RACE CAR PROJECT PACE CAR CAR

In this issue of RPM we’re introducing a new project; Pace Car Race Car (PCRC).

PART 1: HOW DID WE GET HERE?

It’s more of a mini project considering it is an existing finished car that needed some serious attention after a year of trying to “make things work.”

A number of our RPM projects are street/ strip, however, PCRC will be a street car styled race-only ride.

The Pace Car Race Car will be a basic deal: avoid overkill, know the goal, and stick to it. Research and purchase parts that have a great track record and reputation. Spend a bit more on what matters and budget for parts that will work and last for the purpose. Nobody wants to fall into the money and time pit and end up with a car sitting in the garage they can’t afford to enjoy.

The catch is that we plan to run this car in some type of pure heads-up class, eventually, and that doesn’t usually go hand in hand with any type of “budget build.” Instead, it usually sends images of dollar signs hovering above our heads. So how does the average working man or woman run one? Scrimp, save, eat a lot of mac & cheese—in other words, it takes sacrifice.

Many will choose Index-style drag racing over heads-up for this very reason, but we’re hoping for heads-up racing here, so it would have to be a fully ruled class as opposed to outlaw or grudge/no-time stuff.

The fact is that any type of motorsports is expensive and gives back in satisfaction, the rush, the camaraderie, and shear fun far more than any type of monetary return.

In the case of the Pace Car Race Car it took a bunch of likeminded guys who just wanted to race to pool their parts and dollars in an effort to try to get into entry level heads-up action.

Let’s recap what heads-up drag racing is. Quite simply, it is side by side first to the finishline eighth or quarter-mile racing. Both cars leave the starting line at the same time and whoever trips the finish beams first takes the win. There’s no headstarts or handicaps. This is a game of power and skill. The quickest car may not always win, though, as things like starting line reaction, control of your car, and the ability to “play the game” with your opponent often affect the outcome of a race.

Now let’s look at what heads-up drag racing is not That short answer is cheap! Many times the biggest pockets win. Sometimes, however, hard work, driver skill and team ingenuity can prevail, but then after a while the money factor usually seems to come back into the equation and the snowball begins, again. The class gets faster and quicker which means you have to spend more to keep up.

Heads-up drags are also not to be confused with roll racing or timed drags on tour style-events where the quickest average ET wins.

Why is money the decider? Aside from well-de- signed, more heavily ruled classes like those in the NMCA (National Muscle Car Association), many of today’s more “outlaw” heads-up classes (often labeled outlaw, street, no-time, or grudge), involve very little rules. With minimal rules, the door is left wide open for different types of exotic power, not to mention interpretation of the rules. That being said, what we often see at large events with big payouts is 30 cars show up to race and maybe a dozen of them actually have a legit shot at winning for no other reason than budget.

So how does the average budget compete in this insane game? First, you need to find a class and build the car to that class and be sure that it will fit other classes with minimal changes. There’s nothing worse than building a car for a specific class then having that class fail or cease to exist. The only ones that suffer are the racers who have invested time and money into their cars.

For a budget team, stay away from minimal ruled more open classes and look for something with, at the very least, a tire, rear suspension, vehicle chassis, and body panel rules. Weight restrictions and even some engine (mainly cylinder head and induction) or power adder restrictions are also things to look for. The problem is that many promoters don’t want to restrict classes too much as it does involve more class tech inspection both before and after racing, especially if there are engine component and weight rules involved.

Study the class power combinations and performance to see if you can realistically fit in. You don’t want to show up to the gunfight with your pocket knife.

Also, competing at a more local level, at least to start, is a good idea until you get a handle on your car and where it can fit in. And always follow the golden rule of competitive motorsports: “test on test day and race on race day”…in short, do not show up to an event with an untested car or you are just asking to spend more money.

If there is still no place to race, one of the best things you can do at a local level is create your own class with others like you. With social media it’s usually not too difficult to find others with similar cars. Get 12 to 16 of them together, develop rules that will keep everyone close on the track, and approach your local promoter or track to include your group in their event.

With the Pace Car Race Car project, given the effects of the global pandemic the past few months, our Techs (most of whom have other fulltime jobs and volunteer their time to this), have had some extra time to spend on it—from six feet or more apart, of course.

So sit back and enjoy our first installment of Project Pace Car Race Car. Maybe we’ve found a few ways to help you get some solid horsepower and results without breaking the bank!