1000' Racing
 

This weekend at the Woodburn Divisional "Brutus" was one of five H/SA cars including Bill Edgeworth's record holder so of course we raced to the thousand footer to move around on the qualifying sheet. I don't know why but I started thinking about the whole thousand foot deal from a spectator stand point and I started to wonder if it isn't taking away from the fun.

Chris "Wagon Drivers Never Lift" Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621

Re: 1000' Racing
 

No Kidding !

Re: 1000' Racing
 

If the class cars are running the majority of people in the stands are with the racers. They know what's going on to start with.

Re: 1000' Racing
 

No more than the Super Class cars,only on the other end.

Re: 1000' Racing
 

What fans?

Re: 1000' Racing
 

Good Call!

Re: 1000' Racing
 

Stock and Super Stock fans are Stock and Super Stock racers, not any one else.

Re: 1000' Racing
 

I beg to differ- there may not be many but i'm certainly one of the few who appreciate "real" racing.

Re: 1000' Racing
 

That is the problem "a few" or not many. That kind of fan base does not have any power.

Re: 1000' Racing
 

Maybe it's because I run a '64 and a '66 but I have had a lot of fans come up to our pit who have been watching S/SS for years and want to turn on the next generation. I feel I have an obligation to show them something that they will remember. When I first started racing in Stock an old timer told me that there is more to performance in Stock than just how fast the car goes, it's also how we present and conduct ourselves. That's what separates us from the bracket racers.

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621

Re: 1000' Racing
 

We are HISTORY.........so to speak

Re: 1000' Racing
 

I'm afraid so.

Re: 1000' Racing
 

When I got really hooked on Stock Eliminator at the 1983 Winternationals (maybe it was '84 ) , the new 307 Oldsmobile Stockers were fresh and new and I was amazed at how many ran 12's in Stock.

Since I was young and impressionable, those 307 Olds and the Turbo V-6 Buicks were my thing. I liked the 60's and early 70's stuff too, but I got hooked on late models.

Of course the NHRA back then was the only game in town.....no NMRA or NMCA to attract the young gearheads like today.

I have no idea what it will take to attract more young blood to Stock, but I would say the first step will be to allow more "real" 2010 and newer cars to run in Stock.....i.e. Challenger, Mustang, Camaro. I am referring to the street versions only. (not the DP and CJ)

Re: 1000' Racing
 

I'm a fan (only) as well, been one since the early '70s. I'll be a fan of stock and super stock forever, there's no better racing on the planet!

Re: 1000' Racing
 

You are correct, TJ.. SS/S fans are either current or ex participants.. The dopes in the stands only understand the heads up classes. In fact they are more impressed with 2200# monster motored S/G's than a 265" 56 Chev. in the 10's ..

Re: 1000' Racing
 

"[QUOTE=ALMACK;270096

I have no idea what it will take to attract more young blood to Stock, but I would say the first step will be to allow more "real" 2010 and newer cars to run in Stock.....i.e. Challenger, Mustang, Camaro. I am referring to the street versions only. (not the DP and CJ)[/QUOTE]"

Hopefully the manufacturers will realize they are missing the boat by not putting the real stockers in the game...

Re: 1000' Racing
 

Not true.. I know a lot of "older people" who love Stock and S/S including me. Newer cars are part of the equation but even fairly knowledgable people don't understand how a "Stock" mid 60's car can run 10's (or faster) so have become jaded.

I was a couple $$ and few hours away from running my car in Stock 3 years ago but watched some of the game playing, qualifying "tricks" to avoid someone, and the blatant cheating to gain some advantage. The idea that running to 1000' is acceptable to protect your index or a soft HP also bothers me. It's the system and not the racers but to the average spectator, a pair of cars slamming on the brakes before the finish line isn't racing.

I also really love S/S but when you get what is basically a FWD conversion Comp car including some awefull hood scoop in with what is traditionally known as a Super Stock car, people start to walk away.

Re: 1000' Racing
 

Chris,,,I feel that many bracket racers, myself included, conduct and present ourselves in a classy fashion. I also love Stock and Superstock racing even though I've never pulled the trigger and built such a car. I've enjoyed being around class racing since the first time I saw "Wild Bill" Ireland's 427 Fairlane and Harry Holton's Hemi Plymouth at Puyallup in April of '68, and have followed it ever since. If someone comes up and asks about our cars, I try to educate them, and PR the hell out of them in the hopes that maybe they'll someday get involved. I have no problem explaining S/S racing to them, until they understand what they're seeing.
If you've heard me on the microphone at Bremerton, you know I'm always talking to the fans in the stands about getting involved, especially with kids in highschool or old enough for Jr.Dragsters.
By the way, I'm sure there'll be room in the staging lanes for your Mopars at the Memorial Footbrake race this Saturday, so come on out and try your luck at over $5,000.
Danny Durham