Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Gary Smith

Is it me or has anyone else noticed a decline in modern stock & super stock features in magazines, or even bracket racing? Another disturbing trend is the disappearance of Hot Rod, Car Craft, and Popular Hot Rodding from our local drug store and supermarket news stands. Has class racing become that narrow of a market? Or perhaps the focus on drag racing has been watered down to the few professional teams? Economics can't be a player since the import-tuner-heads-up and "pimp my ride" magazines fill the racks these days.

Its a sign of the times. Us dinosaures are about to become extinct. The magazines you mentioned havent had anything in them worth reading for about 25 years.

[Evan Smith]

This is right in my wheelhouse so I will answer.

First and foremost, it's not 1970, there is a lot more cool drag racing going on than just NHRA/IHRA Stock and Super Stock. The heads-up stuff, not just 10.5 Outlaw, is awesome and exciting racing. Go to any NMCA or NMRA race and you will find guys having fun, racing heads-up. The rules are just as strict as NHRA and it is very professional and competitive. Events are two and three days so it's easier to do for many people, and you can build a car using new parts and go very fast. Plus there are car shows, which is another attraction to magazine guys.

With that, both Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords and Super Chevy, two books which work on, have done NHRA Sportsman coverage. In fact, the July '10 issue of SC, which is about to hit, will feature Jerry MacNeish's Z/28, and SC has done tech and feature stories on the Ficcaci's, Steve Calabro/Joe Fasano, Aubry's 409, all in the last few years. In MM&FF I've done stories on John Calvert, Travis Gusso, Jeff Swanson, Grace Howell, John Presing, Indy coverage, etc.

Have any of you contacted editors and requested an article? Editors are always looking for ideas, so be proactive and propose an idea, with a photo or two and a well-written email.

Terry, I'm sorry you feel that way about those magazines. I can't speak for the other editors, but it is our job (as editors) to follow trends and keep our publications current. If all you care about is what happened in the '60 and '70s then that is cool, but you can't expect the rest of the world to linger in the past. That is not a dig on you, you are entitled to like whatever you want, but don't degrade a magazine just because it doesn't suit you. I don't care about street rods, but that doesn't mean what's been printed is meaningless. Obviously, there are many people reading our books, or we'd be out of business.

While I love Stock and SS racing, you couldn't sell enough advertising or magazines to do a book just on those topics these days. The racing world is just too segmented. Because many of put so much passion into racing we expect that the things like racetracks, magazines, sanctioning bodies, etc. should be perfect and the way WE want them to be. But there is also a business end of things. Most people would crumble at the knees if they knew our printing and publishing costs. It's amazing that we can still offer a product providing as much information as we do for just a few bucks.

http://www.superchevy.com/features/c.../photo_01.html

Evan

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Evan Smith

This is right in my wheelhouse so I will answer.

First and foremost, it's not 1970, there is a lot more cool drag racing going on than just NHRA/IHRA Stock and Super Stock. The heads-up stuff, not just 10.5 Outlaw, is awesome and exciting racing. Go to any NMCA or NMRA race and you will find guys having fun, racing heads-up. The rules are just as strict as NHRA and it is very professional and competitive. Events are two and three days so it's easier to do for many people, and you can build a car using new parts and go very fast. Plus there are car shows, which is another attraction to magazine guys.

With that, both Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords and Super Chevy, two books which work on, have done NHRA Sportsman coverage. In fact, the July '10 issue of SC, which is about to hit, will feature Jerry MacNeish's Z/28, and SC has done tech and feature stories on the Ficcaci's, Steve Calabro/Joe Fasano, Aubry's 409, all in the last few years. In MM&FF I've done stories on John Calvert, Travis Gusso, Jeff Swanson, Grace Howell, John Presing, Indy coverage, etc.

Have any of you contacted editors and requested an article? Editors are always looking for ideas, so be proactive and propose an idea, with a photo or two and a well-written email.

Terry, I'm sorry you feel that way about those magazines. I can't speak for the other editors, but it is our job (as editors) to follow trends and keep our publications current. If all you care about is what happened in the '60 and '70s then that is cool, but you can't expect the rest of the world to linger in the past. That is not a dig on you, you are entitled to like whatever you want, but don't degrade a magazine just because it doesn't suit you. I don't care about street rods, but that doesn't mean what's been printed is meaningless. Obviously, there are many people reading our books, or we'd be out of business.

While I love Stock and SS racing, you couldn't sell enough advertising or magazines to do a book just on those topics these days. The racing world is just too segmented. Because many of put so much passion into racing we expect that the things like racetracks, magazines, sanctioning bodies, etc. should be perfect and the way WE want them to be. But there is also a business end of things. Most people would crumble at the knees if they knew our printing and publishing costs. It's amazing that we can still offer a product providing as much information as we do for just a few bucks.

http://www.superchevy.com/features/c.../photo_01.html

Evan

Evan......That is why I said we are Dinasours and its a sign of the times. I peronally just dont care for S$$T boxes with fart can mufflers and late model recycled "Tooth Paste Tubes" being built today. Its apples and oranges and when guys like John Dianna moved on (and got old) the magazines I used to read from cover to cover lost any appeal to me. I drive a newer Corvette and HATE the piece of junk. Its hard to work on (almost impossable) and other than the A/C its not what I would rather have. Im a 63-67 Corvette fan. Hot, low tech, bad mileage and all. I used to race a 69 Corvette NHRA stocker in the 7 inch tire days and almost beat Larry Lombardos "Buck Shot" Chev 2 a couple of times and could take it apart and put it together blindfolded.. As far as Fords go I love the older Mustangs (64-70),Falcons and I used to own (10 years ago) a black 1963 1/2 390 Police interceptor fast back Galaxie with a 4 speed (love the 61 Starliner also). Its was perfect with 53,000 original miles on it. I loved it but like most I screwed up and sold it like I did with my 67 427/435 Vette Gezzzz Im stupid.....lol. . Ive owned a 426 street wedge Plymouth when it was a new car and had the daylights stomped out of me by the GTO's on the street and the drag strip. Im not brand tunnel visioned. I love them all. What Im saying is the new stuff has no intrest to me and I cant speak for everyone but Im sure a lot of guys my age feel the same way. I was good friends with the Stock and Super Stock photographer Woody Hatten when he was alive and other than the funny car articles thought that mag. was the best out there. When the magazines mentioned in the other post followed current trends (computers and elec FI) I just let my subscriptions expire. Im old now and in exellent health, retired, and have some $$$ to play so what can I say. Its a young persons world today and I will survive as long as Im breathing and be a gear head and car nut until I die but NOT for the new stuff. Not even the new Corvettes interest me these days. My time as a tech person (1970's and 1990's) for NHRA and IHRA allowed me to meet and get to know people like the Late John Lingenfelter, Bobby Warren, Bob Glidden, Roy Hill, Jack Roush, Grumpy Jenkins, the Late Don Carlton, the Late Ronnie Sox, Tom Sneeden, Herb McCandless, Woodro Joesy, Jim Moragn (CJ racer and I lived close to his shop and used to do his and Dick Estivez's cyl. heads) and the list goes on and Im very thankful of those oportunities but like those guys.....our time has come and gone just as yours will in the future and all the younger guys racing today. Enjoy what you enjoy because one day it will all be different and you will miss it just as I do.

[Gary Smith]

Thanks for your input Evan. Honestly I was searching for support on some of the stuff I've said about class racing's future. I also was hoping you'd step up in order to get a publisher insider viewpoint.

As I've said many times that in order to sustain what we like we must be willing to roll with the times which doesn't stand still. I had assumed the subject of magazines has been a no brainer in regards to direction but opted in making it questions instead of broad statements in order to let the subject draw other opinions.

BTW I've tried contacting Dave Freiberger at Hot Rod about doing something with my late father's '65 Mustang but have yet to receive a response. Not sure if it was lost in a shuffle or fails to meet current reader criteria (they seemed to be focusing on nostalgia stuff as of late).

[Evan Smith]

Terry, I can appreciate and respect your love for early muscle and your history as a racer and tech guy. Who doesn't love those cars? They were amazing in looks, power and performance. They had character, that certainly lacks today, and there were many more cars and options to make them more personalized from the factory.

But new cars rule in terms of drivability, performance, economy, comfort and safety. A new Camaro or Mustang can run 12s stock and 11s or 10s with a few bolt-ons. They last about 100,000 miles longer than any old car and to the contrary, you can work on them, even though you can't twist the distributor and change jets. And with all do respect, just because you hate them and don't accept them, doesn't mean you have to have such negativity towards them and the state of racing today.

I don't know what year your Vette is, but we see a ton of cam and head swaps on LS cars, gear changes, intake and throttle body upgrades, stroker kits, carb conversions, etc. There are plenty of modified LT and LS GM cars.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Evan Smith

Terry, I can appreciate and respect your love for early muscle and your history as a racer and tech guy. Who doesn't love those cars? They were amazing in looks, power and performance. They had character, that certainly lacks today, and there were many more cars and options to make them more personalized from the factory.

But new cars rule in terms of drivability, performance, economy, comfort and safety. A new Camaro or Mustang can run 12s stock and 11s or 10s with a few bolt-ons. They last about 100,000 miles longer than any old car and to the contrary, you can work on them, even though you can't twist the distributor and change jets. And with all do respect, just because you hate them and don't accept them, doesn't mean you have to have such negativity towards them and the state of racing today.

I don't know what year your Vette is, but we see a ton of cam and head swaps on LS cars, gear changes, intake and throttle body upgrades, stroker kits, carb conversions, etc. There are plenty of modified LT and LS GM cars.

My Vette is a 21,000 mile 1991 L98 engined convert. I will have to use a chain saw on the passenger side fender and A/C box to change the back 2 (#6 and #8) spark plugs.....lol. Ive had to replace the injectors already and removed a few pounds of meat from my knucles in the process. I dont want to think about removing the 700R4 trans. and that was when I had a four post car lift before I moved. I thought about buying the 2003 D/SA Corvette listed on the forums "for sale" list but after looking at it at Palm Beach race way a few weeks ago I decided its more suited to someone who is used to those cars. It is a nice car but it still needs engine blue printing to really fly. I dont HATE the new cars.....I just dont care for them and would rather have the older ones that use US bolts and nuts. Thats just me. Im no fan of the metric system either. Although the quality of engine materials have improved I believe the ability to last longer and have better gas milage has more to do with the 2 series rear gear sets installed today and the O.D. transmissions. My Vette ticks over at about 1500 RPM at 60 MPH where in the past most auto engines ran upwards of 2500 to 3000 RPM. Each to thier own.

[Lew Silverman]

If in fact we are dinosaurs, and about to become extinct, all we can hope is that with the interest being shown in the Nostalgia Fuel and Gasser classes, some of the hype will "trickle down" to us. Drag Racer and Drag Racing USA have had a few decent articles on class racers in the recent past, as well as National Dragster every once in a while.

[Bret Kepner]

I guess I have a legitimate reason to post a response. Some of you know, (and most shouldn’t care!), I wrote for Super Stock & Drag Illustrated from 1977 to the bitter end of its final incarnation. Although I eventually carried the title of Senior Editor, I usually contributed event coverage and vehicle features. I would imagine the only articles under my byline which the regulars on this forum would recognize would be my annual coverage of SS/AA class eliminations at Indy from 1983 through 2000 which maintained enough focus on that class to eventually warrant the creation of the Hemi Challenge. When the magazine died, I devoted my energy to getting Indy’s SS/AA class eliminations on television and achieved that goal in 2001. However, that’s another (unpublished) story.

I’ve been editor of three publications and have had manuscripts, (concerning drag racing), published in sixty-two titles over the past thirty-five years. The point made by Evan, even in his attempt to make it more palatable for folks on this board, is critical for the survival of anything in life. It’s not 1970 anymore. In fact, the world is now two full generations removed from that era. If that’s impossible to accept, the world has already passed you by….decades ago.

Forty years ago, the sport embraced only two segments. If you weren’t racing in one of four professional divisions, you were class racing. Other than test-and-tune events at a handful of tracks, that’s all there was to drag racing. There were very few tracks offering a bracket racing option in 1970, (even as a singular entity), and most of the few which did have a bracket program presented it in what now would be called “index form”. We all know what happened to class racing so I won‘t bore you with a history lesson. The fact remains that, because of what happened to class racing, enthusiasts devoted their energy to new types of drag racing. Bracket racing, index racing, and a trillion different new heads-up classifications helped drag racing progress.

Forty years later, the only viable market for the intricacies and complexity of class racing are the same folks who were watching and competing in class racing forty years earlier. The world moved on.

Consider the basic concepts that no school has taught carburetor science for the past two decades and that automotive sales are based on every person's desire for the latest technology, peformance and convenience. Currently, I spend a huge amount of my time with racers between the ages of seventeen and thirty. They have no use for traditional class racing much in the same way a racer in 1970 had no desire to spend time thrashing a forty-horsepower four-cylinder 1930 Ford Model A. The technology was forty years advanced and the power could be bought and tuned to unimaginable performance levels. However, everybody here knew that so where’s the news?

The original lure of class racing was never in winning the eliminator; the objective for the construction of any vehicle was to win class…period. As the focus shifted toward winning the eliminator, the emphasis to most novices became placed on bracket racing. In fact, there were very few places to compete with a sportsman machine in a heads-up, no-breakout format, (outside of contemporary class eliminations in Stock and Super Stock Eliminators), from (roughly) 1980 through 1995. When the resurgence in street car racing came to the forefront of the media fifteen years ago, a rudimentary group of three classes in the original National Muscle Car Association led to a wave of new heads-up categories under a variety of rules and sanctions which blossomed into a huge change in the sport’s basic complexion.

…or so it would seem.

In fact, nothing ever changes. The racers who are involved in “class racing” in 2010 are still building cars for heads-up competition in a variety of classifications which are just as diverse and technologically demanding as any niche in Super Stock Eliminator. They’re doing it at almost every track in the country and they’re racing for decent bucks. Most of the folks on this board, (and, for that matter, most traditional class racers), just don’t see it.

As Evan noted, there are dozens, (maybe hundreds), of associations which present heads-up competition every week of the year at hundreds of tracks. Whether it be cars with 10.5-inch tires and stock firewall locations, naturally-aspirated stock chassis cars on drag radials or 3500-pound machines with no modifications but nitrous oxide injection on 8.5-inch D.O.T. rubber, they’re all racing in a “class” and they’re doing it heads-up with no breakout or index. THAT is modern day “class racing” to the majority of the drag racing enthusiasts out there in 2010 and THAT is where the market for magazine readership is “hiding”. They’re right out there in plain sight.

The incredibly restrictive options of competing in either NHRA or IHRA Stock and Super Stock, (including, but not limited to, number of events, basic payout and opportunity for recognition), simply become a deterrent to racing when compared with the ability to race as the featured attraction for a sizeable reward in a heads-up format on a weekly level at the competitor’s choice of tracks. In other words, traditional NHRA/IHRA legal class racing appeals to almost nobody but traditional NHRA/IHRA legal class racers in the tenth year of the twenty-first century.

In reality, it’s just the same thing over and over again. Modern heads-up “class” racing is no different than B/Gas in 1954, C/Stock in 1965, D/Modified Production in 1976 or SS/HA in 1987. It just looks different and has younger people doing it.

Fans still pay to watch. Track operators still present it for the that reason. Racers still show up to enter in it because it’s all about winning the class. Magazines still publish results and features about it because it is currently what sells magazines.

If you don’t see it, you’re not watching. If you weren’t watching, you got left behind. That’s life.

Bear in mind I’m a “traditional” class racer and past NHRA National Record Holder. I’m not typing this to cause a riot. I’m typing it because it’s the truth obscured by the trees deep inside the traditional class racer’s forest.

[CBS]

I have to comment on this one....I was an old car kind of guy too...certainly loved old camaro's....chevelles and vettes....owned, raced and worked on many.....and I loved them....I had no use for fuel injection and overhead cams....and all this new stuff....but being kinda open minded.....I said why not ...lets try it.....

And of course now its pretty neat.....a tremendous amount of work but a lot of fun also....the new engines are really well developed from the factory probably because of guys like Terry that worked on those old combos for years and many of those things are standard on engines today......We done many things to our cars to make it much easier to work on....which I think scares a lot of people away....I know I was...but all in all when you get it the way you want...its no different than the old cars.....just a few more wires for fuel injection......lol...some of you old timers would be experts in no time...and probably love it....try tuning cylinder 6 only in 2 minutes.....with a couple of keystrokes.....

I still enjoy driving my 170 mph super gas vette.....but the 08 CJ is a blast.....

Rock Haas
323 SS/DA
302 S/G

It was in Drag Racing Action Nov 09 issue.....

[Ed Wright]

Terry, it's not the 2.0 gear sets that make them last. I have customers with trucks showing well over 200,000 miles, with 4.10 gears, and still use no oil & run like new. One of my heros, Bennie Osborn (Used to run Top Fuel) made a real good living over hauling 100,000 mile Chevy pickups. Cleaner running and less oil contamination with EFI is a big contributor to that.

Thankfully, Bennie has retired. He would be like the Maytag repairman now.