Question for you stock & super stock racers

Rod Greene · 04-10-2008, 03:07 AM

Chuck you are right who needs NHRA. I started racing in 1970 started running stock in 73. I remember the Top Fuelers at points races. After every oildown they would call stock to the lanes. The latest enhancement with the 2 step rule and how it is applied to stick cars was the last straw I sold my car right after the Phoenix race and I didn't renew my NHRA membership. I think I will put my challenger together and race it at different Mopar races and have fun again.

Patrick Kelliher · 04-10-2008, 05:24 AM

When I open a NHRA rule book it mentions nothing about TD & TS. When I look at national points it mentions nothing about TD & TS. They are an exhibition classes. As such they are lowest on the totem pole. They should be the FIRST to get bumped when conditions limit runs.

LNorton · 04-10-2008, 08:20 AM

This is a big reason why we run IHRA events when we run division races. We can leave early on Saturday morning, sometimes get to race twice over the weekend, and be back on Sunday night. Never have to take off a Friday enless you really want to.

If you live in the right areas, these double races really work out nicely.

Michael Beard · 04-10-2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LNorton

This is a big reason why we run IHRA events when we run division races. We can leave early on Saturday morning, sometimes get to race twice over the weekend, and be back on Sunday night. Never have to take off a Friday enless you really want to.

Yeah, but the car counts aren't as high in IHRA, so why would you want to race with them? Wouldn't you rather take an extra day off of work, run one less race, pay a higher entry fee, and get shorter black & white coverage in the magazine? And you still have to deal with T/S and T/D cars, not to mention crate motors and SS/Production cars, even if they don't have Alky and Comp cars. I was even parked next to a T/S car in the back 40 at Mooresville, and there were Super Stock cars parked up front near the staging lanes. What gives?

Dick Butler · 04-10-2008, 11:27 AM

63 corvette, I agree 100% All S and SS and S/G and S/C and S/St are based on entry payers for income.It always is that way. It seems for lots of reasons attracting entries meets the financial needs of the event more efficiently than advertising for spectators, again for many reasons. I feel there is room to improve this but it takes change and hard work and an open mind on the part of everyone. There are new car lovers born every minute and we need to reshape our sport to some extent to appeal to them TODAY like it did when we got started...

Michael Beard · 04-10-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1664SSJA

With THAT crappy treatment, along with being able to run Nationals without going to Divisionals, I don't know what ANYONE would want to race IHRA for when you can go to any NHRA race and get treated like a king.

YEAH. The biggest problem with IHRA races is that it doesn't say "NHRA" on them.

Been there, raced them, took the extra day or two off work to do it.

Mark Schmidt · 04-10-2008, 04:08 PM

I run SC and will likely do some TD this year...my reason? Tired of running at night just before the gates close. If I was racing for the $$ I would bracket race a lot more. I don't really care for throttle stops so TD is at least an option. I don't care where I pit, as long as it's not in a lake at National Trail. As far as changes go, I would like to see Thu-Sun Division races that are combined to have 2 events in one weekend. Gas prices are killing all of us.

Food for thought...So the big $$$ business deal didn't work out. Rumor has it that Bruton Smith is interested. If that happens many people believe that NHRA national events will be professionals only. He believes in a class system similar to NASCAR, where the Nationwide series is to develop future pros. It is possible that another series (IHRA perhaps) would be the sportsman series. Wally would have never let his beloved sportsman racers down, but Wally's gone and things change. We all knew what we were getting into when we decided to build nice cars and go NHRA racing. Although it is costly and eats vacation time I still enjoy it a lot.

Just my $.02

Dick Butler · 04-10-2008, 08:24 AM

Chuck, Problem is NHRA rates a success by numbers of entries and who helps pay the bills.
Stk and SS , mainly are entry payers today.
T/S and T/S came into being to allow S/G and S/C racers to run faster and get away from the fixed et of 9.90, 8.90.
They allow BIG costly somewhat generic Motors to become needed by these classes. Sponsors see an opportunity to get customers and help with the payout.
They require a more sophisticated Chassis which is more expensive and requires big time chassis builder who sees a chance to sponsor and get additional customers.
NHRA sees a chance to draw IHRA racers and increase entry payers to the same meet.
With all the varied classes I am sure it would be hard to give any class all its runs on one day at the exclusion of another group....but if you create a Buzz with one group like these new classes have it is naturally get attention to grow it.

Chuck Beach · 04-10-2008, 08:49 AM

Then the sponsors are wasting their time and money. When was the last time you saw spectators at the Indy divisional race, THEY DON"T ADVERTISE IT. 95% of the crowd at Indy are racers and I have no interest in watching these guys run ...

Adger Smith · 04-10-2008, 08:54 AM

Dick,
Nice way to ramble on about the inclusion of T/S & T/D in NHRA. Why didn't you just sum it up in one line.( or one word)
NHRA saw a way to make more "MONEY".... :~)

04-10-2008, 03:07 AM	#1
Rod Greene Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: TN Posts: 530 Likes: 417 Liked 242 Times in 81 Posts	Re: Question for you stock & super stock racers Chuck you are right who needs NHRA. I started racing in 1970 started running stock in 73. I remember the Top Fuelers at points races. After every oildown they would call stock to the lanes. The latest enhancement with the 2 step rule and how it is applied to stick cars was the last straw I sold my car right after the Phoenix race and I didn't renew my NHRA membership. I think I will put my challenger together and race it at different Mopar races and have fun again. __________________ Rod Greene Real men shift for them selves. Slowly working on TA Challenger for D,E/S and a 72 Challenger for SS/K, L as if I don't have enough other projects.

04-10-2008, 05:24 AM	#2
Patrick Kelliher Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 124 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Question for you stock & super stock racers When I open a NHRA rule book it mentions nothing about TD & TS. When I look at national points it mentions nothing about TD & TS. They are an exhibition classes. As such they are lowest on the totem pole. They should be the FIRST to get bumped when conditions limit runs.

04-10-2008, 08:20 AM	#3
LNorton Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: RacerTees.com Posts: 505 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Question for you stock & super stock racers This is a big reason why we run IHRA events when we run division races. We can leave early on Saturday morning, sometimes get to race twice over the weekend, and be back on Sunday night. Never have to take off a Friday enless you really want to. If you live in the right areas, these double races really work out nicely. __________________ Lee Norton - N229 STK IHRA H/FIA - NHRA O/SA RacerTees.com

04-10-2008, 11:27 AM	#5
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Question for you stock & super stock racers 63 corvette, I agree 100% All S and SS and S/G and S/C and S/St are based on entry payers for income.It always is that way. It seems for lots of reasons attracting entries meets the financial needs of the event more efficiently than advertising for spectators, again for many reasons. I feel there is room to improve this but it takes change and hard work and an open mind on the part of everyone. There are new car lovers born every minute and we need to reshape our sport to some extent to appeal to them TODAY like it did when we got started...

04-10-2008, 04:08 PM	#7
Mark Schmidt Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 273 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Question for you stock & super stock racers I run SC and will likely do some TD this year...my reason? Tired of running at night just before the gates close. If I was racing for the $$ I would bracket race a lot more. I don't really care for throttle stops so TD is at least an option. I don't care where I pit, as long as it's not in a lake at National Trail. As far as changes go, I would like to see Thu-Sun Division races that are combined to have 2 events in one weekend. Gas prices are killing all of us. Food for thought...So the big $$$ business deal didn't work out. Rumor has it that Bruton Smith is interested. If that happens many people believe that NHRA national events will be professionals only. He believes in a class system similar to NASCAR, where the Nationwide series is to develop future pros. It is possible that another series (IHRA perhaps) would be the sportsman series. Wally would have never let his beloved sportsman racers down, but Wally's gone and things change. We all knew what we were getting into when we decided to build nice cars and go NHRA racing. Although it is costly and eats vacation time I still enjoy it a lot. Just my $.02 __________________ MDS Motorsports

04-10-2008, 08:24 AM	#8
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Question for you stock & super stock racers Chuck, Problem is NHRA rates a success by numbers of entries and who helps pay the bills. Stk and SS , mainly are entry payers today. T/S and T/S came into being to allow S/G and S/C racers to run faster and get away from the fixed et of 9.90, 8.90. They allow BIG costly somewhat generic Motors to become needed by these classes. Sponsors see an opportunity to get customers and help with the payout. They require a more sophisticated Chassis which is more expensive and requires big time chassis builder who sees a chance to sponsor and get additional customers. NHRA sees a chance to draw IHRA racers and increase entry payers to the same meet. With all the varied classes I am sure it would be hard to give any class all its runs on one day at the exclusion of another group....but if you create a Buzz with one group like these new classes have it is naturally get attention to grow it.

04-10-2008, 08:49 AM	#9
Chuck Beach Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 664 Likes: 12 Liked 58 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Question for you stock & super stock racers Then the sponsors are wasting their time and money. When was the last time you saw spectators at the Indy divisional race, THEY DON"T ADVERTISE IT. 95% of the crowd at Indy are racers and I have no interest in watching these guys run ... __________________ Chuck Beach 3340 STK

04-10-2008, 08:54 AM	#10
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Question for you stock & super stock racers Dick, Nice way to ramble on about the inclusion of T/S & T/D in NHRA. Why didn't you just sum it up in one line.( or one word) NHRA saw a way to make more "MONEY".... :~) __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)