Pro Stock NHRA Camaro

[Pro Stock]

Artist's concept by Greg Russell

Chassis builder Jerry Bickel confirmed there’s a strong likelihood fans will see a Camaro in NHRA Pro Stock in 2011. At least that’s what he’s working towards.



Bickel confirmed his shop, along with Kirkman Composites, will manufacture the bodies which will eventually be sold to the leading chassis builders. GM has given Bickel and the NHRA permission to reproduce the bodies, which are currently legal for sportsman competition but using the Pro Stock guidelines. Final approval for the Pro Stock will come at a later date.

“We have GM’s blessing and they are working with us,” Bickel confirmed. “When GM dropped out of NHRA Pro Stock, I approached the NHRA about building one. I asked them if [GM] didn’t come back if they’d approve our Camaro body legal for Pro Stock, if I built it to the new NHRA Pro Stock standards.”

The NHRA and Bickel contacted GM and obtained permission to build the body. Because of conceptual property laws, all aftermarket bodies proposed for Pro Stock must have manufacturer approval.

“Basically, we wanted to do this right because anyone who builds these bodies without the manufacturer’s approval, the manufacturer can come down on them,” Bickel explained. “They can make them stop. You can really get in trouble without that approval.”

Once the first body is complete, NHRA officials will inspectthe body and upon approval, the new Camaro will head to Aerodyne in Mooresville, NC, for its first wind tunnel test.

Rodger Brogdon, Bob Yonke and Greg Stanfield are rumored to be thos in line for the new Camaro which they hope will debut at the 2011 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Ca.

[novaderrik]

it wasn't too long ago (10 years or so, i think) that they used actual production sheetmetal for the roof, 1/4 panels, and trunk lid with the front clip and doors being fiberglass pieces that looked a lot like the actual car.
i'd think it would be easier to build an approved race car if they went back to that.
do they still require the use of actual production headlight assemblies?

[killer69]

PRO STOCK RULES!!
well other than comp
car look wicked

[Pro Stock]

it wasn't too long ago (10 years or so, i think) that they used actual production sheetmetal for the roof, 1/4 panels, and trunk lid with the front clip and doors being fiberglass pieces that looked a lot like the actual car.
i'd think it would be easier to build an approved race car if they went back to that.
do they still require the use of actual production headlight assemblies?

I cut my teeth on 70s,80s and 90s Pro Stock cars and you had to be real crafty to be at the top of the heap. Most sanctioning bodies do not have the manpower or brains to keep smart racers under control so they change the rules to suit thier tech capabilities, the bodys now days are a result of NHRA being able to control the body shape by mostly taking the car builder and racer out of the body shapeing business and simplification of the template fitment, believe me, sharp racers always figure out a way to get around the NHRA and these body rules. Remember, it's always about finding the gray areas, I love the "Old Days" but I also love the present.


Dale