Im new to class 11. I mean, I have followed off road racing since I was a kid (I am almost 40 now). I have always known what class 11 is....but i have been really learning the past year. So - NEWB I am.
New to VeeDubs I am not.I am a third generation Volkswagen guy and I am very proud of that. I have had over 20 bugs and know them quite well - In an on road capacity that is.
I have started a car that is already cut for a baja. It has a cage. Its a 61. I have a couple motors. 1600 dp and a huge pile of parts that will become an 091 and a 2332. This baja is kind of a practice run and will be a sort of pre-runner. I live in Oregon so there are lots of places for testing.
I am looking to get some advice here and there from you guys that know whats up. I have read the baja book from front to back several times. i have followed lots of builds. so someone please check me if Im wrong.
I know that i need to start with a really solid car for a class 11 build. i know that i need king pin front and IRS rear. i would like to start with a late model car...72, 73, 74 etc. I also know its harder to switch the front end of a late model car than putting an IRS in an early car but i think that starting with a really solid late model car will pay off later. i have two extra king pin fronts and two 091 so if a really sold early car comes along i may choose it for the class 11 build. i know that i will need to seperate pan and body to do some welding on the pan. finding a car and getting it seperated as well as keeping my baja moving along will keep me busy.
I would like to know what advice i can get as far as trying to get involved with a team to possibly volunteer in the pits or somthing to kind of get an idea of whats going on. Im not new to racing - a friend of mine and i ran a bug with a rabbit motor at the local circle track for quite a few years.
Also....any recommended reading??

welcome!
You can start asking questions anytime. Very helpful people here. Go to SNORE's site and down load the rules and then ask before you do so you don't build a 1969 rule's class 11. Interpulation is the name of the game. You cannot switch front heads on the car, you gotta run what god (the factory) gave it at birth, most have abandoned the swing for IRS. I'm gonna get blasted by the swingers here on the board. Good luck and get some talk generated wrong or right its good to hear some discussion on here!

thank you for the info. i thought you could change the front end or trans. im glad to know that you cant. helps me narrow down. i must have IRS so that means late model front end. i can deal with that. probably does some good to have a couple beams in the parts pile. How realistic is it to image being in a race in a year or so...if i could get the build done. is there a race you would recommend for a newb driver and crew to attend. i was thinking Laughlin or somthing like that.

Welcome to the coalition!

One year is do-able! It all depends on factors, like Life issues! Birthdays, Anniversaries, Holidays things that pop up and slow your progress to a crawl! I know this, because I have experienced this situation for the past 2 years while building my 11 car! I spend about 4 to 5 hours most nights Working, Fabricating, Planning, Ordering parts, restocking things, like welding supplies, grinding wheels, tool repair or replacement, Nuts and bolts, just stuff! There’s always something you need! And not to mention Logistics! Do you have a way to transport you, your team and the racecar to and from an event? If you can handle this and other roadblocks that pop up, then it’s do-able! You might consider trying a short course race first! Very much like Snore’s Battle At Primm or BAP for short! You could get your feet wet with a course roughly 12 miles long! This way if you had any problems with the car, it would be fairly simple to retrieve it from out in the desert! And just by coincidence, that very race is happening this weekend, so a year from now you should be ready to go! Unfortunately for me, I probably won’t finish my car until around June! Just in time for the KC HiLiTES Midnight Special, in Ridgecrest CA! This will work out very well for me logistically speaking that is, because I live in Ridgecrest! Anyway there are good People with a lot of experience in the class 11 coalition willing to help you with your project! All you have to do is ask! But ask first before you do something you will regret! It will save you time, money and a headache! However most of them are busy prepping or heading for Primm right now! They will be back on Monday! So login for all the good racing stories! and ask any question you might have! Good Luck on your build! G-DUB

WELCOME, Brad................

Thank you for all the useful info. The 12 mile coarse sounds like a great place to make a maden voyage. it will be my goal to be at that race even if the car isnt done. i have found a car. its a solid 72 and i ahve added a few things to the parts pile but have not started stripping the car yet. i am waiting on a rule book but had one more possibly stupid question. i know from a previos post that i cannot change a swinger car to IRS but i am wondering if you can legally put a bus box in an IRS car.

Welcome to the Coalition Brad! A bus box is a no-no, only a type 1 transaxle with a 4:12 ring/pinion. We started builting our car in March of 07, our 1st race was the Baja 1000 of 07. That was a 8 month build! Many long hours from a team of 7. Don't get discouraged, ask plenty of questions here on the coalition, an we'll see ya in the desert!!!! We have a complete album of pics from day 1 of our build on our web site.

You can run any number of races with SNORE, MORE or MDR which would be relatively EZ logistics-wise. Some of their races are very rough, but not all are. If you want to race in the desert, I suggest trying a MORE race in Lucerne, Calif. The courses there are not as harsh as at the relatively nearby Barstow area. There are usually a few 11 cars to give you some competition. The entry fees are nowhere near the high cost of racing with SCORE or BITD. Definitely download the SNORE rulebook as it's virtually the same as teh SCORE rules but is available NOW online for free.
www.snoreracing.net/images/rulebook/2010snorerulebook.pdf