attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers gone

Alex Denysenko · 09-30-2012, 10:45 PM

In case you haven't noticed NHRA and IHRA, we the S/SS RACERS are dropping like flies either due to death or debilitating illness and we are not replacing ourselves. Even son and daughter legacy racers are diminishing in frequency. I cringe before logging onto Class racer fearing there is another new R.I.P. or prayers needed thread about a dead or sick class racer. Don't you NHRA and IHRA, ever ask yourselves why there is hardly any new blood coming into our ranks? Or how come there are so many die hard veteran class racers who are quitting or remain parked?
It isn't only about the financial expense, which is substantial. It is more about the"fun factor" and rewards which you, the sanctioning bodies combined, have managed to take away from class racing by constantly changing the rules and/or adding "enhancements". No racing for class at all anymore in IHRA and no class win money reward or any recognition to speak of from either sanctioning body. How about eliminating divisions altogether in the case of IHRA. This plus increasing our expenses in some way shape or form every year without increasing our compensation. I don't think that the NHRA S/SS pay outs have changed since 1980 Why does NHRA find it necessary to continue adding classes at LODRS events the new index class car counts are nothing to write home about and just how many more fans have snowmobiles put in the stands? IHRA isn't much better these days seemingly following NHRA's lead at every opportunity raising fees and expenses. And how about those cheesy $2.00 plaque's when we did have class racing in IHRA? Why couldn't we get one of those iron persons for a IHRA class win? I'm still not certain of the sex of the new ones. LOL
Ok, NHRA and IHRA - are you hoping we just die off and fade away? The Detroit manufacturers are deeply involved in Class Racing now with the new muscle, but where will the drivers of these cars come from if there aren't veterans to guide them?

David Lee · 09-30-2012, 11:36 PM

I can say that part of the problem is the classes themselves. it is getting way too expensive to build a class car. Most "kids" roll thier eyes that it will cost 10K plus to build a 12 second car.

MrWendy'sJr · 09-30-2012, 11:52 PM

May I add, who's going to tech the class cars. Who in my generation has the knowledge to make sure these cars are correct for what is being claimed. Unfortunately the writing is on the wall, enjoy it while you can. I know my kids do.

Mark Yacavone · 10-01-2012, 12:10 AM

Alex,
We had a similar thread going a few months back where we beat this subject to death (if you'll pardon the expression)
The consensus was...
just kidding ...there wasn't one.

http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...tructing+Stock

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.

Jack Matyas · 10-01-2012, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Denysenko

In case you haven't noticed NHRA and IHRA, we the S/SS RACERS are dropping like flies either due to death or debilitating illness and we are not replacing ourselves. Even son and daughter legacy racers are diminishing in frequency.

Alex - Maybe instead of dropping over like flies we should be taking better care of ourselves i.e. better and more often exams , more trips to the gym , a few less adult beverages - I could go on and on .........many of us are going to an early grave needlessly .

As far as replacing ourselves its never too late - next trip to the track take a young person along .............We , the veterans need to guide the next generation .

As far as tech goes - every single division needs new blood - this is a great way for the next generation to get involved - they are begging for new people .Sure , the pay is low and the hours are long but the return is rewarding - if you know someone with potential send to your division director - we'll all be glad .And they will train ............

Dick Butler · 10-01-2012, 09:24 AM

Alex, hope you read the posts on re do of SUPER MOD. Many thoughts on starting over at al LOWer tech and price to get the cars back out.
Got to keep kids into cars also.

chris3racing · 10-01-2012, 09:34 AM

Jack, you just hit a button. Very few will take the time to teach a young person about our sport. Some just go try on their own but very few. The future of our sport is passing the history on to the next generations. Open up your shop to younger generations and teach them how to work on engines, set up a car and take it to the track. I enjoy working with my son and grandsons, 13 and 6. I have about 6 young men who come in the shop on week nights, after they get off work, and work on either the race car or on one of the classics. Three have engines on engine stands and are learning to build their own engines. You are correct take young people with you to the track, give them some small part to do at the track. Intoduce them to your old friends at the track

09-30-2012, 10:45 PM	#1
Alex Denysenko Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Michigan City IN Posts: 633 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts	attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers gone In case you haven't noticed NHRA and IHRA, we the S/SS RACERS are dropping like flies either due to death or debilitating illness and we are not replacing ourselves. Even son and daughter legacy racers are diminishing in frequency. I cringe before logging onto Class racer fearing there is another new R.I.P. or prayers needed thread about a dead or sick class racer. Don't you NHRA and IHRA, ever ask yourselves why there is hardly any new blood coming into our ranks? Or how come there are so many die hard veteran class racers who are quitting or remain parked? It isn't only about the financial expense, which is substantial. It is more about the"fun factor" and rewards which you, the sanctioning bodies combined, have managed to take away from class racing by constantly changing the rules and/or adding "enhancements". No racing for class at all anymore in IHRA and no class win money reward or any recognition to speak of from either sanctioning body. How about eliminating divisions altogether in the case of IHRA. This plus increasing our expenses in some way shape or form every year without increasing our compensation. I don't think that the NHRA S/SS pay outs have changed since 1980 Why does NHRA find it necessary to continue adding classes at LODRS events the new index class car counts are nothing to write home about and just how many more fans have snowmobiles put in the stands? IHRA isn't much better these days seemingly following NHRA's lead at every opportunity raising fees and expenses. And how about those cheesy $2.00 plaque's when we did have class racing in IHRA? Why couldn't we get one of those iron persons for a IHRA class win? I'm still not certain of the sex of the new ones. LOL Ok, NHRA and IHRA - are you hoping we just die off and fade away? The Detroit manufacturers are deeply involved in Class Racing now with the new muscle, but where will the drivers of these cars come from if there aren't veterans to guide them? __________________ Alex Denysenko NHRA 3038 SS, 3305 STK - IHRA 6 SS, 330A STK Moneymaker Racing LaPorte Indiana 219-861-1214 www.moneymakerracing.net

09-30-2012, 11:36 PM	#2
David Lee VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,168 Likes: 487 Liked 346 Times in 126 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers I can say that part of the problem is the classes themselves. it is getting way too expensive to build a class car. Most "kids" roll thier eyes that it will cost 10K plus to build a 12 second car.

09-30-2012, 11:52 PM	#3
MrWendy'sJr Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sandusky, OH Posts: 58 Likes: 2 Liked 25 Times in 1 Post	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers May I add, who's going to tech the class cars. Who in my generation has the knowledge to make sure these cars are correct for what is being claimed. Unfortunately the writing is on the wall, enjoy it while you can. I know my kids do.

10-01-2012, 12:10 AM	#4
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,814 Likes: 2,903 Liked 5,118 Times in 1,950 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers Alex, We had a similar thread going a few months back where we beat this subject to death (if you'll pardon the expression) The consensus was... just kidding ...there wasn't one. http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...tructing+Stock __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

10-01-2012, 07:52 AM	#5
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	#6
BRETV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 566 Likes: 4,140 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	#7
Greg Hill VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville , KY Posts: 1,995 Likes: 68 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, 09:24 AM	#9
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers Alex, hope you read the posts on re do of SUPER MOD. Many thoughts on starting over at al LOWer tech and price to get the cars back out. Got to keep kids into cars also.

10-01-2012, 09:34 AM	#10
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers Jack, you just hit a button. Very few will take the time to teach a young person about our sport. Some just go try on their own but very few. The future of our sport is passing the history on to the next generations. Open up your shop to younger generations and teach them how to work on engines, set up a car and take it to the track. I enjoy working with my son and grandsons, 13 and 6. I have about 6 young men who come in the shop on week nights, after they get off work, and work on either the race car or on one of the classics. Three have engines on engine stands and are learning to build their own engines. You are correct take young people with you to the track, give them some small part to do at the track. Intoduce them to your old friends at the track