stock and super stock racing

[bill dedman]

Ed is right; eventually, they did run handicapped-start, "eliminators" using handicaps based on head-start distances, but that didn't come along until a little later, and I THINK it was an AHRA thing; I never saw that type of handicapping at an NHRA strip, and I was at the NHRA Nationals in '57, '58, '61 and '62 (all, pre-Christmas Tree.) The strip I wokked as a Tech at (Des Moines Dragway) was using the "distance/head start" handicap system when I started working there, in 1965, but switched to an elapsed-time handicap, the next year. It was an AHRA strip until 1966.

The time frame I made reference to when there were no "Stock Eliminators" (at least, that I knew about) were 1955-1959... just Class winners.

When they started combining classes for a cash prize was when things started to get complicated, and there's been no letup, since...

During that time-frame, they did have three "eliminators" for modified cars; Top, Middle, and Little Eliminators, but again, there were no handicaps; an A car ran a C car, heads-up...
They opined that if you wanted to win the Eliminator money ($75, $50, and $25), you should build an "A" car... LOL!

How's that for simplicity... duh........

[mtkawboy]

You would be ashamed to admit to someone that you didnt build your own car & engine too.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by mtkawboy

You would be ashamed to admit to someone that you didnt build your own car & engine too.

Amen...

Thanks for bringing back this long forgotten fact.

[Wade Mahaffey]

Originally Posted by mtkawboy

You would be ashamed to admit to someone that you didnt build your own car & engine too.

Does'nt everybody build their own stuff still? That's where all the pride is! That's what made it great in the first place, individual effort! If you don't build it, you can never fully experience the feeling of victory. Winning is a lot of fun because it is tough to do, even in cars/engines built for you and/or being spoon fed. Winning in something that you personally built is the ultimate experience, and many of todays winners will never realize in a life time of racing! This is just my opinion, not trying to offend, I've never been accused of being "New School" LOL Congrats to all winners though, you were part of a winning effort even if you just drive, maintain, and transport the car.

Wade Mahaffey

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

Ed is right; eventually, they did run handicapped-start, "eliminators" using handicaps based on head-start distances, but that didn't come along until a little later, and I THINK it was an AHRA thing; I never saw that type of handicapping at an NHRA strip, and I was at the NHRA Nationals in '57, '58, '61 and '62 (all, pre-Christmas Tree.) The strip I wokked as a Tech at (Des Moines Dragway) was using the "distance/head start" handicap system when I started working there, in 1965, but switched to an elapsed-time handicap, the next year. It was an AHRA strip until 1966.

The time frame I made reference to when there were no "Stock Eliminators" (at least, that I knew about) were 1955-1959... just Class winners.

When they started combining classes for a cash prize was when things started to get complicated, and there's been no letup, since...

During that time-frame, they did have three "eliminators" for modified cars; Top, Middle, and Little Eliminators, but again, there were no handicaps; an A car ran a C car, heads-up...
They opined that if you wanted to win the Eliminator money ($75, $50, and $25), you should build an "A" car... LOL!

How's that for simplicity... duh........

They hadicapped cars here in Tulsa (NHRA) at the old North Air Port track. Yes, we had to stop to let private planes take off and land. I started in 1959/1960. The year before I graduated high school.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Longbob

You started racing before I was born.

I have underwear older than you. May be wearing some right now.

[bill dedman]

I started racing when Ed was 11....

I sure haven't made much progress, given the time-frame...

Oh well....