Lets Root Cause the Detriment of Class Racing

[GTX JOHN]

Withdrawn

[Billy Nees]

John, you're OK in my book and I'd have your back anytime.
We spoke in Vegas a few years ago. You were racing an Aspen? wagon.

[GTX JOHN]

I appreciate the support of all my friends on here.
The issue is that we are all aging out and just can
not contend with someone 1/2 our ages and a head
taller (Not to mention in way better shape even if we do not
want to admit it).

After the last race we attended at April Nationals
in Vegas = In the Superstock staging lanes one of the racers
challenged me to a fight on the spot. He followed me nearly to
the front of the staging lane trying to get me to get out of my Aspen.
Everyone behind me was surprised to see the goings on. It rattled
me so bad that I forgot to turn on the fuel pump and wasted the time
trial.

Following that problem, I was ashamed (I no longer can effective defend myself)
and did not go to any more NHRA races this year until Bakersfield and had
the confrontation in the staging lane in Class Final. It made
it very hard for us to focus and do a good job racing in the final.

I did not elaborate on this earlier in this thread, but my son tells me that the
same folks came to our pit several more times during the race and flipped him off and
tried to instigate a fight while I was resting in the Toter. Apparently, they thought
I was the one that turned them in = But I was not and in fact have never turned in
anyone for a violation no matter how obvious it appeared to be. Actually, I was never
anywhere near his car as I have four of my own to prepare for the race.

I understand the officials position that we need to police our own
battles and they have a race to run. Unfortunately, I have aged out
these last few years and do not have the ability to handle the battles
any longer. Anyone who remembers me from 30 years ago know that
back them = If a man insisted on a fight with me - he could have it. Now
it is not so much being scared the beatings I would get (I have taken
my fair share over the years), but the embarrassment of have
everyone watching me get pummeled in the staging lanes!

Most of my good friends at the track have already passed the last number of
years. They are many of the guys that I so loved so much to visit with there.

So it is probably time to hang up my helmet in the shop and play with the Grandkids.

Sorry for the Rant!

I am truly heartbroken over the turns of event this year that have happened.
Racing is one of the things that keep me going and motivated in these later years.

[GTS340]

Twenty years ago you might find one good pair of "X" heads at a swap meet. Others hoard them on some shelf. The head hasn't been produced since 1968-69. and only found on those years 340. In the early 70's how many of those were taken to the speed shop for modifications. The "X" heads on my 340 have been on my stuff racing for 20 yrs alone. My big block heads "906" are nearly as old.

As far as these clowns thinking their best chance to win is physically taking on a well liked/loved senior citizen is hard to hear. I guess that's why friends are dear. Can't please everyone John. I hope these fools do what sometimes is harder than fighting and that is saying sorry my mistake at least.

See at the races,
Paul Haszlauer

[GTX JOHN]

Well let's talk about the 666 and 301 Low Deck "B"
engine as mentioned earlier in this post:

What is my qualification to address this comparison.
Well, I have been racing Low Deck "B" engines since early
60's. Everyone out here has seen both the Roadrunners run
well over a second under on the brakes in Heads Up during
eliminations. They could show off by running 1.20 or more
we the wanted to = But my kids are not Foolish enough to
do that. Incidentally they have been through teardown at national
races and passed.

It is a given that the 301 and 666 are roughly even as produced
from the factory. Now look at the two intakes is with the carbs off.
One has the usual holes you would expect on most intakes while
the 666 has huge oblong trenches going the length of the carb area.
The 666 is easy and conducive to "Clean" and hard to tell if anything
might be unusual while the 301 is a normal style intake.
If you do not think a potentially larger intake plenum will not help air
flow on this engine = well we don't live on the same planet. When all is said and done,
I have found .04 and .05 faster performance back-to-back with the
666 in my testing. I have no reason to obfuscate the issue = we run a Thermoquad
73 combo now. If my post is too obscure to understand = PM me and I will be
much more blunt about what is going on when not on Forum.

Nearly a dozen years ago (3/29/2011) at a Div. 7 race in Vegas, I was at Heart Surgeon
preparing for surgery and my boy and a friend took my new N/SA truck out to the track.
a misclassed it as the wrong year = they did not know the truck and it was an honest mistake.
When I arrived later in the day I immediately asked Pat to take my truck off the ladder
and disqualify it. No one reported me or knew anything about the truck = I did myself.
In the correct class and year, it would have been the incorrect (too light)
weight! I was still awarded the additional 14 extra Horsepower.

We indeed made the mistake and therefore we paid the price. We did not try to
get out of it or attack anyone. If we had let it go in the wrong class it would have
wreck several people's trucks that legitimately ran that class and let us off scot free.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Withdrawn

John,

Do not let others take away your joy, especially in a sport that you enjoy.
There are many of us that enjoy your presence and camaraderie with you at the track.
Don't give up. Giving up is surrendering to others.

[bubski]

One of the most detrimental trends Bubski is concerned with !! Is the lack of racers goin for the National Record when you just made the quickest and fastest passes in the history of your class yet refuse to put it to the tech test and get the certification for it !! Isn’t this a Performance based Class ?? What happened to the pride in having National Record holder spelled out on your car ?? There used to be 20 plus cars at the Dutch and similar fast Opens and Divisionals 20 years ago to break and set records !!

[james schaechter]

Originally Posted by bubski

One of the most detrimental trends Bubski is concerned with !! Is the lack of racers goin for the National Record when you just made the quickest and fastest passes in the history of your class yet refuse to put it to the tech test and get the certification for it !! Isn’t this a Performance based Class ?? What happened to the pride in having National Record holder spelled out on your car ?? There used to be 20 plus cars at the Dutch and similar fast Opens and Divisionals 20 years ago to break and set records !!

It is pretty clear that the head bean counter-CEO only wants to collect money, but will not support any effort to incentivize racers to push the performance of the cars. Heck, they say they are in a great financial position on one hand, but won’t spend a few clams to publish records as they once did.

They lament the lack of employees to provide tech services. That is a real issue and the current generation of tech officials are retiring. Knowing that, NHRA has not done anything to recruit, train and retain the next generation of tech officials.

I think NHRA leadership misses the motivation factors that keep racers spending money and striving to improve performance of their cars. Motivation that also drives parts sales and contingent opportunities. They only look at the cost and inconvenience from their point of view.

Maybe, as racers, we should collectively consider crowd sourcing money and or prizes to be awarded to record setters?

If NHRA won’t do it, they can’t stop racers and fans from doing it.

I know one could also say that the new gen of racer has not the technical expertise to tear down and rebuild their car at the track, and that is a fair statement.. That being said, they are racers and I am sure more would learn what to do if it was worth it to them.

Bubski. You make some good points, your grammar is improving as well. Isn’t it time to come out of the closet?

[Mike Pearson]

Most of us stock and super stock racers are not young any more. I am 64 years old and cant be up all night putting my engine back together after a tear down to set the record. Typically qualifying ends late afternoon or early evening. There is no time to tear down and put the car back together and be ready for first round early the next morning and be fresh enough to race 6-7 rounds. So most choose to not worry about setting records that have no value in points or cash and choose to be ready for the race in the morning. That is my choice. My class has been at a minimum for a several years as most have.

[GTS340]

Setting records have been left to opens. It seems even if you wanted to set a record at a divisional. Now a days your first run is to qualify backed off a little in case you need to move. I remember two things years ago that have change things. First the cars that set records got the early Sunday morning freebe run. Also years ago in division one. First round was random paring. You weren't paying attention to the qualifying sheet. It use to be who could build the fastest car with their own two hand ability. Most cars now are built with a wallet.

Paul Haszlauer