Maybe we can look at the late models as comparison, those things are like watching paint dry because the horsepower is all the same, the only way they pass is to root the guy out of the way. Two thunder cars last year had big horsepower, the 44 and the 49. Everybody else was close power wise. No weight break will hurt the crate guys, no question, but the foundation is already there for better power, with some machinework and pistons. so for a grand or less you are in the ballpark.
My suggestion (and there are some here who do not agree with me, and I know I'm going to hear about it) is to eliminate the seals on crate engines. No more "Mess with a crate and be persona non grata for a year" rule.
A 355 c.i. Chevrolet small block is a 355 c.i. Chevrolet small block. No crates, no builts. If we got the 602 then of course it would be a far different matter.
Guys with crates can put in a cam, or springs or whatever they need to do to make them turn more than 6400 RPM. I think a set of pistons and a cam and some springs and that crate motor will be fairly close to what anyone else is building legally. The cars with the really big motors are still going to be faster in the straights, and I don't believe they are completely legal. And I think the "Old Gen" car that was rumored to be pretty fast in the straight actually was quicker in the corner than the "New Gen" or the cambered Camaro, those two were fast in the straight. But who knows...
I don't think a gear rule is any help. There is two ways of doing things and the ratios are all over the map. Some guys run straight up and some run it through the planetaries. If you're running a 9" you can do it either way.
Make this class straight across. We are very close right now. This, of course is just my opinion...
In some way I agree with you TeX. get rid of the crate and just run built motors. How ever the guy that bought the thunder car that had a crate in it might not be able to put in a new cam, springs and pistons, alot of guys run on a budget and it makes it hard to do things. The fast cars are always going to be fast, I have no problem with that but taking away a weight advantage is just making them faster. I want to be able to race side by side with some one lap after lap and make the drivers settle it. I really have no idea what we should do to make the Field closer, but the way that the track wants to take it is going in the wrong direction. I don't have a lot of money to build a new motor and I want to go out to compete every night I don't want to be a field filler and thats how I feel, I hope that someone comes up with a good idea and things run great, do I think that will happen no I don't but I can hope.
You can win without a good motor at Barrie if your car is setup good. I don't know if anyone heard of the "cube van motor" story, but we actually cut out the motor from our old hauler & stuck it in the car ( after we were DQ'd). The motor was totally baffed, at idle it had zero oil pressure & was knocking so bad we didn't think it would make the race. The car actually hooked up better as it didn't have the power to spin the tires, Gord said he would let off for a second & punch it in the corners, doing all his passing there. Came from the back to win, but that was on the old track & the amount of competition was not what it is today. I think that no matter what is done, if they all had crates or whatever, your top guys will always rise to the top.
built motors can get the weight. simple as that! if for some reason after a couple of weeks, it is hurting the built motor guys (which it won't), then the track can change the rule accordingly! There are definately more than a couple drivers that are on a budget! the huge part of racing though is cornering! If I am correct, the #9 car needs to handle a bit better in the corner. His car has the speed, but he has to keep the RPM up in the corner to make the best of his lap on the track! A no weight rule for the built motors in the thundercar class is going to ruin the division! doesn't cost too much more to get a LLM crate motor and a chassis and go racing. That's what the guys are going to start doing!