Tweet
These cars are run at the Lowe's tracks in NC. They run both dirt and pavement, and are VERY entertaining. The following article leaves out a detail that I think is one of the best ideas. They have one highly-modified car out there, driven by a "special guest" driver of the week, who drives "The Enforcer" (of course a Police car complete with the flashers on top). It is his job to block and hold up leaders until the pack catches back together. There are NO runaway races, and beating and banging are tolerated, if not encouraged.
Not that we need to add ANOTHER weekly class, I think many tracks could encorporate their existing Street Stock or Hobby cars to fit. Half racing, part Keystone Kops, with a dash of Demo Derby.
This division WILL put people in the stands.
The rest is from the Lowe's site:
"They have names like the Crash Test Dummy, Krashy the Clown, Miss Demeanor, Land Shark and T-Wrecks. No, they're not professional wrestlers but part of an entry-level stock car division that will be in action this season at Lowe's Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Known as CRASHCars, the division offers racing that is affordable for competitors and entertaining for spectators.
"The concept behind the CRASHCar division is based on a 12-year-old boy," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "I was sitting next to a 12-year-old boy at a race and after the first few laps I realized he had no one to pull for and suddenly became bored.
"The idea came from my friend John Lasseter with Pixar. He's the man behind such movies as 'Finding Nemo' and 'The Incredibles.' He says that if you don't establish a villain within the first two minutes of a movie, you have lost the child's attention. There needs to be a good and a bad.
"So, I have taken that concept from the movies and applied it to cars," Wheeler continued. "This concept has been very successful in Monster Trucks, so I said, 'let's do the same for cars-use big cars because people like big things.' Now that we have created characters and put them on cars, kids instantly have someone to cheer for."
According to Wheeler, a street car can be transformed into a brightly colored CRASHCar for less than $5,000.
"Anyone can build and race his or her own CRASHCar," Wheeler said. "If they know what they are doing and can work on it themselves, they can build a car for under $5,000, and there are some that were built for under $3,500. You can win some races and get your full investment in return. That's something in racing today that is non existent."
Virtually any full-sized or mid-sized convertible, couple or sedan can be transformed into a CRASHCar. Station wagons, limousines, Checker Cabs, El Caminos and even hearses are eligible while trucks and sport utility vehicles are not permitted.
The key is that each car must have a cartoon-style theme and feature brightly colored paint and graphics. The CRASHCar rulebook is designed to maximize safety while minimizing costs.
"We then went a step further and loosened up the contact rules, allowing the good and bad cars to race and beat on each other," Wheeler said.
To keep costs under control, a "claim rule" rule is in place giving track officials the right to purchase specific parts or an entire car if they feel excessive alterations have been made that provide an unfair advantage.
Very few mechanical modifications are allowed and cars must maintain their stock radiator, suspension, transmission, rear-end, body panels and brakes. A working horn is also required.
Competitors are also encouraged to install large bumpers and rub rails around the entire vehicle, allowing drivers to beat and bang without damaging their cars.
Required safety modifications include a seamless roll cage, an eight-gallon racing fuel, a fire extinguisher, a high-back aluminum racing seat and a five-point racing harness. All drivers must also wear fire-retardant gloves, shoes and uniform along with an approved racing helmet and neck collar.
"The CRASHCars promise to provide quality entertainment for the young and the young at heart," Wheeler concluded.
Not that we need to add ANOTHER weekly class, I think many tracks could encorporate their existing Street Stock or Hobby cars to fit. Half racing, part Keystone Kops, with a dash of Demo Derby.
This division WILL put people in the stands.
The rest is from the Lowe's site:
"They have names like the Crash Test Dummy, Krashy the Clown, Miss Demeanor, Land Shark and T-Wrecks. No, they're not professional wrestlers but part of an entry-level stock car division that will be in action this season at Lowe's Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Known as CRASHCars, the division offers racing that is affordable for competitors and entertaining for spectators.
"The concept behind the CRASHCar division is based on a 12-year-old boy," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "I was sitting next to a 12-year-old boy at a race and after the first few laps I realized he had no one to pull for and suddenly became bored.
"The idea came from my friend John Lasseter with Pixar. He's the man behind such movies as 'Finding Nemo' and 'The Incredibles.' He says that if you don't establish a villain within the first two minutes of a movie, you have lost the child's attention. There needs to be a good and a bad.
"So, I have taken that concept from the movies and applied it to cars," Wheeler continued. "This concept has been very successful in Monster Trucks, so I said, 'let's do the same for cars-use big cars because people like big things.' Now that we have created characters and put them on cars, kids instantly have someone to cheer for."
According to Wheeler, a street car can be transformed into a brightly colored CRASHCar for less than $5,000.
"Anyone can build and race his or her own CRASHCar," Wheeler said. "If they know what they are doing and can work on it themselves, they can build a car for under $5,000, and there are some that were built for under $3,500. You can win some races and get your full investment in return. That's something in racing today that is non existent."
Virtually any full-sized or mid-sized convertible, couple or sedan can be transformed into a CRASHCar. Station wagons, limousines, Checker Cabs, El Caminos and even hearses are eligible while trucks and sport utility vehicles are not permitted.
The key is that each car must have a cartoon-style theme and feature brightly colored paint and graphics. The CRASHCar rulebook is designed to maximize safety while minimizing costs.
"We then went a step further and loosened up the contact rules, allowing the good and bad cars to race and beat on each other," Wheeler said.
To keep costs under control, a "claim rule" rule is in place giving track officials the right to purchase specific parts or an entire car if they feel excessive alterations have been made that provide an unfair advantage.
Very few mechanical modifications are allowed and cars must maintain their stock radiator, suspension, transmission, rear-end, body panels and brakes. A working horn is also required.
Competitors are also encouraged to install large bumpers and rub rails around the entire vehicle, allowing drivers to beat and bang without damaging their cars.
Required safety modifications include a seamless roll cage, an eight-gallon racing fuel, a fire extinguisher, a high-back aluminum racing seat and a five-point racing harness. All drivers must also wear fire-retardant gloves, shoes and uniform along with an approved racing helmet and neck collar.
"The CRASHCars promise to provide quality entertainment for the young and the young at heart," Wheeler concluded.
Comment