Race the Entire NMCA Series in Nostalgia Muscle Car Free

NMC Car May Be Available Free – To the Right Person

Special deal for a person with special abilities can get him free use of a low 12-second car, free enclosed transportation to all NMCA events, free food and lodging while at the events, free use of tools, free racing gas for the car, and free replacement parts.

First, what is the cost for someone in the Houston area to race a NMC car on a National Circuit like the NMCA?

Initial Investment:

• You have to have a NMCA legal NMC car – average cost $15,000

• It is assumed that you have a newer 1-ton Diesel pick up to make the haul comfortably and dependably, if you don’t — a new one is about $50,000

• You need a newer (to take the high mileage and fast speed use) enclosed trailer – average cost $10,000

• Tools, jack, stands, compressor, battery charger, etc. – $10,000

Annual Expenses:

• Assuming you have a newer diesel truck that is dependable enough, you have seven events with an average of 2500 mile round trip from Houston. That is 17,500 miles. Let us assume you get 12 MPG towing with your rig (I don’t get near that – closer to 10) – that is 1458 gallons of diesel. At $4 a gallon – the cost is $5,833. Assume you wasted half of your truck’s tires or $600 (for a set for a dually — costing $1200 new). Four oil changes of Delo and filters, plus one fuel filter for $400 – and it so it cost you at least $6833 in expenses just to drive your own newer and insured dually truck to the races.

• 28 days in a motel — $2000

• Race car ignition off theft insurance $350

• Year’s depreciation on 4 trailer tires $200 (you’ll get two years max)

• 28 days restaurant food and beer — $3000

• Conservative estimate of parts you’ll wear out or break on your car running a national circuit — $5000

• Racing fuel — $400

• New set of slicks – $400

Add up all of the above (short of $20,000 a year – if you already own a race car, trailer, tools, truck that can handle it – or $90,000 the first year if you have none of that) – and that is what you can plan for if you want to make every race on the NMCA circuit and the Monster Mopar Weekend – and take a shot of the National Points Champion in NMCA racing.

But what if someone would provide you a good car to race; would transport it on the top floor of the stacker trailer; would put you up in his motor coach and feed you; would cover the race fuel and broken / worn out parts; give you use of full set of tools, jack, battery charger, stands, air compressor; supply your beer and food?

I might be in a position to do that for a very unique person.

Big Red Ram

Why? Because I need a qualified Crew Chief for my car. A health issue, a very screwed up back from going through the windshield in an old high speed car accident, my available time, and frankly my lack of expertise (I spent 30 years running businesses instead of wrenching on cars — and now retired) to maintain my car at the level I want to race at — requires I have professional help. In return for this professional help – I am willing to allow you to run my Aspen in either NMC or Open Comp, and I will finance it. You only pay for your NMCA membership, and the car’s event entry fee – I get you and the car there; put you up and feed you; and supply the tools and parts for you to make a charge at the Points Championship. Further, if I am happier beyond all expectations – there is potential to extend the deal for 2010 and upgrade the car you race to my back up NSS car, or the 10-second Demon in NMC, or the Cuda in OC or one of the Super Street classes.

Backup NSS Car — Wrong Hood

Cuda

Demon

I said what this Unique (as in maybe 1% of those telling themselves they are right for this – will be right for this) person can expect from me – now let me give the very long list of what I would expect from him, for this to be a deal that could work – so there be no misunderstandings.

1. The person has to be qualified to be a Crew Chief. That is to say that they have ALL of the experience necessary to maintain Big Red Ram (and the backup car in the shop).

   1. Engine tuning (carbs, rockers, timing, …)

   2. At the track, they could and would quickly and effectively perform emergency end of day and/or between round repairs should they be necessary – including transmission, clutch and third member swaps if ever needed.

   3. Can fully understand the complexity of the Bonifante clutch and could properly make any effective adjustments

   4. Can perform in-shop engine swaps if and when needed

   5. Can perform end of year tear down, inspection, and repair of the drive train

2. Has to make each and every race. NO EXCEPTIONS! I have no use for someone making some of the races. It has to be all or none. You need to have a flexible job (I might have one for you – see below), wife and/or girlfriend. You need to be healthy and relatively strong. If there is a question about any of that – you are not right for the job. Occasionally, your wife/girl friend (not both at the same time) can accompany you – if there is going to be room, which would depend on if my family would be be going to that event. However, they will need to pull their weight.

3. This person cannot be a slob. We have to travel together. Everything from the coach, trailer, car, tools, … are top notch, clean and organized. I am anal about everything staying that way for many years to come. I occasionally travel with my wife and young daughter – reasonable personal hygiene and appropriate manners around them are going to be important.

4. I am an ex-cigarette smoker (the worst enemy of the cigarette smoker) – and detest the smell of cigarette smoke. We do not smoke in my coach, car, or trailer. I do not stand around when traveling across country – waiting for someone to finish their damn cigarette. If you smoke – you will need to learn to find it to not be an inconvenience to me or my family.

5. No dopers or drunks. At the end of the day, when all work has been finished – we stretch out in the chase lounges in the pit and pop the tops on a few beers and relax. However, that never starts until the racing day is done – and never to the point of intoxication. I do not need to deal with mean drunks or people who become assholes after drinking. No dope anywhere in or around my rig. The person I ever caught opening me up to the liability of illegal drugs anywhere in my rig – would find their own ride home. No second chances. There are enough people without that issue for me to select from, to want to risk trouble with the law – or hitting the wall because of a stoned crew chief forgetting to tighten a nut on my 4-link.

6. Duties are very simple:

   1. Before the race, make sure we have all of the racing supplies needed in the trailer. I will ensure we have all of the living supplies needed in the coach.

   2. Ensure that the cars are washed, cleaned, inspected, repaired – and ready to go. I have a 4-post car lift – and the painted underside of the cars are cleaned, and inspected for leaks and broken/loose bolts/nuts immediately after every event.

   3. Load cars in the trailer and cover the day before we leave for the race.

   4. Inspect the load and adjust hold-down straps at fuel stops.

   5. Unload the cars at the track – and make ready to race. (I will set up the coach)

   6. Check the cars over between rounds – and make ready for the next round. Maintain the weather station and log passes.

   7. Load the cars in the trailer in the evenings and unload in the mornings

   8. Keep the trailer clean (I’ll keep the coach clean)

   9. Make all emergency repairs. Your number 1 priority is for MY car to be competitive and ready for the next round. If both cars need attention – mine gets the Top Priority.

   10. NMCA runs NMC and NSS back to back – so the normal Crew Chief function of checking the air in the staging lanes, identifying the best launching groove, and observing the launch for tire spin or other problems will not going to be possible if we are both in the running – and that is understood. If one of us is out – then he helps the other with staging.

   11. Load cars and secure trailer for trip home (I will handle the coach)

   12. Unload the cars and anything else needing to be unloaded in the trailer when we arrive home (I will handle unloading the coach).

   13. Clean, inspect, and make ready the car for the next race within days after the last race, so there is proper time to order any needed parts and make the proper repairs.

   14. Maintain my NSS backup car for emergencies.

   15. Properly clean and maintain the race car I am allowing you to race. Again, based on performance — there are upgrade possibilities to faster cars or a more powerful engine.

7. A commercial license, a clean driving record, displaying of safe driving habits, and thus the ability to help with the driving of the rig would be a major plus! It is not a requirement. I would teach someone who I had total confidence in.

Now the majority of the people reading this are going to feel that I’m arrogant in my demands. They obviously wouldn’t be the right person for the job. I’m a friendly and reasonable person to get along with, and initially treat people the way I want to be treated – unless they give me reason to treat them differently. It is important that this person and I are compatible – but it is also important that this person knows that racing comes first when being a crew chief. There is no procrastination regarding the preparedness of the car to race. I take my racing very serious — as I would take this agreement of what to expect from each other.

I will be posting this offer in many places.

Compensated Job Opportunity:

I also have a 32-hour (4-day Monday-Thursday) week paid position available to maintain a growing collection of street, collectible, and race (excluding the three cars the Crew Chief would be responsible for) cars – from keeping them clean and detailed, to servicing, to repairing, to restoring/restifiying. This position pays $2500 a month and offers the flexibility of also being able to be my crew chief. While it is not a lot of money – it gives a person a three days a week-end (when we are not racing or preparing the cars — for the Crew Chief) to have your own part-time venture for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. NO SLACKERS! The person (if not the Crew Chief) will have the opportunity to travel (and help the Crew Chief) with us to the races – if they would like.

Email me at dave@oldhippie.com if you feel that you are the right person for either/both positions – and convince me in that email why I should consider you – as in list your credentials and how you can make this work in your life. Do not bother sending me some short email saying something like “I want the job and I can do it”. Convince me why you would be the best choice if you want this opportunity to barter a years of financed racing on a National Circuit in exchange for being my Crew Chief. I will be checking references if I consider you.

Please pass this along to anyone you know who might be interested. I am 30 miles west of downtown Houston – and have a clean and comfortable shop.