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Jr. Dragster question
#541285
11/30/09 05:52 PM
11/30/09 05:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,443
Northern N.J.
hemi_doug
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,443
Northern N.J.
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So my little girl (8) wants to go racing and so I started shopping for a Jr. Dragster for her. I don't want to spend a whole lot of cash on it at first but I realize you get what you pay for. I found a digger without a motor...he wants 3500 for it. It comes with a bunch of extras including the electronics and a used fire suit....what do you guys think I ought to offer for it? I don't thing he is going to give it away but I want to make sure I'm getting a fair deal... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-Half...fLegalQ5f#v4-35
71 440-6 4spd & 69 Hemi 4spd
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: Quicktree]
#541287
11/30/09 06:02 PM
11/30/09 06:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,443
Northern N.J.
hemi_doug
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,443
Northern N.J.
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So what/who are the names I should look for? Trying to ejamacate myself before plunking down the cash....
71 440-6 4spd & 69 Hemi 4spd
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: hemi_doug]
#541288
11/30/09 06:24 PM
11/30/09 06:24 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,379
MD
Kevins493
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,379
MD
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I'm sure I'll leave some out, but KCS, Halfscale, Motivational Tubing, Quick Kids (owner runs a duster in SS/KA out of MD), Hardens, Mike Bos, Spitzer, Ken Keir (mostly builds Comp stuff), JR race car engineering makes one now IIRC...there are several others I can't think of now.
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: hemi_doug]
#541291
11/30/09 06:55 PM
11/30/09 06:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,394
Quicktree
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,394
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Quote:
I believe it's a Half Scale Superlite...
you couldn't go wrong if thats the case. you guys will have fun 
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: VernMotor]
#541296
11/30/09 08:20 PM
11/30/09 08:20 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,443
Maryland
Dads426
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,443
Maryland
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Agree that you should make sure that it's chrome moly (strong/light/can run down to 7.90's). Half-Scale cars are very good quality and hold their value. Motors can cost $600-$4000, so for an 8 year old you need a really tame motor. Depending on what he has for the car, you may not use it for a few years (8-year olds can only run 12.90's in the 1/8th). As for clutches, I used a beefed up Salsbury for years, then went to the JR Billet clutch. I never really like the Polar (alot of people had problems with the early ones).
Be sure to buy lots of Loctite blue and Nylock fasteners. Those little one lungers will shake everything loose on the car...
As for a price; we've been out of it for some time, but $2500 for a rolling chassis is good, the electronics, clutch, tow dolly can add up the $$$$ fast, so $3000-3500 is not out of the question. Add a $600 motor and go 12.90 racing.
But, before you spend the money, see if any local tracks have a rental program. That way if she hates it you are not out $3500 which sounds like what happened to the guy selling the car (This happened to some people we know).
Running these cars is a blast. Your project will be delayed a few more years if you get into it, but the people are great. Some of our past competitors are moparts members.
Last edited by Dads426; 11/30/09 08:30 PM.
2012 422 Allstars NSS Champion
2013 422 Allstars NSS Champion
2014 422 Allstars NSS Champion
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: Chassisman]
#541300
11/30/09 09:34 PM
11/30/09 09:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,589
Topeka Kansas
ksj
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,589
Topeka Kansas
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Quote:
2 best days I ever had owning a jr. was the day I bought it and the day I sold it...that thing drove me bonkers....A V-8 is cake to tune compared to those things...LOL...but the daughter LOVED IT !!! 
Forget evrything you know about a v-8 when it comes to JD's 
Here is just one of the sites to check out.
http://www.jrdragsterplus.com/phpBB2/index.php
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: Chassisman]
#541301
11/30/09 09:48 PM
11/30/09 09:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
WILD BILL
Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
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Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
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You don't have to put your car on hold. You just have to be crazy to do both. 
Take a look on Racing Junk. I've seen many 12.90 cars for sale for less than that.
You can also take a look here. A great forum for Jrs.
I'll be happy to help any way I can.
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: hemi_doug]
#541304
11/30/09 10:12 PM
11/30/09 10:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
WILD BILL
Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
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Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
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It's the first forum I ever joined.
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: Dads426]
#541307
11/30/09 10:50 PM
11/30/09 10:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
WILD BILL
Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
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Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
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Yep. By aout 7 months.
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: hemi_doug]
#541308
11/30/09 11:48 PM
11/30/09 11:48 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,749
Chowchilla,ca
Chassisman
master
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master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,749
Chowchilla,ca
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Quote:
Quote:
2 best days I ever had owning a jr. was the day I bought it and the day I sold it...that thing drove me bonkers....A V-8 is cake to tune compared to those things...LOL...but the daughter LOVED IT !!!
I guess you never tuned a 2 stroke model aircraft motor...talk about persnickety....nothing more frustrating then to have it idle in the pits just to quit on the end of the runway or worse on takeoff....   
My Traxxas Nitro R/C trucks try my nerves too...but that JR was about the death of me....And pulling double duty(racing my car and racing hers) about caused a marital rift....but I sure slept well that night...LOL
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: hemi_doug]
#541313
12/01/09 09:14 PM
12/01/09 09:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 628
Inver Grove Heights, MN
69_6bbl_Runner
super street
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super street
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 628
Inver Grove Heights, MN
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I had the most fun of my life racing jr's, great people, most tracks are great with them. I had all 3 of my daughters racing them at the same time eventually. We had cars by Spitzer, Hardens, RPC, and Halfscale. I would advise to buy the absolute best car you can afford, shop for a deal, and if she loses interest you can usually get your money back if you bought a good car/parts to start with. Stay away from older "off-brand" cars as they will be a tough sell. Halfscale, Motivational are the most popular, RPC are great cars in my opinion, as are Hardens also. jrdrags.com and jrdragsterplus.com , as well as racingjunk are great places to look.
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Re: Jr. Dragster question
[Re: 69_6bbl_Runner]
#541314
12/02/09 01:05 AM
12/02/09 01:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,393
Abilene, Texas
fastmark
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,393
Abilene, Texas
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I raced for about 5 years and had more fun with my kids than I had doing anything else in the world. WE retired at the top of our game. My daughter was too old and my Son gave it up for football. We were 7.90 racers and good ones at that. I have some Ironman and glass jr trophies to show for it. My advise is to buy the best car you can find. If you have good equipment, you will win. DO NOT BUY A CAR JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE SOMEONE ELSE WINNING IN THAT CAR! I have seen several good drivers make a sorry car look like a winner. We had Hardens. I like them because they were stiffer than most and transferred the reaction of the clutch faster than a softer car. It will not make much difference as a beginner, but if your kid gets used to a good car at first, they can be a killer driver. Get a good rapter from Blossom racing for 12.90 and get a Rhino for 7.90 to 8.90. Forget the Blockzilla stuff. It is a waste of money. Do not use the salibury clutch. It is not as consistent as the others. I liked the polars over the shock wave. My Gaged Engineering clutch would run higher mph at 7.90 than anyone else, but that is for much later. Halfscale is a good car, but I preferred the Hardens. One of Blossom's friends in MI make a good copy. I bought one of RPC first cars and it was junk. When I went to the Harden, I picked up 4 tenths! Everyone I sold my cars and motors to has won races and track championships right where we left off. Buy good stuff and you kids will will and have fun. No one likes losing because they have bad equipment. I built all my own motors so it is a task that you need to spend time on and research things so you can do your part. That is what I loved about jr racing. I did my job and the kids did theirs. We were a team and had lots of fun. Good luck. Here is what happens when your have a sucessful jr program.You loose your ride to a better driver!
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