Western PA/Eastern OH Semi Pulling

I've never ran against the guys out in PA, but I heard that they have some pretty big iron. I can tell you from experience what it is like in western Ohio. Many of the top trucks do get used..."used" is a very vague term. A couple of the trucks are day cabs and see about 300 miles a day (of not less) and the ones with sleepers basically shuttle trailers around the towns once in a while if the owners want to have fun. There are a couple of trucks that get used and abused on a daily basis out on the road. Mine being one of them. The last few times i pulled I usually placed in the top 4 or 5. Since I've upgraded a bunch of areas, I am hoping on second or better.

A person can be competitive with these trucks only if they can figure out the secret to getting their truck to hook and pull hard. A few mods to the motor and playing around with the tire pressures and hitch geometry can have great results. Remember to only change/upgrade one thing at time and to have a game plan laid out before you start upgrading. This will save you a bunch of time, headaches, and money.

 

I second that. Ive got a 1st 2nd and 3rd this year. ever truck reacts differently to certain mods. one thing to remember is that if our not afraid to beat on your rig, you'll probly do ok

 

In western Ohio we still haven't had the big explosion of guys throwing huge money into the trucks like the PA possee has. There are a few heavy hitters like the Scott family from Toledo (they have 2 black Freightliner cabovers) and Hume Supply out of Lima (blue International daycab). Both motors have been modified in some way, but are still within reach if a person listens and reacts to ones own truck and the track.

So far the efforts to develop a structured points class has failed due to the fact that many of the trucks are work trucks and we can't promise enough trucks for each event. Also not many fair boards and exsisting sanctioning bodies want to take on a semi class claiming insurance issues. I believe that is a line of bull. Especially considering the much much higher risk of the diesel pickup class has with its lack of safety standards. Many also feel that the sleds can't stop the semis...which is also BS considering we pull on the same sleds as the NTPA super semi (3000+ HP) and unlimited modified tractors (12,000+ HP) do. As for classes we mainly run a factory rated 400 HP and below class and a factory rated 400 and above class. A couple fairs have a hot semi class that requires a helmet. On a few occasions a truck or two has done to well in their respected class and has been bumped up a class to keep the competition fair. Since most of us pull for the love and fun of it, we haven't had any issues or arguements or rules and what not. In this day and age it is harder than ever to tell a modified truck/engine from a factory one unitl after they hook. Downloaders, tuned ECMs, and many other things make it dang near impossible to seperate the trucks into classes at registration unless the owners are truthful about what they have. I for one would love to see actual factory street, limited modified street, and hot semi classes. But there is just no true way to level that playing field. So I beleive the trucks just need to be thrown together as a run what ya brung street class that requires a truck run a apportioned commercial plate, be leased on or operating somewhere (company name and DOT# on the truck), and a minimum of 5 states on the plates.

 

Your in a bad spot to start trying to pull a legitimate street truck, seems to me they might as well have you pulling against prostock trucks if you have to pull against some of the PA posse trucks.

After talking to the driver of the humes supply truck mentioned above, he said he would not go back over to PA because of what they let pull in their street classes, and this is coming from a guy that can put 50-100ft on some decent running trucks at any given pull here in ohio.

The electronic motors have a big advantage now days, you can keep them very driveable and still compete, to get a mechanical engine to be able to compete you have to take the streetable part out of them, and honestly it has taken the fun out of it.

 

They don't. When you are racing you don't watch gauges.