Honestly

[Billy Nees]

after all, we ARE all "Gentlemen" here, right Ed?
After reading Mark's thread and knowing that the majority of S/SS Racers are 55++, IF you had it (S/SS racing) to do all over again, would you knowing what it's become?
Better still, IF you were 20 years old again and had the choice to start racing here in the 21ST Century knowing the way things are now, would you? Could you afford to?

[Dan Bennett]

So much has changed. When I first started, it was with my daily driver in Showroom Stock(AHRA). As time went on I got better jobs and some extra money for better parts, moved to Stock and then Stock Production which was halfway between Stock and Super Stock. I had fun the entire time since the people I was racing were mostly doing the same thing.

Even if a young person could afford a performance car that's still being sold (doubtful) there is no way they could be competitive today. That smooth and steady progression is gone. It now takes a purpose built car that costs a whole bunch of money just to get started.

When I worked for Roy Hill at his school, he'd tell every class that he had it easy. Each year something came out that was faster and it was easy to adapt. He didn't have to make the jump from an 11 second car to a Pro Stock all at once. We've lost that.

I'm part of the generation you mention in your other post. And while I think that sportsman NHRA will survive somehow, I can't help thinking it will be in a form a lot of people will get turned off from.

[Jack McCarthy]

honestly billy,

stock and superstock have become so bastardized from what i signed up for in 1976 that i really have no desire to continue .... if the damn car would slow down i might quit. i cannot believe i was dumb enough to build a second car and dumb enough to believe 4 emails from pat the director of our classes and once again have same screw me.

this year ive taken a break due to the two injury total wrecks a home fire etc and ive really not missed it > am going to indy thursday to watch class which is only semblence left of what i signed up for.... maybe someone will get tossed in teardown only place it even has a chance to happen anymore.

RIP what i once loved and lived my life for >

captain

[Dave Noll]

YES

[Chevy55]

Would we do it in today's world is not even a logical comparison, the knowledge and money required today is far beyond the reach of a kid in his 20's entering the workforce and attempting to compete. What I've seen is kids are lucky to get even one friend involved to work with them, it's parents or it just doesn't seem to happen.

[Larry Hill]

I would still fly toy airplanes and learn how to compete. Then learn how to race.

[Terry Cain]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

after all, we ARE all "Gentlemen" here, right Ed?
After reading Mark's thread and knowing that the majority of S/SS Racers are 55++, IF you had it (S/SS racing) to do all over again, would you knowing what it's become?
Better still, IF you were 20 years old again and had the choice to start racing here in the 21ST Century knowing the way things are now, would you? Could you afford to?

A 20 year old me would probably race if I wanted to. One thing I have noticed is even though we are getting older it still cost a lot to race. Especially if you are on a "fixed" income from retirement. You start wondering if you can continue to afford it and the travel, entries, fuel, parts, etc, etc. A 20 year old should be receiving pay raises, cost of living adjustments, etc.

[B Parker]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

after all, we ARE all "Gentlemen" here, right Ed?
After reading Mark's thread and knowing that the majority of S/SS Racers are 55++, IF you had it (S/SS racing) to do all over again, would you knowing what it's become?
Better still, IF you were 20 years old again and had the choice to start racing here in the 21ST Century knowing the way things are now, would you? Could you afford to?

Billy I had almost the same conversation yesterday with Frank. When a lot of older races started they didn't pay anyone that ran a bracket classes. You got a trophy. Most tracks had there Modified, Stock and Super Stock combo and those were the classes that were paid money. If I were to start today running a bracket car is the only smart choice with the big pay bracket races. Then again I don't know if smart and racing should be in the same sentence. So I guess I'd still run Stock. I like the idea of competing not only trying to win a race but to also getting the most out of my combo within the set of rules we are given. It keeps me awake nights. Spent most of today looking at dyno numbers from a couple of days ago. BP

[GTS340]

In 1976 I turned 20yrs old. I worked at a Dodge dealer working on lean burn engines in the Ralph Nader world. I bought a brand new 1979 Aspen with a 360 3 years later for stock eliminator. That was probably a fast factory car in 1979 that went 14.90s of the lot.
Now 20yr olds buy 9 second cars. Hard to compare but 20yr olds still spend money on cars. Our sport probably would require a mentor of some sort now to compete. Need a pure stock for new cars since they are way to complicated and expensive to "Convert" to stock.

Paul

[GTS340]

Hi Billy, don't know if I can private send it. Here it is about 1980 at my first attempt at stock eliminator. Stephen McGrath of course behind the wheel. You might remember Steve.

Paul