Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stockers...
 

...from the "Factory Stock" COPO Camaros, Drag Pak Mopars, and Cobra Jet Mustangs?

In my mind, a 305-powered G-body Stocker from the '80s, has a lot more in common with an EF/S Ford Escort, than it does with a supercharged FS/AA factory race car. One of them wore a license plate, and the other did not. Seems pretty clear to me...

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Take your NHRA permanent number & the amount of LODRS races
and National Events you ran in the last two years & send them a letter
with your proposal. If you do not have any of the above, and are
trying to change things before you race, then the answer is no.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Why would you wanna change the current stock format ? A CC/A stock eliminator car that you can't buy and drive on the street shouldn't be in comp eliminator !! as they already have too many classes !! Maybe when one of them eats a E/FS car in the lights at a 170 mph the game will change ! Right now its about the wait to see the carnage of one of those rockets as it saws your escort in half !! Thats what the fans of professional wrestling and racing are waiting to see !! NHRA's fan base !

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Oops ! EF/S

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

I don't own an Escort. I'm simply observing the obvious...

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

I had an NHRA permanent number for many years, and maybe the reason I haven't ran National Events the last 2 years is BECAUSE of their position...

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Copo's, Drag Paks, & Cobra Jets are traditional stockers in 2018.
If you don't have one it is very rewarding to beat one! I like all
stockers, some more than others. Same thing with people.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

6130 keep observing. In you observations you should have noticed national event quotes are between 55-65 per class and keep getting a little lower each year. What is your hope of separation going to accomplish? Just be thankful NHRA still lets cars pre 1980 still race. Because if these quotes keep getting lower there not going to need a bunch of 40 plus year old cars to full 32 or so spots for stock and SS at a national event.

Not sure why some of you feel its more rewarding to bet a newer car. A round win is a round win no matter what year car is in the other lane.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Be thankful traditional stockers don’t have to race the factory paper cars heads up any longer. That separation was welcome for most. I think the most important commonality we have is that we all love class racing and we need to find ways to make it work for all. One thing for sure is that we are not likely to make things they way they were. We need to figure out ways to raise interest for all. New cars and old. I don’t see anyone separating them into different categories. That ship sailed long ago.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

"Just be thankful NHRA still lets cars pre 1980 still race"

"Because if these quotes keep getting lower there not going to need a bunch of 40 plus year old cars to full 32 or so spots for stock and SS at a national event".
Think about this statement.......Just think about it!

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

What's to think about? For once, Charlie Bob is right!

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

IMO, everything is fine now.

The FS cars have their own classes and the FS Showdown cars are totally separate from the other Stockers ( that are subject to AHFS) on the qualifying sheets.

Took several years to get there, but it's finally done.

Just my opinion...

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

^^ good point

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

bingo!

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

A '98 LT1 Camaro and Firebird is a paper car. Just sayin'. Jim

.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Racing is Racing. Does it really matter who or what is in the other lane? Only if it's heads up.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

I have now raced both type cars a 1985 mustang and now a 2010 cobra jet with a push rod engine .not all fs cars are blower cars if you look for a class in fs cars there are a lot of different combos to pick from just as there is in the old car combos .and if you buy a wreck or a flood car as I did it does not cost any more to build than an older combo it is the time we live in 2018 !!

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

There is always the possibility of that happening. They did create the new eliminator for the Showdown cars. If that class flounders in the next few years then they could move the factory race cars into that format and out of regular stock. The factory showdown class is very cool but I am not sure if it is sustainable. It might get like pro stock and the number of cars dwindle down because of the cost. Lets see how many cars show for the next race on the schedule

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

I was thinking about the no cars pre 1980. That would pretty much clear out the Mopar field unless you want a front wheel drive car, a truck or buy a drag pak. Options would be limited. Paint them all red, white and blue?

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

I'll have to AGREE with 6130 on this one. There is no way in h... that a traditional stocker (paper or not) can run with a Factory race car in A-Z Stock! Furthermore.... For you to direct discussion by implying when...... the quota is reduced to 32 somehow NHRA 's intent is to get rid of pre 80 cars is a joke! Before you ask; are you currently running in stock, when was the the last time you raced? I have been a member for MANY Many years and yes I am current in stock. I think the FS show is nice but not for me. I am not the only one that thinks the new ringer cars do not belong in traditional classes. I just can't let 6130 take a tongue lashing by himself. He has a valid point.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Why do they need to be now? They are separated within stk/SS under the FS designation so they won’t be ran against heads-up against an older car. Under the AHFS their index and HP factors will be adjusted accordingly. What’s the advantage on the bracket side?

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

I'm not sure that it's a fair fight for an older stocker (I race a '64 Plymouth C/SA wagon). All that computer controlled fly by wire stuff makes me paranoid. They should probably just race against each other. I've beat them before and it did feel good but last year I just felt like a beaten bitch against a couple of different COPOs. Maybe if I'd had a lower .00 light and run right on my dial...

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

I don't see an immediate problem with the current set up.
The problem down the road might come when an 8 sec. FX car runs over the top of a EF/S car in the lights.
You guys DO know what's gonna go away, and what's not, right?

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

I think the FS/AA copo is at a disadvantage to any of the older slower cars we all run on a 9 inch tire who is more likely to smoke the tires the new Copo with 1100 hp running 8.00-8.50 or the older lower class car running 9.00-11.00 the answer is obvious. If you dialing and it is not heads up the slower car will be more consistent.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

That makes total sense! Who needs running water, indoor plumbing and electricity. Everyone should make their own clothes and die at 38 years old. Modern things??? That’s just silly!!!

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

As much as I wish a got a chance at junior stock. I don’t ever remember reading about A/SA car hitting a Z/SA car on 7” tires, no roll bars, no safety harness and no helmets. I guess racing is dangerous and accidents happen but what if aliens land too. I think there are less than 10 front drive cars left in the country and if you want to complain about cars being faster build one. I really like the idea on non cookie cutter projects. I have been beating my head against the wall with my obscure cars but it is entertaining to succeed in your own world. I was told when I started 30 years ago that there were always bad combinations and to learn the guide. I am not stating that there are not inexperienced people buying 8 second stockers and maybe a little seat time will prevent more mishaps either. As Mr Dyer said you can build a new car for the same amount of money a good old car. Bottom line we need no more classes, no more dilution of the rules and more tech.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

I agree with Mr. Wong, no more dilution and more tech. Funny story on my only conversation with him. I was the only one running a combo that had been abandoned because of Hp hits. I finally put some $$ into mine to run class at Vegas and he tells me “if you run slow at this race we will get Hp off the combo”. May not be an exact quote but close. We got the Hp lowered the neit year.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Okay, I can see that I stumbled upon a sensitive subject. After reading all of the comments, I think I can appreciate everyone's perspective on this.

I guess it could be worse, look at what's happened to Super Stock- GT classes, front to rear wheel drive conversions, and all the slower cars from Modified Eliminator got dumped into Super Stock. SS/VX vs. SS/AH anyone?

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Great post!!

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Spoken like Darth Vader, "Paul, I am your father!"

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Bill speaks the truth !

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

There weren't many reasons to build FWD cars before except the affordability factor, and then they consolidated a bunch of classes. My Turismo is stuck in no man's land. For what? When discussing combining of sticks n' autos, or consolidating weight breaks in the "big car" classes, people (NHRA officials included) lose their MINDS at the thought that a car might have to add 300 pounds. Funny, my Turismo is 225# heavy for one class, but 380# light for the next. That's completely asinine, and anyone with any kind of "normal" car stuck in this situation would raise holy hell, but nobody cares because it's "just" a FWD car. Once again, a lack of consistency from NHRA.

I HAVE had a 150 mph car wreck beside me at the finish line while I was driving the Turismo. If he had lost it earlier in the run, he would have gone THROUGH me, and I'd be dead. Nothing ever happens until it does. Saying, "Oh, well, it's a dangerous sport" isn't very comforting. Personally, I choose not to race the Turismo 1/4-mile vs heavy 150+mph cars. I don't even know that a roll bar would afford much protection in such a situation. ...course then I might only have to add 340# to get to the bottom of a class...

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Funny, but Paul doesn’t look like you ?? We always had you pegged as Michael Beards daddy....LOL !!

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Man, now that's just rude! LOL

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

M.J., I don't believe that I've EVER given you a reason to say those kind of things about me!

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Spoken like YODA...........”.the mention of Darth Vader you should have not “

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

Let's be realistic. With a few exceptions, this is bracket racing for National and regional events. Where else can you race on a budget for that kind of exposure and fun? If some guys want to spend well north of $100k on a factory hot rod for stock, let em. I agree with the comment "a round win is a round win" - I don't care who it's against.

And for context, racing a '79 Aspen wagon in O and P/SA, so know all about having the air sucked out when they pass at 140-plus mph.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

When I raced Pro ET Mazda back in the '80s, I would be doing 111 mph or so at the stripe, and have the occasional Super Comp type car come past me at 160 mph.

I'm not uncomfortable with speed- I've been over 200 mph on my Hayabusa Superbike. But it is the speed DIFFERENTIAL that is an issue. A 170 mph car FS/AA car ***-packing an 80 mph EF/S car in the lights, would be the same amount of energy as a car driving 90 mph into the back of a parked car.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

The factory stock cars were not meant to run in FS/AA like most are they were built to run heads up in FS/XX but there is no factory showdown events anywhere near the west coast NHRA went from 5 events to 7 events all in the mid to east coast NMCA completely abandoned the west coast so what is left for the factory cars but stock eliminator. Maybe NHRA will wake up and run it in every event next season and NMCA will come back to the west coast it is now the most popular new class but with very limited places to run and if you are in the west coast you can't race what your car was designed for. So for now stock eliminator is stuck with the new factory hot rods with all the latest equipment but so what it is just a glorified bracket race. It is not fun when a factory hot rod runs 8.50 against another car running 17.50 That's how I wound up at the AZ points meet. Would I have rather been in the factory showdown you bet.

Re: Is there any hope of NHRA separating traditional Stocker
 

What about Al Corda his copo is in b/sa and think there is a drag pack dodge too