Part of what hurt drag racing - Page 3

novanicks · 09-15-2014, 04:34 PM

My perspective. I am 35 years old and race 20+ weekends/year.

Money is the killer for participation with young people. Any NHRA class car which is reasonably competitive is $35,000 and has pretty high operating costs. As you know a top tier car is generally $70-80k.

The NHRA divisional format can also be dull for some. I recently competed at an event and there were 7 time runs before eliminations on Sunday. I much prefer to enter big bracket races where we have two time runs and then have 4 days of competition over 4 days.

Dick Butler · 09-15-2014, 10:21 PM

My point exactly. Create a class that discourages TOP CLASS MONEY. No prize money but trophy, plaque whatever. Banish cheaters to run Super gas whatever.
Make the car very basic, slapper bars, posi trac you name it but keep it ONE motor or ONE cubic inch or however its desired to make it heads up on drivers.... Many here started somewhere basic but the current classes, rules, options for factory cars have KILLED the incoming people off.
Lb/cubic inch, name the carb, name the headers, name the trans, name the tire size to limit breakage so posi would work.....get a Magazine to promote it like they did Jr. Stock years ago and stand back it will work.....

Bimbo Jones · 09-16-2014, 11:46 AM

I have an open trailer for my wagon and I get my share of thumbs up but coming home after midnight from the races I also get my fare share of crazies. I've had people try to toss things into the windows(note to self, always roll up windows). I've seen drunks lean out of their cars and try to touch the side of my wagon at 60 plus MPH. I had two cars try to force me to exit and then followed me when I did exit so I drove to the police station which caused them to speed off. Attention to your race car isn't always an positive thing.

Dick Butler · 09-16-2014, 01:44 PM

Randy, I agree as you know with the /b per cubic inch basic head rules you suggest but I suggest ONE class. Get it going like Modified and watch it expand participation. I bet week end local tracks could benefit from the "show" if they used it. I also think the bracket racers would love to see themselves in the spotlight and attempt to join the class.

randy wilson · 09-16-2014, 01:52 PM

Dick, I'd LOVE to have one heads-up class that fit my car perfectly. Trust me. That would be my dream. But naturally I'd want it to conform to the car I already have. That was my thoughts, that no eliminator will fit all cars wanting to go back to racing no break-out. If you do one class, you'd have to let just about any chassis combo in as long as they make weight. Which is fine with me, but don't know how it would go over. The reason I stated those 8 or nine classes in two eliminators was to include unmodified chassis on up. Was just a thought.

joespanova · 09-16-2014, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimbo Jones

I have an open trailer for my wagon and I get my share of thumbs up but coming home after midnight from the races I also get my fare share of crazies. I've had people try to toss things into the windows(note to self, always roll up windows). I've seen drunks lean out of their cars and try to touch the side of my wagon at 60 plus MPH. I had two cars try to force me to exit and then followed me when I did exit so I drove to the police station which caused them to speed off. Attention to your race car isn't always an positive thing.

Yep...when I return home I always keep an eye on who or what's behind me and IF I suspect anything weird , like a follower, I have a plan for that. ( part of that plan includes continuing on past my house ).

doglover44 · 09-17-2014, 04:11 PM

there still are some S/SS racers using open trailers what makes a enclosed trailer so great ?

randy wilson · 09-18-2014, 04:04 PM

Brodix, dang spell check.

Brock · 09-19-2014, 05:29 PM

The bottom line is money...even if you were to start with the most basic of basic operations...

Good used truck....10000
Open trailer....1500
Nice foot break car...10000
Spares...3500

If you wanted to start small I mean your average saturday night bracket buster combo your gonna spend at least 20/25K to get the ball rolling

All of the kids I grew up with junior racing the majority of us did a stint in a big car as we get older things like new homes, babies, careers, and most of all a lack of funding has caused a lot of us to walk away from the sport we love so much

Another Friendly Racer · 09-19-2014, 05:33 PM

Is it possible that drag racing is, for the most part, simply a uni-generational sport fueled by the muscle car era?

09-15-2014, 04:34 PM	#1
novanicks Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 16 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Part of what hurt drag racing My perspective. I am 35 years old and race 20+ weekends/year. Money is the killer for participation with young people. Any NHRA class car which is reasonably competitive is $35,000 and has pretty high operating costs. As you know a top tier car is generally $70-80k. The NHRA divisional format can also be dull for some. I recently competed at an event and there were 7 time runs before eliminations on Sunday. I much prefer to enter big bracket races where we have two time runs and then have 4 days of competition over 4 days.

09-15-2014, 10:21 PM	#2
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Part of what hurt drag racing My point exactly. Create a class that discourages TOP CLASS MONEY. No prize money but trophy, plaque whatever. Banish cheaters to run Super gas whatever. Make the car very basic, slapper bars, posi trac you name it but keep it ONE motor or ONE cubic inch or however its desired to make it heads up on drivers.... Many here started somewhere basic but the current classes, rules, options for factory cars have KILLED the incoming people off. Lb/cubic inch, name the carb, name the headers, name the trans, name the tire size to limit breakage so posi would work.....get a Magazine to promote it like they did Jr. Stock years ago and stand back it will work.....

09-16-2014, 11:46 AM	#3
Bimbo Jones Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 109 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Part of what hurt drag racing I have an open trailer for my wagon and I get my share of thumbs up but coming home after midnight from the races I also get my fare share of crazies. I've had people try to toss things into the windows(note to self, always roll up windows). I've seen drunks lean out of their cars and try to touch the side of my wagon at 60 plus MPH. I had two cars try to force me to exit and then followed me when I did exit so I drove to the police station which caused them to speed off. Attention to your race car isn't always an positive thing.

09-16-2014, 01:44 PM	#4
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Part of what hurt drag racing Randy, I agree as you know with the /b per cubic inch basic head rules you suggest but I suggest ONE class. Get it going like Modified and watch it expand participation. I bet week end local tracks could benefit from the "show" if they used it. I also think the bracket racers would love to see themselves in the spotlight and attempt to join the class.

09-16-2014, 01:52 PM	#5
randy wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 882 Likes: 0 Liked 22 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Part of what hurt drag racing Dick, I'd LOVE to have one heads-up class that fit my car perfectly. Trust me. That would be my dream. But naturally I'd want it to conform to the car I already have. That was my thoughts, that no eliminator will fit all cars wanting to go back to racing no break-out. If you do one class, you'd have to let just about any chassis combo in as long as they make weight. Which is fine with me, but don't know how it would go over. The reason I stated those 8 or nine classes in two eliminators was to include unmodified chassis on up. Was just a thought. __________________ don,t have one

09-17-2014, 04:11 PM	#7
doglover44 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Carlisle OH Posts: 1,386 Likes: 4 Liked 489 Times in 227 Posts	Re: Part of what hurt drag racing there still are some S/SS racers using open trailers what makes a enclosed trailer so great ? __________________ Jake Biermann

09-18-2014, 04:04 PM	#8
randy wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 882 Likes: 0 Liked 22 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Part of what hurt drag racing Brodix, dang spell check. __________________ don,t have one

09-19-2014, 05:29 PM	#9
Brock Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Part of what hurt drag racing The bottom line is money...even if you were to start with the most basic of basic operations... Good used truck....10000 Open trailer....1500 Nice foot break car...10000 Spares...3500 If you wanted to start small I mean your average saturday night bracket buster combo your gonna spend at least 20/25K to get the ball rolling All of the kids I grew up with junior racing the majority of us did a stint in a big car as we get older things like new homes, babies, careers, and most of all a lack of funding has caused a lot of us to walk away from the sport we love so much

09-19-2014, 05:33 PM	#10
Another Friendly Racer Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 152 Likes: 0 Liked 19 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Part of what hurt drag racing Is it possible that drag racing is, for the most part, simply a uni-generational sport fueled by the muscle car era?