Quote:
Originally Posted by GTX JOHN
I am not at all convinced that NHRA will be viable or
relevant in 5 more years or that even Stock and Superstock
will exist in its current form.
Of Course, I hope I am totally wrong!
Our World is changing quickly and not for the
better in terms of the internal combustion engine and indeed
political regulation in all aspects of our life.
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If you go back 20 plus years ago on classracer, the exact same statement had been made that classracing is coming to an end. I know people that sold their cars so they wouldn't get stuck on the back end of a wave of non relevant class cars for sale. Others just parked them, only to reserect them or sell them to someone else who has.
When the Big 3 started making new HP cars again, it brought new life into the class filled with mostly 60s and 70s cars. You can go to any Div or National event and see Cobra Jets, Copos, and Drag Packs, and to extend that, the engines in these cars put into older cars. The fact that some races such as Gainseville fill up in 8 minutes, or we bitch that we want 180 a quota at Indy, shows we still have enough car counts to keep it viable. We get almost 100 stockers and 80 Super Stockers at D1 races and I know of people with cars broken waiting for parts, and some still building cars. Some associations also have a big following, with some cars that don't participate in NHRA any more,
I think the biggest problems that we are facing right now are race tracks closing, which I see being a problem because of real estate value, and buyouts by businesses such as Amazon warehouses and Insurance auctions. The other problem we could face would be government regulation, not just us but all forms of racing. I am hoping that lobbying and public pressure like has been put on recently with the race cars with a VIn and aftermarket parts debacle will prevail or at least delay it.
I am not sure the problem with traction. One theory is the new traction compound that was made when it was in shortage last year, doesn't work well in direct sun. I was in Ohio also, and it seemed the Stick cars were leaving bald spots, and after each stick car they would put down the gold dust and spray. I have been very lucky that although my car leaves on the wheelie bar every run, I can hook everywhere and can't remember the last time I spun. I think hp, clutch, shock, tire, and converter technology have really helped with cars dropping 60ft times, and of course Calvert bars was the forefront, allowing mid 9 second cars to hook on 9" tires regularly.
I hope John is wrong, and I am able travel the country like Tim and Linda Barrett when I retire, and not take up another hobby.