This is a copy from the Class Racer site. I think it sums up very well the recent discussion and embodies the true spirit of "hot-rodding."

"I am building a backup transmission for my car 1988 Mustang stock eliminator K/SA. I am a newbie to youtube but giving it a try. First off, I am no expert at anything. I have thick skin, so don't be afraid of offending me. Comments welcome. I have learned everything by doing. I have to build my stocker from the ground up everything, except when I don't have the tooling to do it like engine machine work like block and cylinder head work. I do everything cause I enjoy it. I knew nothing about fuel injection when I started on this car. I have learned a lot and still learning. I tune my own car."

That pretty well describes why I participate in automotive activities. If there's no personal satisfaction of accomplishment then what's the point?

Thats the basic premise to hot rodding and racing.
To do as much as possible, by your own hands, that is the most gratifying. No matter what anyone says.

In some classes, you have no choice but to do things yourself. Or if you want a combo that is different from most, you may have to be a trail blazer. The downside is the mistakes you inevitably make while learning. If the expectation is to go out first time with a new combo or stuff you built the first time, and be super competitive.....well there will be disappointments. However if you have the patience and fortitude to push through the learning time and make what you built become successful, then you are left with satisfaction from doing it yourself that frankly cannot be gained in any other way.

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The downside is the mistakes you inevitably make while learning.

Been there done that and have the shrapnel paper weights to prove it. But I never considered running to the shelter of a professional engine builder. I would have rather quit the endeavor.... but I didn't.

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Originally posted by Canted Valve:

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The downside is the mistakes you inevitably make while learning.

Been there done that and have the shrapnel paper weights to prove it. But I never considered running to the shelter of a professional engine builder. I would have rather quit the endeavor.... but I didn't.

I guess I’m hard headed like that too. My love for the sport is with all parts of the sport.

Larry, you have built a lot of really nice cars and some like the Altered were unique and thinking outside the box. Really nice and that is impressive, that car stood out in a crowd. You do much of the work yourself and I like that, it is yours, it has your stamp on it and you should be proud.

I have much more respect for the guys who built their car themselves. And it has nothing to do with money. It is all about the knowledge and ability to do something. Not like you wrote a check for it and have someone drive for you and then act like you win.

I just completely wired up my new Altered with Data Logger that monitors most everything. It looks good and everything works perfect but it does not look as pretty as I like. Those are things you learn from experience. My first attempt at wiring but I wanted it done my way this time.
On my dragster I painted the chassis myself but I made a mistake and the paint does not look as good as I want it to. So I am going to strip it down, repaint it and rewire it like I want before I sell it. We learn things and we get better. I have done pretty good winning a lot of races and a few Championships with my cars. Still looking to improve and I do like to do things differently than everyone else.

I am building a new 6000 Sq Ft shop and part of the reason is I want to be able to do more of the work myself on my cars.
In the past I had much of the work done because I was working many hours to live in the style I wanted. Simply did not have the time to do many of those things myself. Now I am more kicking back and having fun. With the new shop I will do much more of my own work on my cars.

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I am building a new 6000 Sq Ft shop

That's quite a personal shop!!

I build my engines because that is part of enjoying the sport I love and relaxing to me. I have the ability and machines to do most of the machine work if I chose to. Heck I could do a great deal of the machine work to make the parts if I chose to. I don't but I do decide on the parts and do the assembly because I WANT to.

I don't give a rat's rear what anyone else thinks. Besides if you pay someone it isn't the guy whose name is on the door in most instances, it's the guy he is paying $18 an hour doing it. I have 35 years of measuring and machining. Very few assembling engines for a shop will have that.

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Not like you wrote a check for it and have someone drive for you and then act like you win.

If "credit card camping" is staying in motels while you travel, then credit card racing is pretty much the equivalent.

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Originally posted by Canted Valve:

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Not like you wrote a check for it and have someone drive for you and then act like you win.

If "credit card camping" is staying in motels while you travel, then credit card racing is pretty much the equivalent.

Very true sir. Very true. We've all known many who came in to racing, over the years to quickly run out of it, because theyre having a fire sale, to sell off everything to pay off credit cards.
I pay as I go. Only way I care to go.

I like to think that no matter how well or not so well we do some work on our race cars, we follow in the footsteps of the early hot rodders. There wasn't much in the way of fast or fancy parts from a catalog or speed shop down the road. I enjoy looking at the work that these people did in the past - a lot of it was guess work or "this should do it" stuff but I have to believe that they had some fun with it along the way.

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Originally posted by Larry Woodfin:
This is a copy from the Class Racer site. I think it sums up very well the recent discussion and embodies the true spirit of "hot-rodding."

"I am building a backup transmission for my car 1988 Mustang stock eliminator K/SA. I am a newbie to youtube but giving it a try. First off, I am no expert at anything. I have thick skin, so don't be afraid of offending me. Comments welcome. I have learned everything by doing. I have to build my stocker from the ground up everything, except when I don't have the tooling to do it like engine machine work like block and cylinder head work. I do everything cause I enjoy it. I knew nothing about fuel injection when I started on this car. I have learned a lot and still learning. I tune my own car."

He!! Yeah Larry. If you enjoy it, do it! I ask for help when I need it. DRR and CR have some very talented builders of trans/engine/chassis and EFI. Has nothing to do with money, I do my own small remodels here at home too. I am no smarter than anyone else on here but I am smart enough to know when I’m in over my head....

Everybody should do what they like. There are some things I enjoy doing, so I do them. Other things I don't know/don't have time or patience to learn, so I hire it out.

Like it or not, there are at least a few successful racers out there who don't know a screwdriver from a hammer, and others who could easily f-up an anvil. As long as they pay entry fees and show up to race, it's good for the hobby.

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Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
I build my engines because that is part of enjoying the sport I love and relaxing to me. I have the ability and machines to do most of the machine work if I chose to. Heck I could do a great deal of the machine work to make the parts if I chose to. I don't but I do decide on the parts and do the assembly because I WANT to.

I don't give a rat's rear what anyone else thinks. Besides if you pay someone it isn't the guy whose name is on the door in most instances, it's the guy he is paying $18 an hour doing it. I have 35 years of measuring and machining. Very few assembling engines for a shop will have that.

L I K E !

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Originally posted by SlyFox:
Like it or not, there are at least a few successful racers out there who don't know a screwdriver from a hammer

Actually there are many including arguably the best bracket racer of all time and he has and would admit it.

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Originally posted by 1320racer:

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Originally posted by SlyFox:
Like it or not, there are at least a few successful racers out there who don't know a screwdriver from a hammer

Actually there are many including arguably the best bracket racer of all time and he has and would admit it.

Do you read what you post before pressing enter?

Read what you just said. "There are many, arguably the best bracket of all time, who doesn't know a hammer from a screwdriver, and he has and would admit it"

Bullchit, whoever works on the car, is the best bracket racer, without that guy working on the car, the guy who doesn't know a hammer from a screwdriver wouldn't have a car that runs to race.

You're putting the cart before the horse.

The cart won't move without the horse.

You can train a monkey to let go of a button when a light comes on, but you can't teach a monkey automobile performance fundamentals, nor engine building.

Ed's gonna love electric car drag racing. Whoever can afford the best batteries wins.

And he doesn't gotta know the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver.

Cone-Killer, you are aware that many racers show up to the track with 100% bone stock street cars and win, right? And aware that other winning racers are hired guns piloting cars belonging to someone else? Cars they've never lifted the hood on?

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Originally posted by Mike Rietow:

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Originally posted by 1320racer:

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Originally posted by SlyFox:
Like it or not, there are at least a few successful racers out there who don't know a screwdriver from a hammer

Actually there are many including arguably the best bracket racer of all time and he has and would admit it.

Do you read what you post before pressing enter?

Read what you just said. "There are many, arguably the best bracket of all time, who doesn't know a hammer from a screwdriver, and he has and would admit it"

You must be another idiot. What part of my reply to the quote above it don’t you understand? I’ll say it again...arguably the best bracket racer in the country has very little mechanical ability and knowledge by his own admission and many of the most successful bracket racers are much like him.