End of Stock and SuperStock Racing??

[Biscayne]

Originally Posted by Conway Witten

Of course you could keep you thermo-bog, either solid fuel or mixer! But if a simpleton like me wanted to run a Holley we could?

To me though. That's part of the problem. Stock class is getting farther and farther away from stock. I built a Stock class car about 4 years ago. Ive taken it to about 3 NHRA events in the last 4 years. And only 3 because of how I was treated. Very first race I went to in DIV 1. Got treated like shi* by tech and all the officials. Im guessing all because I was new. I had one issue in tech. I did not have an NHRA decal anywhere on my car. Which I took care of right away. Then was given a bunch of shi* during fuel check, because I did what they guy next to me did. You would have thought it was the end of the world. And NHRA wonders why they have no turn out. If you treat the racer just a little better, then they might make more $ and have a better car count. Ive had no desire to go back to any NHRA event since. Then back to the whole "Stock Class" thing. The class is getting farther and farther away from stock. Roller rockers, etc etc etc. I know my opinion does not mean much. But just my experiences with NHRA.

[Sean Marconette]

Originally Posted by Biscayne

To me though. That's part of the problem. Stock class is getting farther and farther away from stock. I built a Stock class car about 4 years ago. Ive taken it to about 3 NHRA events in the last 4 years. And only 3 because of how I was treated. Very first race I went to in DIV 1. Got treated like shi* by tech and all the officials. Im guessing all because I was new. I had one issue in tech. I did not have an NHRA decal anywhere on my car. Which I took care of right away. Then was given a bunch of shi* during fuel check, because I did what they guy next to me did. You would have thought it was the end of the world. And NHRA wonders why they have no turn out. If you treat the racer just a little better, then they might make more $ and have a better car count. Ive had no desire to go back to any NHRA event since. Then back to the whole "Stock Class" thing. The class is getting farther and farther away from stock. Roller rockers, etc etc etc. I know my opinion does not mean much. But just my experiences with NHRA.

Scott it is very unfortunate that you were treated poorly. It should not matter if you are new or old to the game. All I can suggest is having someone experienced in class racing to get you pointed in the right direction at your first few races. Make it a point to talk to the tech guys during the race. They are not at the race to be the bad guys. But if they need to be they will, and have every right to be. The tech guys are under the gun to get cars through tech to keep things moving, inexperienced and unprepared racers may push their buttons and could have been the result of how you were treated.
Where I live, I have D-3, and D-4 races within 3-5 hrs from me. D-3, and 4 tech guys have always been great to deal with. If you are an out of division racer they will usually really look things over well, but if you have a clean car and have followed the rule book there will be no issues.
Just because the rules change to allow seats, roller rockers and whatever else that comes along, does not mean everyone has to jump in and start keeping up with the jones.

Sean

[Dan Fahey]

Biscayne:

You have a beautiful car.
Restoring my 1969 Impala frame up.
Should be ready next year...

D

[Chuck Norton]

It is my opinion that the "end of Stock and SuperStock racing" will not likely come upon us in the form of a bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder. Rather, it will seep into our lives in the manner of carbon monoxide slithering under the door, a virtually undetectable, highly lethal mixture of an aging constituency and creeping economics.

Instead of an earth-shaking announcement that puts us all out of business at once like a medical pandemic, it will more likely take on the form of three thousand separate, widely spread obituaries popping one-at-a-time as each of us is overtaken either by the grim reaper or the realization that individual ingenuity and personal commitment are no longer adequate tools to offset the effects of the almighty checkbook in a pay-to-play environment.

Drag racing drew most of us in with the offering of "doing" not "watching" car racing. When we can no longer "do" most of us simply decline to "watch."

Cheers,

c

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

It is my opinion that the "end of Stock and SuperStock racing" will not likely come upon us in the form of a bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder. Rather, it will seep into our lives in the manner of carbon monoxide slithering under the door, a virtually undetectable, highly lethal mixture of an aging constituency and creeping economics.

Instead of an earth-shaking announcement that puts us all out of business at once like a medical pandemic, it will more likely take on the form of three thousand separate, widely spread obituaries popping one-at-a-time as each of us is overtaken either by the grim reaper or the realization that individual ingenuity and personal commitment are no longer adequate tools to offset the effects of the almighty checkbook in a pay-to-play environment.

Drag racing drew most of us in with the offering of "doing" not "watching" car racing. When we can no longer "do" most of us simply decline to "watch."

Cheers,

c

Ah yes........They don't come any better than Chuck Norton when he post's on a thread. Listen to him well those who are younger than 30 years of age. He has his mind and head on the pulse of NHRA stock and S/S drag racing and says it better than anyone. He has been there and done that. It will take time but the state of class racing is on borrowed time.

What is the frame for borrowed time? 2 years 4,6 20. Should I cut the roll bar out of my car and turn in into a street car?

The times are changing, the moral of the story is ( Get out and race if you want to ) enjoy it, because nothing is forever. People are still class racing. Nobody knows when the end will happen. Enjoy the ride, and dont worry about when the end is coming. Chances are we cannot do anything about it.

Xtech Man: When it ends nobody is going to care wether you predict it or not. You have been out of our ranks for years. Im not really sure your finger is on the pulse of anything current anyway. At least not keyboard racing.

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Ah yes........They don't come any better than Chuck Norton when he post's on a thread. Listen to him well those who are younger than 30 years of age. He has his mind and head on the pulse of NHRA stock and S/S drag racing and says it better than anyone. He has been there and done that. It will take time but the state of class racing is on borrowed time.

[Joe Toller]

I choose to look to guys like Billy Nees as inspiriation, you dont need cubic dollars to go race and have fun. Isnt having fun what its about anyway? I'll run until theres no class left to run, then keep on bracket racing!

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Todd Hoven

What is the frame for borrowed time? 2 years 4,6 20. Should I cut the roll bar out of my car and turn in into a street car?

The times are changing, the moral of the story is ( Get out and race if you want to ) enjoy it, because nothing is forever. People are still class racing. Nobody knows when the end will happen. Enjoy the ride, and dont worry about when the end is coming. Chances are we cannot do anything about it.

Xtech Man: When it ends nobody is going to care wether you predict it or not. You have been out of our ranks for years. Im not really sure your finger is on the pulse of anything current anyway. At least not keyboard racing.

Todd it dosent matter to me what you think. You dont like me and I sure dont like you even though I dont know you. Dosent matter to me anyway one way or another as you dont have a clue but I really hope I am wrong about stock and S/S racing for most of the people I have met and know. I lived and raced thru the best years of stock AND S/S racing and spent 23 years (I must have been crazy) of tech. for NHRA and IHRA. Its a different game now than then but some of you had better start listening to guys like Chuck Norton as he is one of the good guys. You dont have to listen to me and I dont want you to. Your right.....I havent raced in several years and I dont want to but I still love the class cars and keep up and stay in touch with some hard racers of my age. Some have left us way to soon. The entry costs are up...the purse's are way down. Contengicies are almost non existand if they pay at all. You are filler for the fuel queer's.Thats all. The new cars are beating your brains out in heads up runs. The AHFS is a joke. Very few good knowledgeable tech men are left today. Thank goodness for Dave Ley's, Travis Miller's and a few others. The racing associations treat you guys like crap and it wasnt like that back in the 70's. You must like it with your parking in the mud holes or a mile or two from the starting line and trying to hook your car on snot. Try to make it better and stick together as a team. Other wise you will have some very nice bracket cars at some point in the future. Dont you think that NHRA is getting tired of hearing every one pissing and moaning? Enough.....Im done and have to get back to waxing the ole hot rod.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

It is my opinion that the "end of Stock and SuperStock racing" will not likely come upon us in the form of a bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder. Rather, it will seep into our lives in the manner of carbon monoxide slithering under the door, a virtually undetectable, highly lethal mixture of an aging constituency and creeping economics.

Instead of an earth-shaking announcement that puts us all out of business at once like a medical pandemic, it will more likely take on the form of three thousand separate, widely spread obituaries popping one-at-a-time as each of us is overtaken either by the grim reaper or the realization that individual ingenuity and personal commitment are no longer adequate tools to offset the effects of the almighty checkbook in a pay-to-play environment.

Drag racing drew most of us in with the offering of "doing" not "watching" car racing. When we can no longer "do" most of us simply decline to "watch."

Cheers,

c

I believe Chuck nailed it.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

as each of us is overtaken either by the grim reaper or the realization that individual ingenuity and personal commitment are no longer adequate tools to offset the effects of the almighty checkbook in a pay-to-play environment.
Drag racing drew most of us in with the offering of "doing" not "watching" car racing. When we can no longer "do" most of us simply decline to "watch."Cheers,c

I was told by my Div. Director that "I don't sanction drag races anymore, I sanction alternative lifestyle weekends". And that pretty well sums up what NHRA wants from participants/customers at/in their program. If they're comfortable hanging out in their coach with their friends and enjoying a nice weekend away with the family then they're probably not as concerned about stuff like run-orders and payouts.This isn't a slap at the "pay-to-play" racers, it's just a fact, an opinionated fact. I'm all for people spending their monies where ever they want to and if they're willing to spend it on/in "my sport" then that's all the better. BUT, over the years I've seen a great majority of "pay-to-play" racers come and go. I guess that they get bored easily.
From my experiences, most of the "doers" that are or were in the sport are not very good "watchers" or spectators. I'm still trying to do the best that I can to keep "my sport" alive and well!