attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers gone

Alex Denysenko · 10-01-2012, 07:52 AM

Sorry to re-hash a Topic or beat a dead horse Mark but the passing of Chris Economacki and Brett Velde along with my own unpredicted illness put me over the top

BRETV · 10-01-2012, 08:03 AM

Alex,

Don't mean to correct you! But, Jeff Velde not me passed away! I read your post and I had to make sure I was still alive. LOL . Building a car as we speak! We'll be back out there. The economy and raising 4 kid's has slowed my program down. But it will get better! See you a Tony and the races.

Bret Velde

Greg Hill · 10-01-2012, 08:16 AM

Alex , I agree with most of what you say, but there are a few races where we all continue to show up. The sportsnationals come to mind. Also the d3 and d1 points races continue to draw pretty well. I think the biggest drop off are national events and for me they are just not that much fun. I also think that having the new cars in the same classes as the rest of us has hurt attendance. All that being said, we are all getting older and for me it's just not as much fun as it used to be.

Alex Denysenko · 10-01-2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRETV

Alex,

Don't mean to correct you! But, Jeff Velde not me passed away! I read your post and I had to make sure I was still alive. LOL . Building a car as we speak! We'll be back out there. The economy and raising 4 kid's has slowed my program down. But it will get better! See you a Tony and the races.

Bret Velde

Oops sorry about that Bret, obviously I meant your uncle Jeff

Wade Mahaffey · 10-01-2012, 03:15 PM

You know, it really is a shame that what we love just isn't important to the casual car guy anymore. With so much to entertain you on TV or the web, things that require effort go toward the bottom of the list. The only way to improve interest in class racing, is to make it cheaper $$$$ and create awareness. You need to promote and/or advertize your entertianment product to have it thrive. It's a real shame to look at the seats on thursday at a national event, They're empty!

You can't sell any food,T-shirts, etc to an empty seat. FREE ADMISSION on Wed-Thur and reap the profit from there. A portian of the fans will want to see the pros on Friday and pay at that time. Or if they want to go in the pits, they can pay a fee. Now you have introduced new folks that would not have paid to get in, and some will come back again. And maybe a few will want to try and compete. Just think of what it would do for the racer, racing in front of a big crowd like you made it to Sunday. I would think that would bring a few cars out from the garage as well. Although when I was racing (on track), I never saw the stands because I was fully focused on the task at hand!

Class racing needs a good shot in the arm to enhance interest momentum of the new cars, and to keep alive the old cars! This starts with a creative approach done by everyone that loves the sport. Take care of it....while we still have it....be progressive

As far as health goes....I ride a bicycle at the track...It's easier to park...gets through the crowd better....don't cost a nickel! Nuff said

Wade Mahaffey

Ed Carpenter · 10-01-2012, 03:58 PM

My son is 24 now. He has always helped me since I bought my SS car in 06. At first he wanted to turn his 70 Nova into a B/S car. After awhile of seeing me drown trying to build then maintain my car he said no way. He races dirt track now. He loves it runs every weekend. Local no travel and way cheaper than a stocker. He is putting the Nova back on the street. He is still trying to get me to switch to a LS engine to run GT. LOL

rickseeman · 10-01-2012, 04:08 PM

Here we go again with another "Why are we losing class racers" thread.

Do any of you people know how much money a young person makes?

If you are a great worker with a good job after rent, utilities, insurance, gas, cell phone bill, internet, food etc you might have $20 per week.

There is no "stock" anymore. The A/SA record is faster than "The Grump" & Sox & Martin pro stockers ran when I was young. That's right folks. Faster than the faster pro stockers in the country. Could you afford a pro stocker back then? No, and young people today can't afford a "stocker".

10-01-2012, 07:52 AM	#1
Alex Denysenko Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Michigan City IN Posts: 633 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers Sorry to re-hash a Topic or beat a dead horse Mark but the passing of Chris Economacki and Brett Velde along with my own unpredicted illness put me over the top __________________ Alex Denysenko NHRA 3038 SS, 3305 STK - IHRA 6 SS, 330A STK Moneymaker Racing LaPorte Indiana 219-861-1214 www.moneymakerracing.net

10-01-2012, 08:03 AM	#2
BRETV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 568 Likes: 4,194 Liked 776 Times in 199 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers Alex, Don't mean to correct you! But, Jeff Velde not me passed away! I read your post and I had to make sure I was still alive. LOL . Building a car as we speak! We'll be back out there. The economy and raising 4 kid's has slowed my program down. But it will get better! See you a Tony and the races. Bret Velde

10-01-2012, 08:16 AM	#3
Greg Hill VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville , KY Posts: 1,995 Likes: 69 Liked 279 Times in 68 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers Alex , I agree with most of what you say, but there are a few races where we all continue to show up. The sportsnationals come to mind. Also the d3 and d1 points races continue to draw pretty well. I think the biggest drop off are national events and for me they are just not that much fun. I also think that having the new cars in the same classes as the rest of us has hurt attendance. All that being said, we are all getting older and for me it's just not as much fun as it used to be. __________________ Greg Hill 4171 STK

10-01-2012, 03:15 PM	#5
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 18 Times in 8 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers You know, it really is a shame that what we love just isn't important to the casual car guy anymore. With so much to entertain you on TV or the web, things that require effort go toward the bottom of the list. The only way to improve interest in class racing, is to make it cheaper $$$$ and create awareness. You need to promote and/or advertize your entertianment product to have it thrive. It's a real shame to look at the seats on thursday at a national event, They're empty! You can't sell any food,T-shirts, etc to an empty seat. FREE ADMISSION on Wed-Thur and reap the profit from there. A portian of the fans will want to see the pros on Friday and pay at that time. Or if they want to go in the pits, they can pay a fee. Now you have introduced new folks that would not have paid to get in, and some will come back again. And maybe a few will want to try and compete. Just think of what it would do for the racer, racing in front of a big crowd like you made it to Sunday. I would think that would bring a few cars out from the garage as well. Although when I was racing (on track), I never saw the stands because I was fully focused on the task at hand! Class racing needs a good shot in the arm to enhance interest momentum of the new cars, and to keep alive the old cars! This starts with a creative approach done by everyone that loves the sport. Take care of it....while we still have it....be progressive As far as health goes....I ride a bicycle at the track...It's easier to park...gets through the crowd better....don't cost a nickel! Nuff said Wade Mahaffey

10-01-2012, 03:58 PM	#6
Ed Carpenter Live Reporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 2,709 Likes: 186 Liked 520 Times in 132 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers My son is 24 now. He has always helped me since I bought my SS car in 06. At first he wanted to turn his 70 Nova into a B/S car. After awhile of seeing me drown trying to build then maintain my car he said no way. He races dirt track now. He loves it runs every weekend. Local no travel and way cheaper than a stocker. He is putting the Nova back on the street. He is still trying to get me to switch to a LS engine to run GT. LOL __________________ Ed Carpenter 2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM Race Engine Development

10-01-2012, 04:08 PM	#7
rickseeman Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 125 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers Here we go again with another "Why are we losing class racers" thread. Do any of you people know how much money a young person makes? If you are a great worker with a good job after rent, utilities, insurance, gas, cell phone bill, internet, food etc you might have $20 per week. There is no "stock" anymore. The A/SA record is faster than "The Grump" & Sox & Martin pro stockers ran when I was young. That's right folks. Faster than the faster pro stockers in the country. Could you afford a pro stocker back then? No, and young people today can't afford a "stocker".

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