Ron Lewis photo
Western Motorsports team owner and driver V.
Gaines (above) has maintained his own chassis
shop for nearly three years and thinks it may
unlock some secrets to gaining an advantage
in the class. Gaines hired a former Don Ness
master fabricator to head his program.
"We're still learning," Gaines said. "The cars
are always increasing in power and we try to
stay up with that power."
Gaines said he thinks the basic chassis combination
will not change and that the key will be to
make what works, work better.
"There are different places to give it different
rigidity or flexibility depending on what you
are running," Gaines said. "The trick is to
try to find that break-through adjustment that
is going to make these cars leave harder and
travel better."
Established builders such as Jerry Bickel and
Jerry Haas think these programs will not provide
enough return for the large investment required.
Bickel said an in-house car building program
works for NASCAR teams because of the number
of cars built. Bickel does not see the same
rules applying to the NHRA.
"These teams are going to build one or two
cars per year. What are they going to do for
the rest of the year?" Bickel asked. "They are
going to have to start hiring work out and then
they will be right back to where we are right
now."
Bickel said he thinks teams need to concentrate
on finding more power, rather than looking for
advantages in the chassis.
"There's a lot more that can be developed in
the engines, and advances can be made that won't
be seen and can be kept secret," Bickel said.
"I have that same problem. If we do something
different on a car, then two races later, everyone
has it on their car."
Haas said teams attempting to start an in-house
car program don't realize the work involved.
"They are going to find out what real work
is all about," Haas said. "But everyone's got
their own thing. If they want to do it, they'll
do it."
Anderson said not many people have looked at
the chassis at this point and he feels this
has bought his team some breathing room. But
he says only so much can be done at one time,
considering the budget they are working with.
"It all comes down to people and money," Anderson
said. "You've got to work your way through it
and you can't jump in overnight or you'll get
yourself in trouble."
For a look inside Greg Anderson's new shop,
click
here.
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