Eddie Martin chassis seminar recap

[rebelracewriter]

Martin Chassis Seminar Informative and Entertaining

By J M Hallas

 

San Antonio, Tx. Veteran modified driver and chassis builder, Eddie Martin brought his chassis seminar sponsored by Big Chief Chassis, and supported by Midwest Motorsports, Nelson Auto Group and Barnett Harley Davidson, to San Antonio on Saturday afternoon. This was the second in the three or four state series, after a highly successful, well attended seminar in Fort Smith Ark., that had to be split into two days last weekend to accommodate the large crowd.

 

Martin, who has been holding these classes for a few years said, “My main goal of these seminars is to cover a lot of material and if a driver picks up one thing that can use to help win a race, then it was a success to him. They’ll also receive a good deal of general knowledge regarding chassis components.” Besides being quite informative, the soft spoken Martin added in personal experience from his ‘school of hard knocks’ learning, plus throwing in some humor to keep the crowd entertained.

 

The class covers everything from, the sometimes complicated, front end Geometry, 2-3-4 and Z link rear suspensions, torque arms and links, shocks and springs, rear percentage, stagger, camber and caster, wheel offsets, to the simplest of things like weekly maintenance. “All of which combined are necessary today,” he said. “Modifieds, especially the limiteds’, have gotten so competitive that it’s the little things that will make a big difference on the track”

 

Twenty drivers from across Texas signed in, including 2004 Rio Grande Speedway Modified champion, Bobby Maupin, ‘Big’ John Priddy from Big Johns Chassis in Abilene and Vidor’s Tracy Denby, winner of the 2004 Texas Grand at Houston Raceway Park. Door prizes were provided by Midwest Motorsports and DDZ Graphics. ‘Big’ John Priddy took home the gift certificate from Midwest and Darryl Seals scored the lettering kit, from hostess DeeDee Patterson’s graphics business.

 

Martin, who attended school for engineering, draws on his 22 years of racing experience, as well as the families modified and street stock chassis building business. His impressive list of credits include wins at the $20,000 to win Rough Rider Classic in Minot, S.D., two $5,000 to win Canyon Raceway winter series races in Arizona, and a $5,000 to Street Stock show in Arkansas.

 

His immediate plans were to run a race in Arizona after the seminar, then Cowtown’s Fast 50, The Longhorn Round-up, Modified Madness in Louisiana in February and the Battle of the States race coming up in May at Ardmore Speedway. Long term for 2005 he looks to concentrate on his family, his chassis building business and racing locally. When asked which is more satisfying, racing, teaching or building cars, Martin simply replied, “There is no rehab for racing.”

 

The seminar series next moves to White Bear Lake, Minnesota at the shop of RJR Motorsports on February 5th & 6th . Martin also plans on launching his new website soon