End of Stock and SuperStock Racing??

[Michael Colaluca]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

How many of them know how to finance/build/maintain a class car after their father's or grandfather's pass away? I'll be the first to admit that I won't be able to.

I was talking about this the other day with my wife and some others.

There are hardly any more cars trailered on an open trailer and a pick up, or even a small motor home. What do we see when we go to the track? We see stacker trailers and toterhomes as the regular.

What 20-30 year old person can afford that? Surely you can do it cheaper. I go to the track in a 1986 fleetwood and an enclosed trailer. On top of that, you have the cost of the stocker. A stocker engine will easily run you 10+ depending on the combo of course. Then you add fuel and entry, it makes it quite difficult. This isnt the 1960s and 70s where they run stock and super stock at your local track every weekend. It seems that if you want to run your car on the weekends, you can go bracket racing. (Thanks, but I would rather save the engine that I saved up for.)

If you want the younger crowd to bring their own cars, if seems that a whole different eliminator will need to be created. I enjoy this class as much as anyone, and will probably race in it until I cant anymore. I just don't see a 28 yr old buying a 20-30-or 40 thousand dollar stocker, when he can get a 275 or a 10.5 car.

If I am wrong, please let me know.

[Dennis P Chapman]

Originally Posted by Michael Colaluca

I was talking about this the other day with my wife and some others.

There are hardly any more cars trailered on an open trailer and a pick up, or even a small motor home. What do we see when we go to the track? We see stacker trailers and toterhomes as the regular.

What 20-30 year old person can afford that? Surely you can do it cheaper. I go to the track in a 1986 fleetwood and an enclosed trailer. On top of that, you have the cost of the stocker. A stocker engine will easily run you 10+ depending on the combo of course. Then you add fuel and entry, it makes it quite difficult. This isnt the 1960s and 70s where they run stock and super stock at your local track every weekend. It seems that if you want to run your car on the weekends, you can go bracket racing. (Thanks, but I would rather save the engine that I saved up for.)

If you want the younger crowd to bring their own cars, if seems that a whole different eliminator will need to be created. I enjoy this class as much as anyone, and will probably race in it until I cant anymore. I just don't see a 28 yr old buying a 20-30-or 40 thousand dollar stocker, when he can get a 275 or a 10.5 car.

If I am wrong, please let me know.

You hit right on the head and not going to get better for us or younger people.

[Nathan Stinson]

Originally Posted by Michael Colaluca

If you want the younger crowd to bring their own cars, if seems that a whole different eliminator will need to be created. I enjoy this class as much as anyone, and will probably race in it until I cant anymore. I just don't see a 28 yr old buying a 20-30-or 40 thousand dollar stocker, when he can get a 275 or a 10.5 car.

If I am wrong, please let me know.

.

30-40 k won't touch a competitive 275 or 10.5 car. But you are correct on one thing if I am spending that much to race it will be to run fast as possible and heads up. If I loose I work on my junk and make it better. Just like any heads up racer would do.

[Dick Butler]

If we each decide S or SS is "MY" racing the end is nearer than thought. Selfish wishes, hp demands, class demands and ...... will keep it a Participant sport. It is destined for divisional events only or continued filler at Nationals.
I see Stk and SS as OUR or everyones place to comment and move forward.
No Everyone will not be happy, everyone might not get their favorite $1000 car factored to run a national event. Everyone might not be able to afford Stk or SS. We know that today.
If the majority wish to move it back towards its beginning as a Spectator appeal, Sponsor appeal and possible more enjoyment for Winning class( defined as beating 4 or 5 cars for class) then so be it. That can happen.
Want to run at an empty track, two days before spectators show up, no sponsor money unless you buy a cam a year, then vote that way.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Dick Butler

If we each decide S or SS is "MY" racing the end is nearer than thought. Selfish wishes, hp demands, class demands and ...... will keep it a Participant sport.

Dick, I'm going to guess that your comment is a slap at my remark that I always considered this "My Sport". We are all pretty much a bunch of selfish, spoiled brats! Let's face it, we're not cureing cancer or ending world hunger here!
And it is "My Sport". It may be NHRAs to own but I can still take from it what I will and make it mine. Like or not, I accept their rules and play by their rules. When I decide that I no longer like playing by their rules, I'll either quit or start the "Billy Hot Rod Assn.".

[Robert Swartz]

I sat here at the breakfast table and read this whole thread. I hope Stock/SuperStock racing doesn't seek to exist in the near future.

Right now, my attempts to join the fraternity keep running into roadblocks. My FWD car sits in limbo in the driveway, stripped of the few parts we added to it, now merely an object that needs moved from time to time to be mowed under. It was originally my step sons car, now subject to a Federal court case. It's fate yet to be determined. I want to personally thank Ron Seibenak, Dennis Roberts and Billy Nees for advise and help with that car.

My other car, the 79 Firebird, still sets in its corner of the garage. Due to lack of time or lack of money, it's just not getting worked on. I have most of the pieces to make the chassis a roller. Have of a lot ot the parts to build a good basic IHRA crate engine. Blame myself for apathy, just can't personally get motivated enough to start putting it altogether. Want give a personal thank you to Alex and his son Tony Dysenko for advise and getting me a few parts to at least get this thing to a point I can refer to it as a car. Also a shout out to Bruce Parsons, whom went out of his way to build me a set of heads to replace a set that were stolen from my shop. Just hope we get to use them someday.

Meanwhile, my long time friend and racing partner, Tod Lane and I continue to work on our ancient old 66 Chevy II bracket car. Just want to get this car redone. Just too many projects and lack of focus.

I'm somewhat established in life. For someone in their 20's or 30's, even with a good income. All hobbies are expensive, in their own ways. Racing, it isn't just having a car. You need to have a place to store and work on it. Both a vehicle and a trailer to transport it. As well as both tools and support equipment to work on it. I agree with what was said here, young people want to go fast and race heads up. I ran into a young guy I used to work with at a bracket race last summer. He wanted to know why were we running this slow "pos" and not running our Chevy II? He was smart enough to understand what we had done with the car. Just couldn't fathom why or how anyone could get excited running a slow race car.

The days of building a car in the driveway are far behind us. Around here, in many places if you live in town, they won't let you have a vehicle in the driveway that isn't plated. Now, they won't in many cases let you park a trailer, RV or boat in your driveway. With the way all state and local Govt's are seeking revenue. How long before you have to have some kind of personal CDL just to pull a trailer?

Ok enough ranting and whining. Enough of a long winded post, just hope it isn't a lot of useless drivel. To those that keep this alive, I applaud you. Just hope, one day, I show back up in the staging lanes, WITH a car.

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by Nathan Stinson

.

30-40 k won't touch a competitive 275 or 10.5 car. But you are correct on one thing if I am spending that much to race it will be to run fast as possible and heads up. If I loose I work on my junk and make it better. Just like any heads up racer would do.

I didn't realize nitrous and turbos had got so expensive.

[Tony Janes]

Some people think that stock and super stock eliminator is ours. It is not, it belongs to NHRA. Does it have a fan base? Not much. Is it a performance based eliminator? Not really, it is mostly a bracket type race.

[partsbob67]

Originally Posted by Tony Janes

Some people think that stock and super stock eliminator is ours. It is not, it belongs to NHRA. Does it have a fan base? Not much. Is it a performance based eliminator? Not really, it is mostly a bracket type race.

oooooooo! you're gonna get in trouble!!!!!

[JOE ZOOM]

Originally Posted by Tony Janes

Some people think that stock and super stock eliminator is ours. It is not, it belongs to NHRA. Does it have a fan base? Not much. Is it a performance based eliminator? Not really, it is mostly a bracket type race.

Enough Said......Thank You.......

Joe Mocci