Crash-A-Rama - Automotive Catharsis On The Short Track

Drastic times call for drastic measures, and these are certainly drastic times. With the economy on the brink, auto manufacturers going under, and others barely hanging on, it is often beneficial to stop and take a stern accounting of things--or better yet, take time to smash a few dozen cars into a steaming heap.

Though it's often utterly pointless to break stuff when stress levels rise, it sure feels good, doesn't it? That's the point of Crash-A-Rama. It's an automotive catharsis, a hilarious diversion from the daily grind, not to mention a messy but effective way to dispose of a brace of junker cars, buses, and fishing boats. Crash-A-Rama is a traveling road show that roams to various half-mile tracks around the country, and we caught up with it on its second stop of the season in Monroe, Louisiana. At Monroe, Crash-A-Rama was preceded by an abbreviated schedule of their normal Saturday lineup, which included Legends cars, American Thunder stock cars, and a front-wheel-drive compact class. You gotta love an event where a giant earthmover doubles as pace car and rescue vehicle--alternately leading the parade laps and depositing derelict vehicles in one of the four giant rollaway Dumpsters strategically placed around the infield to accommodate the mess. Enough with the blabbing--let's get to the pictures, already.

American Thunder was the class that would appeal to most CC readers. It is composed of mostly midsize, full-frame, rear-drive cars. There are very strict rules limiting engine displacement and suspension and braking components, but that's all to keep the costs down. Watching these guys run made us want to pick up a trashed Monte Carlo and hit the track.
American Thunder was the class that would appeal to most CC readers. It is composed of mos
Kevin Holgard was the fastest guy around the track, and we suspect it was due to a good suspension setup rather than big horsepower. Where most of his competitors pushed badly in the turns, his car displayed no understeer. He was able to dive into the turns and hold his line all the way through. Later in the pits, he told us that on short tracks like this, the turns are longer than the straights. To be competitive, your car has to turn.
Kevin Holgard was the fastest guy around the track, and we suspect it was due to a good su
Here's what understeer looks like. Next stop, broken ball joints.

The Legends cars were the fastest cars that night. Powered by spec Yamaha 1,200cc engines, these guys are either four-wheeled motorcycles or go-karts on steroids, depending on your outlook on life. Either way, they are fast and look like a blast to drive. Jake Knight piloted his No. 93 machine in his first season in the Legends series.
The Legends cars were the fastest cars that night. Powered by spec Yamaha 1,200cc engines,
It's generally understood that front-wheel-drive cars make bad race cars. When one pair of wheels has to do all the steering, most of the braking, and power the car, something always gives. Combine that with a practically nonadjustable strut front suspension and the air was filled with the howling of understeering front tires.
It's generally understood that front-wheel-drive cars make bad race cars. When one pair of
William Lawrence got his supercharger from a Pontiac GTP. It makes 9 psi of boost. Since the action didn't count toward the season's points total, William modified his '93 Grand Am more than the class rules would allow by dropping a supercharger on top of his 3100 V-6. Knowing a thing or two about these engines, we stopped for a closer look. These never came supercharged from the factory.
William Lawrence got his supercharger from a Pontiac GTP. It makes 9 psi of boost. Since t

William told us he took the blower from a 3.8L Bonneville, cut a hole in the top of an extra manifold he had, and put the two together with a thick layer of RTV silicone in between. "I had to let this sit for four days to cure. When I tried it before, I only let it sit for two days and the pressure in the manifold blew the silicone out. This one works great so far, though."
William told us he took the blower from a 3.8L Bonneville, cut a hole in the top of an ext
Racing began at dusk. There were several blown engines and several near misses. And this was even before the Crash-A-Rama started.
Racing began at dusk. There were several blown engines and several near misses. And this w