Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

The Bracket deal is good, but I'm not sure you can go anywhere and race for 1,000. Now. I think payouts at those races are not at an all time high. The only place I know that pays real well is Numida, but there at the top.

As for a Wally/Ironman. These trophys mean something different to anyone who is fortunate to win, steal, buy, trade, ect... If you go for all out value. The NHRA race/class Wally is worth more dollars wise if you are auctioning them, compared to one given away at a bracket race to the winner. Not to the guy earning it, just selling it.

Our class/sport participation is down because people don't have the extra money in this economy. Alot of bracket guy aren't coming into our deal because it is very expensive to buy a competitive car. Harder to build a car for our class, because it is much different than building a footbrake bracket car. Most guys in this day and age aren't patient or savy enough to build one from scratch . Nobody in this day and age wants or is willing to pay their dues to do it.
When the money comes back, the attendance will. Bottom line.

Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

Yes there is. ......Charbonneau retired..

So solly, Cholly

Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

been reading this thread for quite awhile and thought it was time to chime in.
I too started racing when our local track had no bracket racing. We didn't even know what it was until probably 1973 0r '74. You either ran stock class for a trophy or stock or super stock eliminator for a cash prize. No combos back then, both separate eliminators along with comp and modified (production) eliminators. I remember always large fields of cars racing and always a great weekly show put on. I had several friends who I grew up with racing almost every week. Today, I am the only one of our close knit group still active. Most of my friends just kept throwing money at their cars until they were broke and lost interest. I always had the slowest of the cars which hardly ever broke. But , I always raced within my means and still do today by mainly competing at CCRA combo events. The cost of running a national event with children in college to support is too exhorbent, so I choose to race locally to feed my addiction.
What I find sad is the bracket racers who approach me at our STK./SS combo races and have no clue what is involved in running one of these class cars. They will ask me why I don't have a 4 bbl. on my motor so I can run quicker or where is my nitrous bottle located. I try to educate them as best I can and explain some of the rules we must conform to. I guess these are folks who never got the opportunity like most of us on this forum to experience how awesome sportsman racing really is with all our restrictions, etc.

Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

Well you forgot how NHRA treats us like red headed step children,lol. I respect the guy's putting all they can into stock ,Just have a hard time justify the return on my investment. I can do alot of bracket racing for what it cost to run the stocker for a weekend.

Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

Todd,
Can't argue that post much at all.
Chip

Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

Chris you hit the nail right on the head, because paying $25 bucks to race for $150 bucks may not set anyones pants on fire, but paying $25 bucks to race for $1,200 should (which is what the Import Face Off organization is doing for their top two categories of FWD Q8, & FIP Q8). There are other classes that pay anywhere from $200 to $500 bucks, but all of the classes pay just $25 bucks for entry, and that's why they're growing...I hope 'Vegas might get one of their races, as it would be worth it to go there, and perhaps I can turn my luck around at that track, with the help of some imports???

Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a grade point issue? I am thinking of getting back into Stock class racing after being away for 40 years, and this is a new one to me.
Marty Knox

Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

As I see it you all missed Bret's point.

The simple fact is that 99.9% of today's kids don't want to go drag racing and very few even know what it is.

They would rather buy a big muffler and a giant stereo and hang around the mall parking lot all night.

Guy's, the interest is just not there, no matter what new rules we come up with.

JimR

Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

So we should pull our flag down and give up? Come on, help introduce your sport to newbies. I once took my truck, trailer and race car to the local cruize night and it was like flies on raw meat, they were interested and even some showed enough interest by showing up at the strip the next week-end, it all depends on how much you want to pass it on. Look, they have so much more information at the tips of their fingers we have to make it fun, different breed fo different times. If we are all going to be honest we were not so different, look how many muscle car that have been destroyed because we didn't take good care of them, as soon as we left the dealers parking lot, waving to the salesman as we were burning 100' out of the parking lot. Get involve. Claude Ruel

Re: Deconstructing Stock
 

I think one factor in the waning popularity is the lack of local speed shops. I 'hung out' at Central Jersey Speed & Machine in Fords, NJ when I was in high school. A lot of my interest came from the stock class racers who would come in. After a semester of college I went to work for them hot tanking blocks, watching the store, and learning about machining from Nick Tosi. I did go back to, and finish college but I still have an interest in Stock class drag racing.
I guess nowadays speed equipment is bought online from Jegs and Summit.
Marty Knox