|
10-01-2012, 05:07 PM | #21 |
VIP Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Fayetteville, n.c.
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
Rick,
I agree. I've got a 24,22,20 year olds that all still live at home. One can't keep a job. One leaves for the Army in 3 weeks. One works 30 hrs a week for minimum wage. They can't buy gas and Lunch forget about racing. |
10-01-2012, 05:48 PM | #22 |
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Lake Placid, Florida
Posts: 3,207
Likes: 1,049
Liked 235 Times in 110 Posts
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
You got it Rick. Bottom line is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and lots of it. Even the well off are feeling the pinch umless they have "STUPID" money to begin with.
Wade I hate to say this but there was no one in the stands watching the .90 cars either back in the day unless it was friends or family. Not trying to be funny but just telling it like it was. I remember when Allan Johnson was about 4 or 5 years old at the track with his dad Roy with his 2 IHRA S/S cars. Today because of an oil business he is racing Pro Stock or whatever you want to call it today. That takes the "STUPID" kind of money plus major sponsorship. Last edited by X-TECH MAN; 10-01-2012 at 05:54 PM. |
10-01-2012, 06:36 PM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Island of high taxes, N.Y.
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
Bottom line is stock class racing ceased to be entry level racing a long time ago compounded by the economy in which college graduates cannot make enough money to pay back their college loans or even find a job period . Do you really think class racing is going to draw new members from that. Wake up ! Class racing is surviving on money made a long time ago and it is slowly drying up. It is what it is ---Reality !
|
10-01-2012, 09:14 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Elysburg, Pa
Posts: 694
Likes: 283
Liked 236 Times in 93 Posts
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
Today's stockers and (especially) super stockers are pro classes. With exception of the rare dime rocket as noted there's no way a guy can put together a quality stocker on a young man's salary. A huge percentage of all the competitive stockers in the country have engines built by the same 10 or so engine builders and they are not cheap, in earlier times a good local engine builder could at least have a chance. Stock racers by nature have pushed the envelope that brought it to this point along with the many high dollar race teams. I try not to let it bother me but it can be intimidating to see a stocker show up with a motorhome that is worth more than my 2 race cars, tow rig and house combined. What's a 20 year old kid with a pickup truck and a 78 Camaro bracket car, that want's to race stock, think when he see's today's stocker teams, he's got a better shot at dating a supermodel.
|
10-01-2012, 09:48 PM | #25 |
VIP Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Dunnellon,FL
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
Jack, You and Rick are just wrong!
If you were right there would be lots of young people racing in S,SS......and they aren't there. I teach pool to a lot of the kids around here and after discussions ALL of them could care less about drag racing, most don't know what it is! All they care about is the newest IPhone, best Xbox game, loudest tin can muffler and the biggest car stereo and is it has more than 4 cylinders they don't understand it. And yes, I've taken some of them to grudge race night and they spent most of the night playing games on their phones. Truth is, I'm glad I'll be dead before they end up running the country. Not a single one of them has any ambition to better themselves. JimR
__________________
Jim Rountree |
10-01-2012, 09:57 PM | #26 |
VIP Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 884
Liked 720 Times in 151 Posts
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
THE ECONOMY!!! Nobody can afford to come racing, because of the high cost to get in, and good jobs are very scarce. The weekly bracket programs are not doing as well either, Im sure if the NHRA was around in the 30's they wouldnt have had good attendance at the races either. We are not that far off. When and If our economy starts coming back, we might see growth again,
__________________
Todd Hoven 1035 Stock |
10-01-2012, 10:09 PM | #27 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Elysburg, Pa
Posts: 694
Likes: 283
Liked 236 Times in 93 Posts
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
Quote:
|
|
10-01-2012, 10:09 PM | #28 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Decatur Illinois
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
Quote:
__________________
Steve Jackson |
|
10-01-2012, 10:45 PM | #29 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Elysburg, Pa
Posts: 694
Likes: 283
Liked 236 Times in 93 Posts
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
I understand that many of the current racers are older or retired and are having their fun spending their money, God bless them, it is intimidating though for the little guy or the beginner which adds to the low interest from the new blood, as young people are very competitive and when they see it's out of their league they move on. On a side note, and no disrespect to anyone who owns one, a 300K motorhome is not the only option to get through a rainy Saturday. A 20 year old kid may be uncomfortable at a company party with the wealthy owners, same story for the beginner in class racing.
|
10-02-2012, 12:30 AM | #30 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK
Posts: 5,879
Likes: 38
Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts
|
Re: attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers
I feel like a broken record,but I'll repeat my mantra:
We are not a car culture society anymore.There's too much competition liesure spending. Oh yeah and the present generation,for the most part,could care less about drag racing, especially class racing.There intrests are in foreign FWD cars and text messageing till their fingers are numb,like their brains. Flameo awayo.
__________________
Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA |
|
|