Stocker rules change? Please
 

Hey I have posted a copy of the letter below that I am sending NHRA in hopes of changing the cut off year in stock. I'd like to hear your ideas on the subject. i know some ppl might be for it and some might think the skies falling lol, but i'd like to hear back some honest opinions. Any support would be appreciated.


Dear NHRA,

I would like to start by introducing myself. My name is Shelby Hurley. I am a 17 year old girl and I am currently a senior at Mardela High School located in Mardela Springs, MD. Drag Racing has always been a big part of my family’s life. My father, Steve Hurley, has been racing for years and my mother, Tina Hurley, used to race as well. So as you can see it was only time until I would start racing. I have been involved with sports and clubs at school; however nothing seems to get my adrenaline going like Drag Racing does. It is truly a blast and it keeps people out of trouble.
I am very aware of the rules and regulations you have set for all racers in NHRA to be able to compete fair and safe in all conditions. However, there is one statement in the rulebook I do not understand. There is a year limit set for the cars competing in the stock eliminator entry level. With this said I would like to request a change for the cut off year in stock. This past year I have been running my fathers’ legal 1955 Chevy Belair, which is set up to run either P/SA or Q/SA. It is a very competitive car in IHRA and I would love to have the chance to run it in NHRA. I have asked around and no one can seem to give me an answer as to why I cannot run the car in NHRA.
Along with the Stocker, my father Steve Hurley, also owns another legal 1955 Chevy Belair he runs in Super Stock. The only thing is he is allowed to run it in both IHRA and NHRA. As much fun as my dad and I have racing, it would be nice to be able to bring both cars to a NHRA divisional race or possibly a National Event. Not only would it benefit my family and me, but it would be an easy history lesson for fans and spectators as well. The 1955 is one of the cars that put Chevrolet on the map along with the 1956 and 1957. It would be nice to keep the older cars involved in racing especially since that is where it originated from.
Many others including ourselves do not understand the year limit when it becomes the topic of a conversation between racers. It is discouraging having to answer someone that asks “When are you going to bring the other 55’ out to a NHRA event?”, because you do not know how to answer them other than saying “I’m not allowed” or “It’s in the NHRA rulebook.” I am not only talking about the adults either. I know from experience that whenever a little kid happens to be walking by in the staging lanes they will either say “Wow that is a cool car” or “I have never seen a car like that before”. It is nice to see their generation interested in older cars because that does not happen too much anymore. It is also interesting to see peoples face reactions towards not only our 55’ but drag racing in general, people who have never been around it before.
We even have the up to date sheets for Super Stock and we have noticed that they are the same as the legal tech sheets for Stock. I am not asking you to create a new class for me to be able to run in, it is just a flick of a pen that is keeping me from racing in NHRA. I would love the chance to be a competitive entry along with the rest of the stock eliminator class. I appreciate you taking the time to read this information and I hope you take my request into consideration.



Sincerely,
Shelby Hurley

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

I never understood the "1960 and newer" rule in Stock either. I think it had to do, at one point, there was a year rule that a car could not be x-years old to compete.

Also, I don't think it should stop at 1955 either. Why not ANY year car? Bret Kepner did a story in the mid 1990's on a car that competed in IHRA Stock. It was a 1950 Oldsmobile that ran, I believe, Z/SA. Any car of any year should be allowed to compete. Even though a lot of the older combinations may not be competitive, and hard/expensive to find parts for.

See you this weekend at Hagerstown Steve?

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Dad and I are planning on taking both cars up sunday. Dad really wants to attend the CIC race on saturday but work comes first...
Hint-maybe a race like that on a sunday next year

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Mike if you look in the Class Guide most of the old cars have been removed. The 1955 to 1959 Chevys are still there. By removing the word"1960 and newer" those cars could compete.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

A 58 Plymouth with a dual quad 350 would be cool, I have the correct mani and carbs. It's basically a 383/343 with a smaller bore and hydraulic cam, Paul.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Why not, there are '55s in Super Stock. Great idea I think!

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

I'm for it!

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Good luck Shelby. I, too, have a couple of '55s, and would hope that NHRA could address your request. I'm not sure why the rule would seem to exclude the cars, when they are allowed in SS. I think the letter is great, and hopefully you will receive the reply you desire.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Go for it! We all agree! Jim

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

The rule before it morphed into what you have now was intended to stop people from investing tons of money in a car that would be obsoleted It was institiuted about 1973??? (the first year they brought back stock).
The original rule was If the car was more than 10 (?) years old you had to run SS. We bought an "obsolete" maxwedge car for $1200 to use for street racing back then
Then they changed it to it's present fashion. Basicilly a nostalgia car show.
If they didn't people would have had to adapt fwd would be much further along And I'll bet the CJ's would really P people off.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

I am all for it. It would not be a difficult change. They allready have the cars in the book for Super Stock. My father and I have been redoing a 56 2dr wagon for the street. We had a plan layed out that if it fit in stock we would build it for that. We have everything to build it into a stocker. But, since we are in Florida there is not enough IHRA events to build it. So we are building a restored/ hot rod, it will be as nice as my dads super stock 56. Good luck with the letter. By the way who all do you contact concerning this?

Robert Simpson

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Where have you guys been.....IHRA has been allowing the old cars for years. To bad your eat up with NHRA. No wonder the IHRA is losing sponsors and having $$$$ problems. Without support no business can survive. I hope you all will be happy when there is just NHRA and you keep getting screwed as usual or worse. The manufacturers watch the car counts and its no wonder that IHRA has a hard time keeping them in the loop. Car counts is what makes the "money machine" work. Give it a year just going to IHRA races and watch the sponsors come running back. There are only so many weekends and so much time available and so much money avaliable to go to the races for the working class so choose your vinue wisely. Its almost like whats happening in our Govt. since last November.
My DOLLAR's worth

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Shelby, if I am not mistaken the NHRA changed the year rule because the cars, especially 55-56-57 Chevrolet morphed into what was a nighmare for the NHRA to police when it came to factory and dealer installed options. There had been claims of wild options like dual quads that were suposedly installed by the dealer as an optional "power pack". I think there was also a transmission that was in question. A lot of it was just a bunch of bogus high performance parts that got on to those cars that the NHRA couldn't prove was a OEM option or a dealer installed option. They just got tired of trying to police it. Junior stockers started to look and run like super stockers and modified production cars.

One way to plead your case is to ask the NHRA to consider the OEM options only that came on the 55-56-57 Chevrolets, no dealer installed options allowed. Same goes for Ford and Chrysler. The NHRA can create a baseline as to what they feel was a correct option package for that model year from the factory only and that is it. No argument beyond that.

I miss the old cars in that class.

Maybe there is somone out there that knows more specifics regarding the ban.

Good luck

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

The class guide has already solved that problem.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

I dont think you will ever convince nhra to go back to 1955-56-57 cars in stock eliminator. It opens up for all auto mfg. to be listed not just chevrolets. It will be a nightmare. 1957 ford w/superchargers lost specs etc. superchargers were not allowed in stock till the new CJ cars appeared. good luck on getting this done but dont hold your breath to long. Maybe good avenue is to upgrade your car to super/stock and run class up or down from dad.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

in 1979 i believe they instituted the 20 year rule for several reasons.

1. was because nhra felt it had lost the manufacturers support of the "win on sunday sell on monday mentality" that fueled the stock & superstock campaigns in the late 60's early 70's. that this would encourage racers to build newer cars and therefore help enhance nhra's ability to market to detriot.
2. was facts that there was huge disrepencies in dealer options, and many specs were not submitted.
3. nhra was tired of the 55-57 chevy's kicking everyones *** and wanted some newer iron on the track

this rule was short lived and was revoked in 1980... ergo my 1960 chevy is the senior car in nhra.

captain jack's history class

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

The new Stock was established in 1972. Several years ago I went through the NHRA rule books and created a file of the major changes. These are the changes for 1972 - 1979. I won't swamp you with the multitude of changes since then. But, V/S is still 6 and 4 cyl only and W is 4 CYL only .A lot of those great old cars (Buick, Olds, Studebaker) were 22, 23, 24 and 25 lb V8s . So even if NHRA allowed them back in (and they won't for the reasons stated) they would not have a class. But it sure would be neat.

1972: 1963 or newer
Dual exhausts (open during competition)
Pistons (stock) .035 over permitted
Street tires

1973: 1963 or newer
Blueprinting permitted

1974: 1965 or newer
Headers permitted (must retain tailpipe/mufflers)

1975: 1965 or newer
Reground camshaft permitted (stock lift, dur,overlap)
Cool cans permitted
Open headers
Slicks

1976: 1960 or newer
Classes W and X 6 and 4 cyl entries only
Class Y 4 cyl only

1977: No major changes

1978: Electric fuel pump OK (must retain manual pump)
Weigh car with driver (170 lbs added to car weight)
Weight of car can be adjusted + or - 75 lbs to fit the class
Helmets required

1979 : No major chamges

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

To answer Robert Simpson, i was advised to send my letter to Bruce Bachelder at BBachelder@nhra.com

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

in response to TGould - The car already fits classes in IHRA and NHRA. Check NHRA's classification guide in stock eliminator, the engine is factored at 205 hp and that is for the 180 and 195 hp combinations. Thanks for the input.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Shelby,

Good luck to you, I hope you can convince NHRA to ammend the rulebook so the Tri 5 chevys can race in stock. I always thought that the cars most responsible for 'stock car racing' either on the track or the street in the early days were the '55-57' Chevys. And they are the best looking cars ever produced imo.

Terry is correct, '55 Chevys are allowed to race stock in IHRA. One is campaigned by a fellow from the mid west -Kansas City or somewhere, his last name is Hillig I think. It's a crate motor car, all black hardtop-one of the nicest restos/race cars I've seen. He has a brother that races a crate motor '68 camaro, C/CM I think and lives in the Carolinas. Silver paint, just as nice as the '55, and used to run it with a 327 in E or F stock .

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Would love to see the triple 5's back in stock! stockers are way cool.... the triple 5's are dam cool! ;)

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

They (55 Chev.) run in Q/SA with the stock 265/180 HP 4 barrel carb...one was at the double points race at MIR (Budds Creek). I should have looked at it closer to see who owned it. It was about 6 tenths under the index.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

The 55 that you are referring to at the double points race at MIR was our car. A good friend of ours, Dale Smith, drove the stocker that weekend and dad drove the super stock 55. Dale has raced brackets, hot rods, and super street for years. Dad's trying to get him hooked on stock or super stock. Dale has a 62 belair.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

OK......Nice car. I wished I had looked at it closer. Good Luck in your quest of a rule change.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Sorry kid you have three ways to go and NHRA stk class with a 55 chevy is not one.
1 run IHRA and be happy
2 bracket race
3 bulid a new ford

It would be cool if 50's cars could run in stock. But it just is not going to happen. NHRA has bigger fish to fry. Your letter was looked at for about 5 maybe 10 seconds and then made the short trip to the trash can. Sorry kid but that's just the way it works.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

All the fords from the 50's have already dissolved sir

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Charley you are at it again, the only cars that can run with the present rules if "1960 and newer"were to be removed are 1955 to 1959 Cadillacs and 1955 to 1959 Chevys. They are also the only 1950's cars that can run super stock.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

A 59 Cad would make a cool stocker, if there trailers big enough to bring one to the track.

I think 50's cars would be cool to see in Stock. Probably should cut it off there though, might be hard to find tech guys that can judge whether or not a 30 LaSalle head has been acid ported.

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

tom p. >
cant find one who will stand up and say a 305 chevy head is acid ported (or cnc nowadays) which is why our heads cost $3000 now > so why would a call on a 37 laSalle be any different ?

chuckwagon >
i agree aint gonna happen, probably better chance im gonna get the boot someday... but if a nice young lady wants to run a 55 chebby maybe ... just maybe you could cut her some slack ?

ms hurley>
stock a great place to waste tons of money... id just drive my 55 to the rod runs with a trunk full of beer and 4 of my good friends... more fun - less money - no NHRA bull****

captain jack

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

Thanks for the info, good luck.

Robert

Re: Stocker rules change? Please
 

she had it at Hagerstown at the tri state s/ss race too