We’ve seen it time and again in racing: The racer or race team that is capable of doing more things in-house always has the advantage on the competition. And the reason for that is simple, by having the option of doing more tasks yourself instead of hiring them out, you save money that can be spent in other, more vital areas.
Matt Long’s recently wrapped Dirt Late Model is ready for action after getting skinned with Five Star’s new lightweight hood and roof.
One area of the racing operation that many teams hire out is body hanging. There’s nothing wrong with this, but for much of it this really isn’t necessary. Hanging a body isn’t rocket science; it just requires patience, a steady hand, and a few tools. Detailing how to fabricate and hang a Dirt Late Model body from bumper to bumper would require more pages than we print in a single month, so we’re taking it a bit at a time. Last month we followed along as racer Matt Long and his crew chief, Jim Cook, hung a new MD3 nose from Five Star Bodies. As part of their package, they also ordered Five Star’s ultra lightweight hood and roof for modern Dirt Late Model bodies. So follow along as we tackle our next project on this Crate Late Model.
