Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Pretty sure the internal combustion engine is 1800s technology.

I'm 40 years old, and I completely understand why more people aren't involved in racing. I spend tens of thousands of dollars every single year, work my *** off, and then we all spend the off time complaining about some aspect of it online.

If I wasn't born into it, I don't know what the appeal would be!

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Cooter the basic carburetor design and even spark ignition goes back to the late 1800's...…"infernal" combustion engine as well....


We all can argue up a storm about this topic but it does not really help.


Times change, people change, what was once popular is not any longer


NASCAR and NHRA does things they think will help their bottom line.


The bean counters and lawyers drive the bus......period...

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Ok if you want to look at it that way, I was specifically speaking of the engine combinations that we are working on. But again that's what Stock is about, improving old technology and making it as fast and efficient as possible.
The global warming thing, I'm not even going there!

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

So that brings the total who agree with rocketolds400's interpretation to 1 in 325,700,000 people in America. I'm actually still feelin' pretty good about my statement. For you math lovers, that's.00000000307 agreement. But you have to help me; in today's "touchy-feely" world, where everything offends everybody, I guess I should apologize to 1) the millennials, as a group, 2) the one millennial who likes drag racing, 3) rocketolds400, and 4) you... right?

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Don't flatter yourself; you didn't offend me. I just interpreted your post the same way someone else did.

Classracer is a nice place to talk about a specific niche within the drag racing world, but I don't think the entire population of America is going to read your post.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Its a very complicated world we live in, always has been, always will be....

As a lifelong car guy and drag racer since the stone age as well as a big NASCAR fan and generally any motorsports fan.....It is painfull to see the decline in what has given me endless hours of enjoyment, Racing of all kinds....

Bottom line, I will participate in the sport of drag racing and occasionally still watch NASCAR as long as they both exist.....and I am still able to.....


Millenials, Generation ? whatever can play with their phones till their fingers fall off.....LOL

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Oh, but I so wanted to flatter myself by offending you! Actually, I have to remind myself that on Classracer (and most other "racer" boards), a person will be disagreed with if they say the sky is blue. Posting does nothing but provide an opportunity for people to get "second-hand offended" and stick-up for those they feel have been wronged. Case in point.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Remember that all of this started with me observing that millennials don't care as much about cars and the car culture as older generations. It has been turned into a vicious, unprincipled, unprovoked attack on an entire generation of Americans (in general) and one innocent millennial victim (in particular). Wow... good thing you guys don't overreact.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Can you quote where Whisman said anything like this? That he likes drag racing so all Millennials do?

It was pretty clear to me that he said he likes it, but he knows it is dying so he will enjoy it while he can. He didn't attempt to project his enjoyment of the sport onto anyone else.

You appear to be so rock hard to attack a real live Millennial that you don't really care what he actually said.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

[QUOTE=Lenny5160;578069]Can you quote where Whisman said anything like this? That he likes drag racing so all Millennials do?

It was pretty clear to me that he said he likes it, but he knows it is dying so he will enjoy it while he can. He didn't attempt to project his enjoyment of the sport onto anyone else.

You appear to be so rock hard to attack a real live Millennial that you don't really care what he actually said.[/QUOTE














So what prompts him to take on the burden to "defend his generation"? Defend them against what? I think it's pretty rational to assume he thinks he's defending them against the claim that none of them like cars or racing. He makes the point that HE likes Super Stock racing; my question is "So what? What relevant point can be made (in defense of millennials) based upon the fact that YOU like drag racing?"


I totally get that the young man is trying to say "Don't paint us all with the same brush", but that logic depends on a reality that a reasonable percentage of your group isn't like the group as a whole. If there were hundreds of millennials in car clubs, driving street rods, drag racing, etc. I would be full of s**t, but that simply isn't the case. Auto racing is rapidly becoming the hobby of old guys.


I don't dislike the young man or his attempt to stick-up for his fellow young people. Just don't make an argument based on the assumptive implication that one person proves the exception to the rule. Fact is, young people don't have anywhere near the attraction to cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, etc. that their parents and grandparents did. That doesn't make them wrong, but it also doesn't make observing that reality wrong, either.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Your point about the waning interest of younger people in car culture and motorsports was just fine, and correct.

It would have been taken much better by the young person without the non sequitur remarks about a generation's politics and Ubering from one protest to another.

As long as there have been old people and young people, the young folks will generally be liberal and the old people will be conservative. That is not new, and I wouldn't expect it to change.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Your points are well-taken. Sometimes, my frustration with the liberal/conservative thing gets in my way a bit. You're a smart man, and appear to have a kind heart as well. Thanks.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

I think that from a drag racing perspective, it’s alive and well despite how some perceive it. Whether you see the “golden age” or “good ole days” as the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s or 90’s etc, they are all snapshots in time and part of a continuing evolution of which we are all a part of right now. The landscape is changing and will continue to do so.
Regarding drag racing, I would argue that the perceived “decline” in participation in “insert class here” is due to three things:

1. The increase in options offered to someone who wants to go drag racing.

30 years ago, If you wanted to go sportsman drag racing you generally had these choices: Local Brackets, Stock/SuperStock, Comp/TAD/TAFC & .90 classes.30 years later, you still have all of those classes in addition to:The index classes 8.50/10.00/11.50 etc., Big $$ Brackets, Top Dragster/Sportsman, Outlaw 10.5/drag radial/small tire heads-up classes.There are more options for someone who wants to go drag racing now than ever and the period of time in which you first developed an interest in cars probably influences which class you gravitate to. I’m 38 and most guys around my age who are not 2nd gen. racers have more interest in the index and radial classes than in some of the more traditional classes.


2. The price of “admission”.

Classes that have existed for 30+ years also have a population of racers who have competed in them for that long & have that much time and $$ invested into their operation. As the classes evolved and became more complex and expensive so did they and rightfully so. Thus, the cost of purchasing or building a competitive car, with some exceptions increased with it, potentially shying away completely new participants. When I say completely new participants I don’t just mean a young “driver”, I mean someone who owns the car, the tow rig, drives both and knows how to fix them that isn’t 2nd or 3rd generation.


3. The increase in options competing for the general public’s attention.

The same argument for the decline of NASCAR/Drag Racing is being discussed about the NFL, Major League Baseball, Pro Wrestling, Live Music Venues, the music industry etc. and I think what’s happening is that information and entertainment can be had at people’s fingertips and there are more things competing for people's attention and so the need to all go out and congregate at a public event to be in contact with one another is not the priority it once was. I am not concerned that any of these forms of entertainment are on their deathbed. What I am convinced of is that they now consist more of a smaller niche group of people who are wholly committed to it, and that’s ok. Perhaps it’s the days of the “casual” fan or participant that are on the decline.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

These are awesome point.
Added a few here...~

4. Rules restricting the new generation of cars from competing in S/SS.
5. Rules preventing S/SS cars from other associations from competing.
6. Excessive Safety Rules such as Helmet and Seat Belts.

D

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Really Dan. Lets look at your concerns. #4; What new generation of cars are restricted from competing in S/SS? Seems to be no shortage of newer Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers running in these classes. Of course, like it has been for over 1/2 century, any combination has to be in the NHRA classification guide to be eligible, and have all the required specs and numbers to be in the guide, otherwise how could anything be checked for compliance?
#5; What rules preventing "cars from other associations" from competing, other than following the NHRA rules that have been in print for decades? Just because somebody decided to build a car that does not meet NHRAs rules and specs, & chose to build an oddball fringe classed car, that was only legal to run in " another association" , and that "other association" decided despite having many , many oddball classes, there was not enough interest to warrant continuing to to host these classes, I fail to see how that is NHRAs problem. If you want to run a NHRA Stock or S/S class, build or buy a car that meets the class requirements. Simple, right?
#6, really, seat belts and helmets are "excessive" in your eyes? Words fail me on that one!

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Two words Cost to fans and Management....

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Another interesting article....

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/325850

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

It looks to me like the "Ivory Tower Boys" could pick up a few tips from reading this!

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

The writer made a good point of discussing and analyzing certain areas where NASCAR apparently is or has failed and possible solutions to overcome the situation. It remains to. BE seen if the powers to be are receptive and incorporate them into there overa plans---many sports should take heed and seriously examine where they are how they got to the present position and what steps they are going to take in the future. My 2 cents---FED 387

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

I’m convinced there are no strategic discussions in the Ivory Tower...recall Clifford having group discussions with racers, with nothing of note coming from it. It seems to be focused on the Nitro powerhouses of DSR and JFR with spattering of Kallita and such. Capture the short attention span of the casual fans and then let them fill the midways looking for wares and overpriced concessions. FSS is refreshing but mostly just a interesting filler until the Fuel cars roll back to the lanes. Strategically they shouldn’t have jerked around the PS cars. Fuel Injection, any engine in identical carbon fiber Camaros, “helping” them with a 18 race schedule but making them run the Western Swing while sitting out places like Charlotte and Bristol (but that’s ok because they’ll now insert Mountain Motor PS there) all the while pushing Pro Mod as the replacement class. They change the fuel rules to speed them up, then slow them back down. They need racers calling the shots, not suits who are apparently as lost as the NASCAR hierarchy. NHRA’s arrogance increases, emboldened by the demise of IHRA as an alternative. They say “take it or leave it” and 99% of the time we take it, simply because the sport is in our blood and there is no cure. I’m always struck by Alan Reinhart’s (or Frey/McClelland) enthusiasm as he announces true sportsman classes. You’re thinking “my gosh, it doesn’t get much better than this” and then look around and there’s nobody in the stands and just us sportsman types and crews hugging the fence. Perhaps we’re the relics just hanging on to the IC power train and NHRA has already accepted that reality and is just nursing it as long as possible. In any case Wally Parks envisioned a great sport that sure has been a great ride. At some point, be it either in a Chevy Volt or Nursing Home Wheelchair I and many others will continue to feed the competitive spirit, just don’t think it will be quite the same.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

All very true, Jim. But at least there's always Points Races and Natl. Opens!

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

We need to accept we are nothing but filler to NHRA. Something to make a little noise, and go down the track between rounds of Top Fuel & Funny Car.