Yeah.....I've got decisions to make. Here's the problem...... I've won this nice, little Ultra Stang championship at Fun Ford Weekend. It's a fun class...doesn't pay a ton of money but it is a real-live "drivers" class which I seem to do quite well in. As most of you know, I used rental cars this season to win the title. Ten races; five wins; two runner-ups; two semi-finals; one rain-out. Now, Ford Racing Performance Parts (class sponsor) has mandated that in 2007 there will be no more rental cars allowed. In order to defend the championship I either have to get someone to put me into their car next season or I have to go out and buy an '05/06/07 Mustang. No matter how I look at a purchase it seems that I'll be out $500 for the car and $150-200 for insurance. Big chunk of change. Class pays $1000 to win and the only contingency items have to come from FRPP. They pay $100 to win on about five items. Best scenario if you win.....$1500 in your pocket. Granted....I believe championships should be defended and that's the glory part of wearing that "#1" on the car for another season. It just doesn't seem to make very good financial sense. Looking at the class......I can honestly say (with absolutely no arrogance) that there is really nobody in the class that can beat me. Unless some hitter comes out of the woodwork over the winter, I'd have a lock on it. I'm the only one who beats me. While that's nice job security it might just get boring. The alternative? FFW has a "Mod Comp" class which is essentially Open Comp. They merged the old Mod Motor class with Open Comp for this season and it picked up a silly name. I did quite well in the Mod Motor class for years with my '98 Mustang. However....the class has evolved into a "real race car" type class. Bracket style hitters are the norm. So I've got a Thunderbird that is getting lots of tubing right now. I was thinking of doing an Outlaw 10.5 deal with this car. Once the eldest kid changed his mind and decided to go to college........well you know what happens to the money necessary to run something like Outlaw. Anyway.....I could put a decent big inch Ford into the 'Bird with a glide and go run M/C. The advantages: I can use this setup to run the Fast Ford bracket class along with Mod Comp and run the weekly Pro ET class at Houston Raceway Park. Mod Comp pays $2000 to win and with the available contingency items you could collect another $3000 with a win. Even a runner up pays $500 to win with contingency money you end up over $1500. More than a win in Ultra Stang. Sounds easy enough.....right? The next part: there's this Fairmont Futura sitting here doing nothing either. Cool car. Not as swoopy as the 'Bird but a cool car. Do I put this big block into the 'Bird or the Fairmont? I could do the Fairmont and save the 'Bird for Outlaw a couple of years from now. Same type chassis so I could do all these things to the Fairmont as well. OR.........do I sell the Fairmont (got someone pestering me about that too) and find a decent Maverick and go with a 393" Cleveland and a power glide and run M/C and brackets with that setup? I've done the 393-C before and it's one bad mofo!!!! If I do that I can still save the T-Bird for Outlaw 10.5 racing somewhere down the timeline. So there you have it gang......I want to defend the championship but the dollars/cents say to switch. What would you do?
While champioships should be defended, it is also common to move up a class or two when you've mastered the one you've been in. As much as I would like to see a Maverick on FFW circuit, a BBF in the T-Bird would be a very sweet ride. Longer wheel base and bug block consistency.
I assume it's bracket racing ... so skip buying a new Mustang ... you wouldn't be happy driving an Automatic around and the auto would be a necessity for bracket racing. I vote Maverick ... I love seeing Mavericks going down the strip!
I voted for the maverick, but the more I think of it I like the Futura idea. Leave the Mustang class a champion.
Being the Maverick Forum, I bet you get an overwhelming vote for the Maverick. But that TBird looked pretty sweet... I will have to vote maverick. That way, in your search for parts, you can tell me where some are that you won't be needing. So basically, I am voting just to help myself out in the long run...
This was just voted as "Understatement of the Year". I do, however, keep having visions of a 393" Cleveland with a clutchless Jerico in a Maverick running Mod Comp.......... :evilsmile
of course the 370 , or 388 s/block stroker makes gobs of ponies, and saves tons of weight, why lob it on to drag it down the track? fits better anyhow. haha just an op. wages
I've got to agree with Hawko, you allready have the T Bird and it's about ready to go, so from the money standpoint your're allready ahead that much. Move up and try your skills against some new guys, can only make you better in the long run...
i havent read all the posts.... but tell me what all the acronyms mean and i can vote with an educated decision
M'kay.......here ya' go. M/C = Mod Comp; basically an Open Comp class. Five tenths pro tree; take your quickest time trial run and deduct a tenth of a second....that is your index (or dial-in) for the race. You can't change it. Open to just about any Ford powered/Ford bodied car. No delay boxes. Trans brakes are legal. Any engine/transmission combo allowed. U/S = Ultra Stang; Open Comp format class designed for real-live street legal 2005/06/07 Mustangs; V6 or V8. Five tenths pro tree, index set the same as the above class. Very limited modifications allowed due to the class sponsor, Ford Racing Performance Parts, wanting to keep the cars as close to street driven as possible. This is the class that I won the world championship in.....racing rental cars!!!!
