Short Track Oval

[Joe T.]

    About six years ago I discovered a 1/8 mile drag strip about 60 miles from the house and I bought a '92 Dodge Dakota fully equipped with a '72 Dodge 340 V8 and a 727 Automatic Trans. My son was 15 and ready to get a drivers license. We took it down to track a few times and had a little fun. My son never really caught the fever and the engine lost compression in one cylinder. So the truck is out back waiting for repair... we spent a lot of time together on it so I'm hesitant about getting rid of it.

    This spring I started visiting a local 1/4 mile ash-fault oval track. They have a class of cars called Pure Stock 4 Cylinders. My son is now 21 and doing his own thing and never really has had a lot of interest in cars. My grandson (9yrs) is interested and has been going to the races with me. Tomorrow we are buying a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire and will be working on this summer and fall to get ready to race next spring. Its a Pure Beater but seems to have a strong engine a trans so here we go... from drag strip to oval it should be some fun.

[Dan W.]

That's how I got started, and now I run Dirt and asphalt open wheel modifieds. Have fun...

[Joe T.]

That's cool Dan, I didn't know you were doing this stuff offline too.

Here is a picture of the car, we just got it home last night.
She's a beater for sure, but the engine and trans feel and sound really strong.



2002 Pontic Sunfire 2.2L

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[Dan W.]

That's in way better shape than the Pinto I started out in.

[Ian]

Awesome. That should be a blast. I started in karts and then dad got me into street stocks and then we progressed all the way to super late models. With the Vegas bullring at my back door, might be time to go check out the races again. ( I haven't been to one since we sold the cars, was too hard)

[Joe T.]

Here is our most up todate picture of the car.

SunFire

We are getting the roll cage installed this coming Saturday.

[Dan W.]

Looks good man..

[Joe T.]

Thanks Dan, we dropped it off this past weekend at a new friends place. He's installing the roll cage, now I don't know what to do with myself for the next week while I'm waiting 😀

[Ed D]

Sounds like you are having a blast with your passion project. Can't wait to get a report and pics when you hit the track.

[Joe T.]

Aug 23, 2016 12:12:48 GMT -8 Ed D said:

Sounds like you are having a blast with your passion project. Can't wait to get a report and pics when you hit the track.

Hey Ed, good to hear from ya.
It has become a passion, that really is a good way of describing it.

We are planning on hitting the track in May 2017, that's 9 months from now.
There was just no way I could get the car ready for this season.

When our friend told me he was going to cut the roof off the car to drop the cage in I about $hit, but I guess that's the way its done

Here is a link to the Team Facebook page, my Grandson named the team. When we get the sponsors logo's on the car I'm going to post pictures of the car.