Re: Class versus brackets winning a round
 

I race against everybody . It's called a qualifying sheet.
As far as popular classes goes.
Very simple answer Dick. TIME and MONEY. If you go into a popular class, unless you are underfactored greatly. You are going to get your A** handed to you till you spend a ton of "Time and Money". How many fast cars could go fast on wishes?
Try to S**t in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up first?

Re: Class versus brackets winning a round
 

I've been bracket racing for sixteen years and class racing for five. Bracket racing is fantastic practice for class racing, better than any practice tree. Unfortunately, a competitive stocker is fragile and expensive compared to a typical bracket racer. Taking one to a bracket race is almost like shooting at cans with a $$$ Olympic target pistol. I took my C/SA Max Wedge wagon to the local season opener to shake it out this year and wounded the motor in the third round, causing me to take the season off. Ouch! I really wish I would have done it in the third round of an NHRA event.

Bracket racers frequently think of class racers as snobs but unless you've raced in Stock/Super Stock you just can't know what we know. I could probably bolt together two or three nine second 440 bracket motors for the cost of one legal Max Wedge but try telling that to the guy in the primer grey Duster in the other lane. He cuts .00 lights all the time and is gunning for his fourth straight track championship. He hasn't touched his motor since he pulled it out of Aunt Bessy's Imperial eight years ago. Our kind of racing makes no sense to him. Why should it? On the other hand, it's interesting to consider how many things that we class racers do that can actually make bracket cars cheaper. We learn the tricks that make stock equipment fly because we have to. If a bracket racer follows our lead to make his race car launch harder and more consistently on stock style suspension then he doesn't have to buy and install an aftermarket ladder bar or four link set up, for example.

I've had some good fun by building and racing a bracket cars but to tell you the truth I'm addicted now to driving my stocker now. I'm not a snob. I still go to the local bracket races but I got a driver. He's having a blast and I love it when he wins rounds! I guess the most important thing is just to be at a drag race in the first place since I have so many good friends that I have met and will meet in drag racing. It keeps me coming back no matter what's racing, except junior dragsters, wait a minute, I've got a four year old and a six year old...

All wins are great. I still remember my first win light. My favorite so far is my divisional Wally. He sits on a shelf and tells me it's okay to keep throwing good money after bad at this crazy habit. He wants a big brother.

Happy Holidays
Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock #6621

Re: Class versus brackets winning a round
 

You are correct. Not many of us still building our own engines. Most just write a check anymore. That is almost as much fun as driving. Nothing like outrunning a pro built engine with your own stuff.

Re: Class versus brackets winning a round
 

Dick,

For the most part, I ignore your mindless but constant ramblings about minimizing the number of classes but my concern that one of the numerous letters that I'm sure you have written to NHRA might one day stick has lead me to ask you to mind your own friggin' business and stay the hell away from those of us that are actually racing. We (Modifed Compact) already got 'downsized' a few years ago when NHRA reduced and consolidated our classes into Modifed Stock. I was OK with that but I dodged a bullet in that a 4 cylinder super stocker doesn't have a lot of options once your class is gone. It isn't like changing weight or something relatively inexpensive would have switched me to another class, I basicly would have had an expensive bracket car. I've been racing in SS for 24 years and would like to leave it that way.

As imperfect as the rules and classes might be, most everyone that races wants things left the way they are. One more anonymous pushpoll on a website don't mean anything. I know you used to race but you don't anymore and don't have any financial stake in the consequences of rule changes and elimination of classes. I would appreciate it if you would limit your ranting only to matters that directly affect you. If it were your class that was being eliminated, you might have a different view on life.

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

Re: Class versus brackets winning a round
 

Chip,

As you know, I finally finished my SS modified car. I am still a bracket racer, but enjoy the rules that come with class racing. The one thing that I do not like is when one racer decides to have a big d@#$ contest and hammers an index in ss for .5 when no other racer is even close, what was accomplished.. nothing just spending more money. And the best part is after the racer kills the index, does not run the class anymore. Thats ok, I'll dance around the ladder. Chip, dont waste your time trying to get class racers to respect bracket racers, they just don't get it. P.S. I have more $ in my modified motor than my new mullis w/ 555. Somebody told me once "SS water is just fine come on in!" LOL



Richard
SS/EM 161
Quickrod 12

Re: Class versus brackets winning a round
 

Jim Caughlin, Sorry to ruffle your feathers by discussing Class racing. I guess sitting on the sidelines and reading posts prompted me to be curious about active opinions and thanks for yours. At least without a car I have nothing to gain by asking questions I dont mean any disruption to active racing. Just curious. Im sure if NHRA doesnt respond with action to active racers, my questions are unlikely to affect judgements...Thanks again.
I have had my class eliminated when 56 chevys went to SS. We sat out while I saved the money to convert and then continued to work and learn.

Re: Class versus brackets winning a round
 

That about sums it up for me.

Re: Class versus brackets winning a round
 

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