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PROJECT 3
Then there is our Comp Eliminator project car.
NHRA tells us that this is their fastest growing
class. We like the class because there is no
breakout and is sort of a run-what-ya-brung
class for sportsman racers. We're able to get
involved in this because basically NHRA Pro
Mod hitter Mike Ashley and Pro Mod major domo
(and driver of the car) Kenny Nowling are footing
most of the bills, including buying a Jerry
Bickel Firebird, an Alan Patterson 331-inch
mouse motor, and a Scott McClay Engineering
ultra-trick TH-200 four-speed transmission.
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We are getting other parts and help from TCI,
MSD, and others that we will list as we go along.
We're looking at this car as the next step for
the budget racer who wants to race a Pro Stock-style
car without a million dollar budget.
The engine we're using costs about one-fifth
of what it takes to buy or lease a competitive
Pro Stock engine and almost everything else
is proportionately less expensive. Our project
car is a B/EA (by the way the first thing we
learned was that ěEcono Alteredî was an oxymoron)
that will run in the sevens at over 160 mph.
The class is also contested at the divisional
level. It's not a cheap car to own; it will
probably take about $100,000-$120,000 to build
one of these compared to the $12-15,000 we have
targeted to built our 10.90 "Back-2-Basics"
Vega.
Nowling, a former Super Gas racer turned Pro
Mod impresario turned Comp Eliminator racer,
has already had a couple of heart attacks over
the cost of racing a Comp car. He needed a set
of new headers quick and was quoted a price
of $3,000; he ordered a shifter for the trans
and that was $700. Never mind the cost of a
new Pro Stock/Econo- Altered car. Nevertheless,
it's still cheaper than a $500,000 Pro Stock
program and, unlike a .90 class car, you can
leg it to the stripe every time if you want
and you won't lose by going too quick.
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We'll be bringing you a build-up type article
with some of the trials and tribulations of
building a Comp car in three weeks and then
we will follow Kenny Nowling throughout the
season.
PROJECT 4
Lastly there is our other bracket wonk, Dale
Wilson, and his Nostalgia A/Competition Coupe
project. Dale is selling one of his current
bracket cars to have this car built. The DRO
contribution for this is the old editor's Crosley
station wagon, which was last licensed in 1948.
Check out the current Dale Wilson column Going
Deep for more on this project.
So there you have it, fellow drag addicts.
We've got a lot on our plate but it looks like
itís going to be a fun summer. Stay tuned for
updates. 
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