Have y'all noticed the revival of door slammers? I am encouraged, more are on track now than in several years. With the visibility and popularity and winners of big-money races, the resurgence is looking good.

No I haven’t and why would this be in tech talk?

Technically Larry wants more door slammers! LOL

Larry, I've thought the same thing door cars.

If Scott wants to move this thread he can. I would leave it here just to irk that guy though.

What I like about real door cars is the diversity. All the builds are different, and many radically different. It makes it interesting. If you have seen one pipe rack you have seen them all. Some are just more sparkly than others, that’s all.

To me, it is the beginning of a return to cars with personality. The majority of us [bracket and hobbyist racers] do so because it is something we enjoy. We enjoy the full adventure, the planning, the building, the thinking, the racing.

In addition, a check of race results from both big money races and local races shows door slammers are more and more appearing in the late rounds and winners circles. As always, consistency is key, and with today's technology, almost any package that is properly built and prepared can produce winning results.

Just some offseason musings.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Woodfin:
a check of race results from both big money races and local races shows door slammers are more and more appearing in the late rounds and winners circles.

Race SFG. Guaranteed always a door car (left hand roadster) in the finals. Same with Byron Dragway Super Pro, Loose Rocker Door Car/ Slammer. I prefer these type formats when spending my door car entry fee.

I love this topic. I have been in door car for over 20 years. Run one dragster for a year and won a lot. I now have a new 4 link Nelson shorty but I would prefer a door car just because of the diversity and the thought of winning with a door car I built and thought out the package. I’ve always wanted a shorty dragster and finally got one. Love the car but like posted earlier it has no personality, just another pipe rack. Been thinking about going back to a door car. Great topic Larry

JUST TRADED MY DRAGSTER AWAY FOR A DOOR CAR I JUST COULDNT STAND BEING JUST ANOTHER BLACK DRAGTER NOW I GOING TO TRY AND RUN TOP AND BOTTOM BULB AT MY LOCAL TRACKS OH NEW RIDE SLAMMED 78 Z28 CAMARO BIG TIRE 406 SBC ON METH HOPE TO RUN 6.40S

Right on Mr. W, I personally love most all drag cars but a door car usually has a story behind it and that's what makes them special IMO. Dragsters are usually deadly but man I love to see them loose to an old door car on 7 cylinders. Lol

No doubt door cars are cooler but a dragster is the tool for the job we’re trying to do. I agree that you can likely get a door car just about as consistent as a dragster but it’s still more expensive to go fast, harder to see, and more affected by wind.

With that said, I hope everyone buys a door car

The problem with door cars, especially for entry level racers, is there aren't many affordable desirable bodies. There;s a reason you see so many Mustangs and S10's as that's the last run of vehicles that were simple to start with. Every thing else is and antique or collectible that's too expensive to make a race car out of. As much as I prefer door cars I'd like to see the rebirth of the econorail for entry level racers.

Eman has a good point. My comments and my experience are coming from 50 + years of building door slammers so it is easy for me to work through problems that would discourage the younger, less experienced builder.

It is a complex issue, older body core can be found, however, the price and condition are many times prohibitive. The area where I call home {East Texas} still has a reasonable supply of core bodies but getting your hands on one requires connections that younger racers may not have established.

It is true, a basic rail is easy to buy and easy to build. And as mentioned, a very good tool for the job.

After a time of reflection, part what I am noticing is older racers returning to action with a door car that has been in storage for years. For the younger, just entering racers, it is mostly late model, factory hot rods.

The time is not far away that the factory hot rod bodies will become reasonably priced and the bolt-on parts will be readily available.