Stock Eliminator,,,Boon or Bane? - Page 4

B Parker · 08-11-2023, 12:22 AM

Now I have to give Kudos to Lebanon Valley when they run the All-Star Association there. Right before they send the All-Star class racers down Wayne the track manager hops on the tractor and gives the starting line 10 to 15 minutes of prep. Wayne is a monster on that tractor. What a difference those few minutes make. We have all seen even at tracks where the traction is good most of the time. As cars are spinning the tires all you get from the starting line crew is a mop job. And if you're lucky they may spray some glue but don't drag. It takes time and money to keep a good starting line. At the price it cost to race these days I don't think that is too much to ask for. BP

Billy Nees · 08-11-2023, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

What will the next five years see ?
Curious about your thoughts...

Ya know, that's hard to say because NHRA has forgotten it's roots. There are no more "entry-level" classes or eliminators. When I first started this addiction Stock and Jr. Stock were the "entry-level" classes. Then came the local Bracket programs and then the .90 classes particularly S/ST.
Fast-forward to today and the average person trying to get started in any of these types of racing can't afford to build or buy a car. Stock isn't even remotely close to "stock" with apparently legal ported "stock" intakes and heads and aftermarket heads not to mention the Factory Stock stuff. The local Bracket programs are withering away because the average Racers aren't going to spend (or can't afford to spend) what it takes to keep up with the "Pro Bracket" Racers. S/ST was NHRA's last (NHRA proclaimed) "entry-level" class when the Racers could only run one class if it was S/ST. Now S/ST Racers can run 2 eliminators and we have 160 MPH S/ST cars. Entry level. An "entry-level", young up-and-coming Racer is only going to lose for just so long before he gives up or quits.

Mark Yacavone · 08-11-2023, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B Parker

.... At the price it cost to race these days I don't think that is too much to ask for. BP

Hi Barry , I'm surprised nobody brought this up yet.

Lebanon is what I call a Mom and Pop operation..Earlville might be another one, although I've never been there. They may take pride in their starting line, and that's great, if their budget allows for it. They are facing inflationary issues, like NHRA is.
My question is directed towards NHRA and their Nat's and Divs and the racers who do that sort of thing.
If the price of glue becomes too much of an expense, I'm sure the non-racer suits will look at cutting back on it. They are definitely not going to say, well these guys pay enough with entry fees, so let's not cut the track prep.
We all know who's still going to get the salary increases.

Barry, I know you're not going to go back to an R/SA station wagon. But will other racers go that direction? Or, will they just expect a great hooking starting line at all times, for all the money they give to NHRA?

GUMP · 08-11-2023, 02:21 PM

I ranted about this some earlier this year. It is my feeling that the NHRA's number one priority should be the track surface. It is a safety issue that a racer should never have to worry about.

Also, how about NOT sending Stockers down a wet track ever again...

B Parker · 08-11-2023, 02:29 PM

Ya know Mark we all look at the entrance fees. Both at Nationals and Divisionals. In Division One we now pay this year $225 for a Divisional. We look at that and say wow why would they need to skimp on anything. What we forget is that the tracks get the smaller portion of that money and have to do all the payouts. Good starting line crews have proved through the years they can make almost any starting line good. It just takes some time effort, money and the will too. It sucks when someone spends the time, effort and money to go to a race only to lose because of poor starting line prep. Don't know if it's true I was told that glue has come down on price from it's all time high. BP

DG · 08-11-2023, 04:36 PM

Maybe we need some sort of electronic tip jar account for the starting line crew from the Stock/Super Stock racers. If I saw them making an extra effort for us, and I had a great launch every run, I would happily throw in $20, hell if I won the event I might throw in $50. Even if only a third of the racers kicked in, it would add up to a nice chuck of change for each guy.

But seriously, in the 40 years my family has been racing, traction has always been an issue from time to time. However, there has always been certain cars that hook up no matter what, some that rarely spun and others that seemed to frequently struggle to get down the track. This hasn't changed much over the years. The racers that never spun were the thrashers, that spend many weekends at local track test and tunes. These same thrashers always seemed to know how to get the last few thousandths out of a combination and were usually the class record holder. There are fewer and fewer of these types in the sport anymore. Most people want to spend money at the right shops and show up at the divisional or national event and everything go perfect. When conditions are not perfect, the weaknesses in their program surface. Sorry to tell it like it is, but you may just have to work a little harder on your car....Flame away.

Darin Grossi

Mike Gray · 08-11-2023, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1347

The way we argue on whats right or wrong for the class, we would be doomed. There have been 15+ recommendations just on this thread alone.

MSD Grid for the win!
I wish I was computer literate

SS3860 · 08-11-2023, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GUMP

How about I buy you a box of Kleenex....

No thanks, I'm good

Jeff Stout · 08-11-2023, 08:26 PM

Unless glue is ordered mixed it use to be 1barrel of glue and 1 barrel of methanol. That makes 110 gallons. On a decent night we would use 25 gallons mixed. On a big event 40 gallons of mixed. The cost is not that bad when it's a big event with decent entries. 2015 glue was 1100.00 and methanol was 125 that's 1225.00 for 110 gallons.On a 3 day event co.e Sunday all we did was drag and maintenance the starting line. Big savings

B Parker · 08-11-2023, 11:16 PM

That tip thing might not be a bad idea. At the end of the race if you wanted to and felt the starting line crew did a great job keeping the track prepped have a paypal or go fund me account for the crew that worked the event. I don't think you need to tip 20 or more but if a bunch of racers tipped 5 to10 dollars it could add up to some decent money. I know most probably feel that they should do it with our entrance fee money but it's not the case often enough. If you go out to eat the server should wait on you and do a good job for the price we pay for a meal. But almost all of us leave a tip. It's also a good way for the starting line crew to keep track of how the racers felt they did their job. BP

08-11-2023, 12:22 AM	#31
B Parker Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 849 Likes: 980 Liked 2,336 Times in 464 Posts	Re: Stock Eliminator,,,Boon or Bane? Now I have to give Kudos to Lebanon Valley when they run the All-Star Association there. Right before they send the All-Star class racers down Wayne the track manager hops on the tractor and gives the starting line 10 to 15 minutes of prep. Wayne is a monster on that tractor. What a difference those few minutes make. We have all seen even at tracks where the traction is good most of the time. As cars are spinning the tires all you get from the starting line crew is a mop job. And if you're lucky they may spray some glue but don't drag. It takes time and money to keep a good starting line. At the price it cost to race these days I don't think that is too much to ask for. BP

08-11-2023, 02:21 PM	#34
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,817 Likes: 2,154 Liked 2,336 Times in 549 Posts	Re: Stock Eliminator,,,Boon or Bane? I ranted about this some earlier this year. It is my feeling that the NHRA's number one priority should be the track surface. It is a safety issue that a racer should never have to worry about. Also, how about NOT sending Stockers down a wet track ever again... __________________ Daren Poole-Adams NHRA Stock/SS 2007

08-11-2023, 02:29 PM	#35
B Parker Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 849 Likes: 980 Liked 2,336 Times in 464 Posts	Re: Stock Eliminator,,,Boon or Bane? Ya know Mark we all look at the entrance fees. Both at Nationals and Divisionals. In Division One we now pay this year $225 for a Divisional. We look at that and say wow why would they need to skimp on anything. What we forget is that the tracks get the smaller portion of that money and have to do all the payouts. Good starting line crews have proved through the years they can make almost any starting line good. It just takes some time effort, money and the will too. It sucks when someone spends the time, effort and money to go to a race only to lose because of poor starting line prep. Don't know if it's true I was told that glue has come down on price from it's all time high. BP Last edited by B Parker; 08-11-2023 at 02:37 PM.

08-11-2023, 04:36 PM	#36
DG Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Central Sierra's Posts: 164 Likes: 458 Liked 446 Times in 97 Posts	Re: Stock Eliminator,,,Boon or Bane? Maybe we need some sort of electronic tip jar account for the starting line crew from the Stock/Super Stock racers. If I saw them making an extra effort for us, and I had a great launch every run, I would happily throw in $20, hell if I won the event I might throw in $50. Even if only a third of the racers kicked in, it would add up to a nice chuck of change for each guy. But seriously, in the 40 years my family has been racing, traction has always been an issue from time to time. However, there has always been certain cars that hook up no matter what, some that rarely spun and others that seemed to frequently struggle to get down the track. This hasn't changed much over the years. The racers that never spun were the thrashers, that spend many weekends at local track test and tunes. These same thrashers always seemed to know how to get the last few thousandths out of a combination and were usually the class record holder. There are fewer and fewer of these types in the sport anymore. Most people want to spend money at the right shops and show up at the divisional or national event and everything go perfect. When conditions are not perfect, the weaknesses in their program surface. Sorry to tell it like it is, but you may just have to work a little harder on your car....Flame away. Darin Grossi Last edited by DG; 08-11-2023 at 05:31 PM.

08-11-2023, 08:26 PM	#39
Jeff Stout VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: phoenix Posts: 1,486 Likes: 66 Liked 704 Times in 281 Posts	Re: Stock Eliminator,,,Boon or Bane? Unless glue is ordered mixed it use to be 1barrel of glue and 1 barrel of methanol. That makes 110 gallons. On a decent night we would use 25 gallons mixed. On a big event 40 gallons of mixed. The cost is not that bad when it's a big event with decent entries. 2015 glue was 1100.00 and methanol was 125 that's 1225.00 for 110 gallons.On a 3 day event co.e Sunday all we did was drag and maintenance the starting line. Big savings Last edited by Jeff Stout; 08-11-2023 at 08:28 PM. Reason: More

08-11-2023, 11:16 PM	#40
B Parker Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 849 Likes: 980 Liked 2,336 Times in 464 Posts	Re: Stock Eliminator,,,Boon or Bane? That tip thing might not be a bad idea. At the end of the race if you wanted to and felt the starting line crew did a great job keeping the track prepped have a paypal or go fund me account for the crew that worked the event. I don't think you need to tip 20 or more but if a bunch of racers tipped 5 to10 dollars it could add up to some decent money. I know most probably feel that they should do it with our entrance fee money but it's not the case often enough. If you go out to eat the server should wait on you and do a good job for the price we pay for a meal. But almost all of us leave a tip. It's also a good way for the starting line crew to keep track of how the racers felt they did their job. BP