back for 2023? did they build a Delorean?
Photography Credit: Dave Green
The Nelson family has made a name for itself by building some of the fastest cars to compete in our annual low-buck motorsports competition, the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack.
The family is back for 2024, entering two of its famous builds: the 1963 Studebaker Lark and 1980 Pontiac Sunbird.
Both machines have competed in the $2000 Challenge before, and both have proved to be remarkably fast–especially in the drag racing session, where the Sunbird and Lark achieved a 9.064-second quarter-mile and 10.924-second quarter-mile, respectively.
Think you can build something just as fast, and for less than $2000? This is your chance to prove it.
For more information about the $2000 Challenge, visit 2000challenge.com.
You can also see more of the Nelson's builds over on their YouTube channel.
The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is presented by Tire Rack, in association with CRC, Miller and BendPak.
back for 2023? did they build a Delorean?
In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :
That would be impressive, tbh. Thank you for reminding me what year it is–they seem to be blending together recently.
I'm pretty stoked to see the Nelsons back at the event.
Yup, very cool to have them back and, nope, I’m not faster.
During COVID and the Zoom chats, I got to chat with them about tricks and tips for economical motor builds. Really good stuff!!!! I now completely "get" how they make the power that they make with their builds.
GRM should do a series (or at least a "how to" article) with them that gets into the hows and whys of their motor builds. They may not want to give up all their secrets but just learning the basics and their approach was interesting stuff.
In reply to dean1484 :
Dang it. Knew I should have gotten in on those chats.
Super happy to see they're at the challenge again.
EDIT: The only way I could be faster than the nelsons is if they dropped my car out of a plane.
I just hate that rampant inflation FMV of "stuff". The cheap running turbo400 trans I picked up for $75 is now $400. Used to pick up running v8's for similar. I mean you could do a bunch of other motor things but the wrappers ain't great. There is stuff to be had but you're going to be on a few years journey amassing a challenging budget friendly hoard, jmo.
Ranger50 you are so right. I have all the skills to build a cheap car but life n wife would be a time struggle. The mega hours to horse trade into the parts needed to build a competitive car just ain't happening. Maybe if I owned a boneyard. The challenge is mostly a contest of available time for horse trading. That keeps me out of it, not lack of skill or desire. I don't see an easy format fix for that. The 2000 Challenge has kind of become irrelevant to me.
In reply to Triplesn8s :
If it helps at all, you are also more than welcome to compete in something built for more than $2000.
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