42 replies to this topic

[fastrakpr]

FASTRAK the only series left with all GM crate engine parts?

 

I am often asked why won’t you let his series or that series engines run with FASTRAK? Well I wonder that sometimes too honestly, but I hate to see our guys that have supported us all these years feel like they are getting screwed by allowing crate engines that have parts other than GM

I know I have heard people say well the GM parts are too high. Well my question would be did your builder charge you any less? How do you know? I have yet to see one actually be cheaper than if it were built back with all GM parts, have you?

 

It’s like a lot of things in racing and it’s unfortunate really. You’ve seen it time after time with weekly tracks. One track changes the rules just enough that their cars can’t go anywhere else and race. Series with crate engines are doing it as well now. Just enough that our guys are legal to run with them since we are all GM parts, but their guys are not legal to come run with us.

 

Then I hear well we are trying to help racing. Are you really? Exactly how is that helping racing by making engines illegal everywhere, but with you?

Now on the other series behalf, there was a time when the GM parts were nuts. We didn’t go after aftermarket parts, we went to GM to fix the problem and they did. They are the ones that were making them so we had to be patient as things don’t move all that fast sometimes in big corporations, but wasn’t going to them and keeping them all GM the right way to go about fixing the problem?

 

Now we have crates engines with all crate engine parts. We have crate engines that have basically become spec motors, not crate motors at all. Where does that lead us? What does the future hold for crate racing if this continues to be the cycle? To me and this is just my opinion. If it’s not all GM then call it what it is, a spec motor. One would think that would be pretty simple.

 

I don’t like turning people down and the tracks that hold our events shouldn’t have to be punished just because someone got an idea on how to keep their cars from going anywhere else. In the end I guess it’s all left up to the race teams. If they continue to support series that aren’t all GM parts, why would they ever change? If you don’t you can bet they would change back to a REAL GM CRATE ENGINE before the end of the week. In the end, like always it’s really up to the race teams themselves.

 

Stan Lester

FASTRAK Racing Series (The first and original crate engine series)
(678) 935-7304
sl@fastrakracing.com

 

[Retort]

Well said. It is up to the car owners to look at the total package, and decide where to run. It will be interesting to see how much bashing supporters of other organizations will  vent their anger, But mostly I'd suspect those with no vested interest will make the most noise.

[Crusty1]

The RUSH series engines are stock.

[wildside]

Crusty1 Rush series engines are not all gm they run aftermarket oil pumps. I have two gm crate motors oil presher is around 30 pounds at idol and my Rush motor around 65 at idol.

[starboyshady]

65 at idle ???? Your gauge must be messed up ... They should only have 60-65 at 6000 rpms

[wildside]

It's a fact a rush motor allow a different oil pump.

[LM63]

What racing series other than Fastrak continually uses message boards and FB to question or try and put down other series? Answer NONE! It's a pretty unprofessional way to run a series and people do notice. ( other than the few on here who live to bash most things crate ).

Fact of the matter is both nesmith and Fastrak allow and aftermarket OEM bearing. Different types I believe but aftermarket just the same. Nesmith does allow an aftermarket ring but not many engine builders use it. I know mine has The GM rings and always has. Both of these changes were allowed because at one time GM was out of these parts for whatever reason. Probably because a vendor went bankrupt and they take forever to generate a new part number and get the new stuff in the pipeline. As far as oil pump I was told the book calls for a certian oil pressure at a certian RPM which is dependent on a lot of things. If anyone questions this call Hendren, Ingram, or Hibbard. My motors new and rebuilt have always had about 45lbs of pressure at idle.

[starboyshady]

That is what I was getting at .... That is what every one of mine and friends have in every one I ever saw . 65 seems way high at idle , somthing is wrong possibly ?

[LM63]

 And I should say that I am only talking Fastrak and Nesmith ( Rush ) here.  These changes were allowed at a time when something had to be done. The UCRA and I'm sure there are others do allow all kinds of other stuff. Oversized pistons etc.  I do not agree with this but what Nesmith did was done at a time when something had to give and once you've said it's ok how do you go back? 

[fastrakpr]

What racing series other than Fastrak continually uses message boards and FB to question or try and put down other series? Answer NONE! It's a pretty unprofessional way to run a series and people do notice. ( other than the few on here who live to bash most things crate ).

Fact of the matter is both nesmith and Fastrak allow and aftermarket OEM bearing. Different types I believe but aftermarket just the same. Nesmith does allow an aftermarket ring but not many engine builders use it. I know mine has The GM rings and always has. Both of these changes were allowed because at one time GM was out of these parts for whatever reason. Probably because a vendor went bankrupt and they take forever to generate a new part number and get the new stuff in the pipeline. As far as oil pump I was told the book calls for a certian oil pressure at a certian RPM which is dependent on a lot of things. If anyone questions this call Hendren, Ingram, or Hibbard. My motors new and rebuilt have always had about 45lbs of pressure at idle.

LM63, To bad you see this as putting other series down, as you coined it, I don't see one word naming another series. It was carefully written to inform other racers of what was going on out in the market and didn't say one word about one other series. IF you have a crate engine this effects you too. People have a right to know what is taking place in the market. If you come to one of our events and you aren't aware, guess what? You get named a cheater and tossed for possibly being ignorant of the fact you were illegal.

 

In response to your post attacking me about my being unprofessional, I signed my name and did so out of concern for the race teams. People with these engines need to know to ask questions, before being thrown out, don't they?

 

Now as far as GM being out of these parts, that is 100% completely false information sir. There were no performance issues, there were no supply issues. What I stated was 100% correct information.

[fastrakpr]

 And I should say that I am only talking Fastrak and Nesmith ( Rush ) here.  These changes were allowed at a time when something had to be done. The UCRA and I'm sure there are others do allow all kinds of other stuff. Oversized pistons etc.  I do not agree with this but what Nesmith did was done at a time when something had to give and once you've said it's ok how do you go back? 

That is 100% incorrect sir. Again there was no supply or parts issues. I am sure you are quoting what you were told, but its not right. As the man with the investment that started crate racing, I think I would probably know and also that I earned the right to state my opinion about it. Believe what you want, but you will find out in the end, I told the truth.

 

We do agree on one thing. The UCRA engines almost got out of hand completely. I think they decided to not allow the oversize pistons so i understand. I hope thats the case anyway.

Edited by fastrakpr, 23 March 2016 - 09:58 AM.

[Paul55]

So what if a motor has rush seals they are no longer allowed to run your series?

[LM63]

Stan I stand by what I said. I don't think FB and message boards are any place to do business. Advertise and put out PR releases and be done with it. Debating with people even me on here does nothing to promote Fastrak and I can't see the CEO of any other reputable series or any business for that matter doing it. It's your series though so proceed as you wish.

As far as why the parts were allowed that is what I was told by more than one engine builder. Do I know that to be exact fact no I don't. Seems a little crazy for it to be made up though but hey. Whatever.

[fastrakpr]

Sir, I am not debating with you about anything. Just because you stand by it, doesn't make you right and again from the guy that's been here from day 1, your information is wrong. I'm trying to help actually, but its hard to prove something when I know its wrong info.

 

The CEO of FASTRAK is involved in racing and on here because its a venue to inform people. Thats all my post was to begin with. You took it to the personal level, not me. I didn't call you out sir. You called me out for talking about other series which I wasn't talking about anyone but us. I premised my post with a ? in the subject line itself. I did not mention anyone but us.

 

I would be more than happy to chat with you, but that's tough not knowing who you are? I really don't get people like you. You call me out, challenge what I posted, try to make it about one thing when it was something entirely different, but when I reply and in a very professional manner, you change the subject to something I am not doing correctly. If you were not being controversial why didn't you just PM me? I put my email in there then you could have asked versus trying to turn this into something it wasn't.

 

So are you ok that if you went to a race and got throw out, embarrassed, barred for 365 days on something you weren't even aware of? I sure as heck wouldn't be ok with that. Personally I could care less if people want to build their engines with aftermarket parts and get locked down to one deal. I do think the race teams have a right to know BEFORE they get penalized, not after the fact.

 

Now since your the one that challenged me again and again here, please share with us how you would have handled this topic sir. Maybe I can make some improvements that way. 

[fastrakpr]

So what if a motor has rush seals they are no longer allowed to run your series?

All series seals are legal just have to make sure your engine is built within GM specs. Aftermarket rings, bearings, changing the oil pump spring and or oil pump itself is not GM spec. Please let me know if I can help you.

[LM63]

I wouldn't have even started the topic and that is my point. You could have just put out a press release on the subject and been done with it if you felt it needed to be addressed. Every time you come out with one of your "topics" it seems to some it's a dig at one series or an engine builder or whatever. But whatever your gonna continue to be who you are and so will I. I've been racing crates since 2006. You and I have talked face to face. We have bantered on FB. You have emailed me. And last winter you got my cell # from someone at VMS and texted me a few times while I was on vacation in key west. I'm also a good friend of Brian's. My name is John Imler and I actually thought you knew who I was on this board.

[fastrakpr]

No John I didn't know it was you.

 

Again if I meant to "dig" at someone, wouldn't I have just said it? I did just post a release. Thats all it ever was. You didn't have to come on and accuse me of something that was never my intent. Thats something you chose to do.

 

So I can call you, but you didn't call me? Thats really one sided John.

[Space Racer]

What racing series other than Fastrak continually uses message boards and FB to question or try and put down other series? Answer NONE! It's a pretty unprofessional way to run a series and people do notice. ( other than the few on here who live to bash most things crate ).
 

 

I would agree with you. This initial post seems to be like a typical message board chatter calling out someone.  The post has a negative feeling toward other series.  When it starts talking about "what other series" and implies how other series have turned crate motors into spec motors, it seems like it is bashing other series.   Regardless of the "slick" wording.Why not a press release that reads "FASTRAK is proud to allow only GM parts" and go into the benefits of that,  instead of talking about other series are doing?  No press release from any series should contain the words "other series," unless it is talking about a co-sanctioned race or something that the multiple series are working on together.  Its seems that the tracks in this area are very happy with the "other series" as they keep renewing with them year after year.

[BUTTBEAK]

Someone off their meds .......again.

Edited by BUTTBEAK, 24 March 2016 - 12:45 AM.

[Paul55]

All series seals are legal just have to make sure your engine is built within GM specs. Aftermarket rings, bearings, changing the oil pump spring and or oil pump itself is not GM spec. Please let me know if I can help you.

OK thanks.