Sad that this is happening

skills · 10-08-2018, 09:47 PM

http://competitionplus.com/drag-raci...nhra-pro-stock

nhramnl · 10-09-2018, 07:25 AM

It does appear to be the end of an era, but I don't know if it's what I would call sad. Lots of things have come and gone in drag racing, and the sport just moved on. I don't think anyone would disagree that Pro Stock has lost its way, but I think the sport in general has become far less relevant to the average young American man or woman that it used to be. What's been lost is the history of drag racing, and from that, the ability to put the sport in context. None of the young people participating today have much of a sense of where the sport came from, so it exists in the present, rather than having any historical foundation. The average 60 year old vividly remembers the beginning years of Pro Stock, and that memory "connects" today to the past. When a Pro Stock race takes place today, the 60 year old is unconsciously thinking "Oh man, I remember when Grumpy raced Ronnie Sox, and this is still a lot like that", where the young person of today just sees two Pro Stock/Pro Mod/Top Sportsman/Everything Looks the Same cars fly down the track, oftentimes driven by young people who never actually even work on the car. In the hero days of Pro Stock, it was man against man, hero against hero, because each car literally represented the brains, creativity, hard work and driving skill of the owner. Those days are gone, never to return, and the guys that miss them most are the guys who remember how incredible Pro Stock was.

X-TECH MAN · 10-09-2018, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhramnl

It does appear to be the end of an era, but I don't know if it's what I would call sad. Lots of things have come and gone in drag racing, and the sport just moved on. I don't think anyone would disagree that Pro Stock has lost its way, but I think the sport in general has become far less relevant to the average young American man or woman that it used to be. What's been lost is the history of drag racing, and from that, the ability to put the sport in context. None of the young people participating today have much of a sense of where the sport came from, so it exists in the present, rather than having any historical foundation. The average 60 year old vividly remembers the beginning years of Pro Stock, and that memory "connects" today to the past. When a Pro Stock race takes place today, the 60 year old is unconsciously thinking "Oh man, I remember when Grumpy raced Ronnie Sox, and this is still a lot like that", where the young person of today just sees two Pro Stock/Pro Mod/Top Sportsman/Everything Looks the Same cars fly down the track, oftentimes driven by young people who never actually even work on the car. In the hero days of Pro Stock, it was man against man, hero against hero, because each car literally represented the brains, creativity, hard work and driving skill of the owner. Those days are gone, never to return, and the guys that miss them most are the guys who remember how incredible Pro Stock was.

This is a great post....Thank you !

Myron Piatek · 10-09-2018, 08:48 AM

X2 Sad, but accurate.

Tim H · 10-09-2018, 09:50 AM

Pro Stock used to be my favourite class, especially back in the the early to mid 1980's. The glory days of Reher-Morrison-Shepherd, Iaconio, Glidden, WJ. There seemed to be more personality involved, I guess you could say that about the other Pro classes as well. Personally I loved the dry hops, hood scoops and carbs, but the sport must evolve.
Now my favourite class is stock eliminator,like many I grew up with these 1960-1990's cars roaming the streets.They are cars I can relate to and dream of owning one day. I will be sad if P/S ceases to exist.

Bob Don · 10-09-2018, 10:15 AM

You may see FS in some form or another take the place of Pro Stock. You already have the big 3 involved and big name drivers competing.

Randall Klein · 10-09-2018, 10:46 AM

What I find encouraging is that Drew Skillman finds "value" in staying involved esp with S/SS, after being at the supposed "pinnacle"

Butner, Jeg, have roots in S/SS and with FS growing it seems to me as if our universe is expanding which can't hurt.

To me....as classes get away from wheelstands, be it COMP, HEMI SHOOTOUT CARS, Pro Stock etc.....the repeated sameness looses fan appeal

Someone somewhere posed the concept of no wheelie bars.....hmmmmm

Barry Polley · 10-09-2018, 12:35 PM

Cannot forget that the trickle down affect of PRO STOCK ENGINE DEVELOPMENT is found in all the new FS cars as well as Comp, Superstock, Stock and every other class. I for one do not want to see that go anywhere. So they loose some names in PS..... Not the end of the class and hate to see the talent leave but hopefully they can be replaced.

Mike Jones · 10-09-2018, 01:45 PM

"Enders said last week that her Elite Motorsports team isn’t going anywhere: “As far as I know, myself, Jeg Coughlin, Vincent Nobile, Alex Laughlin . . . our team will remain intact. Richard [team owner Freeman] will be a fifth car at times. Matt Hartford, I’m not sure of his plans, but I would assume that he will continue to run off of us. We’re doing our part. We’re trying our best to make it happen. I wish Drew wasn’t leaving. I hope that Bo’s not leaving. But we’ll just have to see what happens in the silly season."

In Top Fuel @ St. Louis: 5 MLR cars and 6 DSR cars for 16 spots.
A Pro Stock team with 4 or 5 cars...
Hard to compete against that much of everything.
Mike A114

1legjerry · 10-09-2018, 04:24 PM

I still think the FS motors in Stock body but with a pro stock chassis is the way to go. Do away with the aero bodies and use factory built NHRA sealed motors. They could start by transitioning into the motors first for a year or two while they develop the chassis for the stock body.

10-08-2018, 09:47 PM	#1
skills Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hershey,pa Posts: 185 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sad that this is happening http://competitionplus.com/drag-raci...nhra-pro-stock

10-09-2018, 07:25 AM	#2
nhramnl Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 504 Likes: 7 Liked 352 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Sad that this is happening It does appear to be the end of an era, but I don't know if it's what I would call sad. Lots of things have come and gone in drag racing, and the sport just moved on. I don't think anyone would disagree that Pro Stock has lost its way, but I think the sport in general has become far less relevant to the average young American man or woman that it used to be. What's been lost is the history of drag racing, and from that, the ability to put the sport in context. None of the young people participating today have much of a sense of where the sport came from, so it exists in the present, rather than having any historical foundation. The average 60 year old vividly remembers the beginning years of Pro Stock, and that memory "connects" today to the past. When a Pro Stock race takes place today, the 60 year old is unconsciously thinking "Oh man, I remember when Grumpy raced Ronnie Sox, and this is still a lot like that", where the young person of today just sees two Pro Stock/Pro Mod/Top Sportsman/Everything Looks the Same cars fly down the track, oftentimes driven by young people who never actually even work on the car. In the hero days of Pro Stock, it was man against man, hero against hero, because each car literally represented the brains, creativity, hard work and driving skill of the owner. Those days are gone, never to return, and the guys that miss them most are the guys who remember how incredible Pro Stock was.

10-09-2018, 08:48 AM	#4
Myron Piatek VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,538 Likes: 34 Liked 132 Times in 48 Posts	Re: Sad that this is happening X2 Sad, but accurate. __________________ LOCOMOTION Racing

10-09-2018, 09:50 AM	#5
Tim H VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,010 Likes: 897 Liked 430 Times in 142 Posts	Re: Sad that this is happening Pro Stock used to be my favourite class, especially back in the the early to mid 1980's. The glory days of Reher-Morrison-Shepherd, Iaconio, Glidden, WJ. There seemed to be more personality involved, I guess you could say that about the other Pro classes as well. Personally I loved the dry hops, hood scoops and carbs, but the sport must evolve. Now my favourite class is stock eliminator,like many I grew up with these 1960-1990's cars roaming the streets.They are cars I can relate to and dream of owning one day. I will be sad if P/S ceases to exist.

10-09-2018, 10:15 AM	#6
Bob Don VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greater Boston Posts: 1,476 Likes: 980 Liked 778 Times in 175 Posts	Re: Sad that this is happening You may see FS in some form or another take the place of Pro Stock. You already have the big 3 involved and big name drivers competing. __________________ Bob Don 128 SS

10-09-2018, 10:46 AM	#7
Randall Klein Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 784 Likes: 45 Liked 317 Times in 66 Posts	Re: Sad that this is happening What I find encouraging is that Drew Skillman finds "value" in staying involved esp with S/SS, after being at the supposed "pinnacle" Butner, Jeg, have roots in S/SS and with FS growing it seems to me as if our universe is expanding which can't hurt. To me....as classes get away from wheelstands, be it COMP, HEMI SHOOTOUT CARS, Pro Stock etc.....the repeated sameness looses fan appeal Someone somewhere posed the concept of no wheelie bars.....hmmmmm

10-09-2018, 12:35 PM	#8
Barry Polley Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vacaville Ca Posts: 739 Likes: 644 Liked 546 Times in 226 Posts	Re: Sad that this is happening Cannot forget that the trickle down affect of PRO STOCK ENGINE DEVELOPMENT is found in all the new FS cars as well as Comp, Superstock, Stock and every other class. I for one do not want to see that go anywhere. So they loose some names in PS..... Not the end of the class and hate to see the talent leave but hopefully they can be replaced. __________________ Barry Polley 758 A/SA California- No place to race!

10-09-2018, 01:45 PM	#9
Mike Jones VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,110 Likes: 1,166 Liked 660 Times in 283 Posts	Re: Sad that this is happening "Enders said last week that her Elite Motorsports team isn’t going anywhere: “As far as I know, myself, Jeg Coughlin, Vincent Nobile, Alex Laughlin . . . our team will remain intact. Richard [team owner Freeman] will be a fifth car at times. Matt Hartford, I’m not sure of his plans, but I would assume that he will continue to run off of us. We’re doing our part. We’re trying our best to make it happen. I wish Drew wasn’t leaving. I hope that Bo’s not leaving. But we’ll just have to see what happens in the silly season." In Top Fuel @ St. Louis: 5 MLR cars and 6 DSR cars for 16 spots. A Pro Stock team with 4 or 5 cars... Hard to compete against that much of everything. Mike A114

10-09-2018, 04:24 PM	#10
1legjerry Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 68 Likes: 4 Liked 59 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Sad that this is happening I still think the FS motors in Stock body but with a pro stock chassis is the way to go. Do away with the aero bodies and use factory built NHRA sealed motors. They could start by transitioning into the motors first for a year or two while they develop the chassis for the stock body.