Different Late Model Frames

[Patansplant]

I love late models but struggle with the difference between the builders of the late model frames. Is there really that much difference between a Rocket, Longhorn, Bloomquist, Club 29 or any of the others?

[Matt49]

I love late models but struggle with the difference between the builders of the late model frames. Is there really that much difference between a Rocket, Longhorn, Bloomquist, Club 29 or any of the others?

It's like the difference between different English accents. They are subtle but the right one can make a big difference.

[jog49]

" Is there really that much difference between a Rocket, Longhorn, Bloomquist, Club 29 or any of the others?"

Difference: YES That Much: NO

[Bubstr]

There are differences and they continually change. A few inches here or there can change the whole feel or performance of the car. Just look at how many axle tubes there are for any brand. A little change in location points, can make you a Hero or a Zero, with changes in anti squat or anti dive values. Some have more side and forward bite and lack balance or the other way around. Some just seem to come with their own Lucky. If you find the dream chassis, it's a temp thing. Everything will change next week.

Knowing what settings and changes do for your driver, is a lot more value than a new chassis every month. That is why you see so many different chassis win.

[CageFaraday]

I love late models but struggle with the difference between the builders of the late model frames. Is there really that much difference between a Rocket, Longhorn, Bloomquist, Club 29 or any of the others?

Yes. For many years the frames weren't very flexible, up thru 1997, but beginning in 1998' when all the hike up setups became in vogue there became and arms race of sorts to build more and more flexible chassis. The frame rails went from 2x2 square down to 2" RND down to 1-3/4 RND. At the same time we moved from Mild Steel to Chromoly and now DOCUL R8 is making in roads. GRT got so carried away with flex they made a floating "X Brace" in their cars for a while. One thing to remember though, over that time a Bloomquist car never went flexible, his cars were always strong. Then things got too flimsy and chassis became almost disposable, replacing them after a dozen shows wasn't uncommon. Longhorn was first to try and build a stiffer car, but the first version didn't do so well. Then they hired Kevin Rumley to do a redsign with safety and strength as well as the speed everyone seeks. Kevin nailed it and along with some other special components he developed along the way he and JD turned the DLM chassis world on its ear in 2015. Rocket chassis did an about face from building spaghetti-esque cars from 98-15 to the new XR1 which is much stiffer and much more expensive too.

You also mentioned Club29, a C29 is a Black Diamond built by Ronnie Stuckey but with components selected and assembled by Darrel Lanigan. Many of todays chassis companies owe their origins to CJ Rayburn and Ed Howe who pioneered special built tube frames. Barry Wright built his first cars with measurements taken from a car built by Holeman-Moody back when Grassy Smith worked for them. Mark Richards was a Bullitt dealer and the first 3 Rockets ever built were actually built by Ray Callahan at Bullitt for Mark Richards/Steve Baker. Over the years many have copied or had inspiration from others, but most of the greats put their own twists on their designs. A lot of what I like and will put into my car is from inspiration and education I received from Frank McClendon at Custom Chassis, along with touches from Ray Callahan and Barry Wright. We actually use to have more variety than we do now, most everything you see today is because of the trends among racers to want what someone else has. So 95% of all the builders are polishing on the same rock seeing who can make it shine a bit better. Rayburn stands alone with his swing arm as the only really different offering I am aware of.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

Yes. For many years the frames weren't very flexible, up thru 1997, but beginning in 1998' when all the hike up setups became in vogue there became and arms race of sorts to build more and more flexible chassis. The frame rails went from 2x2 square down to 2" RND down to 1-3/4 RND. At the same time we moved from Mild Steel to Chromoly and now DOCUL R8 is making in roads. GRT got so carried away with flex they made a floating "X Brace" in their cars for a while. One thing to remember though, over that time a Bloomquist car never went flexible, his cars were always strong. Then things got too flimsy and chassis became almost disposable, replacing them after a dozen shows wasn't uncommon. Longhorn was first to try and build a stiffer car, but the first version didn't do so well. Then they hired Kevin Rumley to do a redsign with safety and strength as well as the speed everyone seeks. Kevin nailed it and along with some other special components he developed along the way he and JD turned the DLM chassis world on its ear in 2015. Rocket chassis did an about face from building spaghetti-esque cars from 98-15 to the new XR1 which is much stiffer and much more expensive too.

You also mentioned Club29, a C29 is a Black Diamond built by Ronnie Stuckey but with components selected and assembled by Darrel Lanigan. Many of todays chassis companies owe their origins to CJ Rayburn and Ed Howe who pioneered special built tube frames. Barry Wright built his first cars with measurements taken from a car built by Holeman-Moody back when Grassy Smith worked for them. Mark Richards was a Bullitt dealer and the first 3 Rockets ever built were actually built by Ray Callahan at Bullitt for Mark Richards/Steve Baker. Over the years many have copied or had inspiration from others, but most of the greats put their own twists on their designs. A lot of what I like and will put into my car is from inspiration and education I received from Frank McClendon at Custom Chassis, along with touches from Ray Callahan and Barry Wright. We actually use to have more variety than we do now, most everything you see today is because of the trends among racers to want what someone else has. So 95% of all the builders are polishing on the same rock seeing who can make it shine a bit better. Rayburn stands alone with his swing arm as the only really different offering I am aware of.

Good post, well said.