How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?

[NewHemi]

They will only continue to run as long as there are no new cars in their classes..

David
The New Hemi Guy

[Ron E]

Originally Posted by NewHemi

They will only continue to run as long as there are no new cars in their classes..

David
The New Hemi Guy

Explain please...
The only thing against the new cars to almost everybody here is the factors are screwed. Why would a '69 vs. a '010 model matter if the factors are worked out? Hell, you can build a new '69 camaro without a single used part. What am I missing?

If anybody at NHRA had given a damn, (which it seems they didn't) all they had to do was look at a cut-away of a new hemi. It's pretty much what you'd expect to see in a 2 valve Indy motor. The exhaust lifter is nearly horizontal because the cam is so high, the intake ports are pro-stockish. There ain't a lot one would change from a design point if it was meant as a clean-sheet race engine. When it was on the drawing-board, M.Benz had controlling interest in Chrysler AND Ilmor. It's not a big shock to anyone who paid any attention. NHRA obviously did not.

[Mike Delahanty]

I've been waiting for somebody to come to this realization that we are racing antiques. When I started racing Stockers in the early 70's I would have thought it to be abosolutely crazy for a guy to run a 40 year old - which would have been a 30's era car - in Stock or Super Stock. In sports car racing cars from the 60's and 70's are raced in what is called "vintage racing" - circle track guys are called "old timers". For those of us that grew up with these 60s - 70s and even 80s cars - I suppose it's hard to see what could possiblly be odd about all of this. But from the outsiders view - or those under the age of 30, it must look a little wierd. What really brings it into perspective is trying to explain the rules and concept of "Stock" or S/S to a 20 or 30-something enthusiast.

For the continued health of both Stock and S/S it's important to get some new cars and new blood involved. And the "Old vs. New" makes for good racing that gets the fans excited and engaged.

I vote to keep the old with the new. I really like the old stuff and am hooked on them - I have a 1964 Stocker - but my day job is all about selling the new stuff.