How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Just curious - another 20 years?
Or maybe just 10 more Hell maybe forever |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Indefinitely.
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Competitively? Ask Dan Fletcher.
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Until they pry it from my cold dead hands.
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
As long as the 50,60 and 70 year old drivers can stand it.
Jeff Colvert SS/G 4456, 56 |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
It will all depend on what companies continue to produce parts for these cars. If the parts are there, guys can continue to race, but if the parts become more scarce, they will slowly stop being raced. This is where it will be important for aftermarket companies to take over for OEM's in recasting and reproducing OEM parts.
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
I know it is not a fair or comparison but if in 1969 - guys were racing 40 year old cars they would have been 1929s - even 20 year old cars would have been 1949s
Does not even seem logical that our cars have lasted this long I think the EPA and pressure from foreign car makers must have caused a lull in our auto manufacturers development process These new cars are just beginning to catch up maybe :-) peace |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
i would say as long as they are the predominate cars being raced in stock and SS. if they become totall uncompetitve or get legislated out, a lot of racers will not replace them with newer cars. Stock and SS would shrink dramatically. Stock moreso due to the GT cars in SS.
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
As long as the sun still shines if theres a will theres a way~~~~~~
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
Interesting comment. But I have always felt more blame should fall to the short-term thinking of business leaders, and the pressure applied by Wall Street that made them respond to EPA emissions requirements as cheaply and quickly as possible. This resulted in those nearly undriveable pieces of crap in the 1970's, with retarded timing and carburetors that lean-surged. Remember how they wouldn't stop running after you turned off the key? These brand new cars that ran terribly did more to open the door for Japan than anything the Japanese manufacturers did themselves. |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
They will only continue to run as long as there are no new cars in their classes..
David The New Hemi Guy |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
The only thing against the new cars to almost everybody here is the factors are screwed. Why would a '69 vs. a '010 model matter if the factors are worked out? Hell, you can build a new '69 camaro without a single used part. What am I missing? If anybody at NHRA had given a damn, (which it seems they didn't) all they had to do was look at a cut-away of a new hemi. It's pretty much what you'd expect to see in a 2 valve Indy motor. The exhaust lifter is nearly horizontal because the cam is so high, the intake ports are pro-stockish. There ain't a lot one would change from a design point if it was meant as a clean-sheet race engine. When it was on the drawing-board, M.Benz had controlling interest in Chrysler AND Ilmor. It's not a big shock to anyone who paid any attention. NHRA obviously did not. |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
I've been waiting for somebody to come to this realization that we are racing antiques. When I started racing Stockers in the early 70's I would have thought it to be abosolutely crazy for a guy to run a 40 year old - which would have been a 30's era car - in Stock or Super Stock. In sports car racing cars from the 60's and 70's are raced in what is called "vintage racing" - circle track guys are called "old timers". For those of us that grew up with these 60s - 70s and even 80s cars - I suppose it's hard to see what could possiblly be odd about all of this. But from the outsiders view - or those under the age of 30, it must look a little wierd. What really brings it into perspective is trying to explain the rules and concept of "Stock" or S/S to a 20 or 30-something enthusiast.
For the continued health of both Stock and S/S it's important to get some new cars and new blood involved. And the "Old vs. New" makes for good racing that gets the fans excited and engaged. I vote to keep the old with the new. I really like the old stuff and am hooked on them - I have a 1964 Stocker - but my day job is all about selling the new stuff. |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Of course Andy - my son - drives a 40 year old car for now
I am sure he would rather drive the new one I wonder if Nitro Joe could tell us actually how many of today's Stock cars are pre-2000 (10 years old) vs pre-1975 (35 years old) Seems to me the number of newer cars has been growing and the number of older cars is diminishing Where do the older stockers go? Another association? Maybe they are being restored because they are worth more restored than as a stocker. |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
When Chevrolet comes out w/the 550 hp Cadillac-powered, lightened chassis Z28 Camaro (and you might see it sooner than later) many of the GM guys will jump on the bandwagon and start running these late models alongside the new Mustangs and Challengers. Too many Chevy guys out there....the guard will eventually change when they get offered a new, competitive factory hot rod to race with.. ;)---my thoughts..... WJ
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
GUYS, c'mon !!! Look at what ya all are saying and thinking, sounds like ya want to be a quitter!!! Old cars, post '63 created the term 'muscle cars' and they will be around forever because they SET the bench mark for Stock Elim. performance.
New cars, with the latest technology are creating a new muscle car era and they will fit in just like they did back then. We already have some that have been thrashed to death, like the early EFI's have and now they fit in. Yea we'll get the F/X classes, ( hoping) JUST SAYING !!!!! |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
With companies like Dynacorn out there what was once old is new again:)!
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
As long as they can.
I know Andy's Dad is trying to justify spending over $100,000 dollars on a new car. But C'Mon The big three didn't build anything worth talking about for years But when Ford and Chrysler did the Technology is 40 years better,1000cfm throttle body's EFI,4-links (build to your specs),blowers,aluminum intakes, Milodon pans ect. They have built so much power they have all bought patents on the powerglide so they can get these over powered monsters to hook. The Train has left the Station and it is flying. I am 42 and Love the old Muscle. |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Probably as long as "affordable" bodies are still available to use as a basis to build cars from. Let's be honest here, as someone said, many of the cars running today are more valuable as restored classics than they are as race cars. For some, budget isn't a problem, so they can take a rotted hulk and spend a fortune to build a car first, then make a race car from that.
Dare I say, for many of us, we have to have a usable platform to start with. With the older cars, that not only is, but for a long time has started to become a problem. Add to this the Barret-Jackson/Mecom/Satruday morning CARtoon shows, that have caused everyone with a junk body of any kind laying around to think they're setting on their retirement goldmine. I'd wager, the cost of building an old car versus buying a new car, isn't going to be that far apart, very soon. It's interesting, in the mid-70's, NHRA instituted the 15 year rule for stock to legislate the early 40's-50's car out of the eliminator. Now 35 or so years later, we're doing the same thing they sought to prevent, kind of ironic, isn't it? It's been joked about but, the idea of a vintage class or "stock appearing" eliminator, may not be as far fetched as it appears. At that point, it becomes a pure bracket class and the end of the class as we know it. For a class to remain relevant, it does need to appeal to the younger generations. That means newer vehicles THEY can openly relate to. We can do all the polls we want, this board, like most discussion forums is only a microcosm of the hobby. A trip to the track is revealing, most of the participants (I hope to be included in this categorey someday, again) in stock are older. A restrictive class with restrictive rules are not what the majority of the younger crowd seeks. My .02, Robert Swartz |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
There are a lot of 20 and 30 something people in Stock. Not a majority by any stretch, but quite a few. Some of them are running older iron. Honestly, with the current expense of building a Stock Eliminator car and traveling, few people under 30 can afford it. Especially in this economy.
Consider that a reasonably competitive budget car is $20K. A truck and open trailer is $15K if you want something late model and reliable. That's a budget rig. Next, to compete on a regional basis, you need at least 6-7 three day weekends to run the LODRS races. Then you need another 4-5 three to five day weekends to run the National Events in your region. How many 20 something, or even 30 something people can get that much time off, from a job that pays well enough for them to spend at least $500 for at least those ten weekends? Saying the big thing keeping young people out of Stock is the old cars is a bit of a stretch, and that's being generous. The restrictive rules angle doesn't play that well either. While there will always be the "take the easy way" element, there will also be those who prefer the technical thinking route. Nothing you can do to Stock, while at least maintaining some semblance of the original intent and spirit, will draw the "easy" crowd. They ain't coming, just forget it. |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
I'm 25 years old and purchased a C/SA 1972 Corvette at the beginning of the year. I would like to know how many guys in their 20's have purchased a "new car".
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Just to clarify - I am not trying to justify buying a $100,000 Stocker (?) - I am trying to justify NOT selling my old car cheap. We all know Stockers cost a lot of money - hell there are many $40,000 to $80,000 (or more) older Stockers out there now - ask guys with the really fast, nice older ones.
I also feel like some have said, these old cars are very popular and will be for a long, long time. I wondered what the rest of you think and how you see it. I clearly do not have that many years left, but it seems my '70 Camaro will be OK for a long time. I think there is a "sea change" and it is inevitable in our form of drag racing - it is an evolutionary adjustment. NHRA is going to want to keep the old and introduce the new in a way which makes us all happy (if that is possible) - as Bernie said the EFI cars have come from being way off to fitting in where they should. As a final thought – don’t you think these new cars can have some of the tricks we have learned about our older combinations added to them and go even faster? - imagine them 10 years from now – wow Ron Durham aka – Andy’s Dad :-) peace |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Although I have only been running in Stock for 8 years now, I have been hanging around with a few buddys Stock & S/S cars for more like 20. And in that time, it seems that most "new" racers have either moved up from the brackets, or are following Fathers, Uncles, or older brothers who have been racing class for years. I have seen very few 20-30ish racers entering Stock or S/S without prior family involvment.
In addition to a limited Stock schedule (typically 1 NHRA Nat`l event and maybe 3 LODRS), I also run in a stickshift association bracket series, and have ran in a local Stock-S/S association, both close to home, and have noticed that even our local tracks bracket program has been dwindling over recent years. Now some must be blamed on the economic situation, and skyrocketing real estate costs, however, I think than many younger people don`t like the "silly" restrictive rules that are the backbone of Stock & S/S. Our local tracks Friday nite "Street Legal" races are normally very well attended, but the majority of cars are either imports, late model cars, or 80`s-90`s Mustangs & Camaros. I have talked to a bunch of these younger people, and most think having to spend money on "junk factory" heads is crazy, when you can buy new aluminum aftermarket stuff for less. Why spend money on a blueprinted class legal engine when you can go faster with a nitrous oxide kit, or a supercharger? They don`t care how poorly their cars suspension is setup, a low 12 second car going 125 MPH is not uncommon. Plus they don`t want to pay more at the gate, and possibly lose 1rst round, when thay can "race" the street legals all night for $25. or $30. Sad but true. JMO |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
I appreciate it. My father does all of the engines. It's still new and we're trying to figure it out. It's definitely a different beast than the small blocks and higher-compression big blocks but that's also what is making it fun.
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
Seems you and I have talked to some of the same people. A handful of guys I work with look at me like I'm from Mars when I tell them I'm building a second car to run in Stock. They just can't fathom why I want to build an engine with factory iron heads and a hydraulic camshaft. Then when they find out you have to run a "stock" suspension and 9" tires, they just don't get it. Like you said, when you can get aluminum heads, good roller cams, shoot, you can order a whole engine straight from the catlogue, almost guarantee you can run in the 10's out of the box. Like you said as well, they would rather attend the street nites and run their cars as much as they want. Alan, I will say this. I've looked at some of the cars the younger guys have built. I'm not 100% convinced they have taken the easy way. Some of the set ups with the power adders, twin turbos and the electronics. They have to work on these cars, just in different ways than we did/do. Actually, I'm amazed at the power some of these guys make with the imports. On the other hand, many of my friends don't understand why I don't want to build a nitrous motor or put a delay box in my bracket car. Personally, it's not what I want to do. Bring on the new cars. Robert Swartz |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Just my Opinion and every AH has 1
At least my car accelerates when i step on the pedal and decellerates when i let off and also when I step on the brakes they work everytime No delay ...Dont forget We here in the USA we are the 1s to develope True Muscle cars and the rest of the world tried to copy.. I will keep my 40 year old car untill Hell freezes over.... No onboard computers for me.This is Dragracing Not Laptop Racing... I know..Iknow Times are changing, Doesnt mean I have to like it... Just My 02s worth SS/FA 70 Cuda No its NOT a Hemi Allan |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
I'll be racing my 71 Duster until I'm 90. I have enough parts car's to last until then. I started racing stock just after I turned 30 and did so for the challenge, Yes I could have built a 9 second car for less than half the cost of my most recent stocker but any A/H can do that.
Try making a slant six run 1.30 under! Now that is a challenge........... I also have a 28 year friend resurrecting 58 ford with a 352, it was class winner at the winternational in the mid 60's and been tucked away in a barn since, So there are a few of the younger guy's that are interested in stock |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Where is this Mega Ford, FE Shootout going to be held?
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
It seems to me that there are some cars that are (easier) to race than others. It may be the engine factor, suspension, weight F&R, etc. I also think some racers select a car based on what they love, and some on the maximum advantage, (oh yes, and many on what they can afford). I would like to think that I chose my 60 Corvette project (ex-gasser, already cut up type of thing...cheap) for a little of each of these points and more. I think if the NHRA wants to bring in the new stuff and under rate them, the racers that don't quit will migrate down the food chain and find a new home. Then the CJs, and DPs will be at the top and soon will be like dragsters, (seen one, seen them all). I think the stock and S/S racers like the classes diversity of cars (I know I do), and for that reason I belive the old cars will remain. At least till us old guys are all gone, or the new stuff finds it's way down the scale to slower classes. Hey, I don't think they're letting the CJs, and DPs in nostalgia S/S yet! We can always go that way. Fellas, there's alot more to life than NHRA.
|
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
, Jim Gonias low 9 second NSS Fairlane, Bob & Mike Nottinghams SS/EA 67 Fairlane, as well as many others. The Mega Ford organizer, Dale, is a member on this site, and does post ocassionally. There is also Nostalgia Stock & Nostalgia S/S, which is open to all makes, we normally have a number of MoPar racers, including Jim Isherwoods SS/EA 67 Hemi Belvedere, Shawn Blairs SS/JA Dart, Phil Marvetz`s A/SA NASCAR Hemi 65 Corenet, and Dave wren, in one of his many Hemi or Max Wedge cars. |
Re: How long do you think 40 to 50 year old cars can continue to be raced?
Quote:
|
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:49 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Class Racer.com. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.