Back from Indy-what's happened to Stock Eliminator??

[Lew Silverman]

They do say that youth is wasted on the young!

Lew

[Nathan Stinson]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Up until 2008, cars eligible for Stock Eliminator had to have all the required emissions and safety equipment on them that was required for the date of manufacture.

Thats strange, I dont recall ever seeing a stocker before 2008 with catalytic converters and smog pumps or working air bags for that matter? These cars aint street cars, so that argument doesnt hold much water. Hell when they wanted you guys to run mufflers a few years back there was all kinda stink raised about that. Since they are so stock why was that a big deal? Probably because we dont like change,and face it that is human nature.

Look at it like this: what if NHRA class racing had been around since the 1920's and in the 1960's all these muscle cars were coming out and had to race against model T's. The guys with the model T's raise hell about it because they are racing cars that have been around for 40-50 years and think that is the way it will always be. Sounds kinda silly dont it, but that is what is happening now just move forward 45+ years from the 60's.

Like I said I like the old cars. But I am not so crazy to believe things dont change. That nova that is in my avatar I have raced for years in true 10.5 heads up racing. I built a stock suspension 2000 mustang last year because it was more competitive under the rules I race under. Did I like having to do it NO, but I realized i couldnt hold back progress of the class and IF I wanted to be competitive I had to change with the times and the class. Now sure in class racing the easy answer is have NHRA take the pencil and invent a new class for the new cars. IMO that is the wrong thing to do to appeal to more fans. It is aleady confusing enough for the average spectator to follow.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Nathan Stinson

That nova that is in my avatar I have raced for years in true 10.5 heads up racing.

That explains why you don't know what you are talking about here.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Nathan Stinson

Thats strange, I dont recall ever seeing a stocker before 2008 with catalytic converters and smog pumps or working air bags for that matter? These cars aint street cars, so that argument doesnt hold much water. Hell when they wanted you guys to run mufflers a few years back there was all kinda stink raised about that. Since they are so stock why was that a big deal? Probably because we dont like change,and face it that is human nature.

Look at it like this: what if NHRA class racing had been around since the 1920's and in the 1960's all these muscle cars were coming out and had to race against model T's. The guys with the model T's raise hell about it because they are racing cars that have been around for 40-50 years and think that is the way it will always be. Sounds kinda silly dont it, but that is what is happening now just move forward 45+ years from the 60's.

Like I said I like the old cars. But I am not so crazy to believe things dont change. That nova that is in my avatar I have raced for years in true 10.5 heads up racing. I built a stock suspension 2000 mustang last year because it was more competitive under the rules I race under. Did I like having to do it NO, but I realized i couldnt hold back progress of the class and IF I wanted to be competitive I had to change with the times and the class. Now sure in class racing the easy answer is have NHRA take the pencil and invent a new class for the new cars. IMO that is the wrong thing to do to appeal to more fans. It is aleady confusing enough for the average spectator to follow.

IF NHRA set the HP factors anywhere close to what they should be then NHRA would NOT have to invent or put them in a new or seperate class. What is it that you do not understand about stock and S/S class racing?

[Nathan Stinson]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

That explains why you don't know what you are talking about here.

What exactly does it explain? please do inform me.

[Nathan Stinson]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

What is it that you do not understand about stock and S/S class racing?

Thanks for the offer to explain, but I think I have a pretty fair understanding of class racing. I have been around it most of my life and been involved inseveral aspects of it from making passes in cars to helping in the tear down barn, i have been around. I geuss because I dont doi it I cant discuss or even begin to understand it huh?

[Jack McCarthy]

you know nathan, niether the starter of this thread, or any of the dozen or so "respected" competitors in this field owe you an explanation of thier posts or observations. we all know how the class of stock eliminator has been raped by NHRA , most recently in thier efforts to obtain sponsorship $$$ from the manufacturers. therefore most of us who were part of the class when it meant something to make a car just like everyone else could buy perform to the limits set by RULES have had enough. winning class at indy once the ultimate goal in every stock racers dream is now an absurd joke.

so nathan in my opinion younger guys like you, should build a new DP or CJ and take my place in the dog and pony show you so much seem to admire.

me and my 16 time class champion car will just stay at home and let you support the new NHRA ... hope you have a good job, and good luck unless your on the "INSIDE" with the factories or a dealer.

captain jack

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

That explains why you don't know what you are talking about here.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[Lew Silverman]

I wasn't going to add my $.02 to this discussion, because I thought everyone understood what the problem here was, but I guess I was wrong......

What Alan is saying is that prior to 2008, all vehicles that were allowed to run in Stock Eliminator were manufactured for and available to the general public, through a dealer network, and register-able and street legal. In other words if it wasn't showroom available, it wasn't legal for Stock! That changed when the NHRA allowed Ford and Chrysler to certify the CJ's and DP's.

And if I raced a Model T and a musclecar with a bogus HP rating came along, I probably would have been just as disappointed as most of us are now.

The status quo in Stock Class has been twisted in favor of the newer vehicles. The only new cars certified to run are the "specials" available to a chosen few. You can't go to your local dealer and buy a car off the showroom and race it in Stock Class, no matter how much work you do, with the exception of the Camaro, and how many of them have we seen?

Not all that hard to understand, really. No need to get upset. Fix the inequitable HP ratings if you can, or give the new cars a class to race themselves if you can't!

Thanks for listening!

Lew

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Nathan Stinson

Thats strange, I dont recall ever seeing a stocker before 2008 with catalytic converters and smog pumps or working air bags for that matter? These cars aint street cars, so that argument doesnt hold much water. Hell when they wanted you guys to run mufflers a few years back there was all kinda stink raised about that. Since they are so stock why was that a big deal? Probably because we dont like change,and face it that is human nature.

You really are lost as last year's Easter eggs. You don't race Stock Eliminator, and you don't have the slightest idea what Stock Eliminator is all about.

The new cars were never street legal cars, ever, in any shape, form, or fashion. NHRA Stock Eliminator required the original car the combination was based on to be street legal, all the way up until 2008.

Every car we've raced in Stock Eliminator and Super Stock started as a real street legal car as produced by the factory for street use. A 69 Camaro 427/425, a 69 Camaro 350/255, a 69 Camaro 396/375, and a 94 Camaro 350/275. THAT is what Stock Eliminator is all about. If you cannot grasp that concept, you will never understand Stock Eliminator.