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Some various thoughts from someone who works in the racing industry but never quite manages to get his own race car finished. Different racing events have different crowds - sometimes very different. The crew that showed up at the slant six racing get-together last year definitely isn't the same crowd as a drift event, or even one of the Duck X drag races. Some racing events are more family oriented and others are clearly aimed at older teenagers and younger twentysomethings. Some races keep their rivalries off the track as well as on or have a win at all costs mentality, others emphasize friendship, sportsmanship, and fair play.
When I lost a rod bearing about a year and a half ago, I had several racers offer a block, cranks, and other parts to get the project back together. This is definitely a very friendly and welcoming group. And there's the challenge of trying to go fast with something that doesn't have much in the way of aftermarket support. If there's one event crowd that seemed closest, it would probably be the group that turns out to Bonneville Speed Week. They're willing to help rival racers, and racers there are more likely to field cars or engines that they have a passion for than something that's trendy or will get the most horsepower. One car I saw there had a Ford Model A engine.... where the owner had built a DOHC cylinder head for it. Looked kind of like an overgrown Toyota 4A-GE.
OK, I'm not sure where I'm going with this. If there are any points to it:
1. The biggest draws for slant six racing would be a desire for a challenge, an interest in the slant six itself, and above all, the group's amazing ability to welcome people who want to join.
2. Slant six racing isn't always the same crowd as some other races, but there are also times where that is clearly a good thing. (Certain circle tracks where the spectator drags feel like a boxing match with cars come to mind...)
3. That said, there's certainly groups outside slant six racing that have a mindset and personality that would fit right in, but may be outside the geographic or social circles of current slant six racers.
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Matt Cramer
1966 Dodge Dart turbo / EFI project
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