Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Amen Terry that is the truth as I see it. Having been involved since I think 1964 it sure has gone down hill. IMHO

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Didn't take many rule tweaks to get rid of most of the FWD cars anyway... :rolleyes:

Some people are getting out and racing when and where they can. This past weekend, Coastal Plains Dragway in Jacksonville, NC hosted the first Carolina Bracket Series 2-day event. There were a few Stockers who came out to play... $100 weekend entry for two $3K/win races. The bracket guys knew we were there. Marshburn sat on the bye 2nd or 3rd round on Saturday, DW was running 7.68's like they were going out of style (and you know he was having fun... I saw a few old-school dry hops! LOL). I double-entered the Turismo. Saturday, went 3rd round on one entry and 1/4-finals on the other, Sunday, 4th rnd and quarters again. DW and I got to wander over to the circle track side and take in a little action Saturday night, too.

Track's photo gallery is at http://www.coastalplainsraceway.com/dragway/gallery/

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

And don't forget increase costs for those that do decide to stick around!

I'm generally as old-school as they get, but there's a reason why NHRA did away with this rule many, many years ago: dwindling car counts because nobody wanted to go to a race that they knew they couldn't win. Hence the reason why E.T. racing gained so much popularity in the late 70's and early 80's.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Terry,

I was under the impression that most guys did work pretty hard on their combos. Look at the car counts now. They're not so great. If stock and super stock ever went back to the old structure the participation would be even worse. You prob had more guys show up for class back then, because it was cheaper to race. Alot of people have a hard enough time anymore more being able to afford putting gas in their tow vehicles to get to the races. Maybe you should start your own sanctioning body. Then class winners could run the eliminator, you could run off the record, you could be a tech guy again, and race the way it used to back in the 70's.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Michael - Looks like you and some of your friends had a nice time at Coastal Plains - but isn't the track a little narrow ? Maybe not for your "little car " but .....................

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

When I raced at Bowlinng Green, KY. I believe we had 8 or 9 cars in SS/IA. I wouldnt want to work tech again if hell froze over first......LOL. Just saying it would be one way for the AHFS to work like it is supposed to. It sure isnt working very well now.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

+1

Preach on, brother! If they want a true performance based class go and run Comp Eliminator.

If the old style of only class winners racing the eliminator was working so well, why did they get rid of it?


-Toby

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Yep, they've just expanded to run "4-Wide on the Coast". :rolleyes:

Sorry for not captioning... they added some paved pit roads, and thought people would like to know. The track itself is wide and works really well. Pro Stock driver Ronnie Humphries is the owner/operator. You'll see him out on the track drag, at the payout window, everywhere. Very hands on. They've done some match racing with Greg Anderson and Jason Line and reeled off some 4-teen's in the 1/8th if I recall. Anthony Walton and I are promoting the $20K Fall Footbrake Frenzy there over Thanksgiving weekend. Here's some overview shots from prior events...

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Michael how was the track this past weekend, I've heard that there have been some issues with track prep this year. I'm about an hour away but haven't been down this year. Maybe its only when Ronnie isn't there.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

QUOTE from a bracket racer !

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Enough said and well said, Lets not dumb down stock anymore than it already has!!!!!!

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Well, at least I'm racing .. Stock.

Speaking of racing, sounds like all the new cars are out of B now and almost out of A also. There's no excuse for you to not be racing now, right? :)


-Toby

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

That was not a put down.....I respect you and your brothers driving ablilities along with many others like Dan Fletchers. Wished I could drive as good. Its just a different way of thinking about how to approach drag racing. The posts were to show how inefficent the AHFS is in todays format. At this rate even you guys will be to old to push the gas peddle down before the AHFS can correct the new cars HP factors.
P.S. Im working on getting a ride but I will be running IHRA and the local circut to stay away from the under factored cars. NHRA has no appeal to me anymore as it once did.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Toby you sure do have them a little"different" on the left coast.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

I'm not quite sure what you're referring to.


-Toby

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Who ever came up with the name Pewter, must've seen that cheerleader that Toby posted...my tummy now hurts from l.m.a.o.!!! Thanks a lot Toby...if I knew the body that face ruined, I'd complain more for that than NHRA's enhancements...more l.m.a.o. :)

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Normally I'd say ouch x2, however thanks to Glendora's enhancements (including the higher cost of racing nationals for nearly no class contingency money), I could care less if I ever won a class championship again...I'll just enjoy my weekend in SLC (with my non-rwd car), nitro jamming with those who chose to pass on their D5 & D6 races to join me, along with those from D7 who were able to support Norwalks western expansion efforts....

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

My mug may ( wait - no maybe about it ) have ruined that body picture but I don't complain much about anything - I just try to keep my cup at least half full ......................

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Jack who's mug is half full ?????

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

That wasn't you Jack...as "Keyshawn Johnson" of ESPN's Monday Night Football Pregame fame would say...."COME ON MAN"!!!

Whoever's face that was really, I may never know, but I can't believe that was you...not a bad face...except for that body it was attached to...now that was wrong, on many fronts...lol

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Gary,

Here are the unedited pics I used for that picture:

Jack Matyas:
http://i23.fastpic.ru/big/2011/0618/...0e595ff713.jpg

Unknown Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader:
http://i23.fastpic.ru/big/2011/0618/...5b28b5896d.jpg


-Toby

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Toby.....you are dangerous.....and have too much time...lol

I thought it was an improvement for Jack...lol