How About Some Good Old "Match Racing"

[Mike Delahanty]

I’m posting some ideas with the hope that a track operator, promoter or one of the Stock-S/S series will make these happen.

Some of you that are 55 or older will remember the golden age of “Match Racing” that was popular in the mid 60’s. And for those too young – I’m sure you have read or heard about this type of racing. I think we have an opportunity to rekindle some of that same excitement w/ the Class Cars.

How about a match race between some of the “old vs. new” Factory Race Cars? How about a SS/AH Hemi vs. a new Super Cobra Jet S/S Mustang? There’s a lot to work with to get the crowd – the Fans and even us excited. Old vs. New – Mopar vs. Ford – Old Tech vs. New Tech – Carbs vs. Blower – Old Skool vs. New Skool – Barton/Westcott vs. Whoever. I think you get the idea. And do just like they used to in the Golden Age of Match Racing – Best 3 out of 5 – No Scales – No fuel Check – “Run what ya brung”. And make it interesting – pay the winner some good $$$ - $5,000 – $10,000. This is “SUNDAY-SUNDAY” all over again.

And how about the new DP Challenger vs. the Cobra Jet Stockers. Or even throw in a match race between some of the 60’s A or B Stock Camaros, Mustangs or Mopars. There are a number of possibilities.

And before all you purists get up on your chip – stop and count to 10. This isn’t so much about the rule book as it is about putting on a show for the fans – and at the same time – getting some good press and buzz about class racing. There has been plenty of grousing on this site about the “death of Class Racing”. Here’s an opportunity to do something about it.

Top off the featured Match Race w/ a Stock-S/S combo. We all know that this is good racing that the fans will like.

One final point – PLEASE don’t hijack this w/ rants and complaints about HP factors and the new Factory cars. There are plenty of other threads that are dedicated to that.

[X-TECH MAN]

I tried to get this very same thing going about 10 years ago for the Top Stockers before the crate motored cars killed the class but found no interest. I couldnt get the racers to do it so the track operators were not interested back then. It was to far to travel, he might be lite and out run me, he might have a cheater motor in his car, I have a head ache, and on and on. Good idea if you get ti to work. Sure beats watching bracket cars and circus acts.

[Bob Pagano]

Good idea Mike, You need to start small, maybe free entry for the Match race cars and some kind of expense coverage to start. There are a number of Associations now that this could work at. Dave Ley could do it easy, he has the cars to pull it off. If it got started it mite catch on then you could send a challenge to a car in another area for possible cross over races. Track owners will also need to get involved with getting the word out. There is alot of work needed to pull this off, uniting all the Associations would be a start, then see what cars are in each for possible match-ups.

[X-TECH MAN]

The big help years ago was the publications. Eastern Drag News, Super Stock and Drag Illistrated magazine, west coasts Drag News, and many others with a "TOP DOG" listing every week. Now we have the internet and no body can agree on much of anything. I love to see it happen again.

[mopar68]

Good idea but I'm sad to say it's a different era; no longer the car-oriented culture and supercar era of the 1960s and 1970s in addition to being expensive as hell.

Too bad...

M68

[Floyd Gomez]

Mike,
I think its a great idea. The only rule is that your motor is legal and let it all hang out. We could add a thread here that shows the Top Dog each week and whoever wants to beat him can challenge. I don't have a car to compete at that level but once our K/SA is done I will run mine against any other K/SA. I miss the "Sunday Sunday Sunday" and will do everything I can to help you with this. Again no weight check and no fuel check run it all out and may the best driver win. I'm in!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Mike Delahanty

I’m posting some ideas with the hope that a track operator, promoter or one of the Stock-S/S series will make these happen.

Some of you that are 55 or older will remember the golden age of “Match Racing” that was popular in the mid 60’s. And for those too young – I’m sure you have read or heard about this type of racing. I think we have an opportunity to rekindle some of that same excitement w/ the Class Cars.

How about a match race between some of the “old vs. new” Factory Race Cars? How about a SS/AH Hemi vs. a new Super Cobra Jet S/S Mustang? There’s a lot to work with to get the crowd – the Fans and even us excited. Old vs. New – Mopar vs. Ford – Old Tech vs. New Tech – Carbs vs. Blower – Old Skool vs. New Skool – Barton/Westcott vs. Whoever. I think you get the idea. And do just like they used to in the Golden Age of Match Racing – Best 3 out of 5 – No Scales – No fuel Check – “Run what ya brung”. And make it interesting – pay the winner some good $$$ - $5,000 – $10,000. This is “SUNDAY-SUNDAY” all over again.

And how about the new DP Challenger vs. the Cobra Jet Stockers. Or even throw in a match race between some of the 60’s A or B Stock Camaros, Mustangs or Mopars. There are a number of possibilities.

And before all you purists get up on your chip – stop and count to 10. This isn’t so much about the rule book as it is about putting on a show for the fans – and at the same time – getting some good press and buzz about class racing. There has been plenty of grousing on this site about the “death of Class Racing”. Here’s an opportunity to do something about it.

Top off the featured Match Race w/ a Stock-S/S combo. We all know that this is good racing that the fans will like.

One final point – PLEASE don’t hijack this w/ rants and complaints about HP factors and the new Factory cars. There are plenty of other threads that are dedicated to that.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Floyd Gomez

Mike,
I think its a great idea. The only rule is that your motor is legal and let it all hang out. We could add a thread here that shows the Top Dog each week and whoever wants to beat him can challenge. I don't have a car to compete at that level but once our K/SA is done I will run mine against any other K/SA. I miss the "Sunday Sunday Sunday" and will do everything I can to help you with this. Again no weight check and no fuel check run it all out and may the best driver win. I'm in!!!!!!!!

Thats the way it was done in the days (1963) of Z-11 Chevys, Fiber glass 427 Fords, 421 Pontiacs, Max wedge Mopars. You could challenge anyone on the top 10 list except for number 1. That spot was reserved for the number 2 car to challenge him/her so you had to work your way up the list. I went to several of these match races and it was usually a best 3 out of 5 runs and the stands were always packed for the show. Ahhh...the good ole days.

[Mike Carr]

I'm sure we could work something in at a race or two of ours. Check the Tri-State S/SS Association forum on here, see if anything looks good for a time/place.

[vic guilmino]

pay both the same money that way it is more fun this is a match race win moves up the the page

old can"t run with the new cars