BAD
Dwarf Car Racing -
An Overview
Dwarf Car Racing -
An Overview
Scale
auto racing has a very long history in the United States. Midget cars
(approx 3/4 scale version of sprint cars) first appeared in their earliest
form around 1915 and were hugely popular until the early1950s when attention
was drawn to stock cars (jalopies, hardtops, modifieds). Early stock car
racing was ‘grassroots’ - junkyard salvage, redneck engineering,
crude work and minimal safety. The racing was always thrilling and I,
like many other race fans, have fond memories of ‘50s programs in
eastern Pennsylvania and ‘60s programs in northern California. The
familiar images of stock cars of that time are reflected in the nostalgic
styles of scale replica dwarf cars of today making them appealing, especially
to my generation of race fans. I’m an avid open-wheel fan and find
current dwarf car racing equally enjoyable as sprint and midget racing.
It puzzles me that a more significant fan base has not developed along
with the sport.
Dwarf cars are 5/8 scale coupes and sedans; pre-WWII, mostly 1930s body types and mostly Ford and Chevy. Dwarfs are powered by motorcycle engines (e.g., Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki) just as many early midgets were powered by the Indian Four and the Harley Twin. Both midgets and dwarfs are challenging to drive and exciting to watch. Midgets have never regained their former popularity and, with the escalating expense to be competitive, the sport will probably continue to decline. Dwarfs, on the other hand, are affordable and attractive to both novice drivers (possibly moving up to other classes) and veteran drivers coming out of other classes. The dwarf car provides an economical entrée into auto racing; an initial investment of $10,000 or less and weekly expenses around $100. Sometimes referred to as ‘adorable’, these are serious race cars – like 5 pounds of s**t in a 2 pound bag; over150 hp engine in a 1000 lb car. They’re ‘explosive’ and FAST on the track. Anyone who hasn’t watched them through the backstretch fence at turn three really can’t appreciate the speeds they reach. As Jack Miller would say – WOW! One of our BAD drivers, Al Ghiorso, holds a quarter mile clay track record of 14 seconds! Compare that with the midget track record at Watsonville Speedway (1/4 mile) – 13.999 sec. Also, compare that with typical lap times for early modifieds – around 18 sec. Dwarf car racing has enormous potential and, with the greater support of sponsors, promoters and fans, could have a very promising future.
The concept for the dwarf car originated in the early 1980s. Ernie Adams of Phoenix built the first scale vintage replica mostly from scrap, with no intention of making a race car; just a car for off-road recreation. His creation became the prototype for what we know as the ‘dwarf car’, equipped with a motorcycle engine for racing. The concept was further developed and a number of cars were produced by John Cain and Adams. In 1987, Adams, Cain and John Proctor established a company to produce the cars – The Dwarf Car Company. This pioneer company, now co-owned by Kevin and Casey Cain, is still producing many high quality dwarf cars.
Currently, there are about 25 dwarf car racing clubs and associations throughout the US. In 1997, the United Dwarf Car Racing Association (UDRA, now Team USA or TUSA) was formed as a national sanctioning body to standardize and promote the sport. As dwarf car racing migrated to the eastern states, the scope of TUSA changed and, in the western states, another major sanctioning body was formed, the Western States Dwarf Car Association (WSDCA). TUSA has since fostered the development of the ‘mod lite’; basically a dwarf car with a modern looking skin.
Dwarf cars are sometimes confused with legends cars. In the early 1990s, ‘Humpy Wheeler’ took the dwarf car concept in a somewhat different direction. Legends cars are 5/8 scale vintage replicas with fiberglass bodies, full fenders, rearview mirrors and spec engines (sealed 1250 cc Yamaha). They must be purchased from dealers authorized by a single manufacturer. Legends cars are assembly- line cars and come with the understanding that parts must also be ordered from the factory. Car owners must accept not only a very restrictive set of equipment and competition rules but also rules pertaining to vehicle registration, titling and ownership transfer. Legends cars race primarily on asphalt and appear to have a strong fan base at venues in the US and the UK.
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Dwarf
car ancestors |
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Dwarf cars are 5/8 scale coupes and sedans; pre-WWII, mostly 1930s body types and mostly Ford and Chevy. Dwarfs are powered by motorcycle engines (e.g., Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki) just as many early midgets were powered by the Indian Four and the Harley Twin. Both midgets and dwarfs are challenging to drive and exciting to watch. Midgets have never regained their former popularity and, with the escalating expense to be competitive, the sport will probably continue to decline. Dwarfs, on the other hand, are affordable and attractive to both novice drivers (possibly moving up to other classes) and veteran drivers coming out of other classes. The dwarf car provides an economical entrée into auto racing; an initial investment of $10,000 or less and weekly expenses around $100. Sometimes referred to as ‘adorable’, these are serious race cars – like 5 pounds of s**t in a 2 pound bag; over150 hp engine in a 1000 lb car. They’re ‘explosive’ and FAST on the track. Anyone who hasn’t watched them through the backstretch fence at turn three really can’t appreciate the speeds they reach. As Jack Miller would say – WOW! One of our BAD drivers, Al Ghiorso, holds a quarter mile clay track record of 14 seconds! Compare that with the midget track record at Watsonville Speedway (1/4 mile) – 13.999 sec. Also, compare that with typical lap times for early modifieds – around 18 sec. Dwarf car racing has enormous potential and, with the greater support of sponsors, promoters and fans, could have a very promising future.
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Dwarf
car types |
|
The concept for the dwarf car originated in the early 1980s. Ernie Adams of Phoenix built the first scale vintage replica mostly from scrap, with no intention of making a race car; just a car for off-road recreation. His creation became the prototype for what we know as the ‘dwarf car’, equipped with a motorcycle engine for racing. The concept was further developed and a number of cars were produced by John Cain and Adams. In 1987, Adams, Cain and John Proctor established a company to produce the cars – The Dwarf Car Company. This pioneer company, now co-owned by Kevin and Casey Cain, is still producing many high quality dwarf cars.
Currently, there are about 25 dwarf car racing clubs and associations throughout the US. In 1997, the United Dwarf Car Racing Association (UDRA, now Team USA or TUSA) was formed as a national sanctioning body to standardize and promote the sport. As dwarf car racing migrated to the eastern states, the scope of TUSA changed and, in the western states, another major sanctioning body was formed, the Western States Dwarf Car Association (WSDCA). TUSA has since fostered the development of the ‘mod lite’; basically a dwarf car with a modern looking skin.
Dwarf cars are sometimes confused with legends cars. In the early 1990s, ‘Humpy Wheeler’ took the dwarf car concept in a somewhat different direction. Legends cars are 5/8 scale vintage replicas with fiberglass bodies, full fenders, rearview mirrors and spec engines (sealed 1250 cc Yamaha). They must be purchased from dealers authorized by a single manufacturer. Legends cars are assembly- line cars and come with the understanding that parts must also be ordered from the factory. Car owners must accept not only a very restrictive set of equipment and competition rules but also rules pertaining to vehicle registration, titling and ownership transfer. Legends cars race primarily on asphalt and appear to have a strong fan base at venues in the US and the UK.
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Gene |
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Dwarf
car mutant |
Dwarf
car cousin |
