Old days ///New days ?

[Dan Bennett]

You know, I'm really torn about this subject. About the time I've decided the best time was the sixties, I'll realize that the best times are now.

I remember how cool it was for a street rat to have all these cars driving up and down the streets and racing out on the flats. It was FUN back then to walk into a dealer as they all had cars on the lot you'd drool over.

As for class cars, I really don't think the relative difficulty has changed. I raced at least once a week locally and always did well. I had no trouble winning class and 90% of the time won my eliminator, too. Remember those days? But even then a class car was something really special and exotic. I'd go to Indy every year and be in awe of the cars I saw there.

So my stripper 340 4spd Duster was pretty strong at home, but I wasn't in the same zip code as Mark Coletti.

I don't like what's happened with the new ringers being accepted, but think back and you'll remember that a handful of cars were the killer combination even back then. I don't really support what class racing has turned into, but I'm not sure it's really all that different.

The one thing I'm sure of is that even though I miss my LS6, better cars are being sold today. There's not a single car from the 60s or 70s that can compete with a new Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger; let alone a Z06.

So like I said, I really don't know what to think. Things seemed to be clearer then without all the politics of today. As for the horsepower factors, do you think the guy in 1968 with his new 390 Mustang liked running 396 Camaros? I know how it turned out on the street.

I'm done. The more I think about this the more confused I get.

[Nitro Joe Jackson]

I've been at the track since I've been in diapers (1964) and trust me the best year of racing went by over 20 years ago.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Nitro Joe Jackson

I've been at the track since I've been in diapers (1964) and trust me the best year of racing went by over 20 years ago.

I fully agree. Except for class and heads ups it's pretty much dumbed down to bracket racing. I really hate that part.

[Bret Kepner]

Although my opinion will probably infuriate many folks, I firmly believe these are the good ol' days.

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

Although my opinion will probably infuriate many folks, I firmly believe these are the good ol' days.

Bret - You're not alone in your thoughts and feelings .Many just won't come out and say it .Me - I'm having the time of my life .........And I've been to a few drag races ! ! !

[pmrphil]

Remember when you could race the heads-up classes without electronics and still be competitive? AND have fun?
But then again, what Bret says is true. Every day that goes by will be "the good old days"

[sugar1366]

Yeah -- how could anyone be competitive in heads-up classes without a throttle stop. Thats just CRAZY!

I only wish I could have grown -up in the 50-60 70's era. I remember having to write a paper in high school answering the question: "If you lived a previous life, what would it have been?" I wrote a paper that said I must have lived a previous life in that era because of my extreme passion for the muscle cars and even the luxury cars of the time. If I could travel back in time, I would love to experience the early days of drag racing. I also think that although things have changed, we still are part of an awesome sport that combines some the most pristine examples of true muscle cars and impressive examples of modern performance vehicles. Old days or new days, we can all be grateful that we have this wonderful sport to share.

Eddie Bolton

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by pmrphil

Remember when you could race the heads-up classes without electronics and still be competitive? AND have fun?
But then again, what Bret says is true. Every day that goes by will be "the good old days"

In the good old days I remember, those classes, and even bracket racing, did not even exist. If you weren't fast enough you worked & learned until you were. People didn't give up and go bracket racing if they couldn't run fast enough right away.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

Although my opinion will probably infuriate many folks, I firmly believe these are the good ol' days.

In one respect I believe Bret to be right. There exist so many different "designer" ways to go drag racing today that anybody should be able to find something that suits them. I believe that this is a good thing for drag racing as a whole. It has however "splintered" drag racing into many smaller venues and I'm not sure yet whether that is a good thing.
One thing that I do know is the easy access to "over the counter" horsepower and "off the rack" cars has already stifled the creativity of drag racing (think TF and PS) and will continue to creep (think Stock) until it all becomes boring to the fans and/or the participants. That could make "big time" drag racing go away. I hope not.

[Bob Pagano]

Its all ready boring, nothing new in TF, PS, and FC, same *****, have not watched since pro's stopped running points meets. The days of the Grump & Sox are long gone and there is nothing new to see.