Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

People have been saying "there's no new blood in the sport" since I was a kid, and probably before. H*ll, I probably don't even count as a kid anymore, even though I'm pretty sure I only started yesterday. ;-)

Ahdunno, does a third of the Stock field at Norwalk alone count, like Kevin Skinner, Andrew Hill, Drew Skillman, Aaron Allison, Charley Downing, Katie Sepanek, Randi Lyn Shipp, Austin Williams, Michael Brand, Tim Fletcher, Brett Speer, Kevin Zaskowski, James Daniels, Patrick Downing, Brad Zaskowski, Caleb McFarland, Brina Splingaire, William Carrell, Steven Dziorny, Ray Thurston IV, Brian Seibenick, Ryan Rudrick, and PJ North?

Or are you referring to almost a third of the Norwalk Super Stock field like Dave Dupps Jr, Brina Splingaire, Zack Running, Joe Santangelo, Rylee Stufflebeam, Nick Morris, Matt Forbes, Robert Brewer, Brett Speer, Brad Zaskowski, Brandon Wilkinson, Thomas Fletcher, James Daniels, Alex Miller, Ryan Richardson, Brittany Boltz, Kristina Bennett, Aaron Allison, J.P. Schuster, and Pete D'Agnolo?

Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

Better still, Michael, if we can get YOUR attitude into promoting class racing around the country, we CAN get young people in class racing.

There ARE young people who do enjoy a challenge, the problem is that modern society does nothing to promote that attitude. But we can.

Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

Sympathy for this combo??

anyone....

Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

Okay Billy, Define a Dime Rocket. I mean what is the top $ you would consider a good investment to race with the guys in Stock or SS? I think we are all missing that part of the package. Price must include car purchase, motor, all equipment on and ready to pass tech and make a run at an event.

Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

Hope I'm not nit picking here Michael, but a good percentage of this list are second or third generation racers from the same families that we've been seeing for decades.
They didn't exactly come from the spectator stands or off the street.
Gonna need more from the latter group ,eventually.
In my mind , it will take a total revamping of the program, including fees, time frames, pay outs and so on, starting at the divisional level.

Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

Mark, you are correct about origin of these young racers. Without Advertising for them new car people wont come. Use the Tech schools to produce representative cars like the projects to race on LP or mileage or bicycle power which they use to stimulate the minds of other tech schools.
I remember the MOPAR sponsored meet where the mechanics had to find defects to make car run....Just like track sponsored teams or high school class. Needs a push from so many current manufacturing companies to produce future mechanics never mind racers. If must be injected so be it.....

Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

Mark, you are exactly right. It can be done, and it can be done without completely changing the character and basis of class racing. However, much the same as other things not discussed in this section of the forums, it will have to be changed from the bottom up, as those now at the top have very little incentive to change, and in fact, would likely be displaced completely by the needed changes.

Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

NHRA tried imports to attract the "ricer" or "tuner" crowd. Didn't draw many cars. Doesn't seem like many younger people are looking for a challenge or rules.

Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

Also anyone thinking a younger person is going to want to do some "junior stock throwback" on a budget is delusional. Whether or not you do a dime rocket in the theoretical way such as Billy Nees or do the dime rocket Indy number one qualifier way such as Larry Hill and myself, it's still the economical way to get a great goal. There are some younger people coming into the sport in their own as I did but they are far and few between. There is very little instant gratification in many of these slow cars. Try to find store bought parts for what Mark Yacavone's ride or better yet a 273 2 barrel.

This needs to get back on track with the new dime rocket not why young people don't want to get into a retro junior stock war.

Re: New "Dime Rocket" combo added to guide!
 

Refer to the "Under the Index for Under a Grand" build-up thread. Mission already accomplished.

I have never been asked the origin of my racing career when paying my entry fee. New blood is new blood, and it seems to me like there's quite a bit of it. Everybody counts, everybody matters. It is not surprising at all, and is quite reasonable to expect that the majority of new blood, particularly at the level of Stock and Super Stock, is going to come from racing families. You're not going to a concert (unless its PJ North), county fair, or amusement park and saying, "Hey! Who wants to drag race?"

The next generation of racers are actually quite remarkable! Look at these kids... everything from engineers to hip-hop artists. Don't overlook them. Celebrate them!

Oh, BTW, congratulations to Aaron Allison (Harvard grad, 30) and Bradley University student Rylee Stufflebeam on your National event wins today!