Where are the lower class cars?

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

Looking at Stock qualifying at Bristol. Only seven cars in classes lower than G/SA. I guess everybody's need for speed trumps again.

I thought the need for speed was the reason most went racing. For me, personally, anything slower than G/S just isn't much fun. In an age when you can buy 12-13 second production street cars, and "bolt-ons" will yield 10-11 second performance, why is anyone surprised that slower cars are falling out of favor?

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

I thought the need for speed was the reason most went racing. For me, personally, anything slower than G/S just isn't much fun. In an age when you can buy 12-13 second production street cars, and "bolt-ons" will yield 10-11 second performance, why is anyone surprised that slower cars are falling out of favor?

Alan, I must say that I'm more than a little bit disappointed with your answer.
When you think you're "good", then try going "fast" (fast being a relative word) with something that has no parts availability, compatibility or history and let me know how you make out.
Lower classed cars are falling out of favor because money and knowledge are too easy to come by to build upper classed cars.
I honestly expected better from you!

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Alan, I must say that I'm more than a little bit disappointed with your answer.
When you think you're "good", then try going "fast" (fast being a relative word) with something that has no parts availability, compatibility or history and let me know how you make out.
Lower classed cars are falling out of favor because money and knowledge are too easy to come by to build upper classed cars.
I honestly expected better from you!

I'm not here to "impress" you, or anyone else, with my answers.

I never said I thought I was good, if I was, our stuff would be a lot faster.

I said many people are not happy going slow.

If you like slower cars, that's fine.

For me, there is just not enough excitement to be had on the track with a slower car, no matter how challenging it is to make it a competitive class car.

The threshold for fun in a race car, for me, is around 11.50 at 115 or better.

I have no criticism for people who like slower cars. If that is what you like, by all means, have at it. It's all about what you find to be fun. I do, however, find it amusing that people want to criticize people for preferring to go faster.

[StripeHOG]

I race a 11 sec car and a 17 sec truck and I have the same amount of fun if not more in my truck!!!!! as long as the light is on in my lane I don't care what I'm driving!!!! BTW I've won a heck of a lot more rounds in the truck!!!

[Bob Mulry]

National Record Holders................

J/SA 11.31 115.51 10/24/10 Eugene Monahan - Brockton, MA '90 Pontiac Mohnton, PA
K/SA 11.69 110.82 05/28/11 Shawn Kvaas - Pitt Meadows, BC '77 Pontiac Mission, BC
L/SA 11.58 114.80 04/30/10 Bill Edgeworth - Tacoma, WA '77 Pontiac Eagle, ID
M/SA 11.53 114.07 05/01/10 Angelo Phillips - Scottsdale, AZ '78 Plymouth Eagle, ID
N/SA 11.78 111.70 06/26/10 Bill Edgeworth - Tacoma, WA '77 Pontiac Woodburn, OR

If you want to talk fast.....These guys are FAST............

AND

They all run mid 11's at over 110 mph

[Billy Nees]

Alan, I go racing for personal satisfaction. I apparently, mistakenly assumed that you did also. I must be mistaken.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

I'm not here to "impress" you, or anyone else, with my answers.

I never said I thought I was good, if I was, our stuff would be a lot faster.

I said many people are not happy going slow.

If you like slower cars, that's fine.

For me, there is just not enough excitement to be had on the track with a slower car, no matter how challenging it is to make it a competitive class car.

The threshold for fun in a race car, for me, is around 11.50 at 115 or better.

I have no criticism for people who like slower cars. If that is what you like, by all means, have at it. It's all about what you find to be fun. I do, however, find it amusing that people want to criticize people for preferring to go faster.

That's one reason I enjoy racing a "slow/Odd ball" combo.Imagine the conversation when one of the high buck,stacker trailer,renegade guys gets home and the missus says "How did you do this weekend?" and you say "I lost to a 13 second gremlin".And you could cut the silence with a knife.:>):>):>)

In the scheme of things we're all a bunch of schleps spending money doing what we think
we enjoy.Some of us take it wayyyyy to seriously.Unless you're doing it for a paycheck. Then you're really in need of a reality check.
The winners are the guys who supply the tools (cars,parts,etc) to perpetuate this madness.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

That's one reason I enjoy racing a "slow/Odd ball" combo.Imagine the conversation when one of the high buck,stacker trailer,renegade guys gets home and the missus says "How did you do this weekend?" and you say "I lost to a 13 second gremlin".And you could cut the silence with a knife.:>):>):>)

In the scheme of things we're all a bunch of schleps spending money doing what we think
we enjoy.Some of us take it wayyyyy to seriously.Unless you're doing it for a paycheck. Then you're really in need of a reality check.
The winners are the guys who supply the tools (cars,parts,etc) to perpetuate this madness.

X 2 on that !

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

I thought the need for speed was the reason most went racing.

Actually, Alan, that was a tongue-in-cheek statement of mine to lament that maybe racing has become more ego-driven than ever before. Faster cars can make one feel more important. I have no criticism for anyone who appreciates what they race and doesn't use their et (or paint job or money they spend, etc. etc.) to make themselves feel more important than they really are. As far as I know, the path to the winners circle is pretty level for everybody. I have raced 14 second stockers, 13 second stockers, 12 second stockers, an 11 second stocker, a 10 second stocker, a 10 second modified production car and a 9 second super stocker. I put them all in the winners circle. The slower cars were just a challenging, just as satisfying and a whole lot less work and money. I would hate for those people to be pushed out or forgotten.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

Actually, Alan, that was a tongue-in-cheek statement of mine to lament that maybe racing has become more ego-driven than ever before. Faster cars can make one feel more important. I have no criticism for anyone who appreciates what they race and doesn't use their et (or paint job or money they spend, etc. etc.) to make themselves feel more important than they really are. As far as I know, the path to the winners circle is pretty level for everybody. I have raced 14 second stockers, 13 second stockers, 12 second stockers, an 11 second stocker, a 10 second stocker, a 10 second modified production car and a 9 second super stocker. I put them all in the winners circle. The slower cars were just a challenging, just as satisfying and a whole lot less work and money. I would hate for those people to be pushed out or forgotten.

X2 Dwight, but sadly it seems to be heading that way (especially with the more well known NHRA), which is why I've been pushing the (now more sportsman friendly), IHRA's apparent western migration...competition is becoming bliss...don't believe me, ask Sheldon Gecker, Mark Faul, and now Les Norton!!!