At last we talked, I was going to take the #15 Rebel Chassis, Oaks Family Racing late model and go Crate racing.  That plan has changed!  Instead, we will be building a new motor and do some of the more local touring series races for super late models.  We weighed the cost of switching over to a crate engine late model versus rebuilding the late model motor and realized that we were not going to be saving much, if any at all.  So, these are the final plans to get started rebuilding for 2011.  Car is getting some revisions right now.  Once we get the car back, we will put the body on it and get the motor ready.  And as always, we are looking for sponsors.  Anybody that may be interested can view the video link below to see what it is all about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoB89S_DLRs

Well fans, I have thought long and hard about it and here is my decision…The Oaks Family Racing Rebel Chassis Late Model #15 will go Fastrak Crate Late Model Racing in the 2011 racing season.  I have been back and forth with the pros and cons of an open steel block motor versus a crate motor.  With an open steel block motor, I am limited in a couple of areas.  First, there are not too many race tracks left out there that have a steel block late model division solely.  Most tracks have either went to an open “super” late model division or they have elected to make the switch to the crate late models.  Secondly, I just would not be able to afford to build a steel block motor that would be able to compete against most of the aluminum block super late models around my area.
     So, instead I will go crate late model racing.  It is somewhat affordable, well, atleast the motor is anyway.  We will tour around with the northeast division of Fastrak racing and see how we do.  If I do not like it, we will find something else to do with our money and time.  But for right now, I love the sport too much to give it up completely.

It has been a while since my last post.  Well, the reason for that is that we have been struggling with trying to get our car right.  We had got the car to handle rather well.  However, we just could not get it to have any forward bite.  Finally about 2 weeks ago we started doing some different stuff with the lift arm and fifth coil spring rate and finally got the car to get some awesome forward bite…so much, that it bent the tube above that it is mounted to.  We got a new tube put in and braced up better and thought we would be good to go. 

We traveled to Central Pa Speedway for the O’reilly All Star Late Yankee Doodle 50.  It was a 2 day event and we made it in for both days.  It was a 25 lap feature on Friday night and a 50 lap feature on Saturday.  This was our first time running with the All Stars and it took its toll.  We hurt our motor.  Not sure to what extent for now but it is getting looked at.

We will get the motor fixed but not sure what to do for next year.  Possibly go Crate Racing.

Marion Center Speedway May 1, 2010 Heat Race…VIDEO

After a long winter, finally, the 2010 Racing Season has started again.  After having my Racingjunction.com Rebel Chassis late model in my chassis builders shop all winter, and after getting it ready for a car show in March, we finally hit the track for the first time this year two weeks ago.

I was looking forward to that first heat race.  We started on the outside pole.  My excitement ended early though as we sustained a direct hit on the left rear tire on the opening lap.  We were able to continue the heat race though.  I began making my way to the front.  Then, as I drew even with the leader, the left rear tire let go, forcing me to pit with one lap to go in the heat race. 

We started at the rear of the field for the A-main.  We just missed the setup for the A-main.  We were not able to pass except for a few cars.  But, I did complete the A-main and learned some very valuable information to apply to my car in the future.

We went home and for the last two weeks have been studying videos of the car in action to help determine what changes need to be made.  Some adjustments have been made and now need to be put to the test.  Tomorrow night is race night…so we will find out if our newly learned knowledge helps us any.  I will keep you  posted in the next weeks to come.

Here we go already.  First post of the “off season”.  Well, we will be starting next week to prepare the #15 Rebel Chassis dirt late model driven by John Oaks for the 2010 racing season.  We will start by delivering my car to my chassis builder so he may start to install a brand new body on the car.  In addition to having the body installed, we will also be having some brackets fabricated for bracing and some suspension updates for next year.  Once all of this is finished, we will then contact our graphics and lettering guy (Animal Graphics) and have the car lettered.  Then, when all of this is finished, I will bring the car back to my shop and begin going over the setup on the car…from top to bottom.  As we do each task, I will be taking some photos and posting them on here just to keep everyone updated on our progress.

In the meantime, I am pushing forward with my powerlifting hobby…just to stay in shape for the next season.

John Oaks passing the leader on his way to winning the B-main

Well, there it is…the final race of the 2009 racing season for driver John Oaks of Punxsutawney, PA.  The Racingjunction.com / Legends Specialty Vehicles,  Rebel Chassis race team traveled to Sarver, PA (Lernerville Speedway) for the Steel City Stampede.  I did not race my own dirt late model.  Instead, we took my chassis builders sportsman stock car to have some fun with.  It was a three day event, practice night, qualifying heats (one day), and mains (on the third day.  From the moment we unloaded, the car handled perfect.  However, we did not have the right gears in the car.  We struggled with speed on practice night and the next day for the qualifying heats.  We ended up having to race a B-main on the third day.  We did get the gears changed for the B-main.  We started dead last and in (3) laps we were leading the B-main.  The car was perfect and it showed as we continued on the win the B-main with ease.  However, our day ended early in the A-main as the rear suspension broke and threw a driveshaft.  But, we did have fun while we were running.

This concludes racing results posts from me for the 2009 season.  We now start immediately rebuilding for the 2010 season.  I race a Rebel Chassis dirt late model.  This is a R&D chassis for a local chassis builder and friend.  We will be making some changes on the car over the winter.  As we do, I will keep you posted as to what kinds of things we do to prepare for the 2010 season.  Until then, feel free to comment and post here.  We look forward to hearing from you.

According to my last post, I know I stated that we would be racing a few races at the end of the year in another car.  Well, turns out that alot of the tracks around these parts have had to cancel due to the weather for this time of year.  So, as long as weather permits, we will be taking the Legends Specialty Vehicles and Racingjunction.com sponsored #1 Rebel Chassis Pro Stock to Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA) for the Steel City Stampede to be held October 22 thru 24, 2009.  It will be interesting to see how we do in this car.  I raced pro stocks for about 5 years before I decided to move up to the late model division.  So, I do have experience in these types of cars.  Stay tuned for results and updates on how we perform at this outing.

October 6, 2009

My name is John and I am new to blogging.  However, you will be hearing from me on a regular basis now.  I will be writing on many things in general on dirt late model racing.  I, myself, run a dirt late model race car.  So, alot of my posts will be based on where I have raced or where I am going to be racing.  I will also look forward to any new bloggers out there and what they may have to say.

October 3, 2009

I took the #15 Legends Specialty Vehicles and Racingjunction.com Rebel Chassis piloted by me, John Oaks, to the McKean County Raceway, located in Smethport, PA, on October 3, 2009.  It was a ULMS (United Late Model Series) sanctioned race called The Ultimate Race Fans Priority Care 50.  There were about 40 dirt late model teams that attended this race representing several different states.  Although my team is a little under funded compared to the others, we still did well.  We did not qualify for the big show, but we did manage a 6th place finish in the B-main.  This was a very much needed finish for us as we had battled bad luck all season long in working out the bugs on a brand new chassis for us.  Russ King went on to win the A-main.  Congrats to him.  Heck of a job driving out there.

My next race will be next weekend at Hesston Speedway.  However, I will be piloting my chassis builder’s street stock.  Just going to have some fun to finish out the season.

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