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

Mike Delahanty · 10-22-2010, 10:55 PM

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.

10-22-2010, 10:55 PM	#1
Mike Delahanty VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,201 Likes: 0 Liked 275 Times in 54 Posts	Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced? 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.