CJ Rayburn Going Out Of Business

[Krooser]

Face Book ad listing engines, cars and equipment for sale... end of an era folks.

[doyle hargraves]

Wonder how many cars were built in that shop???

[3 wide]

I can remember when purvis had a Rayburn an everybody wanted one.

[doyle hargraves]

Several years the world 100 starting field was full of them

[TheJet-09]

I wondered how long ago the last car built there was? And what does this mean for Schlenk moving forward?

[Madcat]

I wondered how long ago the last car built there was? And what does this mean for Schlenk moving forward?

They were still building cars there earlier this year. I visited while passing through on work. Said 5-6 a year was it now.

[zyoung25]

Not claiming it's the truth, Schlenk was supposedly having a longhorn car built for next year.

[Josh Bayko]

An unwillingness to adapt to the market is generally the death of most businesses.

[golddirt]

Well at his age and his health I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.

[doyle hargraves]

Schlenk has a couple options on the table

[TS FAN]

Definitely sad. I like CJ a lot. He is going to be 80 I guess, haven't seen him in a while, hope he is doing OK

[Senroc-Systems]

Not claiming it's the truth, Schlenk was supposedly having a longhorn car built for next year.
You are correct. Car owner already has the new Longhorn.

[dirtcrazy4u]

First Barry goes down with a heart attack and know C.J. Rayburn .

Time is cruel to us all, there comes a time in life when the body has just had enough.

TONY STEWART, you need to have both of these iconic builders at the 50th anniversary of the World 100.

[Rocal145]

CJ has been trying sell his operation for a few years now. I respect him for making a last ditch effort with the recent chassis. Is Christian not that interested in late models or what? I know he helped with the business but also knew he had another career...

[Rsr fan]

CJ has did an amazing job holding on the last few years. He is tired it's over 4k month alone just to keep the shop up and operational that's not including paying anyone. Rusty has did an amazing job showing that the cars still win just look at what he has done taking a chassis no one has not only racking up wins but has became a Champion the kid does not get the credit he deserves at all he has bucked the trend of being a clone driver in a chassis that everyone else has. He has a Longhorn but I doubt he will ever race it Rusty is talented driver as well as car builder himself he will continue building Rayburns but under his direction and just like CJ will not forget what CJ has taught us all about dirt racing and chassis setup. What truly makes me sad about CJ having to close is all the former Champions and former drivers and I will not name names but the list is who's who of racing ... Rayburn gave them cars, gave some of them there start in racing, even financing there racing and those same drivers have not stepped up to the plate to help CJ keep this great brand alive instead it's been a driver named Rusty keeping CJ dream alive for all us Rayburn fans ....for me personally CJ helped me race 51 shows this year against the best drivers in the country with a 525 crate motor he built himself that made 4700 laps before it blew and yes I was not the fastest , but I was there keeping my dream alive and racing not only his chassis but engine..I'm sure if I had a real 900 horsepower motor like most I would have won and ran up front but I didn't I had a motor CJ built himself a crate motor at that that got me to 51 races all over the country and in my heart was the right thing to do!!!! I will miss you CJ and thank you for what you have done for me in this sport I love....Chuck Hummer

[3 wide]

He could flat build a car for elders I remember the year he was going thru the pits an he told purvis to put another brace on his spoiler it won't last a 100 laps up here and he didn't and it broke 10 laps from the end while he was leading.

[STRONGERTHANDIRT]

A true innovator for sure.

[doyle hargraves]

The Rayburn revolution cars that came out after 2011 I believe were pretty good and a step in the right direction but development basically stopped after that until Schlenk started trying to refine them but they were out of vogue by then

[BTExpress]

Rayburn, Bullet, GRT, Warrior, Shaw......Iconic innovators of the sport. Unfortunately time catches up with all of us. On another note, Barry Wright's ICON chassis has had much success, maybe not on the national stage, but throughout the country over the last few years. Hopefully Barry makes a full recovery and can continue to build cars as long as he wants to be involved in the sport.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

An unwillingness to adapt to the market is generally the death of most businesses.I see that someone is calling out professional drivers. Being loyal doesn’t pay your bills. Rocket woulda went the way of Rayburn if they’d have stayed on that path they were on around 2014-2015.

I’d be loyal till I was getting my tail handed to me and seen our chassis was behind the times. Then either we adapt, or I move on. I guarantee at least a couple tried to stay, and things just didn’t change.

It is sad, he has done so much for the sport, but you gotta adapt a change. Same with department stores these days.

[doyle hargraves]

Yeah to say cj is hard headed is an understatement Lol

[Rsr fan]

I don't think a Rayburn is behind the times or has not adapted ....I call them a working mans race car. There is not many dirt late model drivers in the country winning 15 shows or more every year in a car so I would put a Rayburn with a Longhorn or XR1 any day costing about half the cost. Rusty has proved they win...CJ tells me all the time strength is in the numbers but with only 10 of us driving them we needed the numbers to stay alive...we all know CJ is hard headed but like many of us he sees the cost out of control so u are not going to convince him 5k worth of shocks will beat a set of Konis we all have opinions but to me CJ is still on top of this game!

[james777777]

"u are not going to convince him 5k worth of shocks will beat a set of Konis we all have opinions but to me CJ is still on top of this game!"Those are 2 VERY contradicting things within the same sentence.

[Rsr fan]

"u are not going to convince him 5k worth of shocks will beat a set of Konis we all have opinions but to me CJ is still on top of this game!"Those are 2 VERY contradicting things within the same sentence.The second part of my comment refers to chassis knowledge and Rayburn is just as good as an XR1 or Longhorn if you ever talked to CJ he is not sold on high dollar shocks making a race car faster.

[james777777]

Rsr fan: I personally watched the demise on Rayburn cars at the local level. They were once dominant at area tracks, but they got to where they weren't competitive with the 4 bar cars. Everyone knows that "high dollar" shocks are one of the main things that makes a car faster. You couldn't hold down the RF like they do with a non-adjustable Koni.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Rsr fan: I personally watched the demise on Rayburn cars at the local level. They were once dominant at area tracks, but they got to where they weren't competitive with the 4 bar cars. Everyone knows that "high dollar" shocks are one of the main things that makes a car faster. You couldn't hold down the RF like they do with a non-adjustable Koni.

Any shock can work if you valve it as needed.

[Rocky]

It’s pretty sad, but he had a hell of a run. This jabroni will only speak positive words about the great CJ Rayburn.

[Rsr fan]

Fox has valved a non adjustable shock for the RF that CJ had switched too. Viking Shock for auxiliary shock and Koni rest of the way...and you are correct about Rayburn being once dominant at various local tracks....to Rusty's credit he has made Rayburn again dominant at Oakshade Raceway were several guys have won this year in a Rayburns prepared by RSR including one driver getting his first ever win.

[james777777]

I just don't see, in this day in age, why you would expect someone to buy your car and then have to carry dozens of shocks in the trailer. Shock adjustments are CONSTANTLY being made, right up to last second changes before pulling onto the track. That can't be done if you have to swap shocks.

[Jking24]

Does rusty run the konis ?

[zyoung25]

Does rusty run the konis ?

He runs Bilstien.

[obamaracing#1]

Bruce McLaren of dirt late model racing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone ripped his ideas off. what a shame that is.

[EvelB7]

Rayburn.....Bullitt, Howe, TCB, Jig-a-lo...CJ's run lasted longer than most, glad Barry Wright is still hanging in there (and hopefully his health is improving). Watched Purvis win his first World (and my first trip to Eldora) in his Baker powered Rayburn. Actually had one in the mid-80's-still one of my favorite cars.

[Jking24]

He runs Bilstien.So just so i have this right the "one" winning races has high dollar shocks on it

[hucktyson]

If you have been living off past profits and savings for the last decade or so technically you went out of business a while ago.... A guy his age building up to date race cars just isn’t realistic

[chupp n bloomer fan]

So just so i have this right the "one" winning races has high dollar shocks on itYou’d be correct.

[ride height]

C.J. Was a racers, racer. It doesn’t get better than that guy.

[3 wide]

He could flat set one up for eldora 1 an2 at the dirt million an Purvis was always good at Eldora.

[keith94elliott]

rayburn always said smooth is fast

[dirtcrazy4u]

He deserves to retire. He will go down as 1 of the greatest dirt track minds ever. They day he turns off the shop camera's it will be a sad day in history.