oh man, where do I begin on this subject, I could go on for days......
you guys in the posts above are right on with your views of racing......
I always say now to build and race within your budget and be happy with what it runs.
but we can get bit by the "I gotta go faster" bug and these things will turn into a money pit faster than loosing traction and hitting the wall...
When I was racing every weekend, late 70s early 80s, it was for me gotta go faster. The morgage and bills were always paid, but the time and money spent took a big toll on my first marrige. The race car was the "other woman"
Back then you had to race evey weekend to earn points for attending, so you could make it into the bracket finals in the fall. Quite a toll on a marrige when you are married to a woman that thinks all this is stupid and cars are only for going to the mall.
I have seen a few marriges and familys broken up over this drag racing obsession over the years, bankrupcys, and guys in the end having to sell their beloved racecars to pay off the ex wife or divorce lawyer....
I have also seen guys that were very happy with their 13sec, 12 sec 11 sec cars and in no way wanted to go faster. Consistincy was their goal and it paid off with many wins over the years.
And that is really what we need to do, race within our budgets whatever that may be. My idea has been to build a big block, low compression motor, and a car as lite as you can reasonalbly get it.
Low maintenance and consistency is the result, whatever times it runs.
It is no fun to go to the track, pay all that money for tow fuel, admission to get in , just so you can work on the car. I have been there....
These days going 11s or even 10s on a working mans budget is not unreasonable. Cheap to run and one guy can maintain it at the track.
Now the faster you go, the more money and work goes into it, and by the time you are into the 7s money and maintance has gone through the roof for the average guy. Now you need sponsors and buddies to help you with the car at the track . There are always valvesprings and lifters to check and replace, motor tear downs frequently, rings, bearings, rods, ...you gotta replace these things before something comes out of the side of the block.
Not to leave out all the support equipment you need, 1 ton deasil daully truck, big enclosed trailer, full of shop tools and equipment, spare motor, transmissions etc etc.....
So now this becomes a second job... more stress on family life.
Even if you have a supporting wife and family, there is only so much she will take, you dont want to find where that is...
All this may sound strange coming from a guy that is trying to make a living building these cars for guys, but over the years I have seen a many that get in way over their heads, lose interest or their families and sell everything off at less than half of what they got into it
I could go on, maybe latter,
Big block? Small block?, doesnt really matter in the end if you got a court order to sell it all off and give it all the the ex for support.....
build smart, race smart and you can have a fun hobby and a happy family life, and stay in this game for years.....