Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Nothing in racing either NHRA or IHRA has been the same since I was a kid. It was fun back then and I couldn't wait for my time because I'd see everything come to play without a big pain in the wallet. Now all I hear is how unfair everything is. NHRA and IHRA are trying to push the 95% of wats the holding the organization together, away. In other words, the sportsman classes. We pay too much, using so little just to have a small gaurantee of a miniscule winning money. Pro classes dont' pay anything to enter an can walk away with abt $50,000 or $500,00, i forget. They dont even have to pay for much getting there because they have their big name sponsors. So many changes in the competition makes going to national events unapealing. I feel asheamed of how expensive the sport is getting and how much neglect the 95% of the organization is getting jus to try to increase the people in the stands.... ITS ACTUALLY PUSHING THEM AWAY by the way.......

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

let me ramble for a bit here. in the 60's and 70's, when i raced a lot, it was really fun. for the most part you built your own stuff and brain power was king and cubic cash was second. class cars were the norm. if you were smarter than the next class car guy, you could win. in '67 mike and i ran a '56 in c/gas with a 4V 327 and were competitive with the hilborn cars [never won nothing] in '69, i had a J/S 4V '57 and could out run a 8V 57, because that guy had no clue what he was doing. friends would help anytime. nowadays everyboby buys what they need, every car is just like the next one. that goes for low class stockers to top fuel. everyone spends so much $ on their car, that they can't afford to help anyone with any tip, elsewise their competitor might beat them by part of a tenth. at the end of the day there are no friends. no friends no fun. the tracks cut down time trials to cut their labor time. no time trials, means every run is a gamble. make a move the wrong direction and you go home, early. money spent for no return. i remember day races which opened at 8:00AM and first round wasn't until 2:00PM. i remember the old Stardust strip in 'vegas would open at 6:00PM, first round was at 11:00. the temp was so nice. the new 'vegas track opens at 4:00PM, first round is at 7:00. there is 30 degrees temp change. how do you race like that? when you go to 'vegas there are 20 spectators. when PSCA races at vegas it costs $90.00 for the cheap class, for one day. the normal guy can't do that very often. next year income taxes will be going up, gas will be going up, gate fees will be going up, parts will be going up. the only thing which will be going down is a racers desire to go. NHRA has long lost care for the little guy, in favor of john force. i know it cost the normal strip owners a lot to do business. without them we can't race. however, until they become 'racer friendly', and help the racer, they won't get cars, no cars means no spectators. and spectators pay the money [which runs the business] , not race cars.
rod in AZ

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

I $ don't $ remember why $ I $ quit $ racing...

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Well,
In div 3 the weather has been horrible. How many guys said "screw it" after the Indy opener, when we were systematically disregarded on the run order in SuperStock? Then to be topped off by the "skidoo show". Why go?

Then, when the weather gets good its just in time for the slipidy slididy race. The starting line was horrible last year and it looks even worse this year. Did you see all the stick cars aborting q1 and q2? I cant believe there's even 50 cars there.


If you dont get two passes, one in the right and one in the left its not worth going in my opinion.

Stacy

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Yeah but you guys STILL keep going. Does it feel good without KY.

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Anybody else? Only 13 pages? Jim

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

OK Jim - I'll jump in .......but I probably should have my head examined first as the hate mail will surely pour in .

Most of you are saying that you're not racing because of the NHRA ,IHRA ,track operators , track owners , track janitors and on and on .But the truth of the matter is none of those folks are the real reason for most of us.It's the economy - pure and simple and not one of those other people or organizations had anything to do with hurting the economy .Blame one of the Presidents or Congress or whomever but the fact remains that they made things what they are today .Want to know why you're not racing this weekend ?Just open up your checkbook and read the balance .Did the NHRA or any other racing organization get you laid off ? Did they keep your customers from buying your product or service--put the blame where it belongs .Because the track surface isn't perfect isn't the reason for not going back this weekend - its your wife saying you can't afford it two weeks in a row - man up and admit it -yeah, I know it hurts to admit your wife is right.One last thing -- things are not like they were in the 60's or 70's -- and they never will be no matter what the economy is -- they are times gone by -- good times for sure but gone by .There are a million reasons you can cite for not going to the track but only one holds water .

OK - now I'll jump off my soapbox and duck ..............Thanks Jim ! ! ! !

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Jack, you are my idle, nice of you to take the bullet.

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

I agree with Rod, I wheeled and dealed to get a nice solid 66 Impala SS. It has a roll bar and rear has after market pieces and coil overs but still a 9" tire car. I am doing everything myself in my shed. I want to run 283/220 SS/NA and try to run 11.99 @ 3750 lbs. My budget on the engine is $2000

I have new Duffy's .065 over pistons
Fresh 10-10 cast crank
Fresh block .008 ptw with plate
Deano carb and 7546 weiand intake
I have roller lifters and hei dist with bronze gear
Stock 520 heads

I have priced eagle rods for $250, cam $250, rings $175. I will need oil pan and balance job so I won't have much left for valvetrain I'm afraid.

What do you recommend, how much hp will it take to run 11.99? Buying a motor would be the smartest thing to do, but I'm not to smart and could care less about records or class anymore cause it's worthless. The only thing I know about 283's is you have to turn em. When I ask people for ideas they all cost $20k need to call so and so noone works on cars anymore???

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Hey Joe
That was good of Jack hell of a good guy I mean it Jack.
Also hi Jim.

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

No kidding Dennis & Joe, I would never put in writing what Jack did. The wife would keep throwing it back at me forever LOL.

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

You will race if you want to. If you don't want to, that's your business. I know I will be new to Super/Stock racing when I get this car done. I like many others, don't have a racing daddy, uncle, neighbor, somebody to help and/or support me! I have to find motivation from within myself. It seems that Super/Stock guys are of the mind set that "I can't race unless I'm fast" and that's why it cost alot of money. Plus you gotta have a stacker and a motor home or you can't race. I think the Super/Stock guys as well as others really mean, I can't afford to race the way I want to race. How can you expect to bring new blood to the sport when you sit idle. To me, you scale back and forge ahead. Reach down and find something to get excited about. I'm sorry to hear about you guys that have givin up. I'm not built that way. Hopefully you folks that still love it, will find their way back. I'm not ready yet, but I work towards it every day!

Wade Mahaffey

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Damn fine post Jack!

Can't argue with much of it myself. Like alot of other guys on here, I don't have alot of money. The economy, yeah, I'm going on my third year without a raise, although I have worked plenty of OT. The occasional buck or two I can scavenge goes toward the cars.

I left the sport in 1988. Jumped back in 2008, real good timing there, LOL! Even better, decided in the midst of putting my old 66 Chevy II bracket car back together, I started piecing together an IHRA crate stocker. I'm trying to put "two" piles of parts together in a bad economy.

It'll be awhile before I make it back to a dragstrip. Just hope there are still a few around when I get a car done.

I'm with you guys on the go fast thinking for Stock/Super Stock. If I can get my crate stocker to run its index or under, that'll be fast enough to run the S/SS combos. That's what I'm really interested in doing.

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Doug - You're oh so right .........but early tomorrow morning as I'm headed out of the garage on my way to Columbus I'll still be able to hear her saying -- " I thought business was so bad and here you are again leaving for the weekend " .We all know what will be waiting for me when I get home Sunday night .........................I'm trying to do what every man would like -- die on the same day that I've spent my last dollar .Spend it now or leave it to somebody ............hmmmmmmm - no choice there .

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

Everyone Must Vote out the liberal lefties in Nov or we all will lose.

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

My current wife of 30 plus years told me to go live my dream. I've always wanted to get back into class racing since 1976, but Pablem and Pamper's were more important back in 74. (ex wife) I held on to the car as long as possible and raced it until 77. 12 Grandkid's later and Grandpa's ready to rock and roll again.

Re: Why Aren't You Racing?
 

I heard it said once that many racers have become moderatley wealthy racing---but they started with millions. I never had the millions to start with and must have spend what little I had getting to retirement. We have not had a social security riase this year, and probably not next year. And some of us seemed to have worked in postions that did not pay a pension or have retirement with them. Seems that once we ge to the positon in live when we have the time to race that we no longer seem to have that extra money to put into a combination to find that extra tenth. Maybe there is still hope if the powerball stays in business.