Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

I started this thread to bring out the positive in Stock and Super Stock, please post the things you enjoy most about S/SS and what you think is the coolest thing about S/SS.

I think one of the coolest things about S/SS is we are able to race 40+ year old cars with the latest technology along side the newest cars. No other form of racing lets you compete with new cars and old, at least not cars that are separated by over 40 years.

S/SS represents what the factory cars look like more then most motorsports and or classes. Even Super Stock with the large tires still has the look of a factory car.

The fans that come up to you in the pits and complement you on your car or talk about the same car they drive on the street or are building.

The friends that you have met while racing and the bonds you have formed that may have never happened except for a common hobby called Drag Racing.

Please post the positive things about racing S/SS, any negative posts will be removed. You can always start your own thread on the negative, but please do not post it here.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

I like when we are testing at the local track and people think our car has a "383" in it instead of a "283" Most of the locals think I am just pulling their chain.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Kenny, when you're right, you're right!

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

there is nothing like being in the staging lanes and looking at the premium company you are with. it is exciting!!!!!

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

-The PEOPLE. Having the chance to meet so many great racers and people from all parts of the country over the past 10-12 years and been able to spend time with them and make some great friends. Class Racing, and the people I've met through it, were able to lead me on a path of being able to run the Tri-State S/SS Association, and been able to drive Stockers for Alex Denysenko, Jack McCarthy and Billy Nees and have a great time doing it.

- The Cars. Some of the best appearing, best engineered, coolest cars in the pits. Like Ken said, seeing a '68 Mustang vs '08 Mustang heads up. And old vs new in S/S and GT. Seeing just about anything and everything, from low 8 second Hemi's and SS/AM's, to 17 second FWD 4 cylinders...a place for just about anything, for any fan's taste.. The fact that, despite the rules, cars can run so fast, compared even to bracket cars with bigger motors and lighter cars.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

I agree with Randy Wilson.
Many totally different approaches all aimed at the same end goal.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Meeting people I've read about and just meeting new people from around the country.
Also eating well with my friends.And lastly being able to be somewhat competitive with what is considered an odd ball combination amongst traditional American muscle cars.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

You can always bracket race a legal car if you want to. ...Thanx Trevor

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

A premium car show "in action"

Mostly show car quality paint, restorations and "look" that shakes, rattles and rolls, and don't forget those crowd pleasing wheelstands

I told a local reporter one day, many tracks "book in" a wheelstander, S & SS do it for free

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Lettin' out the clutch! That never gets old.

I also enjoy the people, most of whom are awesome, as I've made friends all over North America. From a technical standpoint, I love the challenge of making the car quicker and faster. BTW, if was nice meeting so many new people at my first D2 race this past weekend.

Evan

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

The people and the comraderie.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

The friends you make for a life time. Simply the best.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

where else can a 60 chevy station wagon outqualify don garlits ???

jack

actually its the people, if it were not for my friends i only see at the track id probably quit

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

For me Stock & SS racing revolves around friends and family. I grew up at the racetracks with my Dad and, as a result, my parents and I are extremely close. Now it's carried down to another generation with my children. I like to say that some families go camping for family time, mine went racing!

The people I've met, the friendships that will last my lifetime. My best friends are racing people. The internet has enabled me to meet people I never would have otherwise.

I'm not much of a mechanic so don't get real involved in the workings of my car but I get a lot of satisfaction in tracking my car's progress, running close to my dial, getting a good light and, oh yea, a win light...well, there's not much better!!

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Ken, your a positive type of guy, and thats cool. But with that ride you've got, it's hard not to be positive! I can relate to friends made, although my history is in Super/Gas. I'm comming over here soon, and here are some reasons why: The older guys are the best, Wheelstands, Flat hoods, Stock appearing and mine certainly will be, Cars looking like the ones I used to see in Hot Rod as a kid in the mid 60s, and last but not least you can retire the car back to the street fairly easily. I can't wait to sit beside all of you guys and compete. I won't be fast, but I will out in front on all of the down track photos. LOL Come and get you some of this little 283 60 Corvette fellas! See ya soon!

Wade Mahaffey

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Life begins when the clutch engages.

The people.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

The cars, the people and the thrill of competition! They are some really good and knowledgeable people that race S/S. My faith in mankind is always renewed as well, where I lose it every time I shop at Walmart! Plus, like Jim said, I always chuckle to myself at the local track when someone asks me if I've got nitrous or a big block Chevy under the hood.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Ken,
Great thread and for my 2cents worth.
1: Where else can you find this much diversity in auto racing in any form. No cookie cutter cars here. Technology from carbs to EFI. From timing lights to Laptops. Some young, lots of old guys and few in between but unlike many sports over 40 isn't over the hill and out to pasture.
2: Where else can you see racers do so much with so little? When I was much younger and Pro Stocks were just starting I never thought there would be a day when a 9 second Stocker would ever evolve.
3: Sure as hell beats a car show where trailer queens are parked and polished and very seldom used for what they were originally built for...Driving Them.
4: Some of the greatest people you'll ever meet and and hang out with and fans that think it's cool to walk around the pits, look at the race cars and talk to the racers.
5: Heads up runs. Gotta luv em when it's a close race.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Being new to this whole adventure.....

I dig the rules. They are wide open in some ways, much more open than I am used to.

But they have a good goal and that goal is to keep things as close to stock as possible. How many racing advents came about in Stock Eliminator , guys trying to eek out an additional 100th, I would say many saw their first use (albeit quietly) in the class competition.

In my opinion your quote about 40 year old cars says more about the cars Detroit made some 40 years ago than anything else, it took nearly 40 years for them to build once again AA and A competitive street cars....maybe wrong, but I love the 40 year old iron it was just different, they were and still ARE outriht bad pieces of Iron.

Being able to hook and run a "Stocker" on 9 inch tires withing the rules to a 10 is to me mechanically amazing.

Its all in the details, all of it.....lots and lots of little details.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

The challenge.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

1 the other racers
2 big wheelies
3 the fans that come around the pits that like s/ss
4 and it's about 1 tenth of the maintenance my last race car needed (although many may disagree with this one)

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

1) Beatin' the '68 Camaro with a full aluminum interior, a back-half and a really big big-block with a dominator on top of it. Blowing his mind with a look at your stocker with 9" tires and something like an Autolite & a cast iron intake and a full interior.

2) His 135 MPH run to your 125 MPH run but you just out ET'ed him by five tenths.

3) Wheelies. Lots of wheelies!

4) The challenge of the rule book and the class guide.

5) Like Dwight said "Life begins when the clutch engages".
Man, that kick in the gut, seeing nothing but blue sky & the occasional shift in the air is my ultimate high!

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Ditto Dwight and Evan. Plus trying to have the fastest car in your class and
getting to see friends you have made thru the years at different tracks
especially Indy.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Coolest Tread Ever! Thanks Ken!

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Absolutely all of the above ! The people, the cars, the common bond, the challenge. All of it ! The way I now look at a qualifying sheet and hunt for a possible heads up run, and hope I can get in the hunt for it ! My 4 yrs have been a terrific ride !

And, Yes, GREAT thread here !

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

where 9" is all you need(tires)

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

I really dig the early mornings before the race starts. The track is quiet except for a few generators and racers walking around having their coffee, there is anticipation in the air, racers, friends and family members are getting ready for what we all think will be our day. You can smell the optimism and anticipation, love that part of the races every time I go to the track.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Where else can an inline 6 out qualify a Hemi?

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

It's a neat sport but it really comes down to making life long friends. Eventually the cars go away but your friends will stay.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

The challenge of running a class with set restrictions and rules, and getting it to run an awesome number. In my case on limited funds and being competitive enough to defeat a car with thousands more invested in it. My monza stocker is also an oddball combo and after making a run have someone come up to me and look at the car and comment they can't believe I ran that number with a little 2GC rochester atop a cast iron intake. It makes all the thrashing worth it !
Joe Huestis
"Annie's Song" L/SA 9724

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

I only like one thing about Stock and Super Stock racing ... EVERYTHING!

Scott K.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

I love the wheel stands,and some of the cool paint jobs you see on the cars,and the way the cars sound.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

The stockers ability to run unbelievable ET's on 9" slicks with heavy cars. Also love the sound of the agressive stocker grind cams !

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Its about harassing Bill and Kenny about their paper car Shelbys over breakfast in their pits. Its about Dave Barton's sense of humor on the hood of 65 NASCAR HEMI Dodge " Caution Paper Car " Its about helping John Foxbower remove his intake at Memphis for tear down because his back was hurting. Its about having someone covered 2 tenths in a heads up race and losing. Its about racing people that like to go "Deep" in staging. Its about seeing 1000 pounds of crawfish cooked at NO PROBLEM. Its about Jim Cimarolli doing impersonations of Bill Rink and Mike Wenke. Its about people in the stands asking Patsy how supper was the night before. Its about the smiles, the effort , the pride, the disappointment, the accomplishment, the respect I have for my competition, and the willingness to help a fellow competitor to get to the next round. Its about losing to the same person 5 times in heads up races in one year and looking forward to racing him again next year. Its about CLASS RACING. And for me its about winning!

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Like Larry said it's all about the people.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

I've only been in stock for a short time, but at Indy last year in the tech line I was sitting by my car and Garlits pulled up right next to me talk about awesome. Its things like that that make me wanna keep doing it and all of the cool people I've met and got to talk to. I can't wait for this year. The Tosto family teamed up and will be running A/S in my Dad's 67 camaro and I get to drive. I'm excited to say the least. I hope stock doesn't go away anytime soon!

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

I race stock for the challenges it brings to you. Being proud of the acomplishments that you make with your car.Meeting new people and matching faces with names from on here. I also work with IHRA and love meeting the racers and bs'ing .Never had a bad day at the races, ( well this is supposed to be possitive remarks ,lol ). Working or racing. JUST PLAIN LOVE IT !!!!!!

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Racing is about friends, food, racing, and beer. Where else can you have such a multitude of the best people who will help you work on your car race against you and party with you at the end of the day. It has to be the greatest bunch of people anywhere.

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

The more I thought about this, one wierd thing that really gets my heart pumping is the elimination parings, the way the cars are staggered, seeing them come to the lanes, the tension, anticipation, then watching pairs pull forward. I guess other classes do this too, but still S & SS is just special

Re: Cool things about Stock and Super Stock
 

Ken, GREAT POST, I like positive!:):)
The comradery is number one, made a lot of friends over years. I’ve seen a lot of folks come and go in this sport. I’ve had to go, in and out a few times myself.
Love to hear the especially the SS cars come through the big end (under power)
Did I say Wheelies, yeah so what if you lose a little et. still fun
See Jeff Lee 5) I can relate always shift 2nd in the air with old red 94 car (see video)11 seconds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOquo9auL3c
trying keep the new 05 Cavalier on the ground, darn it!
Ernie Neal SS 3400