Racesaver Sprint Car Engine Part 1 - Developing the Program - Engine Builder Magazine

Main Navigation

Advertisement
Social Connect
Resources
Our Brand Family
Engine Builder Magazine
Content for engine professionals and enthusiasts
Engines

Racesaver Sprint Car Engine Part 1 – Developing the Program

Avatar
By Bobby Courtwright

The fastest way to become a millionaire in racing, of course, is to start with two million. Sprint cars are no exception but a gentleman named French Grimes came up with an affordable alternative called Racesaver. His idea was a smaller engine that could be put together by anyone and raced competitively for a number of years.

Related Articles

The formula was simple. Use a GM 305 block with spec heads from Brodix. Flat top pistons, stock rods and wet sump oiling would produce around 450hp, enough to propel winged sprints well over 100 mph. Motors would be inspected and sealed to keep everyone on a level playing field.

As the series grew, so did interest from race engine builders. The creativity in the professional engine shop meant that most had something unique to offer. Parts suppliers offered rotating assemblies, short blocks and other kits to make the engines reasonable for customers and profitable for businesses.

Unlike the trend toward “crate” motors, aftermarket parts and services are still needed for this series. That keeps a lot of Americans employed. If you work with a local machine shop they can do block machining and then you supply the rest of the labor.

My father was a sprint car racer, so I have a solid interest in keeping this sport alive.

I’ve been involved in racing most of my life. My father was a sprint car champion. I started out racing an ASCS 360. I was offered a ride in a Racesaver a few years ago and really enjoy the series. What I want to share with readers is my experience in building one of these motors. Hopefully this will spark more interest in the series and get provide another market for you, the local machine shops and custom engine builder.

We’ll be showing how a Racesaver engine can be built and discuss how it may fit into your business model. Look for updates at www.enginebuildermagazine.com as well as in the print issue of this publication over the next several months. I’ll detail the parts I’m using to build this engine and share suggestions about ways that you can use the same or a similar build to develop your own series engine platform.

Some of this will be old hat for the pros but it may also inspire readers who are looking for new ideas. So hang on as we go from idea to reality.

Bobby Courtwright’s passion for racing is matched only by his passion for rescuing exotic parrots.

You May Also Like

Engine Components

LTR Engine Build

This Late Model Engines build is centered around Concept Performance’s new LTR block, which is the first aftermarket as-cast aluminum Gen V LT block. 

Evan Laux
By Evan Laux

The Chevrolet LT engine family from General Motors is rooted in the early ‘70s, when the LT1 was featured in the Corvette and Camaro Z28. After a 20-year hiatus, GM reintroduced the platform in the early ‘90s. The “LT1 350” came out in 1991, and was distinct from the high-output Gen I LT1 of the 1970s. It displaced 5.7L (350 cu in), and was a two-valve per cylinder pushrod design. The LT1 used a reverse-flow cooling system, which cooled the cylinder heads first, maintaining lower combustion chamber temperatures and allowing the engine to run at a higher compression than its immediate predecessors.

Read Full Article

More Engines Posts
Building Big Block Marine Engines

Find out what it takes to build a formidable marine engine.

By Engine Builder
Marine Engines
Developing a Honda 2.3L Engine for Road Racing

One of the most important aspects of engine building has nothing to do with the engine at all. You have to understand the customer and what they are trying to achieve.

By Luke Wilson
Honda Engine
The Undying Mystique of Nissan’s RB26 Engine

With all the winning and global interest, the RB platform saw an incredible amount of growth in aftermarket support and OE performance applications. Nissan produced one of the biggest icons ever to hit the racing scene!

By Mitchell Wilson
The World of Off-Road Race Engines

While there’s no concrete formula for building a quality off-road race engine, some shops follow individual steps that help them to craft the perfect engine for the customer.

By Bruce McKillop
Off-Road Race Engines

Other Posts

Precision Racing Components’ 5 Stage Sprint Car Oil Pump

The pump features a unique pressure gear design along with true helical scavenge rotors giving PRC’s oil pumps a competitive advantage.

By Engine Builder
LS Intake Manifolds

LS swaps are popular for many reasons, but there are a lot of variations and details to sort through – more of them than you may expect – and many of them are associated with the intake manifold.

By Eric Garbe
LS Cylinder Heads

The LS engine is known for its cylinder heads, and there are tons of options available to upgrade the factory components.

By Evan Laux
Choosing the Correct Block for Your LS Engine Build

Whether you’re scouring junkyards, ordering cores, investigating factory options, looking at aftermarket cast iron or aluminum blocks, or spending big bucks on billet LS blocks, you’ve probably noticed it’s been harder to find exactly what you want for the foundation of your LS build than it historically has.

By Greg Jones