Whether or not you have a more modest budget (I totally understand that issue, that's my program to a tee) the reality is that you can build a lot of motor for about $4000. I know a certain engine builder is building them for more, but if you can do some of the work yourself, assembly and so on, it does get a little cheaper than the quoted amount of a certain local engine builder. A set of pistons, cam etc... is maybe $1000, and getting four years out of a race engine with no freshening or any work is a gift from God in my opinion.

As to the cars who win getting through the corner faster, it is true, but it would be nice to not get pulled in the straights too. I think the top runners have the complete package... and a few more years experience too. And I have appreciated all of the good advice I have gotten in this past season. It's a great class to run in.

I ran a decent engine for about 3 weeks this year and then blew it up. I then ran a junkyard engine with the right cam and decent heads that came with the car when I bought it and was getting smoked in the straights... so while I appreciate what you are saying RRR Crew... it is definately a different class today.

And I hope no one takes my comments as whining. I have been working hard to step up my program, and learn the details. Some extra cash would be really awesome 🙂

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!

This person is on the right track. We have to remember, stock car racing is not about draging racing down the straight away to be first in the corner.......its about being fast throught the corner and being able to use the horse power you have to its maximum potential coming off the corner.

The crate engine program in the Thunder Car division is pretty good, expecially for budget racers. As far as the rumours of this guy and that guy had cheated up motors......who cares really...only they know......its pretty easy to find out....if you think about it.

I would save all that money you would spend on cam, springs, pistons, balancing, gaskets, bearings and labour (probably $1500 - $2K) and buy 3 or 4 more springs, a few spring rubbers and a couple shocks, spend some of the money on fuel...for more practice time testing different setups and once you figure out where you want to be. Take a look at your tire situation, buy some tires if you can (I personally would buy as many as I could).
By this time you should be pretty stout.
If you run into trouble or need some info talk to one of the Late Model guys for suggestions on how to improve. They are pretty much all approachable and helpful.

The one thing I have learned over the years is, its always better to be a little under horsepowered and handle good, then to handle bad and have too much horsepower.

Hope this adds some insight for some of you.

Happy New Year
Rob James