Drag racing Enjoy it while you can

[Steve1118]

Drag Racing is fine. It's not going anywhere. However, it is changing.

A local drag strip, or even a drag strip that hosts national events is a business. So many seem to lose sight of that. It needs support from the locals. Some of the guys complaining here wouldn't be caught dead at their local track, but complain and moan when it closes.

We sponsor a little Nostalgia series at our local track. It is very, very successful and we have cars coming out to the track that have been tucked in garages for years. We have Nostalgia SS, Nostalgia Gassers, and old type Modified Production cars. It has worked beyond our imagination. The Nostalgia thing works....period correct cars. Technical rules loose, to make it easy to race, and easy to get the old iron out there. Always cool. Draws a decent spectator count, too.

The same track is PACKED on special Street only Saturday grudge type race days, no classes, just locals coming to the track in their whatever-they-drive, and the place is jammed. "Grudgement Day" is a very successful venue. Newer Hemis, Turbocharged Imports.....some of them are pretty doggone fast, too.

They have large Alky funny car events, "Night of Fire", all kinds of stuff going on, something for everyone. Wheelstanders, jet cars. A Show.

Local Brackets for the local rank and file.10.5, whatever. It's a busy place.

A lot of guys seem to be waiting for the day when each track has local class eliminations, as they did in the past. Those days are gone, and they are not coming back. Like any business, the tracks are going to adjust, as any business has to. The ones that do, as well as the racers that do, will be just fine.

Personally, I like it. Although it's been my home track for years, I love racing and being there now, and would much rather do that than travel as we did in the past. I get to go home, eat a ham sandwich, use my own bathroom, and sleep in my own bed. At this age, I've found I really like it. I wish I would have done it sooner.

As I understand it, Etown's local participation and support for drag racing was down to nothing. A National event, and a divisional that draws, and the rest of the racers who race at those never coming otherwise, won't cut it, financially. Add to that the Napp's constant stream of litigation, as well as a guaranteed payday, and well, it's easy to see why they threw in the towel.

If you want racing to continue, support your local track. It's what's happening, and you'll even find some extra $ in your pocket.

[Coleydog]

I agree with above. Friday nite test and tune brings more people and cars then Sunday race day. $15 to test $5 to watch, fron 6:00 to 10:00. A whole lot of money changes hand from the spectators. No rules no tech. You wanna run In the grudge race, put up $20, winner and second get the money. Track pays out nothing.

[GTX JOHN]

We have at least one Friday Night a month Grudge Night. Lots of Street Outlaw Big and Little tire stuff.

Lots of money changing hands at those races.....Just like the Old Street
Racing!

[Myron Piatek]

Originally Posted by Steve1118

Drag Racing is fine. It's not going anywhere. However, it is changing.

A local drag strip, or even a drag strip that hosts national events is a business. So many seem to lose sight of that. It needs support from the locals. Some of the guys complaining here wouldn't be caught dead at their local track, but complain and moan when it closes.

We sponsor a little Nostalgia series at our local track. It is very, very successful and we have cars coming out to the track that have been tucked in garages for years. We have Nostalgia SS, Nostalgia Gassers, and old type Modified Production cars. It has worked beyond our imagination. The Nostalgia thing works....period correct cars. Technical rules loose, to make it easy to race, and easy to get the old iron out there. Always cool. Draws a decent spectator count, too.

I never understood why the sanctioning bodies having Stock & Super Stock classes don't advertise with the nostalgia, car show an old vs new angles. Many of the cars in those classes are antiques, vehicles that parents & grandparents had while growing up, many are of car show quality that you can eat off of! Just like car shows or magazines, many you just don't see anymore anywhere else because they are "safely" tucked away. At the races, many are doing what they were built to do. While still not the main show at national events, it could reach a broader market, especially at divisionals, opens, association races, etc. A extra note in the corner of a print or internet ad couldn't hurt.

[Coleydog]

Originally Posted by Myron Piatek

I never understood why the sanctioning bodies having Stock & Super Stock classes don't advertise with the nostalgia, car show an old vs new angles. Many of the cars in those classes are antiques, vehicles that parents & grandparents had while growing up, many are of car show quality that you can eat off of! Just like car shows or magazines, many you just don't see anymore anywhere else because they are "safely" tucked away. At the races, many are doing what they were built to do. While still not the main show at national events, it could reach a broader market, especially at divisionals, opens, association races, etc. A extra note in the corner of a print or internet ad couldn't hurt.

I agree but the bad part, most and I mean most think they're too good to do that stuff. They wouldn't think of going to a regular bracket race.
One showed up one day and all the people and racers where all over it saying how cool it was and couldn't believe it ran that fast with a stock looking engine.
Mike