Running a 1982 in Classic?

[116ciHemi]

So, I have been looking at classes to run in, and I will probably end up running G/GRS for simplicity. However, the Escort fits every letter of the rules for the classic category with one exception: it was made in 1982, one year after the cutoff. The 1981 Escort was identical to the '82 except that in '82 they added the Ford logo to the grille and put slightly shorter gears in the 4 speed trans. Is there any way I could apply to run in f/cpro or f/cgalt if I could get a grille from a 1981 Escort? It is really just a golly gee whiz question than anything else.

[Cajun Kid]

1981 is the cutoff for classic. No matter how many modifications you make to a 1982 car it would still be a 1982 !

That is my take on it.

Charles

[1212FBGS]

i think if you can prove with documentation that the core body design is the same you should be able to run it..... and hey, were talkn ECTA here.... i heard you could  run just about anything down there...
kr

[Stan Back]

Cut the VIN off it, put the grille in, call it an '81.  You ain't done no one wrong.

Stan

[4-barrel Mike]

"...coupes and sedans produced between 1928 and 1981..."  Some 1982 model-year vehicles were produced in 1981.  Your Ford should have a manufacture month/year on the tag on the door jam.

Mike

[116ciHemi]

It was made in June of 1982. I don't have ideas any trying this anytime soon, I am mainly just bench racing. Running f/cgalt would probably allow me to not have to spend a a lot of money on the car, while still giving me an achieveable goal to shoot for. I couldn't even run in production since it has an engine swap. (taller deck height block)

[t russell]

Run in f/grs I think the record is 112.Or use a leaf blower an chase down an evo.
terry

[saltfever]

"...coupes and sedans produced between 1928 and 1981..."  Some 1982 model-year vehicles were produced in 1981.  Your Ford should have a manufacture month/year on the tag on the door jam.Mike

The operative word is "produced". If it doesn't fall within those dates then it is not a "classic".

[dw230]

Vehicles will include post-vintage cars such as the 1949-50 Ford and Mercury through the popular Muscle Car years of Camaros, Mustangs, and Chargers.

I fail to see where an Escort falls into muscle car territory.

DW

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I should say that an Escort doesn't fall into the "muscle car" definition -- although I do think I remember that a factory turbo Escort was available one or two years.  Still wasn't a Muscle Car -- but it wasn't without some redeeming features.

Back to Walt, the real name of 116ciHemi -- for those of you that haven't met him - he's the real thing we talk about when we say that land speed racing needs to have young folks catch the fever - because in a few years they'll be the ones with the experience to help yet another generation of newbies get started.  I have to admit -- when Walt introduced himself to me at Maxton last weekend I didn't figure out who he was for a couple of seconds.  Yikes -- makes me feel OLD!  But it's pretty obvious that he's heading in (what we think is) the right direction.  So what if he asks about putting an '82 into the '81 and younger classes?  He's learning - and exposing some of the rules for all to see and better understand.  Thanks, 116.

[dw230]

No problem, Walt is more than welcome.

Its been several minutes now and I still can't fit an Escort into a muscle car framework.

DW

[116ciHemi]

I fail to see where an Escort falls into muscle car territory.

DW

It's got a four speed and a hemi. 

Like I said, this was more idle thinking than anything else. I have more room to play with in G/GRS, and I can try out more ideas there than I could in any classic category.

I do have one other question- Do the dates for the "classic" category ever move up? The normal age definition of of a classic (at least from what I have seen) is 25 years old (and, no I don't really condsider the Escort a "classic" in the normal sense of the term). Just a question.

[RichFox]

They picked the '81-'82 break point to keep some bodys Camaro record safe. Or something like that. So the break shouldn't change.

[Stan Back]

Probly right, Rich -- but they let the Monzas in.

Stan

[Dynoroom]

The classic category came about in the SCTA do the aero developments in production cars. In generial the cars built AFTER 1981 became more aerodynamic and the older cars were considered uncompetitive. This also led to fears of losing competitors due to there cars no longer being able to set records any longer. Other than that I'd run your "''81" Escort if I were you.

By the way Walt, I've heard some guys call their cars '92 when they were built in '82. It doesn't change the class you run in, no matter what other think.... it happens all the time. If the body / chassis is a long running one (say fox mustangs) there all the same car.

This could get interesting now..........