CLASS RACER FORUM - Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018

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Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Keener (Post 520922)

IMHO making this a big tire class with roll cages capable of 8.50 or quicker elapsed times basically obsoletes any existing FS car because it makes no sense whatsoever to back half and tear a perfectly good roll cage, etc, etc out of a 135,000 serial numbered factory hot rod.

To me it makes far more sense to just build another car if that's what NHRA should decide to do.

I agree. Let Erica Enders Daddys CUBIC money compete in that class and LET everybody else compete in a non-rollbar-2year seatbelt class.

Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich (Post 520896)

NHRA started letting the bodies get out of control around 1977 when people were "drooping" the front clip. It went down hill rapidly from there, just like when NASCAR started with all the goofy body rules, instead of making the teams run a body in white. Now both NHRA Pro Stock and NASCAR cars look like blobs with no character. That's the first trend to reverse completely, in the next year or two.

I think all that started in 1972 when they allowed tube chassis cars to compete. I think it was necessary for safety, but it sure opened the door for all kinds of mods or made it much easier. Changing from factory sheet metal to carbon fiber blew the door wide open.

Maybe people should pitch this to IHRA. If it takes off in IHRA, NHRA will follow once they see a class with a following, like Pro Mod. Pro Mod started back in the 1980s on the west coast, IHRA picked it up somewhere around the mid-1980s. When did NHRA finally add it, 5-10 years ago?

I'd like to see it on the divisional level. The early pro stock had a lot of guys running the divisional races that weren't competitive on the national level.

Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

Just my opinion, but I believe Pro Stock should be (at the very least) equivalent to the regular Super Stock rules in terms of tire and suspension mods.
(stock CJ, COPO, DP hoods of course)

Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

I have read the communities post for some time and share your passion for the sport. My start date may reflect someone new to the sport but if you didn't race at Lions drag strip in 1963 like I did, then don't put me in the category as being a newbe. I respect those who have several thousand post and less and would like to share some quick thoughts.

While not racing at this time, but doing so off and on thru the years, and while still attending, it became clear the public does not really care about sportsman or even the pro stock class. This was obvious when at the world finals on Thursday absolutely no spectator's were in the stands all day. Only friends and family were there to see their cars qualify. It was a great format for those like myself who raced in those classes and still follow them.

My other observation was as soon as funny car ran on Saturday, the stands emptied before pro stock. I, like all of you feel pro stock is a lame duck. I was irritated when the factory cars came out and silently complained about the factory horse power ratings. I'm glad NHRA finally did something about this but I do like what they represent. As a spectator, going mid to low 8 seconds at 150 plus is fun to watch and the casual spectator's who sit around me do also.

I have no answers,but owning one of Danny Gracias former race cars, when he drives down the return road at Pomona, I wan't to give him a piece of my mind and maybe yours. Oh ya, Fletcher owes me one because one of his 99 wins is one of my losses. Just saying.

Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

This is a copy of what I put on FB cause I dont have time to type it again.

"How many of these "factory PS cars" show up now for the races they have? 8? After KB goes out and outruns the average guy by 4 tenths, they will go back to racing in stock, and nothing will change. Every class is on life support. How many TF teams are there now? Changing all the rules does nothing but make everyone spend more money. These rumors are always floated by people that race stockers, but think they deserve to race with the pros. It was the same thing when I was running the cuda. Everyone thought they should be entitled to running heads up in a cool class. If you want to do that, go build one, whether its a PS car, or a hemi car, dont expect to be made a player with a keyboard."

Issue #2,
Dodge is getting out of PS cause they cant pay their suppliers and get some parts made, the same reason why Hemi guys call me every month looking for blocks and heads. They may support the late model thing for a while, but they are also on life support by the looks of it, and anyone that wants to hitch their cart onto that wagon is going to follow them down the tubes. Its impossible to race a car with no parts whether its a PS car, or a SS car.
I am sure that Delete was not happy with where their performance was with the Dodges, but I will bet that the fact they had to beg parts from people that were hoarding them didnt help. From what I was told, they ended the deal, not the other way around.

The other thing people need to accept is this, the only cars that bring fans to the drag strip that arent already involved in the racing business are the fuel cars. Joe 6-pak didnt drive to indy to see a factory stock car go 8's, or a PS car. Hes there to see and hear the loud cars. The racers and their familys are in the stands at a points meet, watching the sportsmen cars and it usually amounts to about 30 people, and SS guys dont watch SG, and vice-versa.

cw

Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

Charley is 100% right about paying their suppliers. I know people here that where doing R&D for them that kept getting their money cut off.
Rich

Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

I read a post from Bob Reinhart(Madcap engine builder/ V Gaines) Elite had to use his engines at end of year because Mopar couldn't supply any parts. That's crazy no wonder their going back to Chevy. Hate to say it but Mr. Westcott is right. When I sit in the stands as soon as the fuel cars are done the stands empty. No One Cares about Joe racer except us who understand how much time,money and energy it takes to run a s or Ss car.

Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

Mister Westcott nailed it!'

Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Carpenter (Post 520976)

I have to disagree. People who attend drag racing events are interested in all classes .All classes just have to be promoted out side the racing event in many ways i know of. Also a racer has to realizes sportsman are the minor leagues of sort ,unfortunately The Pros numbers are dwindling because the minor leagues have not been promoted .

Re: Factory Cars to Pro Stock in 2018 - Speculative Web Arti

Their interest in all classes must be what leads them to go buy a 10.00 hamburger when the fuel cars are done.

I think what little interest they do have is squashed when they see "Those cars that stall, then take off again"

Wish I had a dollar for every time someone asked me whats up with that.