IMCA Open motor guys. Question about this years performance.

[charcoal01]

Imca had as lot of aftermarket parts sponsors who aren't a big fan of crates as its bad for their business. I almost guarantee there is a pretty significant change for 2014. Imca is currently cutting off thEir nose to spite their face.

[Modlitefan0]

Mod557, two different engine builders have put together engines to match the crate weight wise with a little more power. I do not know the story on the first engine builder but I know the second builder has had no luck even coming close. So far from the feedback we have been hearing a couple of different things are happening. 1) tracks are being prep different this year all across the country and it is leading to tracks being a lot drier than normal. 2) tires are not holding up for open motors. Like I said guys, a lot of this stuff was kind of pushed on me the last few days and I am just trying to piece it all together with some feedback from as many people as possible. I love that IMCA is trying to keep everything cheaper because costs are getting out of hand, but they are stacking the books against a lot of people just to make this crate work. We have been trying 2 barrels/restrictors/unhooking secondaries with no good luck but I think we will be hotlapping next week with a 3" blade on our open motor to see if that is where they are really getting us. We are only getting dominated by the crate at 1/2 mile tracks and we are thinking the spoiler is the key. When it comes to blowing the tires off, we have figured that portion out.

[mod557]

Thank you for the info, we'll have to just keep trying to figure out how to trim weight from the nose. Let us know how much of a difference you notice testing the spoiler. Thanks again

[frank 75]

It cracks me up people are complaining about getting beat by a motor that makes 400 hp.They are the same ones getting their a$$ kicked anyway. Work on you chassis set-up and driver throttle control! I agree the tire is a POS but is the same for everyone.

[Modlitefan0]

Frank you make a few valid points, but I dont think that your idea on the people that are complaining are the ones that were bad before hand. There are plenty of great drivers who have done some good things in the past that are complaining because the odds are stacked against them before they get to the track all for IMCA to make a dollar. The tracks being prepped different around the country this year is not just a fluke. For example, my driver has been in a modified for about 10 years and last night was the first time at a particular track that the modifieds had to run last. Why might you ask? Some of the things said earlier make a pretty good argument as to why they would do that.

[Modlitefan0]

I may be crazy but in one weekend we talked with guys running Harris, Victory, Shaw, and Dirtboss cars and they are all seeing the same things. I only travel to a few tracks on a consistent basis but I dont have to go everywhere to hear feedback from other people in other areas and other tracks. SCD, have you looked at the results from Stuart. Going back to last weekend I see the top three in crates the rest of the drivers have as many wins in the last five years as I have fingers so telling me that the track surface there makes a difference is a mute point. I will believe you on the Osky scenario although I have never seen that track heavy but I have only been there 4 or 5 times.

[Modlitefan0]

I know for us, we dont want to sell out Stoa. After Friday at DSM, we were really contemplating it but after thinking about it some more but we are going to continue to try and see what we can do with this open motor to prove IMCA wrong.

[MM90]

After competing with the crate engines, to me the HP/TQ the crate makes is a non issue. It's the 100# off the nose and the 3" spoiler where they get their advantage. I would like to see IMCA make them add 50# in front of the midplate. If IMCA doesn't change anything next year I will run NASCAR and bolt a 500cfm holley on my mod when the track slicks off with a 5" spoiler. Of course I will always be at a disadvantage with my heavy Ford engines balance wise when I have to add 50# of lead on the rear of the car to get 56% rear and tip the scales at 2600# after a race. The tires I don't know if there is an issue or not, I did have a RR chunk out on me and was kinda confused why because the track wasn't overly dry or tacky.

[LITE-INN]

racewise.net can help next year

[LITE-INN]

- TAKE THE TEST -

Test Your Knowledge...



1. Softening the right front spring helps the racecar to turn when on the gas because the softer
spring causes extra chassis roll that increases the load and traction of the right front tire.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



2. A tall coil spring helps to keep the chassis from lifting off the spring during weight transfer
because a tall spring stores more energy than a short spring.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



3. The most important factor in the geometry of a front suspension is the location of the
suspension’s roll center.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



4. It makes no difference to handling as to how a non-coil over front spring is installed into a lower
control arm as long as the spring is centered in its seat.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



5. Loose handling off the corner is usually due to improper chassis setup when the throttle is
applied.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



6. Don’t ever increase stagger or right rear tire trail when racing on a slick track.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



7. A stiffer shock helps to load and unload a tire quicker than a softer shock.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



8. Place ballast wherever convenient as long as the desired weight percentages are attained.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



9. The location of a shock or spring is not nearly as important as its rate.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



10. All suspension components should be mounted using stiff or solid type bushings.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



11. The RF tire gains negative camber when the chassis rolls.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



12. Most dirt track front suspensions need from 3 to 4 degrees negative camber in the right front tire and 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 degrees positive camber in the left front tire.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure

[C10]

I will say a couple of you guys are 100% correct about one thing, The tires have changed. There is more recycled plastic in them. This is why the tire testing lab we use had a delay on testing some tires for us because they had to wait for the new tire formulas. This is NOT any doing from IMCA though so thats a misconception

[let-r-eat]

Don't underestimate that nose weight difference. Big advantage. What about 8.2 deck ford stuff? Anyone trying to run one?

[MM90]

Don't underestimate that nose weight difference. Big advantage. What about 8.2 deck ford stuff? Anyone trying to run one?

347 would be ideal except for the 7800 chip rule, those engines need to turn 8000 plus. And the other downfall would be to make a stock 302 block strong enough to be durable since they are only good to 500HP before they split in half. Aftermarket blocks are heavy even in the 302 version.

[powerslide]

Please Litey this is your chance to show us how smartt of a college boyz you are. Lets see how many you get correct.

- TAKE THE TEST -

Test Your Knowledge...



1. Softening the right front spring helps the racecar to turn when on the gas because the softer
spring causes extra chassis roll that increases the load and traction of the right front tire.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



2. A tall coil spring helps to keep the chassis from lifting off the spring during weight transfer
because a tall spring stores more energy than a short spring.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



3. The most important factor in the geometry of a front suspension is the location of the
suspension’s roll center.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



4. It makes no difference to handling as to how a non-coil over front spring is installed into a lower
control arm as long as the spring is centered in its seat.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



5. Loose handling off the corner is usually due to improper chassis setup when the throttle is
applied.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



6. Don’t ever increase stagger or right rear tire trail when racing on a slick track.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



7. A stiffer shock helps to load and unload a tire quicker than a softer shock.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



8. Place ballast wherever convenient as long as the desired weight percentages are attained.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



9. The location of a shock or spring is not nearly as important as its rate.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



10. All suspension components should be mounted using stiff or solid type bushings.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



11. The RF tire gains negative camber when the chassis rolls.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure



12. Most dirt track front suspensions need from 3 to 4 degrees negative camber in the right front tire and 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 degrees positive camber in the left front tire.

a.) True b.) False c.) Not Sure

[Imca27mod]

Im going to just call it how i see it. Every one has crated this animal. To much money in the motors just clam that is why its there