Within Stock rules???

Dwight Southerland · 04-03-2016, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seansimp925

Until they change their mind after you've already built all the engines based on an approved TI sheet.

Ain't life grand!!

MR DERBY CITY · 04-03-2016, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

Ain't life grand!!

Kinda reminds me of the old days with TOP STOCK......

Mike Keener · 04-03-2016, 10:56 PM

Say what you will about Top Stock but Terry Bell and I will never regret starting this class way back in 2000 and we can't thank Bill Bader and IHRA enough for giving us a stage to show what heads up competition in Stock Eliminator was really capable of.

Hindsight being 20-20 our only regret was allowing GM to institute crate motors in to this otherwise fantastic class. It always comes down to money and IHRA wanted their sponsorship but with it came the spoils. Once this fantastic eliminator was infiltrated with crate motors and eventual endless rule changes, etc., it was all over but the shouting.

I would bet dollars to donuts that had it remained a pure A-B-C- Stock Eliminator class per NHRA rules it would not only still be alive and well, but would have remained every bit as popular, if not more, than it was at Norwalk 2000.

The thing to remember about heads up racing is this. Nobody gives a damn about how fast the cars go as long the first car to the finish line wins-with no breakout!

MR DERBY CITY · 04-04-2016, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Keener

Say what you will about Top Stock but Terry Bell and I will never regret starting this class way back in 2000 and we can't thank Bill Bader and IHRA enough for giving us a stage to show what heads up competition in Stock Eliminator was really capable of.

Hindsight being 20-20 our only regret was allowing GM to institute crate motors in to this otherwise fantastic class. It always comes down to money and IHRA wanted their sponsorship but with it came the spoils. Once this fantastic eliminator was infiltrated with crate motors and eventual endless rule changes, etc., it was all over but the shouting.

I would bet dollars to donuts that had it remained a pure A-B-C- Stock Eliminator class per NHRA rules it would not only still be alive and well, but would have remained every bit as popular, if not more, than it was at Norwalk 2000.

The thing to remember about heads up racing is this. Nobody gives a damn about how fast the cars go as long the first car to the finish line wins-with no breakout!

Mike, I absolutely loved Top Stock...it ranks right up there with night baseball and sliced bread. I agree that Crate Motors led to its demise..

Dwight Southerland · 04-04-2016, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Keener

Say what you will about Top Stock but Terry Bell and I will never regret starting this class way back in 2000 and we can't thank Bill Bader and IHRA enough for giving us a stage to show what heads up competition in Stock Eliminator was really capable of.

Hindsight being 20-20 our only regret was allowing GM to institute crate motors in to this otherwise fantastic class. It always comes down to money and IHRA wanted their sponsorship but with it came the spoils. Once this fantastic eliminator was infiltrated with crate motors and eventual endless rule changes, etc., it was all over but the shouting.

I would bet dollars to donuts that had it remained a pure A-B-C- Stock Eliminator class per NHRA rules it would not only still be alive and well, but would have remained every bit as popular, if not more, than it was at Norwalk 2000.

The thing to remember about heads up racing is this. Nobody gives a damn about how fast the cars go as long the first car to the finish line wins-with no breakout!

I am with you 100% on this Mike. And I think there is a missed opportunity out there for the Top Stock and Junior Stock programs.

Mike Keener · 04-04-2016, 11:23 AM

Thanks Dwight and Mike

It's nice to hear that quality racers like yourselves knew and loved the opportunity that once presented itself. Those first couple of seasons were nothing short of phenomenal for sure!

I agree with Dwight specifically about the fact that there is definitely a missed opportunity out there currently for Top Stock and Junior Stock programs. I would love it if either or both could be resurrected!

There is no reason the current Factory Showdown cars should be the only form of heads up racing for Sportsman Racers. If all it would take is sponsor to step up and offer NHRA the proposal I don't see a reason good enough that they wouldn't listen to it.

In fact it makes me wonder if Mike Dunn would be interested?? Hmmm....

Alan Roehrich · 04-04-2016, 07:24 PM

We held Top Stock and Top Super Stock races at Bowling Green, Top Stock a couple of times. We even had a natural D car step up and run in Top Stock. I think Top Stock with traditional cars would work, but I seriously doubt NHRA would consider adding it to National Events or LODRS races. We could possibly get it done at Opens.

Allan Dame · 04-04-2016, 09:36 PM

just my opinion .... what's next pro stock stock ??????? no rules just factory backing and or buyout for the cars they want..........
what about the rest of us poor lowly stock and or super stock racers??????
Guess from what I read ......cheating is O K depending on what NEW car you have........
Give the Old and Proven cars the ability to run fuel injection and computer controlled down track adjustments and then lets see what happens!!!!!
A little used term and I am not ashamed to say it .............BOGUS CRAP!!!!!!!!
Again......JUST my opinion.....
Agree or not ......
also when the ultra fast stockers start crashing into slower cars cause a 9 inch tire isn't going to hook 900 hp cars we all lose .....
don't bitch at me just saying !!!!!!!

Dwight Southerland · 04-05-2016, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

I think Top Stock with traditional cars would work, but I seriously doubt NHRA would consider adding it to National Events or LODRS races. We could possibly get it done at Opens.

I doubt that depending on NHRA to step in and build such races will yield any results. They are too busy with their own program problems to take on anything new. It will take a promoter to put together the races and purses. Track owners need to be sold on the idea (it has to make $$ for them), sponsors will need to be procured and tech support will have to be provided. Innovative track owners and divisional directors will be the most receptive and the races will probably have a better chance of success on a divisional or regional level. The program that Div 1 did will provide a lot of good information to work from. It would be good to talk to as many people as possible who were involved in those races to learn. Such programs offer good opportunities if marketed well to bring spectators to the races, and that's what race tracks want. Think of a Factory Stock heads-up race using current Detroit race only cars, Top Stock featuring historic Detroit super cars, and Junior Stock featuring historic and current street muscle cars.

My nickel in the pot.

Tom P · 04-06-2016, 02:41 PM

I like what Mike Keener said a couple pages back. Top Stock was a great class before the 502 Vegas and stuff polluted it.
It looks like the Factory Stock class is headed to oblivion too. Deja Vu? I was just reading some old Drag Racing Magazines, in 1966 they are still calling the altered wheelbase Dodges and SOHC stretch-nose Mustangs "stockers" even after they were running injected nitro.

04-03-2016, 10:56 PM	#3
Mike Keener Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 294 Likes: 102 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Within Stock rules??? Say what you will about Top Stock but Terry Bell and I will never regret starting this class way back in 2000 and we can't thank Bill Bader and IHRA enough for giving us a stage to show what heads up competition in Stock Eliminator was really capable of. Hindsight being 20-20 our only regret was allowing GM to institute crate motors in to this otherwise fantastic class. It always comes down to money and IHRA wanted their sponsorship but with it came the spoils. Once this fantastic eliminator was infiltrated with crate motors and eventual endless rule changes, etc., it was all over but the shouting. I would bet dollars to donuts that had it remained a pure A-B-C- Stock Eliminator class per NHRA rules it would not only still be alive and well, but would have remained every bit as popular, if not more, than it was at Norwalk 2000. The thing to remember about heads up racing is this. Nobody gives a damn about how fast the cars go as long the first car to the finish line wins-with no breakout! __________________ Mike Keener A/S B/S C/SM

04-04-2016, 11:23 AM	#6
Mike Keener Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 294 Likes: 102 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Within Stock rules??? Thanks Dwight and Mike It's nice to hear that quality racers like yourselves knew and loved the opportunity that once presented itself. Those first couple of seasons were nothing short of phenomenal for sure! I agree with Dwight specifically about the fact that there is definitely a missed opportunity out there currently for Top Stock and Junior Stock programs. I would love it if either or both could be resurrected! There is no reason the current Factory Showdown cars should be the only form of heads up racing for Sportsman Racers. If all it would take is sponsor to step up and offer NHRA the proposal I don't see a reason good enough that they wouldn't listen to it. In fact it makes me wonder if Mike Dunn would be interested?? Hmmm.... __________________ Mike Keener A/S B/S C/SM

04-04-2016, 07:24 PM	#7
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,138 Likes: 1,617 Liked 1,929 Times in 434 Posts	Re: Within Stock rules??? We held Top Stock and Top Super Stock races at Bowling Green, Top Stock a couple of times. We even had a natural D car step up and run in Top Stock. I think Top Stock with traditional cars would work, but I seriously doubt NHRA would consider adding it to National Events or LODRS races. We could possibly get it done at Opens. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

04-04-2016, 09:36 PM	#8
Allan Dame Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lebanon,Maine Posts: 25 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Within Stock rules??? just my opinion .... what's next pro stock stock ??????? no rules just factory backing and or buyout for the cars they want.......... what about the rest of us poor lowly stock and or super stock racers?????? Guess from what I read ......cheating is O K depending on what NEW car you have........ Give the Old and Proven cars the ability to run fuel injection and computer controlled down track adjustments and then lets see what happens!!!!! A little used term and I am not ashamed to say it .............BOGUS CRAP!!!!!!!! Again......JUST my opinion..... Agree or not ...... also when the ultra fast stockers start crashing into slower cars cause a 9 inch tire isn't going to hook 900 hp cars we all lose ..... don't bitch at me just saying !!!!!!!

04-06-2016, 02:41 PM	#10
Tom P Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 707 Likes: 30 Liked 239 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Within Stock rules??? I like what Mike Keener said a couple pages back. Top Stock was a great class before the 502 Vegas and stuff polluted it. It looks like the Factory Stock class is headed to oblivion too. Deja Vu? I was just reading some old Drag Racing Magazines, in 1966 they are still calling the altered wheelbase Dodges and SOHC stretch-nose Mustangs "stockers" even after they were running injected nitro.