Deconstructing Stock

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

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

^^ I Agree.

As I said in post # 16 here, put 'em in the passenger seat of a Stocker or Super Stocker and cruise around the pit area with open headers and let 'em feel that V-8 rumble and there's a pretty good chance a few will get hooked.

Alot of the import guys are young and they buy those type of cars because their friends have them.
When they get older, make more money, and become wiser they will realize it takes less money (and effort) to run 11's and 12's with V-8 RWD muscle than hopping up their Hondas.

Now as for the video game couch potatoes, I don't have any answer there.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by VStock

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

When I was young and getting National Dragster as well as the big 3 So. Cal. magazines, I had a dream to work in a speed shop in California.
I got to do that in 1983 at the Service Center in Orange, CA.
I got to meet local gearheads and learn alot about the hot rod industry.
Sure was fun.

Not many young gearheads today will ever get to experience that.

[VStock]

I have read and re-read this whole thread. It sure is discouraging to someone who was heavy into drag racing in his teens and early twenties but has been away from it for 40 years. The sport sure has changed. It seems to take a LOT more money to be competitive these days. Makes me wonder if I shouldn't just build my El Camino the way I want to and forget about racing in Stock.

[Bob Pagano]

You are not alone in your thinking, the cost is far beyond the fun and friends you gain. Its a shame its going down hill for newbees, they cant even build a dine rocket, if they do they cant afford the entry and travel expense. All you have to do is look at the pictures taken and posted on this site from all the div. and national races, the age of the large part is over 55 and even some up to 70. as they drop out car counts will drop big time. I for one will build a street rod, not a trailer queen, good folks there also.

[Ron Middleton]

I think too many focus on what you could spend trying to be a "big dog" in stock instead of a player. Number one qualifier is nice but how many times has Jody and Toby Lang won from the bottom half of the ladder? How long have these two been running the same cars? Evry sport you can get into costs way more today than it did 20, 30 or 40 years ago. Try any of them and if you get serious about you can spend your life's savings in any sport these days. Yac has a car someone can get into relatively economically. I bought my 1980 Camaro stocker with some spares for $6700(350 for H/I or J/SA and a base 305 for K/L and M). I haven't run in it the 1/4 mile but it has run .2 under in the 1/8 and I have started upgrades on the car and the getting the driver (me) back in shape by bracket racing as I have been out of drag racing for many years. I look forward to running some events and like Michael Beard I'll run NHRA/IHRA events and brackets. I like to race and it's all about the fun and racing on a budget for me. JMT.

[cicero819]

Originally Posted by Ron Middleton

I think too many focus on what you could spend trying to be a "big dog" in stock instead of a player. Number one qualifier is nice but how many times has Jody and Toby Lang won from the bottom half of the ladder? How long have these two been running the same cars? Evry sport you can get into costs way more today than it did 20, 30 or 40 years ago. Try any of them and if you get serious about you can spend your life's savings in any sport these days. Yac has a car someone can get into relatively economically. I bought my 1980 Camaro stocker with some spares for $6700(350 for H/I or J/SA and a base 305 for K/L and M). I haven't run in it the 1/4 mile but it has run .2 under in the 1/8 and I have started upgrades on the car and the getting the driver (me) back in shape by bracket racing as I have been out of drag racing for many years. I look forward to running some events and like Michael Beard I'll run NHRA/IHRA events and brackets. I like to race and it's all about the fun and racing on a budget for me. JMT.

Ron you're quite right, I also don't remember Dan Fletcher trying to win #1 qualifier, I have talk to many hitters and all look at class runoff as just another time trial to set up for some other is the only reason to compete for the big dog on the porch medal. Claude

[cutta]

I'm 25 and I am second generation racer. My dad has bracket raced most of his life and did fiddle with SS here locally in AR when Carlisle was still up and running. From my perspective, kids my age simply do not have enough interest. Even the one's that like cars can't find time to even go to the track with me. I've invited most of my friends and they simply don't enjoy it enough. You have to like racing to do it. I can't even get my friends to spectate lol. Most of the time, I will pay most of there way as well. In my case, money is the biggest reason me and my dad have not gone further with our racing projects. I've been in college the past seven years getting two degrees and my dad hates putting more money in than he has to, especially when you incur damages as a result of upgrades. For instance, more power in the engine compartment usually means that there must be upgrades in other areas and if not done, your taking a risk. That breakage is discouraging on the wallet and my dad.

As for me, I've loved drag racing from the start and my first national events was all it took to get me to love stock, super stock, comp, and pro stock. Although my dad taught me basic concepts, I did my own research and got a rule book to read and found out how stock, comp, and super stock work so I would know what I needed to do going forward. I even enjoy bracket racing as well but with anything, you like variety so local bracket racing can get dry. I do like outlaw racing as well but when it all said it done, I want to race in Comp and Super Stock. I'll get there and it will take time but it will get done. I'm just blessed to have old engine block laying around for a possible GT motor later on. The only downside for me is the fact I want to build a mopar and I won't bow out from going that route. There are not very many GT 97 and newer GT cars laying around to buy?

Also, I do agree with the consensus that younger guys being brought into this whole deal don't like rules. Thats the biggest reason they end up going to outlaw classes or bracket race. Money is also a concern there as well. In my case, I know very well how much money it takes to do it, I've estimated many times over, so evaluating my engine options is constant thought in trying to combine power, cost, and efficiency of that engine. Just my thoughts.

As of now, I'm not sure of the best fix other then to get Outlaw racing to combine together with traditional classes at the same event so both forms get exposure. Also, making sure that racing NHRA is more readily accessible. I'm in Little Rock, AR and there are no tracks inside of 200 miles that hold a divisional. Travel, Fuel, and entry makes any local track look great.

[Dennis P Chapman]

Originally Posted by Bob Pagano

You are not alone in your thinking, the cost is far beyond the fun and friends you gain. Its a shame its going down hill for newbees, they cant even build a dine rocket, if they do they cant afford the entry and travel expense. All you have to do is look at the pictures taken and posted on this site from all the div. and national races, the age of the large part is over 55 and even some up to 70. as they drop out car counts will drop big time. I for one will build a street rod, not a trailer queen, good folks there also.

Will said Bob were all getting old.

[VStock]

Originally Posted by Ron Middleton

I think too many focus on what you could spend trying to be a "big dog" in stock instead of a player. Number one qualifier is nice but how many times has Jody and Toby Lang won from the bottom half of the ladder? JMT.

I'm not trying to be a 'big dog', but I'm afraid that running under the index is beyond my reach with the combo I have. It would be nice to go to a divional meet and at least make the field and maybe go a couple of rounds.3 years ago I had a 66 4 dr Chevelle 300 with a 230, but sold it when they knocked the V/Stock index down to 15.25 from 15.50.
I'm lucky in that I'm 1 1/2 hours from Stanton and 2 1/2 hours from Milan. But I was spoiled growing up - 1/2 hour from Englishtown, 1 hr from Island , and 90 minutes from Atco.

[Ron Middleton]

Marty, Looking at class guide for your '67 El Camino it looks like the 230 has never even been run seriously. With the 283 195/now 170hp it looks like you might be able to petition NHRA to lower the HP or you could look at another engine combo. There are a several engines in that year that are capable of running the index without spending a fortune. I'm not surewhat the difference is between the 250 6 cyl engine combo for 1967 and what Billy Nees runs but I am sure it's not that much difference and his car runs pretty good. Hell, put it together and bracket race to start while you build a "stocker motor" and have some fun. Even if you have a killer combo your driving skills will determine your win/loss record much more than your ability to run 1 second plus under the index will. JMT>