Part of what hurt drag racing

[randy wilson]

Absolutely beautiful car!

[Todd Leitner]

Mr. Butler and Mr. Biebel had some good points. I'm in my early 40's, have kids and a mortgage and a 8 to 5 job. I can't afford to drive 200 to 600 miles to a division race and get back to work on Mon or Tues. I don't mind getting beat in a heads up race if I have a horse in the race, but when someone has as much in a pair of cylinder heads as I do my whole motor, it's frustrating. I believe stock and ss need heads up racing, but even up the playing field a little. Not sure what the answer is, but a little camera through the oil drain plug to have a look-see at what's hiding in the oil pan might slow a few cars down.

[randy wilson]

Great thoughts Todd. A specified head, and other limits including, but not limited too, an inspection hole in the pan would be a great idea.

[Rick Leininger Jr.]

Originally Posted by Dick Butler

454 low compression truck motor which was able to run 8.60s to 70s.

Wild equipment and machining--- Honda rod bearings, oversided cams. Ported Heads and manifolds. Exotic materials....

8.60's in GT/AA? I'd sure like to know what year/factory hp that 454 combo is?

Anyone know?

Honda bearings in Super Stock? Wow

What's an oversided cam?

Ported heads and manifolds have been around a long time in Super Stock haven't they?

What exotic material is being used? You don't have to tell me what it's being used for, I know some things need to be kept to yourself.

Thanks

[Charlie A]

Originally Posted by Jim Mango G/S 1453

Thought this thread could use a picture.

[Michael Beard]

Costs of racing are above the possible New racers.

I didn't go class racing overnight. I bracket raced for years, learning the trade, and then got into class racing with a dime rocket thanks to help from Billy Nees. (still have it, still competitive)

I got my 'second start' in class racing with a borrowed car, and eventually bought my own car, a crate motor Stocker that I got for $9K turnkey. Many years later, I made it a Super Stocker just by changing the engine and fuel system. I've upgraded it a little bit at a time, by choice. You could build my car from scratch for under $30K (so long as you don't mind going slow). Could I go spend $30K on a car today? No! Again, I started out small and worked my way up a little bit at a time. For example, when I started bending the rear end housing, I elected to have the car back-halfed and 4-linked. Within a few months, winnings paid for the project.



Can you do it "cheap"? Absolutely. Most people just don't want to.


Another thread a while back bemoaned how there's no new blood in drag racing, to which I replied with a lengthy list of young guns in the sport. People have been claiming "there's no new blood!" since I was a kid, which unfortunately was a long time ago now.

[Carguy49]

I have read and re-read most of the posts in this thread. This thread started out about what hurt drag racing. It is now time for my 2 cents, which isn't worth that much probably.

Several have mentioned that cost has been a factor. If you look around everything costs more than it did many years ago. So you can't blame it on the cost, totally. Look at the Pro classes, all cars in Top Fuel and Funny Car look very similar. The Pro Stocks don't look like production cars anymore.

Take the Pro Classes and give the cars some identity and the fan base would grow. Even us guys that have been around for many years are tired of the way the "big boy" cars look.

In the thread about Larry Morgan quitting Pro Stock one guy mentioned that the factory super stock blower cars aren't that far from the Pro Stocks. Replace the Pro Stocks with the FSS cars and that would be fun to watch, and we would see what those cars are really capable of.

Have the Funny Cars look more like a car and see what happens. Maybe even take some power away and go back to 1320 feet for the race. I am sure that will bring out some enthusiastic comments.

I am not sure how to fix Top Fuel, but there needs to be more than one engine that can be run, and limit them on power and go back to 1320 also.. There may be more than one engine that meets spec, but I would like to see all the makes represented (ford, chevy, buick, chrysler, etc. The Top Fuel and Funny Cars can only run one specific tire made by Goodyear, where's the competition in that???

These ideas are probably the dreams of an older guy, but would make for some interesting cars going down the 1320 again.

In all, let's put some fun back in drag racing and more people would get involved and more fans would go to the drags.


Just one last thought. I understand the need for enclosed trailers, but I applaud the guys that still use an open trailer and travel in "old school" class to each event.

[Jim Kaekel]

I used an open trailer for many years and it was all well and good, but it certainly has it's drawbacks. I purchased a 28' enclosed trailer about 7 yrs. ago and although it was a considerable expense, I no longer have to deal with the hassle of finding a motel (since I stay in the trailer) or any of the worries associated with the car sitting out overnight and unattended. And the motels keep getting worse, unsafe and more expensive. Just my .02.

[Mickey Whaley]

What is LEGAL anymore????

[Kevin Panzino]

As I sit here at Maple Grove, drinking a glass of homemade wine, smoking a nice bowl of Captain Black reading this post after spending the better portion of the day getting into and getting parked at this event, which is absoultely packed with cars, and will soon be packed with spectators, I am left bewildered and wondering.....

WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG ???....

Just saying.......

Oh well, now carry on, and continue bashing NHRA and drag racing from your keyboards at home...

Kevin