I tell everyone who will listen, build a car you like, and will enjoy. Drag Week is once a year, and there are plenty of other things you may enjoy doing with the car, so don't get wrapped up in building a car to a specific class.

You are going to be in this car for forty or more hours, driving down roads you never even knew existed. Some considerations should be given to comfort.

1. A good exhaust system. You should be able to talk to your co-driver, or converse on a cell phone, but most importantly, it needs to keep spent gasses out of the car! Sealing the firewall also helps.

2. Dyna-mat isn't cheap, but you don't have to do the entire floorboard. A few well placed peices where the exhaust runs under the car, and under your feet will help with heat and noise.

3. Cooling system, for water, trans, and even engine oil if running a filled block. Do not scrimp here, a well designed system, with proven, reliable components will make the trip, and car, more enjoyable.

4. Go conservative on compression and camshaft. A valve spring eating, 13.5 to 1, pinging, overheating monster gets old quick, and valve train issues are the number 1 killer on Drag Week.

My daughter likes racing with the SME cars, less pressure from her perspective, and a great group of friendly people, but in the end, it's really just 350 street cars with different letters on their windshields.