question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket racers.

skills · 10-09-2012, 08:37 PM

Since class racing needs an infusion of new blood I have a question. I know I may get killed for this but I will ask anyway. Since nhra created Jr. Dragster to get kids into racing would it be an idea to have maybe a legal street stock for divisional. With all the people with muscle cars and the import crowd and now with the mustang, camaro and the challenger. I was wondering a low budget class style for street legal cars. Something with simple rules that somebody can come in to a division and feel what it's like and could get the taste.

Robert Swartz · 10-09-2012, 09:05 PM

Yeah, it could use it. Doubt there's a snowballs chance in H#)) it'll happen. Be another class, more cars and it would need to be policed and tech inspection performed. Something I sincerely doubt NHRA is interested in.

Closest thing out there is IHRA's Pure Stock. Unless you live near any IHRA tracks, well, you basically have a "stock" bracket car. I wanted to run my Achieva in this class but it doesn't fit. Another factor, some combos don't support or allow all IHRA classes. Locally for me, Ohio Valley and Beech Bend in Kentucky run combos but only the Valley allows some IHRA classes (no PS'ers).

Took my dime rocket to the Doorslammers at Ohio Valley this past Sunday. We ran it in the Pro bracket. Accomplished a couple bests, it ran a 10.69 at 66.69 mph. previous bests were 10.83 and 65+ mph. I'm still short of the IHRA EF/SA index of 9.85. Other than basic hot rodder stuff, we haven't done anything to the car, yet.

Start a build, put something together and jump in.

Myron Piatek · 10-09-2012, 09:24 PM

While it's not a "stock" type class, NHRA has been trying some heads-up, .500 Pro-tree index classes (10.0, 11.0 and 12.0) as a less expensive alternative to the Super classes and simpler rules. No spec tech like Stock & SS.! Rumor had it that one source of cars would be from the Stock and SS classes. But they've only been getting a handful or less per class.

Ed Fernandez · 10-09-2012, 11:17 PM

Until NHRA makes changes at the top things will never change.The upper echelon is
entrenched in their glass house surrounded by their bean counters and lawyer types.They're making big money are are comfortable with themselves.Until the members
(sportsman and pro racers find a way to put pressure on them to change the formula,
you guys will be spoon fed the same old crap.Me?I'm done.When my membership
runs out next year that will be my total breakaway.

cicero819 · 10-10-2012, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skills

Since class racing needs an infusion of new blood I have a question. I know I may get killed for this but I will ask anyway. Since nhra created Jr. Dragster to get kids into racing would it be an idea to have maybe a legal street stock for divisional. With all the people with muscle cars and the import crowd and now with the mustang, camaro and the challenger. I was wondering a low budget class style for street legal cars. Something with simple rules that somebody can come in to a division and feel what it's like and could get the taste.

Skills, I've already sent a letter a couple of weeks ago to my Div 1 Director Bob Lang on a proposal to have a new class for entry level at divisional races which would allow new style cars to race in a bracket format. I was told that they were looking into it. Do the same thing and after a while we might be surprised. Claude Ruel

69Cobra · 10-10-2012, 01:48 AM

For the most part isn't this what the divisional opens are for?

X-TECH MAN · 10-10-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

Until NHRA makes changes at the top things will never change.The upper echelon is
entrenched in their glass house surrounded by their bean counters and lawyer types.They're making big money are are comfortable with themselves.Until the members
(sportsman and pro racers find a way to put pressure on them to change the formula,
you guys will be spoon fed the same old crap.Me?I'm done.When my membership
runs out next year that will be my total breakaway.

X's 2.....Its worse than trying to stop drinking ! You have to find another hobby to ease the withdrawls.

Billy Nees · 10-10-2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skills

Since class racing needs an infusion of new blood I have a question. I know I may get killed for this but I will ask anyway. Since nhra created Jr. Dragster to get kids into racing would it be an idea to have maybe a legal street stock for divisional. With all the people with muscle cars and the import crowd and now with the mustang, camaro and the challenger. I was wondering a low budget class style for street legal cars. Something with simple rules that somebody can come in to a division and feel what it's like and could get the taste.

What you are looking for already exists but I won't hold my breath waiting for an NHRA track to try it. Beaver Springs Dragway has a class for kids (12-16?) in which they race their parents street car, 1/8 mile, 10.00 or slower with the parent in the passenger seat. In an area where the average parent can't afford a JR dragster it's very popular. Some of the kids have graduated to running the regular bracket program and are very good. For more info, check out their website.

Mike Carr · 10-10-2012, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

What you are looking for already exists but I won't hold my breath waiting for an NHRA track to try it. Beaver Springs Dragway has a class for kids (12-16?) in which they race their parents street car, 1/8 mile, 10.00 or slower with the parent in the passenger seat. In an area where the average parent can't afford a JR dragster it's very popular. Some of the kids have graduated to running the regular bracket program and are very good. For more info, check out their website.

TCR (Teen CHampionship Racing), for kids 13-17. The track I work at weekly (Quaker City in Ohio) has it also, as do Pittsburgh and maybe a few other tracks. Great, and more affordable alternative to Jr Dragsters. As Billy stated, street-legal cars only, 10.00 and slower, 1/8 mile. Child drives the car from staging lanes to timeslip booth; parent/adult co-rider navigates the vehicle through the pits.

skills · 10-10-2012, 11:28 AM

That is actually what I am talking about Billy that is a great idea. It needs to be for anybody though. Fans like myself that may want to experience what it's like. Tracks have the Friday night street stuff so with the same rules street legal over 10 in the quarter. Random pairing maybe 50 to enter or whatever run at division's and opens. Ed I understand how you feel but nhra is just like the country if we don't do something it will disappear. You all love the dutch because it is all about the racer even if you don't have 20000fans. We can bring in new racers and fans to the national level if we don't at the divisional levels. I look forward to the dutch now because there isn't any nitro or stopping for espn it's just wall to wall racing all day and no scrap. Love muscle cars but I wasn't around with the height of it all. I work for ups freight and believe me there are people there that would be all over this.

10-09-2012, 08:37 PM	#1
skills Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hershey,pa Posts: 185 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket racers. Since class racing needs an infusion of new blood I have a question. I know I may get killed for this but I will ask anyway. Since nhra created Jr. Dragster to get kids into racing would it be an idea to have maybe a legal street stock for divisional. With all the people with muscle cars and the import crowd and now with the mustang, camaro and the challenger. I was wondering a low budget class style for street legal cars. Something with simple rules that somebody can come in to a division and feel what it's like and could get the taste.

10-09-2012, 09:05 PM	#2
Robert Swartz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nineveh, Indiana Posts: 512 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race Yeah, it could use it. Doubt there's a snowballs chance in H#)) it'll happen. Be another class, more cars and it would need to be policed and tech inspection performed. Something I sincerely doubt NHRA is interested in. Closest thing out there is IHRA's Pure Stock. Unless you live near any IHRA tracks, well, you basically have a "stock" bracket car. I wanted to run my Achieva in this class but it doesn't fit. Another factor, some combos don't support or allow all IHRA classes. Locally for me, Ohio Valley and Beech Bend in Kentucky run combos but only the Valley allows some IHRA classes (no PS'ers). Took my dime rocket to the Doorslammers at Ohio Valley this past Sunday. We ran it in the Pro bracket. Accomplished a couple bests, it ran a 10.69 at 66.69 mph. previous bests were 10.83 and 65+ mph. I'm still short of the IHRA EF/SA index of 9.85. Other than basic hot rodder stuff, we haven't done anything to the car, yet. Start a build, put something together and jump in. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Robert Swartz - Swartz & Lane 66 Chevy II Pro 95 Achieva EF/SA, 78 Mustang II U/SA (work in progress) #354 stock

10-09-2012, 09:24 PM	#3
Myron Piatek VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,538 Likes: 34 Liked 132 Times in 48 Posts	Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race While it's not a "stock" type class, NHRA has been trying some heads-up, .500 Pro-tree index classes (10.0, 11.0 and 12.0) as a less expensive alternative to the Super classes and simpler rules. No spec tech like Stock & SS.! Rumor had it that one source of cars would be from the Stock and SS classes. But they've only been getting a handful or less per class.

10-09-2012, 11:17 PM	#4
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race Until NHRA makes changes at the top things will never change.The upper echelon is entrenched in their glass house surrounded by their bean counters and lawyer types.They're making big money are are comfortable with themselves.Until the members (sportsman and pro racers find a way to put pressure on them to change the formula, you guys will be spoon fed the same old crap.Me?I'm done.When my membership runs out next year that will be my total breakaway. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

10-10-2012, 01:48 AM	#6
69Cobra Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: California, Ky Posts: 667 Likes: 28 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race For the most part isn't this what the divisional opens are for? __________________ Kris Rachford 69 Cobra 428CJ 4 Speed C/S 3032

10-10-2012, 11:28 AM	#10
skills Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hershey,pa Posts: 185 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race That is actually what I am talking about Billy that is a great idea. It needs to be for anybody though. Fans like myself that may want to experience what it's like. Tracks have the Friday night street stuff so with the same rules street legal over 10 in the quarter. Random pairing maybe 50 to enter or whatever run at division's and opens. Ed I understand how you feel but nhra is just like the country if we don't do something it will disappear. You all love the dutch because it is all about the racer even if you don't have 20000fans. We can bring in new racers and fans to the national level if we don't at the divisional levels. I look forward to the dutch now because there isn't any nitro or stopping for espn it's just wall to wall racing all day and no scrap. Love muscle cars but I wasn't around with the height of it all. I work for ups freight and believe me there are people there that would be all over this.