Truth Hurts.

[Paul T. Casey]

:bigcry: Now that the glow from SSHS6 is fading a bit, here's my take on what happened. We got smacked around pretty good by the Impala guys. Let me apologize up front for poorly representing the Marauders. I honestly believe that I had the car to beat in Bracket Class A. I was running my dial in, with good lights until I let the gentleman whom I lost to get into my head. I had the better car, but the driver did a poor job. With the exception of Sherm, who was doing double duty in both Big Dog and Class C, it's my belief we stunk up the joint. No Marauders in the finals. Did we even have anyone in Class B? Did we have anyone even in the semis? (I think Sherm made it to the semis in class C, but the way he was hot lapping, it's pretty tough to keep running such a fine number). I challenge the whole group, including myself, to step it up a bit in the next year. Get out and practice the lights. Learn how to launch the car. Learn how to develop a good number to write on the window. It's nice to say I ran my best time, or it was great meeting new and old friends, etc. but think how much better it will be when we can bring some of the hardware home. Before I forget, this post isn't aimed at the big dogs who attended. I figure anytime you're going "breaking sh#t fast" , you're representing us well.

[Bradley G]

Oh, Paul!
Maybe We got a long way to go.
From my seat, god bless you guys that attended / supported this event.
I got to see it from here, but I am very greatful to have seen it through posts.
Most of us are just learning to crawl.:baby:
I don't disagree about Practice, I felt like I started all over last weekend at Great lakes dragaway.
Nothing under 2.0 @ 60' mark, no .o or .00 reaction times.

If we left the car(s) near stock, running fifteens, can you imagine how tough we would be in bracketing?

Remember, we give up ten years of r&d and 70 CI.
Besides, the big thing you said is, experience!
You watch this spring, we will have our Big Dog(s)!:woof:

[Smokie]

Paul, I think without a doubt "we" as a group of racers are nowhere near the Impala guys, that is a fact. I have attended 2 Shootouts and my first racing experience was at the tender age of "49".

I have never been past the 3rd round in bracket racing....and probably never will. That is ok with me, I have what I always wanted; a 4 door car with a huge trunk, daily driver...that runs the 1/4 mile in the high 12's.:D

PS: My car and I the last time I raced at Commerce tipped the scales at a portly 4410 lbs.

[Pops]

Paul i lost in the Semis with my GM by .oo24 and my hat off to the guy who beat me as I cut a 024 light. Everybody should remember that we came to race and have a good time. Iknow I did. Your statement is right on. Thanks John

[Mike Poore]

Guys, when we start putting the equivalent of Rat motors in MM's, we'll start smoking them. In the meantime they've got ten years of R&D and test & tune on us. Obviously, we're not gonna beat 'em with 271's but then again, none of the top SS runners are sporting 350's either.
I'm waiting to see the first blown and juiced FE block in a Marauder ....it's just a matter of time.
Meanwhile, we're having a ball, and representing, not to mention those guys all recognize what a great car the MM is.

[Big House]

Our Marauders look better than any Impy out there.:beer:

[gpfarrell]

Obviously, we're not gonna beat 'em with 271's but then again, none of the top SS runners are sporting 350's either.

271... 281.. whatever it takes!

[jim geary]

Oh, Paul!
Maybe We got a long way to go.
From my seat, god bless you guys that attended / supported this event.
I got to see it from here, but I am very greatful to have seen it through posts.
Most of us are just learning to crawl.:baby:
I don't disagree about Practice, I felt like I started all over last weekend at Great lakes dragaway.
Nothing under 2.0 @ 60' mark, no .o or .00 reaction times.

If we left the car(s) near stock, running fifteens, can you imagine how tough we would be in bracketing?

Remember, we give up ten years of r&d and 70 CI.
Besides, the big thing you said is, experience!
You watch this spring, we will have our Big Dog(s)!:woof:
Brad would you please explain bracketing to me. I just don't get it?

[Mike Poore]

Brad would you please explain bracketing to me. I just don't get it?

Jim, it has to do with shoe size; the bigger the feet(s) the slower the reaction time, ........and that darned Bradley's got whoppers. :D

'Course, those large appendages, indicate size in another department; and don't let anyone tell you it doesn't matter. :cowboy:

[JVJ]

We'll get them next time.

[Power Surge]

Like Mike said, they've got a big jump on R&D and time in the seat. The Impala is just another car with a small block Chevy in it. It doesn't take much to make one fast. Whether fuel injected or carbed, there's TONS of stuff out there for the small block chevy.

Another thing is cost. You can buy one of those cars for a couple grand. Then just pick your flavor of small block chevy motor and transmission, and you've got a fast car, on the cheap. Marauder guys are starting with 30+k 3 year old car. Technology is newer and more complex. To make good power, you need a power adder, and then you need to build the motor and trans to handle it. Most Maruader guys aren't sinking 10-15k into a car they just paid 30k for.

It's very easy to make these cars fast. It just costs money, and the right people doing it. You want a 9 second Marauder? No problem. Drop the car off to me with an open checkbook. Most people don't do that though.

Look at my car. My car is similar to the Impala guys. I paid 4k for my car. I built it with stuff I had laying around. Sure, I do this for a living, but so do some of those Impala guys. I don't have 10k into my car and it makes near 600rwhp and pulls the front wheels off the ground.

Give it time. As time goes on and the cars get older, you'll see more guys jumping deeping into hardcore performance.

[JVJ]

That's soo right. You could'nt have said it any better. That makes lots of sense. But the "MM" still looks a whole lot better than the "IMPY".

[RR|Suki]

Like Mike said, they've got a big jump on R&D and time in the seat. The Impala is just another car with a small block Chevy in it. It doesn't take much to make one fast. Whether fuel injected or carbed, there's TONS of stuff out there for the small block chevy.

Another thing is cost. You can buy one of those cars for a couple grand. Then just pick your flavor of small block chevy motor and transmission, and you've got a fast car, on the cheap. Marauder guys are starting with 30+k 3 year old car. Technology is newer and more complex. To make good power, you need a power adder, and then you need to build the motor and trans to handle it. Most Maruader guys aren't sinking 10-15k into a car they just paid 30k for.

It's very easy to make these cars fast. It just costs money, and the right people doing it. You want a 9 second Marauder? No problem. Drop the car off to me with an open checkbook. Most people don't do that though.

Look at my car. My car is similar to the Impala guys. I paid 4k for my car. I built it with stuff I had laying around. Sure, I do this for a living, but so do some of those Impala guys. I don't have 10k into my car and it makes near 600rwhp and pulls the front wheels off the ground.

Give it time. As time goes on and the cars get older, you'll see more guys jumping deeping into hardcore performance.

very well put

[Paul T. Casey]

Pulled from elsewhere: Anyway, the Impala boys literally cleaned house and whupped ass on the Maurauders and anyone else who decided to show up and take their beat down. They won every category, and most of the times it was 2 Imp's in the final. If this don't get your butts out practicing, you must be dead. I know all about the 9 years, R&D, blah, blah, blah. It's more about the talent of the drivers men. This is in no way meant to flame any one of the fine fellows from the bow-tie camp. Just trying to instill some fire in the bellies of the Marauder folks.

[RCSignals]

Guys, when we start putting the equivalent of Rat motors in MM's, we'll start smoking them. ........................

In CI equivalent, yes, but generally our little engines do outperform those old pushrod GM boat anchors.

Just look at Cruztaker. (I'm quite sure that he'd have won that one race in Indy had he not jumped the light. He stopped racing immediately at that.)

Most of the serious Impala guys race all the time, so for those of us who might race once in a while, it is about practice, practice practice.

Also remember that Impala you are racing may have an engine that appears to have few mods, like your MM may have, but many of them are running what is now basically a 383 etc. You'd never know unless told.