Valve Cover Racers

[TomoHawk]

There is a new kind of automotive sport that I've noticed recently, called Valve Cover Racers, or rocker box Racing. It's like scouting's Pinewood Derby, but instead you use a valve cover with wheels on it.

The general rules are that you can use just about any valve cover you like, with a maximum length of 24 inches, a width of 10 inches, and a weight of 5 pounds. Some competitions have themed races, like Ford or Chevy, or they may have different classes like stock, modified, or anything-goes.

[olzed]

What next.!!!

[TomoHawk]

Americans will race just about anything, huh?

[Bonzi Lon]

I saw these racers at a Corvette sponsored car show in 2010, won a trophy at a Corvette show, speechless. It was interesting as to how everyone interpreted the rules. With the above rules and the ones at the show, the Nissan OHC or 2400 valve cover would not make it because of length, haven't weighed one yet.

Bonzi Lon

[TomoHawk]

It's all just for fun really. It must've been something to be there when the first guy pulled out his racer and a strip of plywood to let it roll...

The rules vary from place to place, but it seems you are usually allowed to cut the length only, not for modifying the cover's design (you must leave the gasket face intact.) Otherwise you could join pieces from several covers to make a wider one.

I think there are some even races that have powered racers, using electric or CO2 or something. An obstacle course maybe?

[TomoHawk]

I think that when Spring comes around, I'll head over to the JY and look at some valve covers- it's cheap entertainment& exercise. I think all I'll need is a set of 1/4 inch sockets, hex wrenches and a ruler.

[TomoHawk]

When I first started reading about this sport, I also thought that oil pans could be used, with similar rules. That way you might be able to build one that looks like a car. The only thing that would be different is the width of the lanes.

[psdenno]

Cylinder head racing could be next with four cylinder, V6, V8, and straight six classes.....might even be a class for exotic 10s and 12s

Dennis

[TomoHawk]

If you go that way with the unlimited rules, it's called drag racing but you couldn't fit two on a sheet of plywood.

Oil pans should be about the most you could do with that concept.