Speedway AutoMall Legends Car 1590 West Lane Road Machesney Park, IL 61115 (815) 636-0244

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Overview of the Legends Cars Series

Legends Cars are created by 600 Racing, Inc. and sanctioned by INEX, Corp. to provide a fun and affordable racing opportunity in which anyone (experienced or inexperienced) can compete.  This series fights the high costs involved in racing and the rules are strictly enforced to ensure safety and cost control.

 

Getting Back to the Grassroots Foundation of Auto Racing

In 1992, the officials at Charlotte Motor Speedway began noticing a great need all across North America.  This need was very simple: an affordable race car with a unique design that requires little maintenance time and cost.   This was brought about because many short tracks have allowed the cost of their competing race cars to escalate out of control with “loose” rules.  These weekend warriors were having to spend $20,000 to  $50,000 just to put a race car on the track and another $50,000 to $100,000 just to keep it competitive and on the track for a full year.

 

Car counts began to drop drastically, and at this moment, CMS officials estimate that 30% to 40% of the race cars in North America are not in competition today because of cost.  One may suspect that the recent economic recession caused the drastic drop in car counts; however, this is a false assumption because racing has always thrived during times of recession.  Why?  Racing is powerful and addictive sport for those that compete, and when times get tough, racers become very ingenious and find some way to get to the track.  After further research CMS officials noticed that when car costs went over $20,000 , participation dwindled.  Tracks featuring cars in the $10,000 to $15,000 price range with low maintenance expenses (cost of racing a car per race) had significantly increased car counts.

 

CMS officials also recognized that tracks themselves began to downsize.  The traditional 1/2 mile speedways of the 1950s and 60s have either closed or become smaller.  The majority of new tracks built are 3/8 mile or less in distance.  As a result of this research, CMS officials launched 600 Racing, Inc. in January, 1992 and began a highly-accelerated research and development program into the design of a new race car that would cost under $13,000 , race only on smaller tracks, be able to be towed by a light pick-up truck, have very low maintenance costs and remain simple enough so that the owner would not be required to hire a mechanic to work on a car.

 

 

Legends Cars

 

The cars feature a “new” Yamaha XJR 1250 sealed motorcycle engine which produces approximately 125 horsepower. Horsepower is not a significant factor in the legends Cars Series because the rules require the use of a 13 inch, 60 series BF Goodrich radial “Legends Edition” tire mounted on a 7-inch wide steel wheel. The tire is of a moderately hard compound and no alterations may be made to the tires.

 

In test runs on both 1\4 mile dirt and asphalt ovals, the drivers found that it is almost impossible to reach the 80% power band because of the limited tire traction. Eliminating the need for the final 0% of the power band prevents a driver from being able to “stand on the gas” in the corners thus putting more challenge to and fun back into driving. This is a great cost containment program since one could spend well over $10,000 on an engine for more horsepower which really would not make much of a difference in performance since the radial tires could not handle the extra power. The “spec” tires also last for many races (at least 30) thus keeping the cost of maintenance as much as 75% lower than last model stock cars, midgets, or spring cars.

 

Legends Car are sold only through 600 racing, Inc. and its authorized dealers. A full tubular roll cage sits atop the frame rails which are firmly braced. The cars utilize a recycled Toyota rear end, front disc and rear drum brakes, rack and pinion steering, Bil Stein coil-over shock suspension on all found corners, a four-gallon fuel cell, Simpson five-point safety belts, factory manufactured racing seat, Moog Automotive suspension components, Wagner brakes, and Belden wire & cable. Both doors are operational for easy entrance and exit of the cars.

 

Wheelbase =73”

Overall Width =60”

Overall Length =10’6 (with bumpers)

Height =46”

Weight =1,080 to 1,200 pounds (maximum 52% left side and rear %)

Engine =stock Yamaha XJR1250

Tires =spec 205/13R60 BF Goodrich TA Comp HR4 Legends Edition

Wheels = steel; 7”wide; 13” diameter; 3”-3 ¼” offset

 

What are the different fiberglass body styles offered?

 

1934 Chevy Coupe

1934 Ford Sedan

1934 Ford Coupe (w/ suicide doors)

1937 Ford Flatback Sedan

1937 Ford Coupe

1940 Ford Sedan

1937 Chevy Coupe

1937 Chevy Flatback Sedan

1937 Dodge Coupe

 

 

What can I add to my Legends Car and what can I adjust?

 

The official Legends Car rulebook is your guide as to what you can and cannot do with the car. It tells you exactly what you can add or change on the car, and if it is not stated, then it should be considered illegal. Some of the things that may be added include oil coolers, electric fans, duct work, tachometers, fire extinguishers, mirrors, and safety related items such as roll bar padding.

 

The only adjustments that may be made are front and camber, caster and toes; tire pressure; spring rates; rear end gear ratios; and the weight distribution by setting the coil over suspension.

 

 

 

 

What is the maintenance program between the races for the Legends Cars?

 

Legends Cars require about three to four hour’s maintenance between races provided that there are no serious problems. The program includes cleaning the car, changing the oil, checking all fluids, cleaning the air filters, checking the tightness of all bolts, checking for broken or damaged parts, and setting up the car for the upcoming race. A recommended maintenance program and set-ups are all explained in the detailed “New Owner Packet” that every owner receives when they purchase their car.

 

What keeps Legends Cars racing affordable?

 

The strict rulebook and the enforcement of these rules has been the method that INEX , Corp. has used to keep the costs of the cars at a bare minimum. With all of the cars being manufactured by 600 Racing, Inc., all of the cars are exactly the same in terms of suspension point locations when the cars come out of the shop. A set of twenty technical inspection jigs have been developed to assure that the original locations are maintained on every cars. The “hard” spec tire and narrow wheels do not allow a driver to utilized all of the power from the engine thus eliminating the need to spend more money for extra horsepower.

 

How many cars in competition today?

To date there are more than 5000 existence. There are car owners worldwide, and the series is gaining momentum with every race. Legends Cars drivers come from all walks of life and range in age from 12 to 80.

 

 

 

How often do the Legends Cars race?

 

In 1992, the first year of the Legends Racing Series there were only 14 races in three states. In 1993, the Legends Racing Series was comprised of more the 5 0 point and non-point races in seven states. In 1995 , the AC Delco Legends Racing Series literally exploded with 680 races at 150 different tracks including events in Canada, Mexico, England and Australia. In 2001, there over 1800 races at worldwide. This incredible growth has made the Legends Racing Series the fastest growing form of motor sports in the world today ! Each year all drivers, sponsors and car owners are invited to the exclusive Speedway Club at Charlotte Motor Speedway for a year end banquet. At the 1995 banquet over $75,000 in prize money was distributed. Today there is over $3,000,000.00 in prize money. Of course the banquet is just a small part of the action at Charlotte Motor Speedway when the Legends Cars compete in the National Championships. 250 Legends Cars attended the 1996 AC Delco National Championship and close, “wheel to wheel” competition was the order of the weekend, as the Legends drivers put on a great show for the ever growing fan base at Charlotte. With Legends Car sales at an all time-high, 2001 is assured to be even more of a success as we continue to grow and improve on our series.

 

At Charlotte Motor Speedway, the cars are divided into four divisions; the Pro, Semi-Pro, Chargers, and Masters. The cars do not change in the least, the drivers racing experience make the difference. The Pro division showcases racers who have actual racing experience and drivers who have just moved up from the Semi-Pro division. The Semi-Pro division features drivers who just purchased their cars and have limited racing experience. The Chargers division consists of drivers that have no racing experience, but this division offers them valuable track time without the pressure of racing with the experienced drivers. The Masters division is for driver age 40 and older. The various divisions offer the opportunity to race with competition that is at your level, in order to give everyone an equal chance of success. Another advantage of this separation is that it allows more than one driver to compete with the same car on any given night. For instance: a father may compete in the Masters division while his son competes in the Semi-Pro division races on the same night.

 

 

Do the Legends Car only compete on ovals?

 

No, the Legends Cars are legal for competition in SCCA events. Elliott Forbes-Robinson(EFR) has won several solo SCCA events in his Legends Car. “It stunned everyone.” Sid EFT about the first SCCA event that the Legends Car competed in.

 

 

What makes Legends Cars visually appealing?

 

One of reasons for the success of the Legends Car is undoubtedly the car’s appearance. These fiberglass-bodied cars are almost exact replicas of  the 1934 and 1940 Fords and Chevy that founded the grassroots of rating as we know it, and remain extremely popular today. Every two inches of the original car bodies were measured and reduced by computer to insure authenticity. Unlike larger, full size cars, the Legends Car has a “cute” appearance at first glance. But 125 horsepower of YamahaXJR1250 will quickly dispel and notions that this race car means anything but business.

 

 

What are future plans for the Legends Cars?

 

The Legends Cars are here to stay! National television coverage for the Legends Cars is quite extensive. Many of the top Legends Car drivers have used the AC Delco Legend Racing Series as a stepping-stone into other forms of professional racing. There are numerous former Legends Car racers in Nascar Winston Racing Series, two former Legends Car racers in the Nascar Super Truck Series and on in the Goodies Dash Series. As media coverage continues to rise we expect many up and coming drivers to use this series as a way of proving their driving ability.

 

For further information on tracks raced in the Illinois and Wisconsin areas contact Dean Reed at Speedway Auto Mall Legends Cars in Machesney Park,  IL 61115 815-636-0244 E-mail speedamall@msn.com