I remember the built motor wars $15,000 + ap motors. If it was up to me I would allow the built guys to run their engines one more season - after that crates only, and police the hell out of them.

ps funny no one has mentioned using a dyno at set maximum hp to catch the cheaters without having to tear them down (just a thought).

If you read back I suggested the track buy a crate and if you get tagged for a motor check you gotta run the track crate for a night. That gives them time for a dyno check. Some might think it's a crazy idea but hey why not?

I have some thoughts on the engine debate that I would like to share.  Before crate engines, the street stock division had full fields.  The engine costs were getting too high.  The  rules package at this time resulted in high machining and labour costs - net result pricey engines.  Instead of allowing over the counter connecting rods, cranks and vortec heads which can be purchased ready to go(like today's rule package) the management at the time introduced the crate engine.  That was the last time you had a full field in street stock.  Interesting enough around that time you had full fields in the truck division, and no crate engines. But those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.  The last time you had a full field was before the crate engine.  My own experience with the crate has resulted in these conclusions: they are cheap to purchase when you can find them on sale, they are good to get you started in racing, they are not reliable for a track as big as Delaware, the life of these engines in a good performing chassis(meaning more time at higher rpm) is around 20 - 30 nights.  These are the reasons I bought a quality engine.  I feel the rule with 100 lb handicap is about right.  Crate engine cars led the points most of the year, built engines won a few races more than half.  The team that won would have done it with either engine- their car was just better.  My lap times are comparable to any other season - 21.0's when I've been on top of my set-up and weekly maintainence, 2 to 3 tenths off of the fastest cars when I went the wrong way with something I was trying or I just didn't prepare my car as well as I should have.

Bone stock is the best thing to come along in years.there is no cheap racing any more.The key to survival of the series,and growing it is  controlling costs.Nobody is going to want to build a bone stock if they are going to get their doors blown my a 4 cylinder race car worth thousands of dollars.there needs to be a claim rule for the winning car.the track claim the car and auction it off to the drivers and or fans.Maybe the track claim the engine of one of the top four cars,and leave it in the car and use it for a engine blow contest at the end of the day.No reinforcing the front bumpers,just causes rough drivers and destroyed cars,reinforcing for car protection behind the rad only.It could turn into the biggest class in Ontario if you could build a cheap bone stock and have a chance of winning.This class will be full of new drivers and drivers that no longer can afford the high cost of racing.The way I see it the only reason for class is cost,so lets control the cost right from the start.

My Crate has almost 70 night's on it