I was not able to attend the last 6200 AS meeting, but I spoke to most committee members prior to the meeting and shared my concerns regarding the future of our class if certain changes did not take place.  I commend them for their efforts, but more work needs to be done.

The biggest obstacle in this class is the cylinder head rule!  Essentially it eliminates every manufacture from a fair chance at being competitive without spending gobs of money except GM!  The class requires an iron cylinder head!  That leaves the Ford guys with three options:

1.       40+ year old factory heads.  The most desirable CJ heads are nearly impossible to find and cost almost double that of comparable aluminum heads to prepare for a race ready engine.  “They will support 800 HP”.  Well so will some of the factory GM heads, but I don’t know of anyone in the 6200 class using them!  Why?  Because the RHS heads are available, better, flow more air and produce more HP!

2.       Blue Thunder iron heads.  Last produced in the early 90’s with very limited production and extremely difficult to find in used form.  They are a “better option” than factory, but won’t come close to flowing 450 CFM like the RHS BBC head.  This is a 2^nd place head J.

3.       EX514.  Not legal in the class.  Contrary to popular belief, it IS the only iron head that comes close to the RHS.  Max effort porting results in mid 450 flow with 800-900 HP averages (just like the RHS).  If this head was legal you would never see it in our class.  It’s no longer in production and the average cost of a used set is around $6- $8000.  I only know of two trucks in the region that run them and you would never see them driving 3-4 hours to compete with us. 

Why is the cylinder head rule such a big deal?  Take a look at the current 6200 rules and compare them to the old 6300 rules.  Look familiar?  What happen to the 6300 class?  Ask any former member of that group and they will tell you that the class went too long without the needed changes to attract more trucks.  With Jerry Smith being the exception, if you didn’t have an RHS headed BBC you didn’t stand a chance in that class!  They added the EX514 head as an option (2010 or 11??), but for reasons I stated above the class never saw a Ford with those heads.  The class ended up with four trucks competing against each other and that is not something a promoter will invite to an event.  How much entertainment is it for the fans to watch a class of 4-5 trucks of the same make compete?  In my opinion and the opinion of many others that I have spoken to, the cylinder head rule in this class was a huge factor in its demise. 

I hate to see the  open class being promoted by DMP, but I fully understand why.  Does a promoter want a class with 4-5 trucks of the same make or a class of 20+ with all makes and models?  The more successful in producing numbers the open class is the faster the altered street class will come to an end!

The 6200 class will have to become more divers to survive and the first step should be to revisit the cylinder head rule.  I honestly think that the committee would have considered changes this year if they would have been provided with some up to date specific examples of what options are available.  I will take part of the blame!  I could have provided them with some information as easy as anyone else. 

If I can run a Blue Thunder iron head then why can’t a guy run the same head in aluminum?  Aluminum heads are available and cheaper!  Several aluminum heads are available for the BBF that closely match the capabilities of the RHS.  Sit down and match up what products are comparable and available for all manufactures.  Look at the results of events that have blended trucks together.  The Southern Showdown Open Class was a great example of just how the DMP 6200 Altered Street class stacks up against other competition.  The RHS iron heads on the 1^st & 2^nd place trucks seem to do pretty well against EX514 & other Ford aluminum headed trucks! 

Provide some options to the small block trucks (more weight, hitch height, bigger tires, aluminum heads) whatever it takes to give them a fair chance.  Whatever it takes to get more trucks in the class!  Every organization in the country is dealing with the same stuff.  Regional committees with the NTPA have made similar suggestions in recent years to combine classes with specific rules applying to different trucks within the class to “increase numbers in the class” (Super Modified 4x4 Truck Class).  We are not alone!

Kirk

Where's the last post Bob. Go with the rules that have been set by the meeting. I don't think that it needs to be changed now, just because of the open class discussion. Take a look at it next year.