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

[Jeff Colvert]

As long as the 50,60 and 70 year old drivers can stand it.

Jeff Colvert SS/G 4456, 56

[cutta]

It will all depend on what companies continue to produce parts for these cars. If the parts are there, guys can continue to race, but if the parts become more scarce, they will slowly stop being raced. This is where it will be important for aftermarket companies to take over for OEM's in recasting and reproducing OEM parts.

[Andys dad]

I know it is not a fair or comparison but if in 1969 - guys were racing 40 year old cars they would have been 1929s - even 20 year old cars would have been 1949s

Does not even seem logical that our cars have lasted this long

I think the EPA and pressure from foreign car makers must have caused a lull in our auto manufacturers development process

These new cars are just beginning to catch up maybe


:-) peace

[Chad Rhodes]

i would say as long as they are the predominate cars being raced in stock and SS. if they become totall uncompetitve or get legislated out, a lot of racers will not replace them with newer cars. Stock and SS would shrink dramatically. Stock moreso due to the GT cars in SS.

[KingReptile]

As long as the sun still shines if theres a will theres a way~~~~~~

[Tony Curcio]

Originally Posted by Andys dad

I think the EPA and pressure from foreign car makers must have caused a lull in our auto manufacturers development process

These new cars are just beginning to catch up maybe

Interesting comment. But I have always felt more blame should fall to the short-term thinking of business leaders, and the pressure applied by Wall Street that made them respond to EPA emissions requirements as cheaply and quickly as possible. This resulted in those nearly undriveable pieces of crap in the 1970's, with retarded timing and carburetors that lean-surged. Remember how they wouldn't stop running after you turned off the key?

These brand new cars that ran terribly did more to open the door for Japan than anything the Japanese manufacturers did themselves.

[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.

[doug schriener]

Originally Posted by Tony Curcio

Interesting comment. But I have always felt more blame should fall to the short-term thinking of business leaders, and the pressure applied by Wall Street that made them respond to EPA emissions requirements as cheaply and quickly as possible. This resulted in those nearly undriveable pieces of crap in the 1970's, with retarded timing and carburetors that lean-surged. Remember how they wouldn't stop running after you turned off the key?

These brand new cars that ran terribly did more to open the door for Japan than anything the Japanese manufacturers did themselves.

Excellent post Tony