NHRA Positive?

t.tosto · 04-17-2009, 04:36 PM

Found myself in an awkard situation earlier this week and I thought I would share with you. Built Stocker for 2004 so I could race at Nat'l & Div. events close to home, kind of a dream come true deal. Well,didn't know what to say to family and friends as to why I'm not able to race at Madison in Stock this year!!! HELP!!! It's just hard to stay positive about NHRA anymore, Member since 1982, 2010 will be last. Tony Tosto, #3050 A/S.

Jeff Lee · 04-17-2009, 07:38 PM

I just spoke to a friend that was collecting parts for a '90's Mustang to run SS/GT. He didn't like the way things looked on the horizon so he just sold all of his parts. He parted it out before they became one with the car.

Another friend has a '70 AMX he was building for D/S. The car is painted, wired, has 4WDB's with dual caliper rear, interior is all complete with roll-bar; everything but the engine and trans. He's just leaving it in the barn as it's not worth what he has in it and he says to race NHRA he might as well throw his money into a fire.

My car's been parked two years now. I'm thankful I paid for the work getting done because it sure wouldn't be in today's budget. I don't feel any real urgent need to get it all done tomorrow.

Don Whitmore · 04-17-2009, 07:46 PM

Tony and Jeff...well said.

Dragsinger · 04-18-2009, 03:57 AM

In the past, it was easy for me to complete a buildup, now, not easy. In fact, to remain upbeat and focused toward completion is a constant struggle. In talking with other racers I find this lack of "excitement" to be common. Bracket racers, class racers, many are struggling. And the struggle is not easily defined. I hear racers saying "I'm just laying out for a while" "maybe I'll run some next season"

Jack McCarthy · 04-18-2009, 09:19 AM

im sorry with the title of the post i thought someone in glendora had tested positive for mind altering substances

the only thing positive i can say about nhra is they are REAL GOOD at screwing us !

captain

XSTOCKER · 04-18-2009, 09:34 AM

I would think that in tough times a business would partner up with its customers to determine what is best for its survival. The NHRA seems to turn its back on the customer (sportman wise) and continually do things to turn customers away.
X-NHRA member of 30 plus years.

Doug Blackley · 04-18-2009, 10:33 AM

The best part of the NHRA events is catching up with friends that, due to distances, you rarely get to see. We are very spoiled up in D1. The guys that work for D1 are a great bunch and we have an awesome group of racers up here. In the end it's not the runs down track, it's the people you meet and come to be friends with that make it fun.

Rob Petrie E395 · 04-18-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t.tosto

Found myself in an awkard situation earlier this week and I thought I would share with you. Built Stocker for 2004 so I could race at Nat'l & Div. events close to home, kind of a dream come true deal. Well,didn't know what to say to family and friends as to why I'm not able to race at Madison in Stock this year!!! HELP!!! It's just hard to stay positive about NHRA anymore, Member since 1982, 2010 will be last. Tony Tosto, #3050 A/S.

Its funny you wrote this as my wife brought it up the other day when she was looking at a sportman schedule in a old dragster. I have been busting my *** for the last year building a stocker, spending every extra min in the shop working on it, I have been taking every bit of work in the shop (even the stuff that I would not touch with a 10 foot pole before) so I cold afford the best or what I thought was the best for this car. At this point I am lacking a set of heads (got the heads just need the work done on them), ring and pinion and a converter, nothing that I cant get in a reasonable amount of time. Then all the stuff started over what the specs are going to be for stock head cc's and I slowed up a bit then I found out no stock at gateway (my home track for bracket racing) and it came to almost a complete halt. At this point I am going to wait and see if NHRA makes a decision on the head rule for next year and try and be out late in the year. I dont know if I could have been ready and had the points necessary to get into Gateway but I can assure you if they had stock I would have made a better effort I know NHRA has their reasons for not running all the classes at every race but you would think in toughf times when car counts are down they would change things a little to help their bottom line and keep the guys that are still racing happy. OH wait what am I thinking its NHRA

bigshow2966 · 04-19-2009, 09:06 AM

You can always run IHRA. AHRA is coming back too.

Rick Schilling · 04-19-2009, 10:40 AM

My first effort at a serious class car was a stocker in the early seventies. Before the car could be completed, NHRA did away with the class (as it was) and basically offered a choice of running either pure stock or super stock. I opted for the latter and continued tolerating rule changes after that. (I still have a perfectly good 69 Nova with mini tubs which cannot be used as a stocker). Boy, do I wish I would have never cut on that car!

Thirty some odd years later, I began looking into building another car for stock eliminator (decided it would be more cost effective than trying to un-modify the old car) and actually purchased a car for that purpose. Well, with the current state of affairs, which don't need to be repeated here, and having been awarded horsepower before even getting started, I am very reluctant to continue. It seems some things really do never change. Only the circumstances.

04-17-2009, 04:36 PM	#1
t.tosto Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 154 Likes: 116 Liked 62 Times in 23 Posts	NHRA Positive? Found myself in an awkard situation earlier this week and I thought I would share with you. Built Stocker for 2004 so I could race at Nat'l & Div. events close to home, kind of a dream come true deal. Well,didn't know what to say to family and friends as to why I'm not able to race at Madison in Stock this year!!! HELP!!! It's just hard to stay positive about NHRA anymore, Member since 1982, 2010 will be last. Tony Tosto, #3050 A/S.

04-17-2009, 07:38 PM	#2
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: NHRA Positive? I just spoke to a friend that was collecting parts for a '90's Mustang to run SS/GT. He didn't like the way things looked on the horizon so he just sold all of his parts. He parted it out before they became one with the car. Another friend has a '70 AMX he was building for D/S. The car is painted, wired, has 4WDB's with dual caliper rear, interior is all complete with roll-bar; everything but the engine and trans. He's just leaving it in the barn as it's not worth what he has in it and he says to race NHRA he might as well throw his money into a fire. My car's been parked two years now. I'm thankful I paid for the work getting done because it sure wouldn't be in today's budget. I don't feel any real urgent need to get it all done tomorrow. __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

04-18-2009, 03:57 AM	#4
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	Re: NHRA Positive? In the past, it was easy for me to complete a buildup, now, not easy. In fact, to remain upbeat and focused toward completion is a constant struggle. In talking with other racers I find this lack of "excitement" to be common. Bracket racers, class racers, many are struggling. And the struggle is not easily defined. I hear racers saying "I'm just laying out for a while" "maybe I'll run some next season" __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

04-18-2009, 09:19 AM	#5
Jack McCarthy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: lyndon ky. ... louisville area Posts: 1,318 Likes: 28 Liked 457 Times in 113 Posts	Re: NHRA Positive? im sorry with the title of the post i thought someone in glendora had tested positive for mind altering substances the only thing positive i can say about nhra is they are REAL GOOD at screwing us ! captain __________________ Jack McCarthy 3609 STK "the Captain"

04-18-2009, 09:34 AM	#6
XSTOCKER Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 147 Likes: 19 Liked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Re: NHRA Positive? I would think that in tough times a business would partner up with its customers to determine what is best for its survival. The NHRA seems to turn its back on the customer (sportman wise) and continually do things to turn customers away. X-NHRA member of 30 plus years.

04-17-2009, 07:46 PM	#3
Don Whitmore Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 140 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: NHRA Positive? Tony and Jeff...well said.

04-18-2009, 10:33 AM	#7
Doug Blackley Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Hanover, MA Posts: 430 Likes: 3 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: NHRA Positive? The best part of the NHRA events is catching up with friends that, due to distances, you rarely get to see. We are very spoiled up in D1. The guys that work for D1 are a great bunch and we have an awesome group of racers up here. In the end it's not the runs down track, it's the people you meet and come to be friends with that make it fun. __________________ Doug Blackley 1697 STK

04-19-2009, 09:06 AM	#9
bigshow2966 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 653 Likes: 668 Liked 178 Times in 54 Posts	Re: NHRA Positive? You can always run IHRA. AHRA is coming back too.

04-19-2009, 10:40 AM	#10
Rick Schilling Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Indy Posts: 103 Likes: 18 Liked 14 Times in 10 Posts	Re: NHRA Positive? My first effort at a serious class car was a stocker in the early seventies. Before the car could be completed, NHRA did away with the class (as it was) and basically offered a choice of running either pure stock or super stock. I opted for the latter and continued tolerating rule changes after that. (I still have a perfectly good 69 Nova with mini tubs which cannot be used as a stocker). Boy, do I wish I would have never cut on that car! Thirty some odd years later, I began looking into building another car for stock eliminator (decided it would be more cost effective than trying to un-modify the old car) and actually purchased a car for that purpose. Well, with the current state of affairs, which don't need to be repeated here, and having been awarded horsepower before even getting started, I am very reluctant to continue. It seems some things really do never change. Only the circumstances.