Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

Billy

Billy, I couldn't agree with you more about the "Dime Rocket" ideal....heck I just found out today from Vic Hobbs that Bill O'Connor won a Stock/Super Stock Combo race...not with a fire breathing big block, or a V-10, or even a wheel standing small block, but his 4bangered fwd Dodge Omni, this past Saturday in Fontana! How much more of a "Dime Rocket" winner can you get than his car?

As another racer said here on this thread, you can thank the better economy, and especially the lower gas prices too....heck when this season started, I figured that the same number of people who raced D7 last year would be racing this year, thus I'd have less D7 people to race against, and it would be a little easier to have a good points finish for the first time since 2008....WRONG!!!! Only two divisionals so far and there's 110 racers competing in my division for me to have to deal with, and there may be more after Sonoma this weekend. Competition is good, and the turnouts are increasing and that's good for the life of our categories and classes! I can't wait for my next race in two months in Utah!!!!

Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

Bill also has won divisional races....I recall Bakersfield a few years ago.

He always seem to have a great light against me and his car is murder to drive the stripe against.

AS far as expensive.....I see in Classified one of the winningest stocker out
here on the West Coast ever for a asking price of $15,000. which is not
much more than the average bracket car.

Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

My how time flies. If my memory serves me correctly it was back in `96 Bill won in Bakersfield. Awesome job in Fontana Bill!

Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

Some of the greatest thrills I had was racing in stock and Super Stock in the individual classes. Win or lose, the adrenalin flowed freely! There were usually 7-12 cars and you had to win to run the eliminator. I still stay away from most national meets that don't have class runoffs. Thanks Michael for not making another all bracket race. Bob Michael

Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

Going to have to hit the "like" button on that one, Bob.

I haven't really commented on this thread because I'm still not sure what it was supposed to be about.
I'm quite sure it has nothing to do with running in a dial in eliminator, but I can see why some may have thought that.

If it's supposed to be about why the participation in a lot of the individual class run offs seems to be dwindling away, I do have some thoughts on that.

Now, if it was supposed to be a back door way of promoting a Mod/ Spec engine class within SS Eliminator, I've already commented on why I don't think it would work on any large scale.
That being said, if it was a RWD platform, small block only, clutch type 4 or 5 speed deal only , I'd certainly watch Dick Butler participate in it.

Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

Dick, are you living in 1950? How do you propose to seal a motor in the world we live in now where you can use technology to make a plastic handgun?

Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

The post was about why "Racing Class" is dying slowly because of the bogus yearly different HP motors and technology poorly or purposely factored below any expectations. This causes hard working dedicated people to play second fiddle in "Racing class" because they are left with Last years hot ticket or even worse 10 year ago cars. It is not progress to continually have a newer rule book winner. It is the thing which can create the strong desire to just call Dial in racing, Class Racing. It is NOT class racing it is the bracket racing with expensive class cars part of Stk and SS. . Why do people become less interested in racing someone for Class trophy when they cannot compete? You got it, they have worked hard, struggled for the money to make their project a winner only to be left with a Number 2 or 3 competitive car in class. Then there are those who complain that Money will dominate in heads up classes. What is happening now? Guys who can afford to buy the newer, lower factored but technically advanced products are able to dominate normal cars. NHRA then makes a new class to separate them and wa-la more dial in racing not less.
It is the system as it started without adequate change to preserve the Class Winner as the hard worker, not the newest, most favored, most financially able to compete or the most unheard of combination. This brings new entrants but affects the outcomes.
Now for those who are pleased with the issues today no reason to change..
Possible change for situation:
Create at least one entry level car to run a class. Cheap can help.
To re create a level field Sportsman class I recommend a starter class be lb/cubic inch
where talent and hard work can continue to give a chance to win a "Trophy" with no chance of a Rule Book Rocket making your project extinct next season. Keep It very limited on specs and it can be teched easier and cheaper too.( Sealed motors work elsewhere but )
It can run eliminator at points meets or Nationals but it might catch on big as fun Class at these events..

Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

Dick, it appears you've answered your own questions in your posts. Take 2 racers, both work hard on their stuff one makes 55,000 a year has kids, mortgage ect. one makes 150,000 a year , has kids, mortgage ect. Now they're equally intelligent , motivated, and willing to work on their race cars to make them competitive. Which one's going to be the quicker car? As with most anything competitive the money always wins! Now racer number 1 may be one of the best drag racers ever, however he has no chance of winning class, does he just quit? It sounds to me at least that you want to develope a class that YOU want the YOU can be on top. How does that help "class racing"?

Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

I don't think class racing died with the old folks, I think it is less popular today not so much the initial cost, but the hard, almost impossible task of HPing so many different combos. And for the hood scoop cars, what hurts is the constant updates on cylinder heads etc. and don't give me the crap about time marches on. For example, in SS/ CS for instance, I understand why they updated from the 461X head to the phase 2 bow tie because of availability, but why, after all that money invested, and tons of heads available, now you had to spend another $10,000 to get the vortex bow tie. Not counting intakes, pistons, Cam's, etc. just an example is all I'm stating. Love the cars in Comp, SS, and Stk.

Re: Why Class racing dies slowly
 

Why is this still being discussed?????