i suggest a $2500.00 engine claim rule. problem solved!

a claim rule would not solve anything! the racing wouln't be as good! i say that the built motors regardless of running in the old car or the new car should recieve a 50 - 100 lb weight penalty! or better yet, wait to see how the season goes, then if the built motors are running away then add weight accordingly to close up the field. This is what is done in the 4 cylinder class and it seems to work. If one car keeps winning after weight is added, then add some more weight. Close the field up, make it fun for both drivers and fans, instead of watching one car a straightaway ahead of second place like usual in a long green flag run at Barrie for the thunders!

I don't think that fifty to a hundred pounds of weight is enough. I think it should be more like two hundred, I run the crate motor and it can't even pull on a built motor. How can the every day guy that does not have the money to back a big horse power motor commpet with the other guy. The next gen thunders were a cheap way for the average guy to go racing, the use of the crate was cost effective, made it easier to start. If they let the build motors come down to crate motor weight then you will only have a hand full of cars up front every week. The tin kit across the board is good all the cars will look closer to each other on the inside. Some thing has to be done to bring the class closer to gether, we put a show on for the fans and we have to remember that, I know that when I watch and I see the top five cars driving away from the Field it sucks, sure those guys have got there stuff together but when do the rest get a chance to run up front.

I tend to disagree with the idea the crate engine cant compete. The 00 won a pile of features with a crate, this years thunder rookie of the year ran a crate, and the two tyme car has won 4 features, 18 heats, finished 4th in points this season and at time trials set a new thunder fast lap record all with a crate motor. Now dont kid yourself ,if we dont get a weight break for continuoing to run a crate, the seals are coming off and we will try to get that extra 30ft on the straight away that we seem to be lacking. But if the crate does get a weight break, after 4 seasons this ones getting freshened. Besides it was awful nice watching guys pull heads while we had our seals checked and then loaded.

Some say the 00 was "Cheated Up" in the crate area, I dont know if it was true or not. I have heard figures anyware from $3500-$10000 for built motors. Dont know if its true or not but if you spend more than $5500 theres got to be some cheating someware.