CPTV FEATURE - THE BEAUTY AND PRESTIGE OF THE MOPAR HEMI CHALLENGE 

Steve Eaton - Steve Kent used a 4-speed in this race but unfortunately broke. The SS/AA HEMI cars have been around 1 to 2 tenths quicker (or more) typically for the past few decades or so. When the horsepower went up and the torque convertor stall speed increased along with a gaggle of suspension mods that were adopted, the 4-speeds rarely ran as quick as the automatics, given that all other factors were similar on the cars. That's why sanctioning bodies used to all have a different class subcategory for them. SS/AA for automatics and SS/A for the stick shift cars. Ronnie Sox ran their Barracuda WAY BACK in the day in the SS/B class. NHRA originally had an arrangement with Chevrolet to reserve the SS/A class for the all aluminum ZL-1 engined Corvette, which only 3 were manufactured. They made 69 of the 1969 ZL-1 Camaros but after a short time, the 1968 HEMI Barracudas and Darts were outclassing the 427 Camaros and were reclassified as SS/A or SS/AA instead of SS/B or SS/BA.

@@racer774 hey someone who knows his history about the class that being said there are some 4 speed cars that are on equal ground competitively with the autos.

Neil Puckett - Yes sir, there are a few SS/A as well as lower classed stick shift cars that are running competitive times with the automatics. This year, a stick shift stocker (either A/S or B/S) that made it to the semis at an NHRA National Event. I was preoccupied and didn't pay much attention to who it was but I was rooting for him to get the Wally. I love stick cars but they require a marked increase in maintenance when you combine them with a high horsepower SS car which still has to weigh 3,200 lbs. Unfortunately, a SS/AH car with a stick is a ticking time bomb as far as the drivetrain is concerned. They run together with the Torqueflites in the class but the Torqueflites are easier on the equipment and don't require constant inspection of the entire drive line. I do know two racers that have class cars with a stick. They have to replace ring and pinions or tranny gears at about a 3 or 4 to 1 ratio compared to us that run automatics but each said they would quit racing before they would convert to an automatic.