Rocket Chassis

[BTExpress]

I have to say, I really thought the boys in Shinnston were left for dead after last year. Yes, we are still in a Longhorn world in Dirt Late Model racing, with the majority of drivers in both national tours running Longhorns, but Sheppard, Turbo, Marlar, Rice and Ebert have some real nice wins this season. Personally I do not have a dog in the fight, but is it nice to see a little parity without one dominant brand winning ALL the races.

[Highside Hustler25]

I was going to start a similar thread and agree on all your points mentioned.
I would guess Rocket orders are on the rise.

[riddle28]

whos gonna be first surprise driver to swap? overton wouldnt surprise me

[Tireguy17]

From all indications on social media, I don't think Longhorn is ready to lose much market share and has things in the works.

[84wedge]

I've talked a lot of trash about him but Mark Richards is proving that good old fashioned elbow grease is better than sitting in front of a computer thinking. He's in the trenches every day and every weekend. The complete lack of a competitive LH house car on tour makes no sense.

[Tireguy17]

The complete lack of a competitive LH house car on tour makes no sense.

Why is a house car needed? From LH's perspective, I’d rather just help my customers and not have a team also racing against them. What they do with the Rumley 6, popping in occasionally to race (and most likely test) is a better method IMO.

[bleedblue55]

Why is a house car needed? From LH's perspective, I’d rather just help my customers and not have a team also racing against them. What they do with the Rumley 6, popping in occasionally to race (and most likely test) is a better method IMO.

And it was great seeing some regional youngsters humble that 6 last night at Tyler County

[Highside Hustler25]

And it was great seeing some regional youngsters humble that 6 last night at Tyler County

I was waiting for someone to bring that up.

[Flathead]

Whether you like Mark Richards or not nobody outworks him and nobody has been up and down the road more than him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he picks up a couple more top guys towards the end of the season or over the winter.

[Josh Bayko]

Mark Richards is the one guy in dirt late model racing who is willing to progress with the sport.

[Finnfan25]

Mark Richards is the one guy in dirt late model racing who is willing to progress with the sport.

I guess that's not counting Kevin Rumley.

[Jking24]

The thing that people don't see is rocket has been through this before time and time again. It's not like rocket was completely out to lunch they were just missing it a tick on the national level. But now days theirs no loyalty so 99% of the national guys jumped ship as soon as they thought their was Somthing better. Their cars are still very dominant at the regional level and their customer service is still second to none. Only time will tell but i think Longhorn is destined to maybe not fail but definitely have a major pull back. The size that they are trying to grow too is not sustainable and frankly bad for the sport. They basically bought the market share and poached their way in on the national level but they treat their regional and local guys like (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word). The wave is already starting rockets stumble and Longhorns inability to give everyone the "next best thing" constantly is already starting to show. It's giving guys like ak and stinger, cvr etc.... a chance to shine. Customer service always wins the long game and it doesn't matter if the rocket house car is in the longest drought ever or fresh off a 20 win season you get the same help and it's Buisness as usual at the rocket shop.

[Josh Bayko]

I guess that's not counting Kevin Rumley.

He’s been doing it since before Kevin Rumley was even born.

[EvelB7]

The thing that people don't see is rocket has been through this before time and time again. It's not like rocket was completely out to lunch they were just missing it a tick on the national level. But now days theirs no loyalty so 99% of the national guys jumped ship as soon as they thought their was Somthing better. Their cars are still very dominant at the regional level and their customer service is still second to none. Only time will tell but i think Longhorn is destined to maybe not fail but definitely have a major pull back. The size that they are trying to grow too is not sustainable and frankly bad for the sport. They basically bought the market share and poached their way in on the national level but they treat their regional and local guys like (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word). The wave is already starting rockets stumble and Longhorns inability to give everyone the "next best thing" constantly is already starting to show. It's giving guys like ak and stinger, cvr etc.... a chance to shine. Customer service always wins the long game and it doesn't matter if the rocket house car is in the longest drought ever or fresh off a 20 win season you get the same help and it's Buisness as usual at the rocket shop.

Mark will survive and probably be back on top on the national scene sooner rather than later, but I have to say Longhorn has done nothing wrong. Growing up in the farming community, an old saying is 'Make hay while the sun is shining', that is all Longhorn is doing. Customer service is always in the eyes of the customer (and results); know many a regional or even local racer that have no issue getting help from Longhorn (or Rocket, Warrior, etc. for that matter). I am a 'never was' yet they try to answer every dumb question I have, worked my car in when it needed repaired, etc.. My experience when I ran a Rocket was not as good (not for lack of trying), so maybe some of these customer service issues are similar to my problem with Rocket- to far away to get that personal feel. I think they wanted to help me but you can only do so much over the phone. As for the smaller guys, they know the game; and it is always refreshing to see them succeed (shout out to Mike Nuchols, he defines customer service in my book).

[over4T]

Friend of mine that is a very good racer running with our area's Limited Lates picked up an older ,circa mid 2000s, Longhorn beginning of this season says the support he gets from LH is great. He's just a low buck regional guy and says any time he calls them for advice they happily will spend an hour helping him sort things out. He wins a lot and being West coast based his car will never go to LH for a clip. etc. He's more than happy with them. Same thing with another friend who runs a Lazer who says the Bernheisles are very helpful with his questions. My son brought home an '02 Rocket a couple of weeks back that has a Camaro front clip and we're deciding whether to leave it alone and run with the Pro Stocks we've been in for nearly 20 years or put a Rocket clip we have laying in our boneyard and go back to the LMs. Already have 2 Pro Stocks but we have to do an awful lot of towing with touring groups with them while we can run within about a 100 mile radius with the Lates though they pay less and would be cheaper than all the travel costs. Getting too old for the long weekends and all the motels. Tough choice.