26 replies to this topic

[the bandit]

What happened to the truck counts? There has only been 16 trucks the last two weeks and 5 of those is from the Twinings and Hicks. A few years back when we were in this class, we had good counts usually b mains were even ran. Just seems like this class was taking off as a good entry level class to learn rear wheel drive racing and now it seems almost extinct.

[skinnykenny]

Most of the former truckers that now have those trucks sitting in there back yards, say that "I decided to give up when a few of the guys started building racing engines to run a stock class." One guy told me that he built a brand new motor during the winter of 2009-10. His 1st race in 2010, he pulled off the track after getting lapped twice. The truck has never came back. Handling was not his problem. Back in the early-mid 90s, there were alot of times when over 50 stock cars would show up at the track. Now we are lucky to get a full field any night. One night I got 3rd at Findlay. Eldora was also running that night. Both tracks had enough cars they ran b-mains that night. The cycle continues everytime a few "top dogs" convince the promoters that "the stock parts are getting too hard to find."

[R01H]

There was problem somewhere. There are only 3 parts on them trucks that are not stock. The header, the cam, and a 350 holley carb. All the rest are bone stock. Ect. the head ,block,pistons, rods.and crank. The rest is tweeking what you have.The header,cam and carb are all within the rules. We have a meeting at the beginning of the season. For rule changes and whiners.I don"t run up front but I can stay on the lead lap,with a top 10 finish now and again.

[kartracer229]

I was going to attempt the class, found a deal on a truck, and figured why not? I have a friend in stocks I can get his old tires from, so that helps a ton. The first night I really paid attention to them as I had found a new interest in them, some of them sound like they came out of Sammy Swindells Chili-Bowl ride. I also clocked an onboard, and the trucks are nearly as fast as the stock cars. Im sorry, but Im not sure I could believe a stock 140hp 2400 pound s-10 could outrun a 500 horse 3000 pound car. No way am I going to drop money into that class if Im basically going to have a carbed midget motor inside a truck. If there was a way to police it, it would be a fantastic class, but as of right now, its becoming out of hand. JMO

Edited by kartracer229, 27 June 2011 - 02:54 AM.

[goober25g]

Anytime you wanna come on down and talk to me, my brother, or dad we are always willing to help, and love to see new faces in the truck class. As far as the all motor winning races, just not the case. Its called blood sweat and tears. Endless hours in the garage working on a race car make it fast, not a 5000.00 dollar motor. I know this maybe hard to believe, but its the truth. I think that if you wanna get into racing, that the truck class is a great way to start. You can build an entire truck for less than the cost of a stock car motor. Spare parts are easy to purchase at your local parts store. We are aloud to modify the suspension enought that you can learn a lot about how cars work on dirt. And the truck racers as an entire class are truely always helping each other out. Two years ago they said that my brother had some high dollar super motor in his truck, tore it open in the pits and proved the rumor mill wrong. Love racing the truck class, and If you try it I'm willing to bet you will too.

[docolds]

My son and I really love the truck class.. We (7X) have been running the class for three years. We dont run every weekend because of busy schedules..We run middle of pack but we really like the competitors in this class , and how helpful they are.. Everyone gets along great and the trucks are a blast to drive.. Like was said earlier, the 1w truck was kicking butt , but he did get tore down and all was legal.. If you watch his truck and other front runners , their trucks do just handle great through the corners.. They have good motors also but nothing illegal i'm sure.. Like when i used to race go karts , we won alot of races, but didn't have the best motors, just had good handling karts with a decent motor.. If thinking about trying class you won't be sorry. Is very good class... Troy

[the bandit]

Some good feedback. This was never started to be a complaining thread but I guess that goes along with the question. It seems that there are a couple of trucks still for sale that are not on the track. I would think some would take the challenge to go out and try to win a few races in a new truck. I know there are some good sounding engines out there but its def not all engine. We had a budget engine and won some races and a lot of top 3 finishes, and that little truck hasn't had anything done to it but air in the tires for the last 3 years and he still running in top 3 (the guy that owns it now). I would just like to see some more trucks back out on the track I guess. As for the policing the rules, I think its just so hard with all the different makes and models that run this class to know what to look for. JMO

[racer50]

Here we go again. have you read the rules. Under engines Line H Cams no cutting spring pockets ( this limits how much lift a cam can have) but you can still put a bigger cam in. also line H stock valve train ( do some research) stock valve in newer 2.5 chevy's is .200 inches longer same diam. valve, guess what you can get a bigger cam in with that and not cut the spring pockets per the rules and still have stock valve train. Another thing thats not in the rules and unless they changed it this year is you can run adjustable rockers and stamped roller rockers ( was OK'ed a few years ago but never put in the rules.) Line I Clean up pockets as long as they are done by hand (someone who knows what their doing can work miricles here) Line J Flat top pistons ( reseach again, a 181 chevy boat piston has a .060 higher comp. height and is flat top where the stock pistons are dished, legal per the rules but a lot more compression. Compression makes horsepower.) Line L Mill head .100 " ( I would never go that far but .035" will up the comp. a couple tenths of a point. our last engine was close to 12.5 to 1 and legal per the rules.) You can build this 2.5 chevy engine for around $1000 Iv'e done it, as long as you can put it together yourself. (Go Kart 5 hp Briggs from an engine builder $1000-$1600) The guy that raced in 2010 definatly had to have a problem if he got lapped twice. The guys running up front have done their homework and are getting A's on their report cards where as the guys going through the motions are getting c's Knowlege is the key.

[enforcer]

Well said guys

[Fatmatt]

I too am not happy about the truck count. That's why we try our best to help out any fellow racer. I feel that one big factor going on here is that we can't run our class anywhere else. And only those people that have been to WRP know about us. The other is that, us brothers (Hicks and Twinings) have had a BIG advantage over others the last few years. Its called team racing something like in Nascar. We have had 2 trucks a night to try setups in and shared what we learned, doubling the speed of knowledge. The fact that its Ford against Chevy should also be a good thing, in that, not one type of truck is the fastest. Well, the Fords have been dealing it out lately, Damn. Also, we have had fathers and grandfathers that have lived their lives playing with motors. Many don't have this knowledge, as the muscle car years are long gone. Carbs are what they know, put a computer on the thing and we too would be paying 'The Man' to build us one. The little tricks they have learned and passed on makes power and at an affordable price. Building them themselves for not much money. Just tons of time and hard work. Tell you the truth, it about $800 to $900 for one of our engines. If the rules were still 100% stock like in the beginning. Dan Crowder would be lapping us all in that Nissan. Then he would be the one getting all the heat, lol. I think we all realize that the class is having trouble, but Bone stock won't fix it. I think many forget just how many motors blew up when they were stock. There goes your $$ saving class right there. I don't pretend to know what the answer is for the best class of racing at WRP. Just wanted to again speak a little of what I feel.

[Racer Kid 31]

you also have to look at how many trucks are for sale, i have seen the 26, the 89, the black and grey 31, and i know greg has my dads old toyota in one of his barns.

[skip]

Ive known Randy hamp for a few yrs and you have proably heard me say this before. But i talked to Randy and i told him you might MIGHT never win a feature but with a low budget class like the trucks he is living a dream that he never thought would happen a chance to race and have fun. And his comment was yes your right im having a ball of just getting the chance to race. And with his age it took some yrs to do it, But he has done what he always wanted to do drive a race car. (sorry randy im not calling you a old fart) Im older than you. Thats what some racing in the trucks are doing they might not every run with the big boys but they are having a ball just to say i did it.

[injunear]

Ive known Randy hamp for a few yrs and you have proably heard me say this before. But i talked to Randy and i told him you might MIGHT never win a feature but with a low budget class like the trucks he is living a dream that he never thought would happen a chance to race and have fun.

And his comment was yes your right im having a ball of just getting the chance to race. And with his age it took some yrs to do it, But he has done what he always wanted to do drive a race car.
(sorry randy im not calling you a old fart) Im older than you.

Thats what some racing in the trucks are doing they might not every run with the big boys but they are having a ball just to say i did it.

racing in the trucks was a BLAST. Enough said.

[goober25g]

Don't forget that the economy still stinks, and gas is still 3? a gal to get rig to the track. Payout down, cost of admission still the same??? Wish ever truck that's hanging out in a back yard would come hang out at the track. There is a lot of race ready trucks just sitting??? Hope the count goes up and see ya at the field

[Dirtracer48]

I too am not happy about the truck count. That's why we try our best to help out any fellow racer. I feel that one big factor going on here is that we can't run our class anywhere else. And only those people that have been to WRP know about us. The other is that, us brothers (Hicks and Twinings) have had a BIG advantage over others the last few years. Its called team racing something like in Nascar. We have had 2 trucks a night to try setups in and shared what we learned, doubling the speed of knowledge. The fact that its Ford against Chevy should also be a good thing, in that, not one type of truck is the fastest. Well, the Fords have been dealing it out lately, Damn. Also, we have had fathers and grandfathers that have lived their lives playing with motors. Many don't have this knowledge, as the muscle car years are long gone. Carbs are what they know, put a computer on the thing and we too would be paying 'The Man' to build us one. The little tricks they have learned and passed on makes power and at an affordable price. Building them themselves for not much money. Just tons of time and hard work. Tell you the truth, it about $800 to $900 for one of our engines. If the rules were still 100% stock like in the beginning. Dan Crowder would be lapping us all in that Nissan. Then he would be the one getting all the heat, lol. I think we all realize that the class is having trouble, but Bone stock won't fix it. I think many forget just how many motors blew up when they were stock. There goes your $$ saving class right there. I don't pretend to know what the answer is for the best class of racing at WRP. Just wanted to again speak a little of what I feel.

So in other words, unless guys have dads/friends/brothers with a bunch on knowledge, and access to machine shops they will still have to spend a bunch of money to get one to run as good as the guys that do?

Not sure how being cheap for one guy, and not the other makes a bit of difference when it comes to the overall cost being OK.

[racer50]

Dirtracer48 really don't get your point, youv'e been around long enough to know your statement can be used in any class of racing from Waynsfield to NASCAR

[Dirtracer48]

Dirtracer48 really don't get your point, youv'e been around long enough to know your statement can be used in any class of racing from Waynsfield to NASCAR

Unless the rules are stock, stock, and stock. I think you get my point

[Austin]

you have to remember, quite a few guys have moved on to other classes. You have guys moving to stocks and mods, and sprint cars. Others just dont have the funding anymore to go out and run. Sometimes drivers feel the wear and tear on their bodies and decide to hang up the helmet for a few years, or for good. Not everyone is going to stick around throughout your lifetime. Its actually interesting to see how generations of racing change.

[Fatmatt]

I was just trying to say, that many feel we go out and spend a ton of dough to go fast. That is true in most forms of racing. But the compact and truck class are still places where knowledge and hard work can really pay off. There has been a class vote the last few seasons and one 1 or 2 people have voted for pure stock.

So in other words, unless guys have dads/friends/brothers with a bunch on knowledge, and access to machine shops they will still have to spend a bunch of money to get one to run as good as the guys that do?

Not sure how being cheap for one guy, and not the other makes a bit of difference when it comes to the overall cost being OK.

[warwolf]

Unless the rules are stock, stock, and stock. I think you get my point

a far as the truck class it is pretty fun to watch, even if the Hicks boys or Twinging boys win. Alot of the people tend to like to watch the rest of the trucks running. As far as the rest of the trucks go, they are stuck in their garages, its goes to not having the funding to put alot of money into the trucks our bills come first. When companies come back full force more of us will get our trucks out of the garage and start racing again.