With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy?

Wade Mahaffey · 11-09-2010, 09:00 PM

From the racers view, how is the popularity of drag racing (fans, participants). Anyone quiting, any new racers and/or cars (besides me). Giving account of the current economy, veteran racers that have been around for years and years, what do you think? Do you find yourself saying "how hard would it be to put this thing back on the street". I recently went to a domestic vs import, 275, 10.5 etc at MIR in Maryland, and the place was absolutly packed and they were all (well 90%) under 30 yo KIDS. I was at Indy this year and it could not compare with what I saw at Maryland. Even though Indy is the top for me hands down.

Wade Mahaffey

Ed Fernandez · 11-09-2010, 09:31 PM

That depends on who you ask.

1)The NHRA apologists will say it's strong
2)The NHRA detractors will say it's in the toilet
3)And the realists wil say it needs a bunch of tweeking on NHRA's part to level the boat.
I'm in catogory three.

Chad Rhodes · 11-09-2010, 09:34 PM

Count me in category 3 as well

Ed Wright · 11-09-2010, 09:35 PM

I agree, I'm in group 3.

Bob Pagano · 11-09-2010, 10:35 PM

I waited alot of years to come back, now I will wait even longer. #3 and wont make a move till nhra fixes the mess they have made.

Robert Swartz · 11-09-2010, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Pagano

I waited alot of years to come back, now I will wait even longer. #3 and wont make a move till nhra fixes the mess they have made.

I've been away alot of years myself. Probably won't even mess with NHRA, except for bracket racing. Going to race IHRA stock.

Wade Mahaffey · 11-09-2010, 10:57 PM

Both Bob's refuse to give the bullies their lunch money anymore. Both fellas displaying a nice pair!

Wade Mahaffey

Wade Mahaffey · 11-09-2010, 10:41 PM

For the 2s and 3s, why do you still take part in something aggravating you? Or, what are you prepared to do about it? Would you like to be a part of a group statement towards NHRA. Or is it really not that bad? Help me out fellas, am I doing the right thing trying to get into S/S stuff. LOL

I copy your response Bob. (he's a do'er....I like him. I think some **** would get done if you lined up behind Bob)

Wade Mahaffey

mjacquesjr · 11-10-2010, 07:46 PM

Lets here from the top 10 in Stock and Super Stock to see if they think NHRA or IHRA is healthy for the coming year, maybe even the division leaders.

dragracer9911 · 11-11-2010, 07:26 PM

Wade, thanking nothing away from MIR this past weekend, that race was a freak show. With bikini shows, burn out contest, the Army helicopter, music, the import cars, etc., those things bring in a lot of younger people. That was good for the track. The down side is that a lot of the "real" racers were upset and said that they will not return to the track. We both know that only a handfull will not be back, but still, a handfull is the profit for a track on a regular night. You raced their MidNIGHT Maddness (street only cars) for years, won a bunch of races and even was the grand champin once or twice. The Millers have suffered most of this year with small turn out. Thier X275 program was outstanding this year with regards to car count, but only a hundred or so people in the stands. Two or three years ago, the stnads would have been packed to see 30+ of those type of cars. My son and I ran the RAM series (all N/A cars, index classes, 10.5, drag radial). The promotorer had poor turn outs; he took money out of his pocket to pay the purse at most races. Ceicl County had decent turn outs for their Street Car series, with fair spectator turnout. Everywhere we raced, there were light turnouts accross the board. The cost of travel has gotten out of hand. Entry fees have gone up. Racing gas has risen. The overall cost to field a car has exceded what most working people can afford. We race at "racer friendly" tracks. How would I like going to a big event, NHRA, IHRA, or local track, where I spend weeks getting ready, spent a copule of thousand dollar, and then got crapped on (whether I really was crapped on or I perceivced that I was). After a while, it gets old, I get tired of the B.S., I can't afford it, or whatever, I stop going. I believe that is what is really going on. Most Sportsman racers are older, in our age group (I'm 57). We do it part becasue it's our way of life. Part because of the friends that we have made over the years. Part because of the competition. And a little bit because we don't know anything else. I finally bought a Mustang like my son's. Boy, I really didn't want to spend the money, not knowing what the job front may bring. But I didn't know how much longer I might be able to try it again, health and money wise. I've injoyed this year racing with and against my son, but who know what the future will bring.

Thanks, Tom Sr.

11-09-2010, 09:00 PM	#1
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? From the racers view, how is the popularity of drag racing (fans, participants). Anyone quiting, any new racers and/or cars (besides me). Giving account of the current economy, veteran racers that have been around for years and years, what do you think? Do you find yourself saying "how hard would it be to put this thing back on the street". I recently went to a domestic vs import, 275, 10.5 etc at MIR in Maryland, and the place was absolutly packed and they were all (well 90%) under 30 yo KIDS. I was at Indy this year and it could not compare with what I saw at Maryland. Even though Indy is the top for me hands down. Wade Mahaffey

11-09-2010, 09:31 PM	#2
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? That depends on who you ask. 1)The NHRA apologists will say it's strong 2)The NHRA detractors will say it's in the toilet 3)And the realists wil say it needs a bunch of tweeking on NHRA's part to level the boat. I'm in catogory three. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

11-09-2010, 09:35 PM	#4
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? I agree, I'm in group 3. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

11-09-2010, 10:35 PM	#5
Bob Pagano VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Holland, PA Mooresville,NC Posts: 1,163 Likes: 240 Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Re: With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? I waited alot of years to come back, now I will wait even longer. #3 and wont make a move till nhra fixes the mess they have made. __________________ Bob Pagano A/SA

11-09-2010, 10:57 PM	#7
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? Both Bob's refuse to give the bullies their lunch money anymore. Both fellas displaying a nice pair! Wade Mahaffey

11-09-2010, 09:34 PM	#3
Chad Rhodes VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Where the Green Grass Grows, AL Posts: 2,375 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? Count me in category 3 as well __________________ Chad Rhodes 2113 I/SA

11-09-2010, 10:41 PM	#8
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? For the 2s and 3s, why do you still take part in something aggravating you? Or, what are you prepared to do about it? Would you like to be a part of a group statement towards NHRA. Or is it really not that bad? Help me out fellas, am I doing the right thing trying to get into S/S stuff. LOL I copy your response Bob. (he's a do'er....I like him. I think some **** would get done if you lined up behind Bob) Wade Mahaffey Last edited by Wade Mahaffey; 11-09-2010 at 10:48 PM.

11-10-2010, 07:46 PM	#9
mjacquesjr Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Baton Rouge LA Posts: 43 Likes: 6 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? Lets here from the top 10 in Stock and Super Stock to see if they think NHRA or IHRA is healthy for the coming year, maybe even the division leaders.

11-11-2010, 07:26 PM	#10
dragracer9911 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 75 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? Wade, thanking nothing away from MIR this past weekend, that race was a freak show. With bikini shows, burn out contest, the Army helicopter, music, the import cars, etc., those things bring in a lot of younger people. That was good for the track. The down side is that a lot of the "real" racers were upset and said that they will not return to the track. We both know that only a handfull will not be back, but still, a handfull is the profit for a track on a regular night. You raced their MidNIGHT Maddness (street only cars) for years, won a bunch of races and even was the grand champin once or twice. The Millers have suffered most of this year with small turn out. Thier X275 program was outstanding this year with regards to car count, but only a hundred or so people in the stands. Two or three years ago, the stnads would have been packed to see 30+ of those type of cars. My son and I ran the RAM series (all N/A cars, index classes, 10.5, drag radial). The promotorer had poor turn outs; he took money out of his pocket to pay the purse at most races. Ceicl County had decent turn outs for their Street Car series, with fair spectator turnout. Everywhere we raced, there were light turnouts accross the board. The cost of travel has gotten out of hand. Entry fees have gone up. Racing gas has risen. The overall cost to field a car has exceded what most working people can afford. We race at "racer friendly" tracks. How would I like going to a big event, NHRA, IHRA, or local track, where I spend weeks getting ready, spent a copule of thousand dollar, and then got crapped on (whether I really was crapped on or I perceivced that I was). After a while, it gets old, I get tired of the B.S., I can't afford it, or whatever, I stop going. I believe that is what is really going on. Most Sportsman racers are older, in our age group (I'm 57). We do it part becasue it's our way of life. Part because of the friends that we have made over the years. Part because of the competition. And a little bit because we don't know anything else. I finally bought a Mustang like my son's. Boy, I really didn't want to spend the money, not knowing what the job front may bring. But I didn't know how much longer I might be able to try it again, health and money wise. I've injoyed this year racing with and against my son, but who know what the future will bring. Thanks, Tom Sr.