Re: Entry level class?
 

One of the most prominent ways narcissistic parents view their children as extensions of themselves is by living vicariously through their kids' accomplishments. These parents often see their children as a means to achieve the success and recognition they desire for themselves...Quite a sad state of affairs

Re: Entry level class?
 

either step up or be quiet

Re: Entry level class?
 

The age old argument youth and enthusiasm VS old age & treachery

Re: Entry level class?
 

I hope you do join us. It would be cool if you had a stocker for your son and converted your Firebird back to Super stock. Have a father son team. No doubt your son would do well. I can tell you it is not as easy as it looks. Come on in the water is fine.

Re: Entry level class?
 

Mike, we already have a father son team that has been very successful over the past 5 years competing in the NHRA LODRS and as of last year, I am back in the seat of the Firebird competing in big $ races.

That said, the Firebird, will not see super stock competition as long as I own it. It's a very good top bulb bracket car and Super Street car.

As to stock, no class is easy however on average, the reaction times, packages in stock are easy for an accomplished driver to get in on and when you consider that many in stock can't drive or don't want to drive the stripe, it makes it easy for driver's that do.

Re: Entry level class?
 

From what I've seen, there is some truth to this. I think you can get away with more in Stock depending on the round, but it's so tough to actually WIN. You might get by a round or two with a .050 bulb, but sooner or later you are going to run somebody who knows what time of day it is. Besides, most of what stock is and what makes it so difficult is everything that happens in the garage and at the trailer to make a 305, manually shifted, quadrajet carbureted in my case vehicle consistent, fast enough, and raceable. This isn't like a blueprint engine with a electric shifted powerglide and a 750 holley. The constraints of the class is what makes it more difficult than just being a decent footfeeder.

Re: Entry level class?
 

It's the year 2024, you build/buy a car that takes full advantage of the current rules and the state of stock eliminator. That means a late model factory stocker that runs well in the 9's, setup like a bracket car and with a driver that owns both ends of the track more often than not and you've got a winning combination!

Re: Entry level class?
 

Unpopular opinion on this thread, but I think that Stock Eliminator is probably the closest thing to an "entry level" class at the NHRA divisional/national level. If you aren't too concerned about going fast, there are still quite a decent number of combinations that can be built for less than 5k and be competitive. IMHO Super Street has gotten out of hand, even more so than Stock. To be honest, I think it really just depends on what you already have/don't have to work with. Building a car from scratch, you can build a competitive M/S or lower Stocker cheaper than what I would consider an "entry level" Super Street car(mid to low 10s without a throttle stop). Not saying it can't be done, but more "slow" stockers turn on win lights than low budget super street cars.

Re: Entry level class?
 

I'm a little confused as to why no one here is discussing that most of us started out bracket racing before advancing into either the Stock/SS route or the Super class route. In both cases, you can slowly build a bracket car chassis that meet those types of scenarios and then later build an engine to advance into actual class racing. If your budget doesn't allow advancing into class racing, there is nothing to be ashamed about if you just stick with bracket racing for your entire racing career. Quite honestly, I sometimes think I had more fun back in my flatbed trailer and half ton pickup days.

Re: Entry level class?
 

that may have Changed, with a gold card you used to be able to run any et event at any nhra track. My last couple of Nhra gold cards were not good for NHRA bracket racing. And only way to get an et gold card was to win the bracket finals, not too many of those out there. But the et gold card might be different….[/QUOTE]

They did change it sometime in the 2010's. I won the Div 3 ET Finals in 2019, and I was not able to use my Gold card for Nationals or Divisionals in 2020. It was disappointing.