How come Indy has such a low entries

[FireSale]

Last year was a big anniversary for this race and I'm sure a lot of racers saved up in order to make that one and are too short on cash to try for a repeat.

I hit Indy in 1966 when it was just the Nationals. It was the first year that the smug West Coast racers made the effort to trailer out for it. Amazing show of gassers. All the top name dragster drivers were there and not a Funny Car in sight!

Dale

[Nick Heath]

SC and SG never seem to get big fields at Indy. I want to say they're typically around 120 cars for each.

SS is a little low but there are still two weeks until entries are closed. I would imagine it ends up at 160 or so.

Comp is the really depressing one. Only 16 entries at a race where there were 75+ a few years ago...

[Geerhead55]

Originally Posted by FireSale

Last year was a big anniversary for this race and I'm sure a lot of racers saved up in order to make that one and are too short on cash to try for a repeat.

I hit Indy in 1966 when it was just the Nationals. It was the first year that the smug West Coast racers made the effort to trailer out for it. Amazing show of gassers. All the top name dragster drivers were there and not a Funny Car in sight!

Dale

I can't speak for the "smug" west coasters you're referring to Dale,, but long before '66 there were teams from the left side of the country heading to the Nationals.
If you've got about a half hour to spare, go to www.youtube.com and type in:
Ingenuity in Action: a 1959 NHRA film about some young Californians making the trek to Detroit for the Nationals and picking up a caravan along the way. Its one of my favorite documentaries. Sit back and enjoy the way it used to be,,, no charge for the education. By the way,, I'm not qualified to speak about anyone's financial status except my own,, but I'm not you.
Danny Durham

[Carguy49]

Dale, next time you are at Pacific or any other track here in the northwest you might want to talk to some of the old timers. I am sure there have been racers from the west coast at Indy since the early 60's.


I have a picture of the GM Auto Sales Willys gasser from Renton, Wa. in the pits at Indy in 1964. I am not sure how to post it on here, but might loan it to Danny Durham and have him post it for me. If someone else has that photo, or others, from this era please post them, thank you.

[FireSale]

Danny and Ron: During the mid 1960s I was living in my native Ohio and drag racing existed in the format of local tracks and National Dragster from the speed shop on Tuesday. Since coverage was primarily from SoCal at that time, my knowledge of Washington cars is limited to after I moved out here in 1978 and returned to the sport in 2013. So, "smug" equals Southern California in the 1960s.

I do remember a huge buzz about the California Top fuel cars coming out for the race. And the California AA/G cars going against Ohio George.

I had no hat and got a 2nd degree sunburn for my first college ID photo.

Having un-offended D6, I have now offended D7. Can't win...

Dale

[Geerhead55]

Originally Posted by FireSale

Danny and Ron: During the mid 1960s I was living in my native Ohio and drag racing existed in the format of local tracks and National Dragster from the speed shop on Tuesday. Since coverage was primarily from SoCal at that time, my knowledge of Washington cars is limited to after I moved out here in 1978 and returned to the sport in 2013. So, "smug" equals Southern California in the 1960s.

I do remember a huge buzz about the California Top fuel cars coming out for the race. And the California AA/G cars going against Ohio George.

I had no hat and got a 2nd degree sunburn for my first college ID photo.

Having un-offended D6, I have now offended D7. Can't win...

Dale

Careful Ron,,,,, he changed the font on us! We're in trouble now! I'll hope to see both of you at the divisional this weekend.
Danny Durham