Deconstructing Stock

[Bruce Noland]

Mark,

I'm glad you're sticking with this thread. You and others have offered many good thoughts.

I haven't read all of the posts and this thought may have been offered before. How about bringing back the old gas classes? No cars younger than 25 years old. Classes could be AA through H and they could include import classes. There are lots of cheap mid 80's cars around. Gassers could have their own category and eliminator. I'll bet a lower class gasser could be built for under $10,000.00. I would build one in a second. It may cause car counts to suffer in other categories but it would give the entry level folks a place to jump in and old guys like me a chance to re-live the past.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

Mark,

I'm glad you're sticking with this thread. You and others have offered many good thoughts.

I haven't read all of the posts and this thought may have been offered before. How about bringing back the old gas classes? No cars younger than 25 years old. Classes could be AA through H and they could include import classes. There are lots of cheap mid 80's cars around. Gassers could have their own category and eliminator. I'll bet a lower class gasser could be built for under $10,000.00. I would build one in a second. It may cause car counts to suffer in other categories but it would give the entry level folks a place to jump in and old guys like me a chance to re-live the past.

I don't know, Bruce.
NHRA stands for No Hot Rods Allowed, doesn't it?

Strange as it sounds, the folks who like those kind of cars, seem to have very little interest in actually drag racing them.
We saw that with the imports too, didn't we?

[THE LEGEND]

rickseeman,
Why don't you give IHRA a try. They've got classes you can run. THere is also a Divisional coming up at Memphis you can get you license at too.

If you want to go NHRA racing Call Roy Hill. Fly to Charlotte and make runs in one of his cars.

Chip Johnson

[THE LEGEND]

Non classracer mentality= Why spend many thousands of dollars to race for $1,000 bucks and a trophy.

Things that are killing class racing and not bringing in New Blood.

Costs
Hassles ( I always said if it was easy everybody would do it)
Lack of Contingency money.
It used to mean someting to get a Ironman/Wally, They give them away at bracket races too.
Being at the track 3-4 days for 1 race.

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.

Originally Posted by THE LEGEND

Non classracer mentality= Why spend many thousands of dollars to race for $1,000 bucks and a trophy.

Things that are killing class racing and not bringing in New Blood.

Costs
Hassles ( I always said if it was easy everybody would do it)
Lack of Contingency money.
It used to mean someting to get a Ironman/Wally, They give them away at bracket races too.
Being at the track 3-4 days for 1 race.

[Phillip marvetz]

Originally Posted by THE LEGEND

Things that are killing class racing and not bringing in New Blood.

Costs
Hassles ( I always said if it was easy everybody would do it)
Lack of Contingency money.
It used to mean someting to get a Ironman/Wally, They give them away at bracket races too.
Being at the track 3-4 days for 1 race.

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.

[THE LEGEND]

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