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Racecar technology at any level is an evolutionary process. Each year it seems there are more aftermarket parts that will raise the bar a little higher for each track, division or sanctioning body. Certainly the advances in dirt track racing’s big three (Late Model, Modified, Sprint) racecar classes get most of the attention as each advance in the technology has implications across the landscape of the short track world. Changes to the support class cars have been much slower to come, mostly due to the high costs involved in the escalating arms race that is racecar technology. But some changes are coming.
SS Chassis & Supply in Springdale Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of racecar builders dedicated to supplying race teams competing in the Street Stock/Pure Stock divisions with a quality racecar chassis and the customer support to back it up.
SS Chassis & Supply held its second annual Open House on Saturday February 24. Owner Chris Schneider, his trademark ponytail trailing behind him as he filled orders, greeted guests and juggled the tasks of a very busy day took the time to talk about his business, his cars and the future of the Street Stock/Pure Stock divisions.
SS Chassis & Supply (the SS stands for Schneider Stockcar) has been building stock car chassis for Western Pennsylvania Pure Stock drivers and teams for about three years as a part time business. Then just under two years ago he went full time. “I guess I did it as a side job for about three years, then about six months on the books back at the home and then we moved here,” says Schneider. “We’ve been here for a year and three months.” The “here” Schneider refers to is a small unassuming store front at 503 Pittsburgh Street , the main drag in Springdale PA. If not for the racecar sitting out front right against the road, it would look like any other auto repair garage.
While SS Chassis & Supply offers a full line of all racing products including aluminum sheets, steel roll bar tubing, shocks, gauges, and custom fabricated parts such as bumpers and control arms, it is the SS Stock Car Chassis that sets this place apart from most other suppliers.
The most visible drivers in Western Pennsylvania piloting SS Chassis’ are Mike Pegher Jr. and Butch Lambert. Both have multiple feature wins, and Lambert is a three time Lernerville Speedway Pure Stock champion, his most recent back-to-back titles coming in an SS Chassis. But a look at the Pure Stock division field of cars at Lernerville each Friday night and there is little doubt that this racecar is becoming the weapon of choice in the ultra-competitive Pure Stocks at Lernerville. “I have 13 chassis’ that I’ve built out there right now and I have two more on order,” notes Schneider.
On any given night at Lernerville four or five SS Chassis cars are in contention for a win. This brings up the obvious question, what’s the secret to these cars? “It’s just basics,” says Schneider, “making sure everything is done right is one big thing. They all start out with a basic setup that I give them and not too many change off that. The chassis work good and they’re easy to drive and the drivers are comfortable in them; that’s a big key.”
One of the ways drivers can get an edge in the top level cars is the adjustability built into the racecar. The stock car divisions have set of rules to abide by that don’t really allow for as many adjustments. “The rules dictate that you can’t [adjust] but there’s a lot of adjustability in them,” explains Schneider. “Sticking to the basics is what’s putting them up front. You know, the Late Models, you can adjust yourself out; these cars work off of just the basics fundamentals of how a chassis works. They’re fairly similar to a [NASCAR Nextel] Cup car.”
Success has come fast for the fledgling chassis builder. Success in terms on-track performance, that is. Among the 13 cars in competition in the area there were nearly two dozen feature wins in 2006 alone. “Well Pegher I think had 13 himself. Butch had four at Lernerville, one at Challenger; I’d have to really add it up. Tommy Dembowski had a couple.”
While Schneider’s SS Chassis is not unique in the business, there are not nearly as many stock car builders as there are manufacturers of the top division cars. Schneider knows of others in the business of building the support class cars. “There’s a couple. Tommy Schneider from Faster Chassis; I’ve heard of Rebel Chassis. Bobby Whitling actually has a couple that he’s done himself. But I don’t think he does too many as a business, I think it’s just a hobby. So Rebel Chassis and Faster Chassis I guess would be my competitors.”
In just under two years, SS Chassis & Supply has managed to fill its first building with tools, jigs, lifts and equipment, not to mention the parts area that is nearly full as well. So is an expansion in the near future given the fact that he’s only been in this location for a little over a year? “At some point, yes. I want to make sure that we are doing well enough that I can do it; a lot of people move too quickly, too fast when they start out. I don’t want to be that guy. Just because I’m booming right now if I and hire five employees then I’m going to put myself under too quick. So I’m going to make sure that we are stable before we expand.” Building a first class product is also a consideration for Schneider. “And the quality factor; when you have other employees being hired I feel you lose some quality.”
Part of Schneider’s customer service is his after sale support. He, like any other builder of racecar chassis answers questions on the phone or in person. But he is in a unique circumstance in that he is in the pit area at Lernerville every Friday night where so many of his cars compete. He competes in his own car in the Late Model division at the track, so a tap on the shoulder from one of his customers is not uncommon. “Yea that’s tough. That’s what’s tough about running my own race team. I’m a hands on kind of a guy on my car and that’s tough being at the track because I’m always out to help the guys with my (SS Chassis) cars.”
So where does Schneider see SS Chassis and Supply in ten years? “Well I don’t know; Rocket Chassis, their first year they did like five cars. This is really my first year and we did about five cars so hopefully we follow in their footsteps.”
SS Chassis and Supply can be reached by calling 724-274-5502 |
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