Ford First "Stocker" Into The Eights

[Myron Piatek]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

Ralph - Thats the beauty of the whole thing - many fans ( and racers ) love the old school cars and many can't wait to see the new ones ........having them face of against each other is the best thing I know of to get people to watch and take notice .

I never thought of "Shooting fish in a barrel." as a popular spectator sport.

The concept of old vs new is great, but it's the way they are going about it. Until the AHFS does it's job after some length of time, the new cars have an overwhelming advantage even without the same amount of R&D that has gone into the old cars for decades. While these new cars get factored up through several classes, some of the old cars within those classes get sidelined from being outqualified in the limited fields or risk being outrun heads-up if they do qualify. Sure, there will usually be someone faster that can outrun or outdrive your car. But at least it was "apples-to-apples" before. Forcing people out because they can't afford a new car isn't right.

Can't really blame racers for taking advantage of the situation. Racers are always looking for an advantage. But some flaunt this pre-existing advantage while others go about racing without rocking the boat any more than necessary.

Just offering the perspective of someone who'll never have a "new" car or a top qualifying "regular" Stocker. I love the sport and the concept of class racing. I just hate to see it becaome an exclusive club. The roots of drag racing included the little guy, with enough "blood, sweat and tears", to be competitive with the big dogs.

[Phillip marvetz]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

Many of us called BS on this deal back in 2008. nhra is the lady of the streets on this deal. The oem's flaunted a little cash and nhra stumbled over any class it may have had left to grab the chump change. Where are all the new car enablers now? And, exactly how have the new cars helped the majority of Stock racers? What benefits have trickled down to them? Sure the little magazine writers, oem dealers and fab guys got a boost from it. But what the hell have these new cars done for the majority of Stock racers? Nothing! All the new cars have done is given the ego guys a chance to take advantage of their fellow racers and, in the end, they have chased off many dedicated racers. This scam was obvious to all of us from the very beginning. No matter which side a person supported we all knew it was a scam. nhra knew it as well and chose the cowards way out by hiding behind the ahfs. This sordid tale will not smell any better in the years to come.

Thanks Bruce. I started building my A car well before this all started and have given up on it now. NHRA killed my desire to pursue stock eliminator. My car is more fun at the old time drags now.

[cutta]

So are racers parking there cars simply on the principal that the factors are so outrageous, I refuse to race my car with an organization that won't change them.
or
I have no chance at qualifying number one so I'm staying home
or
is it just economy


I'm very young and have yet to spend any big time money on a race car but I don't see why one would park their car because of the new cars, especially if they're not in my class. They now race in their own classes for the most part and essentially only beat up on each other now, minus a few exceptions. When you put so much money into something you love, I can't imagine parking my car because of another car regardless of how fast they are.

PS: We all know that factors on the new cars are not as close as they should be(some worse than others, some not).

[Jeff Teuton]

Ok Randall, I won't beat my chest. I might hurt something in there and I am running out of things to change, sorta like a super stock car. Gotta love that Nomad!! How much did the 3 speed help the wagon? ADRL is going to allow the 3 speeds in the cars, and I was thinking about .1 @ 660? What you think.

[junior barns]

Question???

Are all the engines that everyone is talking about offered as an option to order on these cars straight from the factory??

[Andrew Hill]

Originally Posted by junior barns

Question???

Are all the engines that everyone is talking about offered as an option to order on these cars straight from the factory??

Some of them were offered in the real cars by the factories, others not. The 352/428 Fords were not in the factory built CJs, same with the 281 3V motor like Charlie Downing's car. I think the 302 that is legal for 2010 was not in any factory produced CJs in 2010, but it is for 2012. I believe all of the Drag Pak motors came in the factory produced cars (except for maybe the 6.4L, not sure), even if it was only for 1 car like Mr. Jeff's 5.9.

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by Andrew Hill

....(except for maybe the 6.4L, not sure)....

I know of two that were built.

[Joseph Teuton]

Yes the 6.4 does come in production cars. The SRT Charger,Challenger, and 300 all come with the 6.4 392 hemi!

[Randall Klein]

Dunno, Jeff; ever since we put it in we've had one problem after another: engine, chassis, drive shaft....kinda like you and me....needs rebuilt after 60 some years.....might know after Dallas....shooting for my first 10 second time slip.....EVERYTHING new and fresh, like you

[junior barns]

I truely could care less since I have'nt raced much the last 5yrs. This is where I would have a problem. If the big 3 wants to get involved, especially in stock then at the very least NHRA should only accept engine combo's that were produced in these cars. Then I think the ahfs can keep up.

just my 2cents