Ok Div. 5, 6, & 7 Sportsman racers.....

Paul Plummer · 01-21-2011, 11:35 PM

NO. There are plenty of LEGAL S/SS cars out there. Get THEM to come to the race.[/QUOTE]

I mean no disrespect to you, IHRA, NHRA or any other racer, but, here is my opinion on the uphill battle with teaching old dogs new tricks and why we need to attract fresh blood to IHRA stock eliminator.

When I go to NHRA division and national event races out west, the same racers and racers families have been going to these events since the day the class was started. Not only are many of these folks long in the tooth, they are also dyed in the wool NHRA competitors. The other issue is the family reunion nature of such long standing traditions. Most of these racers and their families have known each other for 40 or 50 years.

When you tell them to stop patronizing NHRA, no matter how dysfunctional that organization may or may not be, you will not overcome the family reunion nature of NHRA drag racing out west. Every event out here is like family gathering.

The other issue we have out here vs. where you are located in the southeast is that in division 6 my closest 5 IHRA tracks are 5 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours and 11 hours away. I recall in your article - 13 tracks within a 100 miles. Trust me I am envious and tried to convince my wife to move to your town - she said I could but would have to sell the car to cover the alimony and child support!! Basically, on my budget I can afford to attend two IHRA national events and one NHRA division race a year , which is in my home town.

On Salt Lake's Nitrojam week-end I will be making the choice to travel 11 hours to an IHRA class race vs. 45 minutes to our only local NHRA division race as they are both on the same week-end. Normally, this would fly in the face of reason, however, it is worth it to me to promote IHRA and help build something new for those who are outsiders to the NHRA click.

Demographically, this sport is in trouble and too expensive for most people to afford. Due to high cost of traveling out west, I am hoping you can see where I am coming from on ways to attract " new local blood" to the sport.

Remember back in the day, you bought these cars at the dealership on Monday and Drag Raced them on Saturday and Sunday - no aluminum transmissions, acid ported heads, $50K-$100K purpose built stockers, etc. This is where it all started and I think we need to find a way to bring fresh blood in through the same door, today, if this form of racing is to thrive.

At the end of the day I am hoping that we get enough interest out here to get division 6 off the ground and build an alternative and fun class racing series through IHRA! It would be great if we could do it keeping everything the same as it has been for 40 years without changing rules or making concessions and just convince the NHRA guys to come over to IHRA. This, I fear is a dead-end road.

Hopefully the discussion on this topic will prompt a few more people to commit and we can actually race stock at Salt Lake in June.

speedfreak2 · 01-22-2011, 01:36 AM

I've been coming to this site for several years now but have never posted anything until now. I really only come here to learn from most of you guys. I race at Rocky Mountain Raceway and last year when I heard we were going to have the Stock and Super Stock classes running I couldn't wait to get to the race track. As it turns out, I was pitted across from Paul Plummer. I went over to see if I could ask him some questions about how to get involved in class racing and I really expected to get the brush off or a quick half hearted answer but to my surprise he was actually genuinely interested in telling me what I needed to know and was extremely helpful in explaining some things I still don't really understand lol but since that day, I have emailed him some questions and he has always been awesome to respond with more than I expected. Thanks Paul.

Anyways, I have been bracket racing for over twenty years and have always had an interest in Stock and Super Stock but have never really had too much input from anyone. I am trying to get a car ready for this year but unfortunately the funds have been really slow coming in and I don't think it will be ready but I have a couple of friends in mind that don't race anymore but have complete cars (Full interior and most of the stuff my car doesn't have) that should fit most of the rules that I might ask if I can race for the weekend. It's a long shot and I'm not really very excited about using someone else's car but if I do get my hands on one then I guarantee I'll pay whatever the price even just to make the car count. I've also put the word out to some of the guys I know around here and so hopefully we'll get a handfull of locals to sign up. I want to see some Stock Eliminator racing out here really bad this year so I'm going to keep spreading the word.

Michael Beard · 01-22-2011, 09:25 AM

Welcome, Bruce!

Paul - that's the kind of 'new blood' I'm talking about. Someone that's interested in S/SS racing, and has the desire to learn the rules and play by the rules. If it's not legal, then it ceases to be S/SS. Guys like Bruce want to do it the right way. While there are $100K+ cars out there, there's also a lot of relatively inexpensive ways to get involved. I've got a great starter car for sale, and there's many more out there, or people can build cars to suit their needs and budget.

You expand the S/SS ranks, you're already doing one of the key components, and that is to be open and talk to people, just like the story Bruce related. But to get people into S/SS racing, it's very likely that you have to get people into the simpler levels of the sport first. You need a foundation. I've written extensively about building that foundation, including this old article entitled "The Farm System": http://www.competitionplus.com/2006_02/farm_system.html Also kind of interesting to look back on this feature on S/SS racing... http://www.competitionplus.com/2006_...ss_racing.html

Build the foundation, and from the foundation bring up new S/SS racers. And if the long-time NHRA racers won't cross over, then they will get what they have always gotten: "enhanced."

Races are like family reunions out here in the more densely populated areas, too. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, though. If everybody goes to the same race, then everybody is at the same race... regardless of who's running the event.

GarysZ24 · 01-22-2011, 02:11 PM

I couldn't agree with you more Paul, and well said to you too Michael...you two are the reason I'm looking forward to this evenings meeting in Tucson, because per another thread started by Aspen 7709, there are several Az. Div 7 racers who're trying to also launch the Tucson Nitro Jam race for this coming March....thus the words spreading!

As for you Bruce, let me be the first from Az. to welcome you into our realm of drag racing, and I hope I get a chance to travel up there to be able to meet and race with you & Paul, and if you like bratwurst, and burgers, so much the better!!!

speedfreak2 · 01-22-2011, 03:23 PM

Since the day I signed up for this site, I've felt like an outsider looking in and was afraid to post anything because of the fear of being an outsider but thanks to you guys I'm starting to feel like I'm included and part of the group. Thanks guys! I can't wait to meet more S/SS racers so I can learn from the best. I am always amazed when I see a car with a full interior and a stock appearing engine with parts that I don't consider "Performance" parts that runs faster than a gutted out full tilt race car with tricked out parts. If we do get the S/SS classes at our track this year and I, for some reason, don't have a car ready then I will be glad to be a crew guy for any of you or be there to help you in any way that I can...that includes eating your burgers, bratwurst and whatever else I can find...just joking but I will be glad to lend a hand where ever necessary.

GarysZ24 · 01-23-2011, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreak2

Since the day I signed up for this site, I've felt like an outsider looking in and was afraid to post anything because of the fear of being an outsider but thanks to you guys I'm starting to feel like I'm included and part of the group. Thanks guys! I can't wait to meet more S/SS racers so I can learn from the best. I am always amazed when I see a car with a full interior and a stock appearing engine with parts that I don't consider "Performance" parts that runs faster than a gutted out full tilt race car with tricked out parts. If we do get the S/SS classes at our track this year and I, for some reason, don't have a car ready then I will be glad to be a crew guy for any of you or be there to help you in any way that I can...that includes eating your burgers, bratwurst and whatever else I can find...just joking but I will be glad to lend a hand where ever necessary.

Bruce, you're a great reason why I'm glad I went to that meeting this evening...I had the pleasure of meeting the IHRA Summit Super Series National Champion who's from your area "Chris Hall", the "No Box" Champion. The prizes he earned as a result of his championship far outweigh what Glendora would've paid him (see the my post in the thread Ihra tucson for details). Moreover, now that I know of approximately 16 (plus myself if needed) racers for the Tucson race, it's looking hopeful that this event will feature our cars as well. However, I'm also looking favorably towards the June race at your track, with a likeliness of being able to compete there with my car! I'm glad I came to this meeting, and I was very impressed that Sherry (from IHRA in Ohio), another IHRA rep. (possibly from Va., Oh., or Tx.?), and Chris Hall (from SLC, Ut.), came here to Tucson to speak about the Benefits/Costs for The ET Racers.

I believe the racers here will give IHRA a chance to show what they can offer to their racers, and you already know what they offered the few racers like Paul that were in the combo race. I hope the vote they had will go in Ohio's favor, because if it doesn't SIR will be an independent until Sept., then Bernie will be able to re-join NHRA, but he'll have to spend a few thousand bucks to do so, with no participation in this years ET Finals available. However, if they go IHRA, then doors of opportunities will open that could eventually bring our individuals categories & points to this track next year! Sounds better than the $95 dollar event increase we have now over 2006's entry fees, as well as the loss of .3 sec.'s off of our indexes!!!

GarysZ24 · 01-25-2011, 03:53 PM

As I posted in the thread "IHRA Tucson", anyone who raced at S.I.R. last year can vote on whether or not to have them go IHRA. Barb is waiting for your call @ (520) 762-9700, during business hours, but the test n tune this Sat. is the end of all voting.

GO VOTE!!!

01-21-2011, 11:35 PM	#1
Paul Plummer Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Coeur D Alene, Idaho Posts: 67 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ok Div. 5, 6, & 7 Sportsman racers..... NO. There are plenty of LEGAL S/SS cars out there. Get THEM to come to the race.[/QUOTE] I mean no disrespect to you, IHRA, NHRA or any other racer, but, here is my opinion on the uphill battle with teaching old dogs new tricks and why we need to attract fresh blood to IHRA stock eliminator. When I go to NHRA division and national event races out west, the same racers and racers families have been going to these events since the day the class was started. Not only are many of these folks long in the tooth, they are also dyed in the wool NHRA competitors. The other issue is the family reunion nature of such long standing traditions. Most of these racers and their families have known each other for 40 or 50 years. When you tell them to stop patronizing NHRA, no matter how dysfunctional that organization may or may not be, you will not overcome the family reunion nature of NHRA drag racing out west. Every event out here is like family gathering. The other issue we have out here vs. where you are located in the southeast is that in division 6 my closest 5 IHRA tracks are 5 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours and 11 hours away. I recall in your article - 13 tracks within a 100 miles. Trust me I am envious and tried to convince my wife to move to your town - she said I could but would have to sell the car to cover the alimony and child support!! Basically, on my budget I can afford to attend two IHRA national events and one NHRA division race a year , which is in my home town. On Salt Lake's Nitrojam week-end I will be making the choice to travel 11 hours to an IHRA class race vs. 45 minutes to our only local NHRA division race as they are both on the same week-end. Normally, this would fly in the face of reason, however, it is worth it to me to promote IHRA and help build something new for those who are outsiders to the NHRA click. Demographically, this sport is in trouble and too expensive for most people to afford. Due to high cost of traveling out west, I am hoping you can see where I am coming from on ways to attract " new local blood" to the sport. Remember back in the day, you bought these cars at the dealership on Monday and Drag Raced them on Saturday and Sunday - no aluminum transmissions, acid ported heads, $50K-$100K purpose built stockers, etc. This is where it all started and I think we need to find a way to bring fresh blood in through the same door, today, if this form of racing is to thrive. At the end of the day I am hoping that we get enough interest out here to get division 6 off the ground and build an alternative and fun class racing series through IHRA! It would be great if we could do it keeping everything the same as it has been for 40 years without changing rules or making concessions and just convince the NHRA guys to come over to IHRA. This, I fear is a dead-end road. Hopefully the discussion on this topic will prompt a few more people to commit and we can actually race stock at Salt Lake in June. __________________ Paul (Jody) Plummer 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 C-D/SA, F-G/CM

01-22-2011, 01:36 AM	#2
speedfreak2 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: SLC, Ut Posts: 3 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ok Div. 5, 6, & 7 Sportsman racers..... I've been coming to this site for several years now but have never posted anything until now. I really only come here to learn from most of you guys. I race at Rocky Mountain Raceway and last year when I heard we were going to have the Stock and Super Stock classes running I couldn't wait to get to the race track. As it turns out, I was pitted across from Paul Plummer. I went over to see if I could ask him some questions about how to get involved in class racing and I really expected to get the brush off or a quick half hearted answer but to my surprise he was actually genuinely interested in telling me what I needed to know and was extremely helpful in explaining some things I still don't really understand lol but since that day, I have emailed him some questions and he has always been awesome to respond with more than I expected. Thanks Paul. Anyways, I have been bracket racing for over twenty years and have always had an interest in Stock and Super Stock but have never really had too much input from anyone. I am trying to get a car ready for this year but unfortunately the funds have been really slow coming in and I don't think it will be ready but I have a couple of friends in mind that don't race anymore but have complete cars (Full interior and most of the stuff my car doesn't have) that should fit most of the rules that I might ask if I can race for the weekend. It's a long shot and I'm not really very excited about using someone else's car but if I do get my hands on one then I guarantee I'll pay whatever the price even just to make the car count. I've also put the word out to some of the guys I know around here and so hopefully we'll get a handfull of locals to sign up. I want to see some Stock Eliminator racing out here really bad this year so I'm going to keep spreading the word. __________________ Bruce Coggins 72 Camaro 72 Nova

01-22-2011, 09:25 AM	#3
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Ok Div. 5, 6, & 7 Sportsman racers..... Welcome, Bruce! Paul - that's the kind of 'new blood' I'm talking about. Someone that's interested in S/SS racing, and has the desire to learn the rules and play by the rules. If it's not legal, then it ceases to be S/SS. Guys like Bruce want to do it the right way. While there are $100K+ cars out there, there's also a lot of relatively inexpensive ways to get involved. I've got a great starter car for sale, and there's many more out there, or people can build cars to suit their needs and budget. You expand the S/SS ranks, you're already doing one of the key components, and that is to be open and talk to people, just like the story Bruce related. But to get people into S/SS racing, it's very likely that you have to get people into the simpler levels of the sport first. You need a foundation. I've written extensively about building that foundation, including this old article entitled "The Farm System": http://www.competitionplus.com/2006_02/farm_system.html Also kind of interesting to look back on this feature on S/SS racing... http://www.competitionplus.com/2006_...ss_racing.html Build the foundation, and from the foundation bring up new S/SS racers. And if the long-time NHRA racers won't cross over, then they will get what they have always gotten: "enhanced." Races are like family reunions out here in the more densely populated areas, too. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, though. If everybody goes to the same race, then everybody is at the same race... regardless of who's running the event. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

01-22-2011, 02:11 PM	#4
GarysZ24 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tempe, Az. Posts: 1,270 Likes: 918 Liked 238 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Ok Div. 5, 6, & 7 Sportsman racers..... I couldn't agree with you more Paul, and well said to you too Michael...you two are the reason I'm looking forward to this evenings meeting in Tucson, because per another thread started by Aspen 7709, there are several Az. Div 7 racers who're trying to also launch the Tucson Nitro Jam race for this coming March....thus the words spreading! As for you Bruce, let me be the first from Az. to welcome you into our realm of drag racing, and I hope I get a chance to travel up there to be able to meet and race with you & Paul, and if you like bratwurst, and burgers, so much the better!!! __________________ Gary Hampton '86 Z24,173 V6 CF/S #5824 (#78 in 2021)

01-22-2011, 03:23 PM	#5
speedfreak2 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: SLC, Ut Posts: 3 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ok Div. 5, 6, & 7 Sportsman racers..... Since the day I signed up for this site, I've felt like an outsider looking in and was afraid to post anything because of the fear of being an outsider but thanks to you guys I'm starting to feel like I'm included and part of the group. Thanks guys! I can't wait to meet more S/SS racers so I can learn from the best. I am always amazed when I see a car with a full interior and a stock appearing engine with parts that I don't consider "Performance" parts that runs faster than a gutted out full tilt race car with tricked out parts. If we do get the S/SS classes at our track this year and I, for some reason, don't have a car ready then I will be glad to be a crew guy for any of you or be there to help you in any way that I can...that includes eating your burgers, bratwurst and whatever else I can find...just joking but I will be glad to lend a hand where ever necessary. __________________ Bruce Coggins 72 Camaro 72 Nova

01-25-2011, 03:53 PM	#7
GarysZ24 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tempe, Az. Posts: 1,270 Likes: 918 Liked 238 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Ok Div. 5, 6, & 7 Sportsman racers..... As I posted in the thread "IHRA Tucson", anyone who raced at S.I.R. last year can vote on whether or not to have them go IHRA. Barb is waiting for your call @ (520) 762-9700, during business hours, but the test n tune this Sat. is the end of all voting. GO VOTE!!! __________________ Gary Hampton '86 Z24,173 V6 CF/S #5824 (#78 in 2021)