OWM's at Modoc, CJ Rayburn and the class of the Future...

[Sling-Shot Race Cars]

Is there any hope of OWM's returning to Modoc? I loved this class about 2 or 3 years ago and thought it had potential. I know some other people came in to lease/run the track and immediately, it seemed dropped OWM's from the card. This class seems to have a brighter, bigger future than Hobby or any of the factory based cars, just simply due to changes in our American automotive landscape, they simply don't build suitable donor cars anymore almost zero rear wheel drive. It would seem on the surface that OWM's would have a similar fate since they have also utilized a stock clip, but that has now changed. I get email updates from CJ Rayburn and I received this one about a month ago. I would like to know what it would take for OWM's to return to Modoc as a regular class, I think there is an opportunity here. Many of todays great drivers came thru OWM, like Jimmy Owens, Duayne Hommel and many more in TN and other places, I think OWM should get another look. Below is the email from CJ and a link to see it. Tell me what you think.

www.cjrayburn.com/Modified.html

May 19, 2009
Whiteland, IN
This is CJ Rayburn, doing the stuff I have been trying to get the other sanctioning bodies in this industry to do for years. I have worked, and tried, and spent and done everything I could to try and help them, and I can’t help them anymore. There are too many rules, and most of them don’t make any sense. I believe that if your race car caught on fire, it would probably be illegal to put it out. We are building a new sanctioning body, and it is called National All Star Racing Series. Our new series is called NASRA-NESMITH SUPER SERIES, and at our sanctioned races, you will be able to run a regular car that you run in any sanctioning body; UMP, World of Outlaws, LUCAS Oil Series, any car will be able to run at their weight limit and everything else according to their rules, all chassis manufacturers are legal.
We have been talking to Mike Vaughn, and through him, we have been talking to people at General Motors and they have a motor called a 525. It is an aluminum motor, made off of an LS 3 Corvette Motor so it should have a tremendous amount of horsepower, and it is real light. In the past, we have taken a 604 crate engine and run with open motors and run up front, so the possibilities of what we can do with this motor are tremendous. If we get these cars 200 pounds lighter and approximately 143 more horsepower, a 2300 pound car with an open motor is not going to be competitive with them. This motor is all aluminum motor with 6 bolt mains. I talked to them about the specs on it. It has 10 ½ to 1 plus compression, and only costs $7200.00 for a complete motor. This motor also runs on pump fuel, so instead of paying $8.00 gallon for fuel you can go buy 93 octane for a couple dollars a gallon. The motor will actually run better and live better on that fuel. There are a lot of racers right now with parts and pieces of 2 or 3 motors laying around, but can’t afford to spend $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 to put them back together. This is an affordable way for them to race again. We are making a faster, lighter, much more affordable chassis, a faster, lighter, more affordable motor, using more affordable fuel, and it will give the fans more exciting racing to watch. It is the logical way to make racing affordable again.

In our Super Series, cars there will be at 2100 pounds of weight with this crate motor. There shouldn’t be any problem getting the cars this light. We will change bodies very little. Where we think it will make them look better and the people in the stands can identify them. We’re not making you change anything to make it any different than the car you have now. The car you have now can be run with it with one of these motors and will get rid of some weight. We are gonna allow some side panels on it that kind of look like a modified. We did this 25 yrs ago on a car, and they looked gorgeous, but UMP wanted them to look like a matchbox. Your Sail panel and spoiler support will be one piece, beautiful, simple, and will cost less money and time to make.

Will be using the NeSmith Series tires. The Name of tire is Crate Racin’ USA. 21’s & 55’s will cover any place we will go. We know a 21 is like a 1350. We know the 55 is a softer sidewall tire. You know a lot of people run them anyway; not because they are cheaper, but because they are a better tire.
If we can take a 604 and run with open motors and run up front, the possibilities of what we can do with this motor are tremendous. . If we get these cars 200 pounds lighter and with approximately 143 more horsepower, a 2300 pound open motor car is not going to be competitive. Fans will be looking at faster cars.
This stuff has hit me and I have thought and thought about it, and this is the 3rd time in 25 years I have decided to start a sanctioning body. We have contingency sponsors. We are a contingency sponsor. We are looking for a Major Sponsor, and we want somebody who will benefit from it. We want to have a good point’s fund. The first thing we have to do is get racers to the race track with a motor that will last and last and last. We are going to get the motor builders mad at this deal. But I can tell you right now, I have a state-of-the-art engine building business. It will be closed down. So, what, it will cost a million dollars and a corner of the shop. We will have to shut that part of the business down. We will have to use that corner for something else. I have heard people tell me that with these crate motors, the ASA people can run 4 years and never do anything to them. I know engines, if you keep the air filter clean, and don’t get them hot, and take care of them; you won’t have to freshen a motor. But if you do have to freshen the motor, or you do have a problem with it, you won’t have to go to some hi dollar engine shop. If there is a weak spot on the motor, like if your valve train is weak, we will allow stiffer valve springs or something like a lighter retainer to adjust. I don’t know if they have some kind of warranty on the engine for period of time or not. We have to see what we’ve got; He didn’t have the specs but they are coming on the engine.
What is also new in the picture is the Crate modified. It will be run in the Nesmith series also. We have designed a crate modified car, and the weight limit will be lowered to where it needs to be, where it is safer, stronger, better for the people in the stands to watch races because they won’t be spinning out, it is going to be a really good race car and it’s gonna be less money.
These will be the main rules for NASRA Nesmith Late Model Super Series:
All late model rules prevail. The 2010 Camaro will be the same legal limits as UMP cars. All crate motors are allowed, and if you run an open motor, you must run 2300 # UMP, World of Outlaws, LUCAS Oil, etc, rules.
A Crate modified will consist of a fabricated round tube chassis from front to rear, with late model parts on it. The weight rules will be the following: a 602 motor at 2150 pounds, or a 604 motor at 2200 pounds. If a UMP modified runs with this, it has to run UMP rules. We will allow aluminum wheels on crate chassis.
We will be running a pricing special on this new crate modified for a limited time only for a complete car less motor, transmission, tires, wheels and battery for only $10,900.00
This will re route racing. It is the biggest breakthrough that anybody has ever heard in racing. The cars are going to look good, cost less money, run a lot faster, they will be easier on tires. The 200 pound lighter will make all the difference in the world. We put this out, and if anybody has a question, we want you to call us Toll free 1-877-828-8232. We are going to jump on it with all 4 feet, and are going to fire up by July 1st 2009. I think that everyone will like it.



Eva Goeb
Office Manager
Rayburn Automotive, INC
C.J. Rayburn Race Cars

[Sling-Shot Race Cars]

Not so much as a peep.... Crickets. So much for intelligent conversation.

[Carigan31]

Open wheels put on an awesome show and I think it takes a heck of a driver to drive one, it just doesn't seem to take off here in the south. JMO

[georgep]

Sad to say you can not count on them for a consistant car count, Without the cars you can not get the $$$ to finance the show. I feel that with NASCAR in such a mess with $$$$ the local tracks just might get the wind fall of fans and cars. JMHO

[Sling-Shot Race Cars]

Originally Posted by Carigan31

Open wheels put on an awesome show and I think it takes a heck of a driver to drive one, it just doesn't seem to take off here in the south. JMO

Not true. These type cars are very big in TN, AL, FL and huge in the Midwest, probably the fastest growing class in the nation. Its an interesting conundrum, the tracks want a big field right away, but won't stick it out for people to make the change over. Racers won't buy those type cars cause there is no where to run them. It seems to me, a track needs to be pro-active, I mean Hobby was at deaths door last year, Limited sportsman is pricing itself out, just like T&L did and suitable donor cars are dwindling. So it makes more sense to either start the class up, regardless of car count and let it grow naturally or allow them to run with another class until sufficient numbers take hold. JMO, but I think somebody should step up and be Pro-active on this looming problem.

[hr69]

Modoc gave them a chance the last 3 years. They would start out with 7 to 10 cars but within a few weeks they might have 5 show up. Some of the best racing @ Modoc (even with a few cars).

The interest in this area is not there for the OWM. Carolina Clash even tried a traveling series for them. Not sure the reason but that didn't last long.

Fastrak tried them too (I believe). Not sure about their fate??

[Carigan31]

Originally Posted by Sling-Shot Race Cars

Not true. These type cars are very big in TN, AL, FL and huge in the Midwest, probably the fastest growing class in the nation. Its an interesting conundrum, the tracks want a big field right away, but won't stick it out for people to make the change over. Racers won't buy those type cars cause there is no where to run them. It seems to me, a track needs to be pro-active, I mean Hobby was at deaths door last year, Limited sportsman is pricing itself out, just like T&L did and suitable donor cars are dwindling. So it makes more sense to either start the class up, regardless of car count and let it grow naturally or allow them to run with another class until sufficient numbers take hold. JMO, but I think somebody should step up and be Pro-active on this looming problem.

I think they're a great class and I would love to see them but it seems to me that running one of those would cost as much if not more than a crate car. Is that not the same basic principal?

[Chuck T]

This would be a great class with a crate engine rule for sure. In the past, there were just not enough engine rules to make this class affordable. JMO

[edmund flash]

i got a OWM roller for sale if anybody want this four wheel flower pot thats sitting in my yard''''

[Sling-Shot Race Cars]

Originally Posted by hr69

Modoc gave them a chance the last 3 years. They would start out with 7 to 10 cars but within a few weeks they might have 5 show up. Some of the best racing @ Modoc (even with a few cars).

The interest in this area is not there for the OWM. Carolina Clash even tried a traveling series for them. Not sure the reason but that didn't last long.

Fastrak tried them too (I believe). Not sure about their fate??

There haven't been any mods at Modoc in at least 2 years! Those other guys took over and dropped them.

As far as FASTRAK I never saw where they actually got them up and running. I know they mention Sprints and mods, but I never saw a schedule or anything.

A crate deal may be close in cost to an LM crate, depending on which engine package. I'm not really suggesting a crate engine, maybe a spec type deal or even engine rules in line with current hobby/limited sportsman, I really wasn't even talking about engines, just cars. My point was though, that everyday there are fewer and fewer cars to build cars from and that something needs to be done to allow growth. Hobby, Limited, Super Street, Stock V8 and even 4 bangers are getting fewer and fewer, a full tube fabricated car is the only answer unless everyone wants to run "Front Wheel drive". No offense to the upfront racers, its a great class for starting out and low cost, but not the best race car. I'm just trying to offer a possible solution to a looming future problem, regardless of past performance. JMO.