HOME FORUM RULES CONTACT
     
   
   

Go Back   CLASS RACER FORUM > Class Racer Forums > Stock and Super Stock
Register Photo Gallery FAQ Community Calendar

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-25-2024, 11:24 PM   #11
Alan Roehrich
Veteran Member
 
Alan Roehrich's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Murfreesboro TN
Posts: 5,105
Likes: 1,561
Liked 1,788 Times in 408 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

Quote:
Originally Posted by JP1738 View Post
Well no offense, but that's the easy answer. Nobody on this forum races for the money. Don't get me wrong, winning money is great, but if that's all you cared about, you wouldn't be running STK/SS or drag racing in general. Excellence should be rewarded, and the trip needs to be justified before you go. Payouts and contingency need to be defined and sufficient, but there's an amount of prestige the iron man holds that I believe is great than 4th round loser's round money.

What kind of payout is reasonable to you? Be specific. Entry with expected car count, winner, r-up, semis, quarters, etc.



No, Stock and Super Stock racers do not JUST race for many, the way big money bracket racers do.


However, I come from a time when good racers could finance their racing with their winnings. That hasn't been the case in at least a decade or two. If you compare the SHRINKING purse to the escalating cost of a competitive class operation, it's literally INSULTING. Entry fees have gone up 2-3 times, plus additional costs with the sanctioning bodies, and the purse absolutely has not. Further, the sanctioning bodies drove the contingency sponsors out. I know several sponsors personally, and they way they were treated, and their money was taken, borders on criminal. When you consider the current level of spending required to take a truly competitive car racing, the potential for return on investment is absolutely a slap in the face.


It's not that Stock and Super Stock racers race for money, many know that a real win is often not likely in their future. But that fact that a big win would barely pay for the trip is just ridiculous. A racer wants to think that if he managed to actually pull it off, and that's the dream, that the payout would be at least somewhat impressive. These days, winning a national event would be like hitting the powerball and getting $10,000.
__________________
Alan Roehrich
212A G/S
Alan Roehrich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2024, 06:25 AM   #12
442OLDS
VIP Member
 
442OLDS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Elgin,IL
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 5
Liked 282 Times in 103 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

I don't see any way possible for the IHRA Pro Am races to return with Super Stock and Stock as separate classes.The turnout was usually pretty poor. If they paid $100,000 to win with free entry,it would probably not bring that many more cars out.
I'm just speaking from past experience as I used to attend quite a few IHRA races years ago.They tried all kinds of innovative ideas and nothing seemed to help.
442OLDS is offline   Reply With Quote
Liked
Old 11-26-2024, 08:50 AM   #13
1347
Senior Member
 
1347's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Monroe Twp NJ
Posts: 500
Likes: 1,028
Liked 988 Times in 272 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Taylor 3601 View Post
128 car field,$350entry($44,800.00 split half purse-half to IHRA )IRONMAN and 10K win ,5K RU, 1K semi, Quarters $750 $100per round won starting with 1st round win...

As I said to start... I don't anything about how to do it...
this is just quick math that may or may not be correct LOL

I don't think any track owner in today's financial situation would agree to split the entry fee and run a race like that with only 22k. By the time they pay knowledgeable track officials to oversee class racing, traction compound and all the other costs associated with running an event, I think they would rather run a no.prep race or a test and tune and clear better money. Racers talked about how NMRA was so great and payouts were great for what the entry fees were and you see where that got them.
As much as people complain on how much we pay at divisionals and how little the payout is, track operators complain it almost isn't worth their time hosting the race. It's not just one track saying that, it's many tracks that say that. I am not sure IHRA is looking to host races and not make any money for the "Good of class racing"
__________________
Duane Hoven

1342 SS/GT
1347 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2024, 09:47 AM   #14
Mike Taylor 3601
VIP Member
 
Mike Taylor 3601's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Somerset,Ky
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 348
Liked 292 Times in 101 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1347 View Post
I don't think any track owner in today's financial situation would agree to split the entry fee and run a race like that with only 22k. By the time they pay knowledgeable track officials to oversee class racing, traction compound and all the other costs associated with running an event, I think they would rather run a no.prep race or a test and tune and clear better money. Racers talked about how NMRA was so great and payouts were great for what the entry fees were and you see where that got them.
As much as people complain on how much we pay at divisionals and how little the payout is, track operators complain it almost isn't worth their time hosting the race. It's not just one track saying that, it's many tracks that say that. I am not sure IHRA is looking to host races and not make any money for the "Good of class racing"
I made the disclaimer,, I don't know anything, my math could be off,just a quick rough figure... $ 22,400.00 would be from one class there are seven classes or was...to generate income from,plus series sponsors
Mike Taylor 3601 is offline   Reply With Quote
Liked
Old 11-26-2024, 10:00 AM   #15
RKelliher
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 164
Likes: 43
Liked 181 Times in 60 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

I like Mike Taylor's idea. The track makes $22400. not counting other categories being run. So track cost is spread out over all racing. Also you have to add on entry fees for crew and family plus concession on those people.Then market your product like any other business, which they don't do for divisionals. Race fan will come if they know, just don't rape them at the gate,you will more than make it at concessions.Also bring in sponsors for event to make more money. Just have to do it.
RKelliher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2024, 10:15 AM   #16
Larry Hill
Live Reporter
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hickory, Ky
Posts: 10,629
Likes: 1,919
Liked 10,681 Times in 2,222 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

Top Stock was a fan favorite. Pro ladder, quicker car had lane choice, decent money for the winner and the winner got a tear down tech inspection. It was fun until the Fast Burn crate engine was allowed and IHRA was slow to adjust to its performance.
__________________
IHM Used Parts
https://ihmusedparts.com
888-821-1817
Larry Hill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2024, 12:12 PM   #17
JP1738
Senior Member
 
JP1738's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 564
Likes: 1,599
Liked 1,169 Times in 331 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

All great critiques, thanks for the input. Money talks for sure, you folks make it seem like that's all it boils down to. If so, then that's where we need to put our focus.

I believe we could all agree, at the very least, we'd love for IHRA to bring it's excellent class racing program back and return it to the way it used to be. Figuring out how, or deciding not to, is all that's left.
__________________
Dawson Pauley
#2827 N/SA 1980 Malibu SW 2S 305/180
#2827 S/ST 1978 Mazda RX7 w/ 383 sbc/glide
JP1738 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2024, 12:13 PM   #18
GUMP
VIP Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Shelby, NC
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 2,154
Liked 2,336 Times in 549 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

I still have all the Buick stuff that I got to run Top Stock. I could probably be convinced to put it together if the original rules applied. No fiberglass hood, etc.
__________________
Daren Poole-Adams
NHRA Stock/SS 2007
GUMP is offline   Reply With Quote
Liked
Old 11-26-2024, 01:14 PM   #19
Steve Stasko
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western PA
Posts: 455
Likes: 13
Liked 274 Times in 143 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

I'm sure someone will be along to poo-poo this idea, but cut the IHRA out completely, and have the local associations get together to run their own national championship series.

Have a "central" group responsible for maintaining files/records. Each association submits their results to the central group from each event, these count toward a national total. There would be no actual divisions, but the local series would act as the division. If there were to be 15 'national' events, for example, your best 8-10(?) would qualify toward your final total. Use IHRA Stock/SS Classes and Indexes...Nostalgia Super Stock cars would not be eligible toward a national championship. I don't have an issue with them running, but I think they should be separate. I understand why they were allowed in some organizations.

Kind of like the original IHRA WCS series, no?
Steve Stasko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2024, 01:38 PM   #20
Phil S/ST
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 28
Likes: 21
Liked 34 Times in 14 Posts
Default Re: How Realistic

Quote:
Originally Posted by JP1738 View Post
It has been announced that IHRA plans to continue there bracket program/bracket finals in 2025, with the hope of bringing Pro-Ams and Nitro Jams back in 2026. They also announced division restructuring and Next years team finals dates locations.

Does anyone really believe IHRA will bring back class racing? I am personally very hopeful. Despite never having run an IHRA pro-am event (outside of juniors), I am a huge fan of IHRA and I really wish they would bring it back. I was too young to race Super Rod but it was always my dream to compete in it. It folded up before I turned 16.

I know there will never be another hay-day like there was in the 90s and 2000s, but I think it would be so awesome to bring another real sanctioning body back to compete with NHRA at the grass roots class racing level. Give racers another alternative. At the very least, maybe it could spur NHRA into improving conditions for Sportsman Racers. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I'd do almost anything to bring back the glory, honor, and prestige there used to be to hoist an iron man.
Dawson, I'm also hopeful! A few things IHRA will need to overcome.
1] As stated elsewhere, the payouts must align with entry fees ie they charge x dollars for entry the win, RU, and round money must be enough for racers to want to travel and chase that coveted Iron Man.
2] !/8 mile racing doesn't appeal to everyone.
3] Rules need to be close to what NHRA runs now to help with car count.
4] World Championship!! For all classes. This is the main reason I didn.t chase NHRA points back in the day. I could running IHRA Hot Rod.

IHRA is planning an announcement during PRI so its going to be a wait and see. What's going to throw a wrench in their plans is the half *** attempt they made last year. Ran one race and cancelled the whole series.
Phil S/ST is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:40 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Class Racer.com. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.