Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

In the interview of Warren Johnson Saturday at Pomona, he stated he thought the sport was in it's waining days! The only real reason he gave was cost to race. 2.5 to 3 million per year for Pro Stock. What are your thoughts on his statement? Jim


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Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

He never bitched about the cost when he was going rounds at every race. He lost his edge and is too stuborn to admit it or quit.
It's a shame. He is a much better engine builder than he is a driver. If he wants to keep playing, maybe he should try Comp.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

He didn't lose his edge so much as he lost all his backing. That tends to stop the wins and the development in a class that costs as much as Pro Stock does.

Unfortunately, he may be right. This country is not the "car loving" society/nation it once was, there are not even that many real "car people" in the OE automotive businesses. The economy is not great, and will not be for a while, if not a long while. NHRA has been trying to strangle all of the geese laying the golden eggs for a while.

I'm not saying it's time to pack it in. I am saying that we've seen far better days, and will not see them again without changes. And the changes are not likely so long as some of the people now in power remain there.

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Well said Alan.

Warren won the national championship in comp eliminator as the engine builder for Alan Ellis, pretty darn good in my book.
NHRA has to wake up and "adjust the show and the admission price to survive".
The show is quick and smooth on Sundays like never before, thats the best it's been ever.
Was at E Town and The Grove Sundays this year.
I will not state my opinion here on what should change, except price at the gate and 1/4 racing in all classes. There is more. I will let others who compete give their ideas on how to change it up to put fannys in seats.
Our administration is giving a crushing blow to all entertainment dollars for every working average American now, and that is the biggest change we need.

Chris.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

The cost of survival has surpassed the common interest, passion, and returns within most means. As long as NHRA continues to lend a blind eye to that reality, the big show will surely meet it's demise. However, as long as there's willing passion, the sport itself will continue to survive in one form or another.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

You can get lucky and go rounds.

KJ from the #16 spot is once again headed to the semi finals.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Alan nailed it. Without Corporate Funding the first things that get cut are R&D, Testing, etc....

Until there is a way to wrangle in the cost of PS the numbers will continue to dwindle.

With the economy the way it is, it will be interesting in 2014 on Pro Car Counts. JMO

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Our administration is giving a crushing blow to all entertainment dollars for every working average American now, and that is the biggest change we need.


Amen,

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

It isn't just Pro Stock that is hurting.

We're hurting too, and we're not alone, either. I know a lot of long time racers who are struggling to keep their program afloat and justify the costs. Sportsman racers are hurting. A lot of them. Many are hurting badly.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Alan,

Yes it is across the board, even bracket racing. Sorry I didn't disclose that in my post but do agree.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Agree with Alan and others here but think bracket racers have proven themselves a resilient bunch. Might be more open trailers than stackers in the future but don't know that dimishes the experience for anyone. As long as there are tracks/operators like at Norwalk the sport will survive for the next few decades at least.

NHRA operating like they have the same kind of leverage as NASCAR or F1 has led us down this path, along with promoters like Bernstein who fed the fever for faster and faster Pros no matter the cost.

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Racing is expensive, sure, but what really is expensive is losing.

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I watched about no more than 5minutes of tv coverage this year,did'nt really keep up with any of pro classes in ND either.
I don't really like what it has became w/multi car teams and countdown.
I like it when the guy driving can do whatever the car needs,from machining,porting heads,assm.engine,clutch,rear,chassis,down to driving the truck,there are'nt many of those guys anymore,like WJ,KJ,Gliddens,Big Daddy.etc.
I think thats one reason you don't see anybody dominating like you used to see,you have about one company doing the majority of pro stock heads, a few doing chassis,so I think that you miss out on that one guy doing something different and it happening to work way better than everyone else's stuff.
if you can dominate then countdown steals all that in the end anyway,what's next just give everyone a wally for showing up.
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

I agree the "car nation" is gone, most people drive a "grey" car or a "silver car", barely even know the brand. Cars are more appliances then anything else to most now.

Drag racing is like drugs, once your hooked you gotta do it and I think there will always be drag racing, but, cost is killing the huge programs. If your willing to pay to bracket race for trophy's or bragging rights or grudge race heads up then it will survive. Trouble is, most don't want it to be a "pay X amount to play" like golf or other sports, they want to win their money back.

Those happiest drag racing seem to be the ones who go for the friends and friendly competition.
I want to win as much as everybody else, but realistically, go knowing it will cost X amount to go to the track this weekend and I'm fine with that. If I get some back, GREAT!

The last two summer averaged about 7500km's towing the kids junior, he got 6th place both years and zero $$ back. Does it matter? Not at all, I plan on spending money for him and I for the experience.

The pro's? Yeah, they got issues as they're doing it for a paycheck. It's a free market so they too have to adapt/overcome or go out of business...and then get bailed out by the left. (sorry, couldn't resist)

Every other industry adapts to keep current, racing is no different.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Our current administration says we are on the road to recovery Alan.. We all must be lost because I cant find that road...

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

:eek::eek: The cost is ridiculous. Pro Stock has advanced to the point of not being interesting anymore. What part of the car is "stock" anymore. They look more like Pro Mod cars with carburetors. We need to roll back the clocks a few years and make the cars look more like production vehicles.
:eek::eek: Same goes for Funny Car. I know that is a little off subject, but it's just how I feel. Just so you know, many of my friends feel the same way. And yes, we are all over 60.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Who said," We're hopelessly lost, but we're making good time?"They must know something we don't.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

CARGUY49,
I agree with you and I'm only 46
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Cost of competing was not the only reason Warren gave for "drag racing being in it's waning days" He also commented on all the empty seats in the stands. I'm sure the NHRA didn't want to hear that on the air. But unlike all the other butt sucking pros, he had the b-lls to say it on air.

My wife commented on that just before Warren's interview. And Pomona is not in the boondocks. It is in the center of what was once considered the center of the car culture.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

On a better note.

Ricky Jones winning the race, fantastic finish. Very happy for them and their independent team.

Antron and Shawn Cowie winning the Mike Aillo sportsmanship awards.

I just read these stories on competionplus.com. I have to thank that site for 2 stories to remind why drag racing is the best motorsport, no, best sport in the world.

Great final rounds all around.I look forward to the sportsman show next week.

I hope NHRA rethinks this whole racing thing. Our country needs it. It is a true team sport of not just muscle. You need to know Math and Science.

Chris

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Did any one else notice the grandstands being used to hold big banners rather than spectators?

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

The Hot Rod enthusiast participation is not what it used to be, but neither is anything else! Everything in our world has been about, how can I get it done faster, cheaper, and with less effort on my part. With race cars, none of those things are possible, unless daddy's got big pockets, or at least somebody has got deep pockets. Now, it's easier to just play it on TV ie
Baseball, Football, NASCAR, etc. No kids riding bicycles anymore with a baseball glove on the handlebars that's for sure LOL Most folks that participate in auto racing have probably had something with wheels on it most of their life ie toys, bicycles, model cars, slot cars, etc

I was at SEMA last week, and boy was that a site to see. I can say that there are plenty folks left, that love the car culture. I have been to PRI several times, but SEMA is about more than drag racing and the show was at least five times larger that PRI. My approach is to built a car that can be enjoyed in Super/Stock...and with a days worth of drive train changes can be enjoyed on the street.

Wade Mahaffey

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

I saw that. Very sad to see it.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

new mustangs, camaros,challengers. 500 cubes, fuel inj throttle bodys, no tube chassiss just full cages, 5spd trans, has to fit a factory body template, my idea of the future of prostock will defintly bring interest back to the class, just a thought,

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

How about Super Stock rules Chassis wise with 500 cu inch fuel injected .Camaros,Mustangs and Challengers plus throw in some Toyotas or ricers let the battle begin
:)

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

True enough, it is all types of racing and other car stuff, show cars, restoration, trucks, etc.

But it's still an automotive trade show and what was disturbing to me was there were hardly any or no line ups to get an autograph from Don Garlits, Tom McEwen, Don Prudhomme, Richard Petty or Mario Andretti (the last two guys mostly ran in circles, just a little drag racing) but the lineup to see some MMA fighter there was a thousand people long. As many "Affliction" shirts as there were car event shirts.

Sure some cool drag stuff there though, the Mach IV and Backup Pickup in Galpins tent, the MT tires booth had the monocoque 70 Mustang funny car and Challenger1 speed record car, newly restored Joe Shubeck AA/FD in the front hall, the EMPI Lightning Bug in the "window tint building" that Gale Banks diesel dragster, etc.

But Warren is right, the attendance is also misleading since many people are just there for the noise and to get drunk and can't be counted on to sustain the sport. If fuel cars next year were almost silent but running 2's at 400mph those people would not be back because they aren't the automotive diehards the sport used to have and still needs.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

"Our current administration says we are on the road to recovery Alan.. We all must be lost because I cant find that road...

AMEN!

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

More like the SR-71 pilot who said "you've never been lost, until you've been lost at Mach 3.2." (well over 2,000 MPH)

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

I noticed that too. Those were the seats the racers used to sit in,closer to the Sportsman pit area.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Tube chassis o.k. No hybrid engines,carbs or fuel injection o.k. No four door anything .

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Those grandstands are closed by the FAA due to their proximity to the flight path of
aircraft at the nearby airport....

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Because they have fastly over the years been alienating us diehards! I have a very hard time watching Pro Stock and pro Mod or any Door Car class between all the Nitro Nuts running up and down the stands on Sundays at the Nationals Event at Norwalk and next year im only going Thursday because of all the hassles and most of the diehards have left because of the BS that NHRA has become and I cant even watch NHRA telecasts anymore heck i got more entertainment this summer watching the Cinci Reds and Cleveland Indians than watching the NHRA telecasts and im actually getting National Dragster for the first time on the hope that I get Sportsman coverage but an dredding all the extra crap in em with the Pros. IHRA was a great organization for the diehards when it was real racing back in its days till about 07 4 days for 40 bucks and more Sportsman and awesome pros(Mountain Motor Pro Stock and Pro Mod) and half the BS and Crowd! I dispise all this gimick crap that NHRA and Competition Plus wants to put on with Social media outlets and shorter race days and crap Drag Racing is A LOOOONG Days Sport like Baseball your not going to shorten it or make it go half the time.Drag Racing lasts a full day if you dont want to be at the track for a full day dont come. Rant Over sorry for the long post :)

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

I'm 45 and I agree wholeheartedly that Pro Stock cars should look more stock. I remember when a PS car had to have factory steel roof and quarters with fiberglass replicas of the rest of the parts. They looked like actual cars. When I see the current PS cars, I just shake my head. I actually like Pro Stock more listening to it on the audiocast than I do watching it on TV.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Basically a Super Stock chassis with the specs you mention would be awesome !!! More like the original Pro Stock cars. They could use current engines so they wouldn't lose megabucks worth of R&D. Wouldn't be a stretch to get the cars to 3000#.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

You already have that with the SS/GT classes and Comp. The stands are way more empty than when P/S runs.

I like Warren because he is one of the Old Guard. However, whenever he fails to qualify he goes on a rant about costs. Funny, he never cried about costs when he was on top and one of the ones escalating how much it cost.

It is very possible it's time for WJ to make good on his "School's Out" tour and retire from driving. He could have twice as much money then to put in Kurt's car and head back to the front again.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

I saw the clip today, and sounded like he answered a rather pointed question with an equally pointed answer. If you've ever talked to him before, you'll know he never minces words with anyone about anything (me included). And this is coming from a life long Glidden fan.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

There ya go!

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

I'm not one of the regular "clic" here.....but to throw my .02 in anyway..........this is spot on for sure.
I went to the Southerns ( Atlanta ) this year and the vender participation was non existent , the number of fans way down and the appeal of the racing overall just doesn't have the same "feel" as it did 20 years ago.
The countdown is dumb and should go away , Pro Stock needs a complete overhaul as it is anyway ( to small blocks / fuel injection / turbos ) and the guys driving ( most of them , Coughlin comes to mind ).....those cars probably aren't car people anyway and certainly don't turn wrenches on anything. I have no respect for the pure "drivers" at all.
The NHRA is an archaic santioning body that has no clue as to what fans want , apparently.
Too bad its not up to me.....
Funny car would be dropped completely.
Pro Stock would change
Pro Mod would be included at every national event ( since they have a lot of fan appeal and are just generally pretty cool anyway).
Nostalgia Gas would become a new permanant class
Drop all Super classes ( comp , gas and street ) at national events.

Re: Did Anybody Else Catch This?!
 

One of the cool attributes of early Pro Stock were the launches.
Another was raising the launch rpm and screaming high rpm shifts.

None of the current pro cars can do wheelies and live.