 30 year old Caprices are going to the Crusher,,and soon will be GONE,,,so then you have lots of Chevy v8's around with NO Caprices to put them in,,,thats when tracks will allow putting in the Chevy V8 into a Ford Crown Vic.


Waht changes do you lead sled guys do to the chassis when switching from the OVAL the to F-8? and how long does it take to switch?

I did have to explain the Lead sled restricted Exhaust system rule to the guys from work,,they sound like ''JETS" .



I did talk to an engine builder for the lead sleds while waiting for my Walking taco,,,He said they can only get about 300 HP max on the dyno, and about 5,600 RPM ,,,due to the restricted exhaust. he says it makes for a cheap engine to build and it will last forever.

Ps. when you hear back fireing from a lead sled when decelling during a race,,that car MIGHT have an exhaust leak

It seemed like all the top guys engines were about the same,,,just the faster guys were faster in the turns.

No problem Chad. Don't thanks me until the trans works, i never did get a book on th350's.

Joe

Well sounds like you did a better job than the last guy! Well see! Im gonna have to get fast here sooner or later.

Hmmmm exaust leaks are mentioned in the rules maybe that should be checked.

"It seemed like all the top guys engines were about the same,,,just the faster guys were faster in the turns. "

Thanks!

We actually picked up something in our right rear and it was going flat. The Mod was decent until we started getting that flat.

Congrats to all of the winners! It was a good night of racing.

Now thats not funny

Anytime Chad, just glad to see you racing with us this weekend!!

The dual burnout was pretty sweeeeeet!! We goota do it again Joe. ( when we finish 1,2,3 again)

HATER!!!!!

Now thats funny.

Im not hating! In fact like McDonalds, Im loving it! Maybe I can do a burnout one day. No wait i cant do that to my tires.

IMHO, there is little else the AC officals can do MORE to even up the engines in the Lead sled class.

If you have an opinion on how to further even up the engines in AC's lead sled class what would it be?

go back to Open rear ends? Outlaw locked differentials?

Mandate a Narrower rear tire width?

Were kinda stuck without removing oil pans. The fact of the matter is that AC never teched the motors for 5 years and guys have built the motors they need to compete. Now if you all of a sudden start disqualifying engines for guys who cant afford a new one they will race somewhere else.

Arnie if you at AC again stop by the 84d car and say hi. I should be back this week.

they could try checking compression! and how many 400s come internally balanced? i would think that alone would be a clue

No rule against int balancing. They do check compression. In fact theres no rule against steel lower end parts that I can see. Are you saying that a stock 406 should not be 9.5:1 .....With flat tops.

theres nothing in the rules that covers internals to keep guys from out spending each other. the best you can ever do in a simple $100 to win division is make rules that make it pointless to spend big money. the single 2in exhaust rule has done a good job of that, and could do better if strictly enforced. right now the guys are running into a problem finding the proper tires to race on. nearly everyone runs regatta 2's and they are out of stock or discontinued so either the tracks need to hurry up and implement a mandatory cheap street radial or someone with deep pockets will do the research to find the next replacement. i dont think running a hoosier in this class is the answer, if anything put them on crap tires, atleast it will even out competition and make it even more pointless to put big motors in them. if they did go with a spec tire, it would make it even better to run the more plentiful 305 with the weight break, or maybe give 350's a weight break?

Thats a great idea Nick

take a look at rule G absolutely NO MACHINING OR ALTERING OF ENGINE COMPONENTS PERIOD! every 400 is externally balanced NOT INTERNALY hence the very heavy 400 crank- balancer and flywheel! rule I NO MIXING OF STOCK PARTS! 350 balancer and flywheel on a 400?? ok lets just read between all the lines

not to mention all the aluminum 305 intakes on everyones car including mine!

im positive thats not the only time you bend that rule as well, so they cant pick and choose when its ok, and not ok to break that rule. if it holds water its either always enforced or never enforced. if they took that rule to the furthest extent that it could be, they would have to tear down every motor and dq them all, because they all have been rebuilt, and that requires machining (illegal). truth would be that balancing any motor whether internal or external should be illegal if you were to take that rule literally, as well as zero decking a block, etc... its not worth it to tech that deep for $100 to win, it would cost the racer more money to get teched even if he won the feature, than it would to just load up and let them keep their cash. thats were proper restrictions need to be enforced to keep those who dont spend the big cash to be able to still be competitive. let driver, homework, and ingenuity win the races rather than the $$$.

let driver, homework, and ingenuity win the races rather than the $$$. what a joke! you must think im stupid? you just love gray areas dont ya? i better just let this one drop before it gets ugly what do you think carbman? driver homework ingenuity that must be it you realy do only need a 305 and homework

Hey I know where theres a camaro that I can put my LS motor in.lol Im all for rule enforcement, but it must be CONSTANT and consistent. You cant all of a sudden decide to enforce rules when you never have. The racers conform to what you tech not what the rule book says we all know that. Nick I think your tire rule idea and really enforcing the exhaust rule (no leaks) would do alot to getting things evened-up. Also might not be a bad idea to mandate a two barrel. There has got to be many ways to even up competition without forcing your front running cars to get new motors, because they will go race elsewhere, or worse not race at all.

Rich I think Nick is agreeing with you. He's saying thats what hed like to see. Is the driver, inginuity, and homework. Not that that is reality. It should be too, but we all know its not.

I wouldnet drain my oil for that 100 bucks.

and your positive about what i do and dont do ok i dont think you know me very well! the motor in my car is 3yrs old with the same heavy parts it came with from the factory all but the pistons a stock balance job and JUNK 882 heads but not for long

as a matter of fact the more i think about it i would just like to sell all my race equipment and go fishing any offers?? ingenuity is what makes it fun! spendanuity is whats killing this sport my friend

They haven't checked compression once this year. They have checked cams, checked for cubic inch, and even other nights, just rolled across the scales. I'm not sure what 175 psi out of the plug hole is but I would be curious to find out. I would be one of the first to drain my oil if I had to, just to set an example that you don't have to have an Eagle rotating assembly in the lower end to compete....

Go get em Rich, But honestly I think your wasting your time cause neither one of us have enough money to makr things the way they should be. It's not supposed to be but is a money game.

with the Single exh. only 2 inch od max, No duals allowed...Rules,, you do not need to mandate a 2 barrel carb.

In fact we have some historical techincal data on this subject.

Mt. clemmons allowed stock q-jet 4 bbl carbs, then the switced to 2 bbl carbs,,,MOST cars went faster with the 2 bbl!

why? well the Q jet is about the most complicated and TUNABLE 4 barrel carb ever made....But becasue it is so complex and tunable,,MOST racers do not have them set up correctly for 1/4 mile asphalt oval racing.

2 barrels are very simple and very hard to get wrong. also if your engines only turn 5,600 RPM a 2 barrel is big enough, and wil give better throttle responce.

If you are using a STOCK Q-jet from a 1973 and newer Car, and have NOT reworked it to the highest Horse Power 1966 to 1969 Corvette Carb specs,,,Put on a 2 barrel and you wil probably go faster.

What you need is a rule where the exh. out let is VISABLE to anyone walking by the car,,,NOt hidden underneath,,,the rule should be,,,the exh. outlet must be visable at all times, and must exit below the rocker panel, Just ahead of the rear tire. rihgt now a guy can have a big exhaust system and unless you jack up the car and crawl under it,,you can not tell,,this is TOOO tempting. then Use a Potato to tech the exhaust sytem for leaks.

see,,,

http://www.mstrc.com/index.php?showtopic=4062&st=120

Who me? Rich dont jump on me I dont know what you do, but I know a few things that you and Casey have told me. We all stretch the rules a little. some more than others. If you and Casey are honest with me that statement you just made is not true. To be honest I dont care what anyone does. If the techs dont tech it Ill try to take advantage of it too. I worry about myself not anyone else. I know that a 412 ci motor is not legal.

Not complicated at all, pretty simple. I think 400 or bigger should have a 1 3/4 exhaust maximum, that would even things out.

Mike you and Rich both make more money than Nick or Me. We just poo boys trying to have fun. Id love to win and someday hope I do, but I need more seat time more than I need more money as far as making my car go fast. Mike isuspect that when you or Rich decide to you'll have plenty of smoke to win. I agree that it is that way and its not supposed to be, but we all play under the same tracks tech and others are taking advantage of it. You cant blame them for it. This started a long time ago. We have never been teched hard, so people built what they felt it took to beat the cars that run up front.

Your prob right but I would rather put a roof on my house or a big deck or anything other than help ruin a class that is supposed to be cost effective, We all know it's cause they have let it go to long. Just call them street stocks cause the real street stocks are slowly dieing anyway. I have a big motor we could put in and get the job done but won't do it, we'll just be happy with what our little PEANUT is doin for us. See ya's at Spartan.

Cant argue that! I'm hoping to be there this weekend. Ill probably be at practice trying to get that piece of crap to turn. Im really broke this week so racing might be tough. I told JD he can take my car to Spartan on Sunday. You know he'll have a blast if he goes. Plus it is my sons b-day party on Sun so Ill might run AC but not Spartan. You going to be at AC on Friday?