And the new normal begins

[Dan Lattimore]

Originally Posted by GUMP

Do we need that or organized Class races? I just got beat in the Class finals at the Baby Gators last week. I still had fun and that trophy had VALUE that a purse can never give. The performance element of what we do is the only reason I show up.

James----I'm 74, When I started racing in 1961 there were no qualified fields. You had to win your class to race in the eliminator. In the mid 60's at Capital raceway It was nothing unusual to have 30-40 cars in your class at every race. I raced for a year and a half before I won my first heads up round. So I understand completely the exhilaration from looking over in the other lane and see your opponent is heads up. I live for that , I was fortunate enough to race in a time when the car in the other lane was Bobby Warren Charlie Taylor Bud Rowe George Duff the list goes on . ------ I don't have all the answers but I think we need organized class races with all the rules we race under in place. Heads up runs , scales etc. with gamblers race option. Everything is the same as any points race we go to but racers put money in a kitty. There were 200 S/SS cars at Gainsville Points race, if every car opted for the gambler option at say 200.00 that would be a side purse of $40,000 to split up any way you want...You're already there so what's another 200 especially if you're one of the 100 sent away. Barry Parker is working on something along these lines for the New England Class Racers Assn. the week before the Div 1 race at LVR in June ---- This will probably be the most money we've ever raced for with all rules in effect. The toughest will be there with I'm sure plenty of heads up races . They consistently get over 100 Stockers and over 100 S/Stockers.-------I'm not the enemy ... NHRA knows the age of class racers and are preparing , most didn't get their AARP card yesterday. It's only a matter of time before they can't do it anymore and start selling off their cars. TO WHO ?? Younger racers that can afford it aren't going to buy John Armstrong's SS/AA for 100,000 plus and run our CCRA race for $1000-$2000 ----- Time to look for more options .