Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

I had the "pleasure":( of being checked by Greg and Marty Barrett.... at Indy in 1966. The H/SA Class winner was found ilegal for his camshaft and we were thrown out as the R/UP for the exact same thing. The cam we had was from Chevrolet and was a replacement but in NHRA'S eyes illegal as it was not accepted yet.....a few weeks later it was and we received a letter from Farmer Dismuke about it. Greg and Marty argued about what carburetors were legal for our car that night....I never forgot that arguement as Marty was more on our side than Greg and we were from Div. 1. I thought those two were going to have a friggen fist fight over it!!! Greg was very tough and we sufferd a few times from his toughness........ and eventually we passed one of his checks and set the H/S national record! and yes I am over 55......

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Hey X-tech man, anything that I race would pass a "Marty Barrett" teardown! Oh BTW, a few years ago one of my motors was tossed after winning class at Indy with the reason being "Your heads are too stock ". I was then asked if I knew what a Bowl Hog was and told what had to be removed so that my heads looked like all of the other heads. No I'm not naming names but that is the Gospel truth! I didn't whine and cry and call my lawyer either I just bent over and took it like a man.

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

If you had Greg and Marty and more like them today Stock eliminator would be a "heck" of a lot cheaper.

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Hey Billy Thats sounds like when the tossed me for to little compression.

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Bill I would have been happy to "bowl hog" that head for you....I should have done my LT-1 heads too and come to think of it my heads on my Nova could have used a little "groinking" as we used to call it when we did a set of heads at Crow's for oversized valves......Not stockers of course!!! I agree if Marty and Greg were doing Tech...Stock would be cheaper and there wouldn't be any 10 second low compression 350's or 305's either running near that fast.....give me a break.....

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

To say the the US NATIONALS (Nvm the other corporate names NHRA has whored upon it recently) is "just Another Race" is your opinion which I respect. I also have one to share.

I guess going to Indy for you is like saying that:

- Mt. Everest is "just another hill"
- The Grand Canyon is "just another ditch"
- The Stanely Cup Playoffs are "just another pond hockey game"
- and...Traci Lords was "just another aspiring teen actress".

The original concept of the NHRA was to remove street racing on a national level (thus the Safety Safari) and set a national standard SO YOU could race against other cars locally heads up or with a handicap system. You also had the chance to compare yourself against similar combinations nationally and even try to set a national record at regional races. Therefore, if you had a hot stocker from Nebraska or California or Ohio or Ontario you could see their records and get ready to compete with the same set of rules against the nation's (world's) best at INDY.
The choice of Indy was due to a central location to facilitate competition for the little guy and even the playing field for those who had a chance of competing to be the BEST.

The "BIG GO" at Indy provided this opportunity and venue.

The idea was INCLUSION of everyone and their combos, no matter how diverse, so if you desired you could race and PROVE you had the hottest 6 cylinder ride (as an example) in the nation.
Then you could compete with handicapping against the V8 and big HP guys to become "Top Eliminator".
EARNING that Class win and the title held weight and bragging rights that people had respect for.

If there were NO CLASSES then Top Fuellers would dominate and everyone else could stay home, who wants to see a 8 second hemi SS car when you can see a 4 second digger?
THAT is the premise of classes, a place for everyone wanting to race.

Has NHRA sunk to the level that ALL that matters is the almighty buck and corporate sponsors?

Indy is the MECCA of Drag Racing on an international scale and in spite of NHRA's recent screw ups we have to let it be known that the original concept of Drag Racing still has value.

You should have the pride MANY racers have had over the years to paint on your fender "NHRA Record Holder" or "US Nationals Class Winner". This showed you worked hard on your specific combination and earned something of value on a national level and did not just luck out at some big buck bracket bash.
If we lose sight of that respect and pride, well I guess we deserve what we get...

If you really care, SPEAK OUT to the NHRA management, the racing media, get your sponsors involved and most of all voice YOUR opinion Loud and Proud.

I think you know where I stand on the issue.
Then again, I would also like NOT to see Funny Cars as rolling corporate billboards and have REAL NAMES on their sides, I want to see AA/FA'a running in competition and maybe a Mod Prod car or a dual engine Top Gas car making a pass....
Be silent my friends on losing classes and class winners NOT being in the eliminator and Stock & SuperStock will become "all run", then have class numbers reduced and consolidated, then be a mere footnote in drag racing history when it gets axed.

You do not thing so?? As anyone who used to campaign a car in any of the aforementioned classes ...


Think about it.

INDY is NOT "just another race". It is THE Race.
Classes matter and Class wins and winners matter.



Thanks;
Derek

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

charlie bob chuck wagon downing...

you are right, me and all the old timers who pioneered this class are just living in the past. hell since the internet there have been more enhanced rules than in the 40 years before it, i can hardly believe stock survived without you guys. i truly thought if anyone young would be different it should have been you. YOU had the advantage of your fathers advice and financial help, and you had me and MJ to tutor you too... but alas look how you turned out...

you think it is ok to kick to the curb the honor of class champion and the spot in the field that goes with that honor... but then you think its no big deal to disgrace yourself and your family by your performance in the barn at indy last year, not to mention a #1 qualifying theft in joliet and a near miss at ohio valley all with bogus ****... i guess thats really getting out there and working on your car.

you're right chuckebob... if you are the future of NHRA stock eliminator im too old and need to move on.

jack mccarthy

and by the way i will qualify this year too... and unless the rule changes it will be my last indy.

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Stock elim. "DIED" in 1985 when they changed the camshaft and valve spring rules. Its been dead for a long time and it will never be as it was. Its called evolution for better or worse (mostly worse). Billy Knees.....you should know I didnt mean that 101 % of the stockers would flunk a "Marty" tech....just 99.9 % of todays current crop of stockers. Sorry for that misleading statement but we all know the cars I was refering to. It seems today that a lot of racers and engine builders have "ZERO" ethics. They dont care what they have to do to win and go fast. It means nothing to be 1.00 + under these days. Its all about getting in the field any way you can.The more the NHRA ties the tech inspectors hands the more people will do and get away with. All this crap about weighing pistons and rods fell by the way side. When was the last time that was done since that came about? I wont even talk about the heads, lifters, and intakes as thats a "dead horse". Soooooooooooo the moral of the story is....a class win dosent mean much any more. The current crop of "professional" bracket racers in stock (or S/S) can barely change a spark plug much less build a race car. Its all about money and buying the trick of the week or the best bogus engine and slap the inspectors on the back while using anything and everything to beat the system. Eliminate ALL of the electronics, bounce the bogus crap and lets see how many winners we have left. Drag racing is changing and theres nothing much the older generation can do about it. Live with it or get another hobby.

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Welcome to the NHRA under the fearless leadership of the Dog Food King.

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

BTW....

For those of you who find the rules change with no rhyme or reason by NHRA every time you want to go to the races...there ARE alternatives.

4 years ago, fed Up with BS and long tows for 2-3 runs and a paltry purse at the US Nationads a group of racers decided to take ACTION instesd of whining.

The STOCK / SuperStock Challenge race : The INDY Alternative.

The race is a one day deal with the FOCUS on a Stock & SuperStock combo elimnator and is run on Labour Day weekend.
The past 3 years it was run at Sanair but track Management gremlins have made it necessary to run at another Montreal area track this year, Napierville Dragway.

There is a good purse, lots of side prizes and it is a LOT of fun.

It is organized by Stock racer (A/SA) Michel Cote of Magnum Performance with support and help from Mike McCollum (E/SA) of McCollum Racing Entreprises and general hype from your truly ( Derek Goldthorp, editor of the defunct Torque and RPM.com).

Event Run By Racers for Racers.


HEY...do not take MY word for it ask some former winners:

Dave Casey
Greg Gay
Cantusi Racing

...a note about Napierville, a basic track with a lot of SOUK.
The recent NED National Open was won by Stock racer Adam Strang.
Ask Him about the track and when the field was short they STILL paid $4,000 to the winner (Adam).

It leaves me asking the question... WHY do people that complain about racing and not enough good paying events NOT get out and RACE???
If there was a full field, there would have been a $5,000 payout!!
Come on.... MORE than enough to cover the high gas prices that we all face.

RACERS...this is your call out!
If you do not show, you lose the right to complain.

So go to Indy OR the INDY alternative this year BUT please, get out and RACE!!



Cheers;

Derek