Make the Chevrolet Win - Page 10

BG56 · 09-12-2018, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Schilling

Is anyone who has been around the sport for any length of time really surprised all of this is happening? Deja vu all over again.

Nope, and Yep!

nhramnl · 09-12-2018, 11:32 AM

My earlier comment was not a poor attempt at sarcasm; it was just sarcasm... period. If in your mind, it was a poor attempt, I can't help ya.

Also, in my earlier post, I did imply that "no expense spared" cars are hurting Stock (and, to some degree, Super Stock). Your response is that if I spent more on the car and less on the motorhome, there wouldn't be the problems there are today. I absolutely get your point, but respectfully disagree.

My point was not that it is relevant how a racer's money is apportioned; it was, rather, that very few people ever actually expected the day where a National Event-competitive Stocker would cost $150,000+, and outfits like Elite and DSR would be involved in building and racing such cars.

Sportsman racing is slowly, but steadily, moving to nothing more than a varied selection of professional classes, and just like with Econo-Dragster and Econo-Altered (from decades ago), the concept of building and having fun with a reasonably-priced, relatively low-tech Stocker is almost gone.

The argument that it is somehow "noble" to spend all of your money on the car doesn't wash. People who have the inside track will always have access to things you and I won't ever have access to, regardless of how much our motorhome cost. Millionaire schmucks can have it all, and because they're millionaires, they can "buy" access to people and technologies we can't. We kill flies with our hands; they kill flies with atom bombs.

My overall point is that it's a shame that the days where racer commitment and ingenuity were the primary measures of success are virtually gone. Need better heads? Buy 'em! Need to spend a few thousand dollars to develop better heads? Write that check! Need a completely state-of-the-art chassis? Buy it! Need access to the GM wind tunnel? Call your buddy who can arrange it! Need to rent a track to test for a couple of days? Get your wallet out!

Yes, my nice motorhome probably is a luxury that could be forgone for the sake of a couple of tenths, but if I flat-towed my car to the track with my daily driver, I could never out-spend the individuals (and corporations) that have literally limitless funding and access to brilliant engineering and testing.

I never said that wasn't a reality of today's drag racing; I just said it's a shame.

Lenny5160 · 09-12-2018, 11:44 AM

In response to the above post (not quoting for space reasons), how does any of that take away from your experience? Race what you want to race and can afford, and go have fun!

nhramnl · 09-12-2018, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

In response to the above post (not quoting for space reasons), how does any of that take away from your experience? Race what you want to race and can afford, and go have fun!

A simple and completely valid point. Thanks.

Billy Nees · 09-12-2018, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

Race what you want to race and can afford, and go have fun!

There ya have it!

bubski · 09-12-2018, 07:27 PM

1998 Larry Kopp n Jenkins tear into first season of pro stock truck with the Grumps knowledge of engines and Larrys years of experience running a stick shift combo and win the championship . that deal was probably a 6 figure season. The following season people with literally truck loads of money show up 7 figures by my estimation and pro stock truck is on its deathbed by 2002. History is repeating itself here as well . The people on the top at first who were there from the beginning cause this is the cause they championed and got the class they fought for are now gonna get trampled by the rich that just wanna come in n have some fun and spend some money. How on earth could anyone believe this class would not turn into a fiasco in record time is disturbing !!

Randy Taylor 42 · 09-12-2018, 08:18 PM

Its really disturbing that this class is failing. 11 entries for St Louis. We have busted our *** to get where we are at now and now the class looks uncertain. I agree with Brett why cant we just get along and make more of a effort to make this class survive! NHRA is making a effort to make it competitive for all of us. When the car count starts dropping NHRA will give up on this class. All the racers that do compete in this class have to admit its a blast. Heads up racing with no breakout or worry about your index getting hit is awesome. I realize its not a cheap class but reality its the cheapest heads up class there is in NHRA.

troublemaker427 · 09-12-2018, 08:20 PM

I find this class far from a fiasco... 25+ cars showing up on a regular basis for 16 spots doesn't look like a fiasco to me. Growing pains maybe but fiasco?

troublemaker427 · 09-12-2018, 08:24 PM

There is a NMCA race the same weekend as St.Louis NHRA. There are only so many FS/XX cars to go around. 16+ cars pre-entered over there.

Stephen Bell · 09-12-2018, 10:19 PM

There will be 32-38 “shootout” cars racing next weekend! The NMCA and NHRA race are on top of each other. There are ten or more racers that race both series. People chasing points in both sanctioning bodies are forced to make decisions. Turk, Watson, and Liebersher cars are in close points battle in NMCA. Barton, Gasko, Welch, and Skillman are going to St. Louis but not signed up yet. Skinner is thrashing to get his engine back together. Bad planning? Yes! Class dying? Doesn’t sound like it to me? Are their problems? Could it go away if we don’t address some issues? Yes! Outside of Pro Mod is there another class that can have full fields at two races the same weekend?

Just Saying....
S.Bell

09-12-2018, 11:32 AM	#92
nhramnl Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 504 Likes: 7 Liked 352 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Make the Chevrolet Win My earlier comment was not a poor attempt at sarcasm; it was just sarcasm... period. If in your mind, it was a poor attempt, I can't help ya. Also, in my earlier post, I did imply that "no expense spared" cars are hurting Stock (and, to some degree, Super Stock). Your response is that if I spent more on the car and less on the motorhome, there wouldn't be the problems there are today. I absolutely get your point, but respectfully disagree. My point was not that it is relevant how a racer's money is apportioned; it was, rather, that very few people ever actually expected the day where a National Event-competitive Stocker would cost $150,000+, and outfits like Elite and DSR would be involved in building and racing such cars. Sportsman racing is slowly, but steadily, moving to nothing more than a varied selection of professional classes, and just like with Econo-Dragster and Econo-Altered (from decades ago), the concept of building and having fun with a reasonably-priced, relatively low-tech Stocker is almost gone. The argument that it is somehow "noble" to spend all of your money on the car doesn't wash. People who have the inside track will always have access to things you and I won't ever have access to, regardless of how much our motorhome cost. Millionaire schmucks can have it all, and because they're millionaires, they can "buy" access to people and technologies we can't. We kill flies with our hands; they kill flies with atom bombs. My overall point is that it's a shame that the days where racer commitment and ingenuity were the primary measures of success are virtually gone. Need better heads? Buy 'em! Need to spend a few thousand dollars to develop better heads? Write that check! Need a completely state-of-the-art chassis? Buy it! Need access to the GM wind tunnel? Call your buddy who can arrange it! Need to rent a track to test for a couple of days? Get your wallet out! Yes, my nice motorhome probably is a luxury that could be forgone for the sake of a couple of tenths, but if I flat-towed my car to the track with my daily driver, I could never out-spend the individuals (and corporations) that have literally limitless funding and access to brilliant engineering and testing. I never said that wasn't a reality of today's drag racing; I just said it's a shame.

09-12-2018, 11:44 AM	#93
Lenny5160 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Inver Grove Heights, MN Posts: 898 Likes: 604 Liked 432 Times in 225 Posts	Re: Make the Chevrolet Win In response to the above post (not quoting for space reasons), how does any of that take away from your experience? Race what you want to race and can afford, and go have fun! __________________ S/ST 51 S/C 53

09-12-2018, 07:27 PM	#96
bubski Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 228 Likes: 14 Liked 186 Times in 63 Posts	Re: Make the Chevrolet Win 1998 Larry Kopp n Jenkins tear into first season of pro stock truck with the Grumps knowledge of engines and Larrys years of experience running a stick shift combo and win the championship . that deal was probably a 6 figure season. The following season people with literally truck loads of money show up 7 figures by my estimation and pro stock truck is on its deathbed by 2002. History is repeating itself here as well . The people on the top at first who were there from the beginning cause this is the cause they championed and got the class they fought for are now gonna get trampled by the rich that just wanna come in n have some fun and spend some money. How on earth could anyone believe this class would not turn into a fiasco in record time is disturbing !!

09-12-2018, 08:18 PM	#97
Randy Taylor 42 Junior Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Make the Chevrolet Win Its really disturbing that this class is failing. 11 entries for St Louis. We have busted our *** to get where we are at now and now the class looks uncertain. I agree with Brett why cant we just get along and make more of a effort to make this class survive! NHRA is making a effort to make it competitive for all of us. When the car count starts dropping NHRA will give up on this class. All the racers that do compete in this class have to admit its a blast. Heads up racing with no breakout or worry about your index getting hit is awesome. I realize its not a cheap class but reality its the cheapest heads up class there is in NHRA.

09-12-2018, 08:20 PM	#98
troublemaker427 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampstead, MD. Posts: 426 Likes: 287 Liked 65 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Make the Chevrolet Win I find this class far from a fiasco... 25+ cars showing up on a regular basis for 16 spots doesn't look like a fiasco to me. Growing pains maybe but fiasco? __________________ Jody Aberts Troublemaker2 1966 Fairlane 427

09-12-2018, 08:24 PM	#99
troublemaker427 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampstead, MD. Posts: 426 Likes: 287 Liked 65 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Make the Chevrolet Win There is a NMCA race the same weekend as St.Louis NHRA. There are only so many FS/XX cars to go around. 16+ cars pre-entered over there. __________________ Jody Aberts Troublemaker2 1966 Fairlane 427 Last edited by troublemaker427; 09-12-2018 at 08:36 PM.

09-12-2018, 10:19 PM	#100
Stephen Bell Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 81 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Make the Chevrolet Win There will be 32-38 “shootout” cars racing next weekend! The NMCA and NHRA race are on top of each other. There are ten or more racers that race both series. People chasing points in both sanctioning bodies are forced to make decisions. Turk, Watson, and Liebersher cars are in close points battle in NMCA. Barton, Gasko, Welch, and Skillman are going to St. Louis but not signed up yet. Skinner is thrashing to get his engine back together. Bad planning? Yes! Class dying? Doesn’t sound like it to me? Are their problems? Could it go away if we don’t address some issues? Yes! Outside of Pro Mod is there another class that can have full fields at two races the same weekend? Just Saying.... S.Bell