M. Tyler #21 2007 Race Season
Hobby Stock Racing
In 2003 a new 3/8 mile clay banked oval racetrack was opened on Y highway just outside La Monte Missouri. Since then LA Raceway has been bringing in 2,000+ fans every Friday night for their weekly race programs which include the Street Stocks, 305 Sprints, Modifieds, Hobby Stock, and Jr. Hobby Stock.
The rules of Hobby Stock state that the car MUST be American-made, 4 cylinder with no more than 2 valves per cylinder, and front-wheel drive. No engine or transmission changes or modifications are allowed but the front driveshafts can be locked. Cars must have a full roll cage, aluminum racing seat, fuel cell, and the driver has to wear all fire-proof clothing and shoes with a helmet and neck brace.
Here is my 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier hobby stock race car. It is a 2.2L 5-speed car. I am currently sponsored by Poort Excavating, Precision Gage Repair, Mainstream Automotive, Hunter's Hilltop Service, Tom Corbett Farms, and by my friend Richard Shoengerdt. While the car was originally light blue we painted it charcoal grey with a black hood and trunk for the 2005/2006 season.
For the 2007 Season things did not go as well as I had hoped. The car was in need of help and I didn't do much to help it. I am really trying to finish school and I took 11 credit hours this summer while working full time so the car got put on hold. When I did race I stayed in the top 5 or six positions put I ran into trouble with the motor due to strange scarring on the #3 piston which messed up the cylinder walls.
I have since rebuilt the motor but I have totally redone the car. The car is now a 1994 that thinks it is a 1997. The car has been rewired with all the 1997 harnesses, computer, gauges, and block. I did this to get the OBDII computer and all of its capabilities.
On October 31, 2007 we bought a new-style 1996 Cavalier as a new toy or secret weapon for next season. It is not a new racecar but it was reliable and a good handler. There is much to do with this car and a lot of weight to come out (look at the dash and airbags!). Here are the first pictures from when I brought it home. Much much more to come!
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The 2006 season kicked off to an awesome start after I led the pack through the first heat race of the night and then turned around and won the first feature also. I was totally pumped.The season went extremely well and my goal was to stay in the top five for every race. I did just that and did make the top five in every race but two: During the third race the electronic ignition module behind the coil packs gave out in the heat race so I drove my dad's #19 car and came in 6th from having to start dead last in the feature.
The second time was due to a major wreck. Terry Thompson was driving the #2 Cavalier and blew a tire in turn 1. In the middle of 2 and 3 the right-front rim caught and sent the car flipping end over end. I was two cars behind him and did the best I could. As my car skidded to a stop his fell out of the air and landed upside down on the front of my car. He was taken to the hospital for a broken hand and my poor silver #21 had to be towed home.
We were very fortunate though, Thompson landed on the front of the hood and crushed the bumper, hood, radiator and support but did not damage the engine, drivetrain, or steering.
We decided to build a new car and go all out. We bought a wrecked 1994 Cavalier 2.2 5 speed coupe and gutted it out completely.
A local motor shop rebuilt the motor and we locked the front end. This car was on fire this season! The first night out I won the feature again, leading all 24 cars for 12 of 15 laps. I won one other feature before the season ended and finished in 4th overall out of 60 drivers.
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