Titanium Valves in SS

[nhramnl]

I'm old enough to have witnessed firsthand the slow, but constant (and continuing) decline of Sportsman racing. It has long been my opinion that the prime cause for it is drag racing's own version of "Creeping Socialism". Years ago, Stockers were essentially stock and Super Stockers were Stockers with bigger back tires and any camshaft you thought would work. Then came the ported heads conflict, where cheaters got caught running at first, acid ported heads, then ground-up and re-welded heads. What was the "punishment"? Make ported heads legal. And a few bucks-down, deep-thinking, do-it-yourself racers (the founders of the sport, BTW) said "I haven't got the money for a ported heads and intake setup" and they quit or went Super Gas racing. Fast forward to 2018, and Stockers are now Super stockers with skinny back tires (like tire width matters anymore anyway, with today's tire compounds), and Super Stockers are Comp cars with small carburetors or funky, stock EFI systems. And still, the same racers who complain that the class racing is dying ask for more and more exotic and expensive technology. "Car counts are way down!" Sure they are; fewer and fewer people have $40,000 for a top-tier SS motor, and no matter how much cash you've got, you can't outspend GM, Ford and Chrysler. The reward used to be, you did your own deal and then put it up against the other guy's deal, to see who was smarter and worked harder. Nowadays, it's just a check-writing contest, with rich guys in golf shirts posing next to their store-bought Super Stock car.

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by nhramnl

I'm old enough to have witnessed firsthand the slow, but constant (and continuing) decline of Sportsman racing. It has long been my opinion that the prime cause for it is drag racing's own version of "Creeping Socialism". Years ago, Stockers were essentially stock and Super Stockers were Stockers with bigger back tires and any camshaft you thought would work. Then came the ported heads conflict, where cheaters got caught running at first, acid ported heads, then ground-up and re-welded heads. What was the "punishment"? Make ported heads legal. And a few bucks-down, deep-thinking, do-it-yourself racers (the founders of the sport, BTW) said "I haven't got the money for a ported heads and intake setup" and they quit or went Super Gas racing. Fast forward to 2018, and Stockers are now Super stockers with skinny back tires (like tire width matters anymore anyway, with today's tire compounds), and Super Stockers are Comp cars with small carburetors or funky, stock EFI systems. And still, the same racers who complain that the class racing is dying ask for more and more exotic and expensive technology. "Car counts are way down!" Sure they are; fewer and fewer people have $40,000 for a top-tier SS motor, and no matter how much cash you've got, you can't outspend GM, Ford and Chrysler. The reward used to be, you did your own deal and then put it up against the other guy's deal, to see who was smarter and worked harder. Nowadays, it's just a check-writing contest, with rich guys in golf shirts posing next to their store-bought Super Stock car.

This sums up why I was one of those stock racers who went super gas racing following retirement.
Stock in the faster classes today are just checkbook classes in today's environment in my opinion.

Just My 2 Cents
Rick in TX

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by nhramnl

I'm old enough to have witnessed firsthand the slow, but constant (and continuing) decline of Sportsman racing. It has long been my opinion that the prime cause for it is drag racing's own version of "Creeping Socialism". Years ago, Stockers were essentially stock and Super Stockers were Stockers with bigger back tires and any camshaft you thought would work. Then came the ported heads conflict, where cheaters got caught running at first, acid ported heads, then ground-up and re-welded heads. What was the "punishment"? Make ported heads legal. And a few bucks-down, deep-thinking, do-it-yourself racers (the founders of the sport, BTW) said "I haven't got the money for a ported heads and intake setup" and they quit or went Super Gas racing. Fast forward to 2018, and Stockers are now Super stockers with skinny back tires (like tire width matters anymore anyway, with today's tire compounds), and Super Stockers are Comp cars with small carburetors or funky, stock EFI systems. And still, the same racers who complain that the class racing is dying ask for more and more exotic and expensive technology. "Car counts are way down!" Sure they are; fewer and fewer people have $40,000 for a top-tier SS motor, and no matter how much cash you've got, you can't outspend GM, Ford and Chrysler. The reward used to be, you did your own deal and then put it up against the other guy's deal, to see who was smarter and worked harder. Nowadays, it's just a check-writing contest, with rich guys in golf shirts posing next to their store-bought Super Stock car.

You nailed it dead on !

[doug schriener]

Originally Posted by nhramnl

I'm old enough to have witnessed firsthand the slow, but constant (and continuing) decline of Sportsman racing. It has long been my opinion that the prime cause for it is drag racing's own version of "Creeping Socialism". Years ago, Stockers were essentially stock and Super Stockers were Stockers with bigger back tires and any camshaft you thought would work. Then came the ported heads conflict, where cheaters got caught running at first, acid ported heads, then ground-up and re-welded heads. What was the "punishment"? Make ported heads legal. And a few bucks-down, deep-thinking, do-it-yourself racers (the founders of the sport, BTW) said "I haven't got the money for a ported heads and intake setup" and they quit or went Super Gas racing. Fast forward to 2018, and Stockers are now Super stockers with skinny back tires (like tire width matters anymore anyway, with today's tire compounds), and Super Stockers are Comp cars with small carburetors or funky, stock EFI systems. And still, the same racers who complain that the class racing is dying ask for more and more exotic and expensive technology. "Car counts are way down!" Sure they are; fewer and fewer people have $40,000 for a top-tier SS motor, and no matter how much cash you've got, you can't outspend GM, Ford and Chrysler. The reward used to be, you did your own deal and then put it up against the other guy's deal, to see who was smarter and worked harder. Nowadays, it's just a check-writing contest, with rich guys in golf shirts posing next to their store-bought Super Stock car.

Great post!

[Spyphish]

"The reward used to be, you did your own deal and then put it up against the other guy's deal, to see who was smarter and worked harder."


I totally agree. Was your deal ever taken apart and your technology photographed with a personal cell phone? Which could be lost at the track or placed in the cloud with a single click thanks to Steve Jobs. I had to write a letter to NHRA and my SRAC just to TRY to protect our work. Phish (now that's a pun!!)

[sean parker]

Originally Posted by Spyphish

"The reward used to be, you did your own deal and then put it up against the other guy's deal, to see who was smarter and worked harder."


I totally agree. Was your deal ever taken apart and your technology photographed with a personal cell phone? Which could be lost at the track or placed in the cloud with a single click thanks to Steve Jobs. I had to write a letter to NHRA and my SRAC just to TRY to protect our work. Phish (now that's a pun!!)

No one seems to stand up to the big NHRA or the special friends of NHRA!

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by sean parker

No one seems to stand up to the big NHRA or the special friends of NHRA!

There are a lot of those Special Friends who are protected and catered to and it is impossible to get a fair shake with those protectors in NHRA. I was told " I can do this anytime I want and if you do not like it you can go elsewhere". That is why the No Happy Racers Allowed fits so well.
My 2 Cents
Rick Cates

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

There are a lot of those Special Friends who are protected and catered to and it is impossible to get a fair shake with those protectors in NHRA. I was told " I can do this anytime I want and if you do not like it you can go elsewhere". That is why the No Happy Racers Allowed fits so well.

So.............. at what point in time do the "No Happy Racers" start doing what it will take to "Make Sportsman Racing Great Again"?
My money sez it'll never happen.

(that would make a great tee shirt!)

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

So.............. at what point in time do the "No Happy Racers" start doing what it will take to "Make Sportsman Racing Great Again"?
My money sez it'll never happen.

(that would make a great tee shirt!)

I agree that would make a great tee shirt.
Problem is, it is NHRA's world and we just race in it.
Racers, me included just want to race and compete and that is about all we can agree on. I am at the end of my racing career and just want to go have fun without all the hassles and the stress.
Like you Billy, I do not believe it will ever happen.
I am not sure how much longer the Sportsmen will be included at the National level as I feel we are just a distraction for NHRA at the National events now.
Just My 2 Cents

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by nhramnl

I'm old enough to have witnessed firsthand the slow, but constant (and continuing) decline of Sportsman racing. It has long been my opinion that the prime cause for it is drag racing's own version of "Creeping Socialism". Years ago, Stockers were essentially stock and Super Stockers were Stockers with bigger back tires and any camshaft you thought would work. Then came the ported heads conflict, where cheaters got caught running at first, acid ported heads, then ground-up and re-welded heads. What was the "punishment"? Make ported heads legal. And a few bucks-down, deep-thinking, do-it-yourself racers (the founders of the sport, BTW) said "I haven't got the money for a ported heads and intake setup" and they quit or went Super Gas racing. Fast forward to 2018, and Stockers are now Super stockers with skinny back tires (like tire width matters anymore anyway, with today's tire compounds), and Super Stockers are Comp cars with small carburetors or funky, stock EFI systems. And still, the same racers who complain that the class racing is dying ask for more and more exotic and expensive technology. "Car counts are way down!" Sure they are; fewer and fewer people have $40,000 for a top-tier SS motor, and no matter how much cash you've got, you can't outspend GM, Ford and Chrysler. The reward used to be, you did your own deal and then put it up against the other guy's deal, to see who was smarter and worked harder. Nowadays, it's just a check-writing contest, with rich guys in golf shirts posing next to their store-bought Super Stock car.

Nothing truer was ever said. And the majority of it all was done to keep a certain few from filing lawsuits against the NHRA.