How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this year
 

For me it means a year of no National events. Andrew and I will stay close to home, a couple of points races, a couple of opens and a lot of combo races at Bowling Green and Ohio Valley. It will mean significantly less money spent on our racing operation. I had thought about buying a new stacker trailer this year if we were going to travel much. That's out of the picture now. I was going to buy 2 new converters from ATI and may buy 1 or I may not buy any. I was going to get a new set of heads done for Andrew's car along with a freshen up, now probably just a freshen up. What I really will miss is a trip I was going to do in March that consisted of the points race in South GA., the Gators, and the Sports Nationals in Belle Rose.

As long as we support NHRA with our presence nothing will change. If it weren't for Andrew I would probably just quit and sell my stuff. I don't love racing as much as I use to but Andrew is just getting started and is hooked big time. Pat I would love to come to Belle Rose this year but I won't make it because of these new cars. On a positive note it will save me a bunch of money. Any of you plan on cutting back this year because of this problem?

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

I think I remember this scenario from sand lot ball as a kid. If you won't play by my rules then I'm taking my bat and ball and going home. I still played a lot of ball. I have often wondered where the bat and ball owner ended up in life. Just my thoughts on a snowy Sunday.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

No NHRA national or divisional events for me either. Not even the one 30 min from my home, unless I enter the stocker in Super Street just to play around. But no complaining here, we are having a great time running IHRA. At an IHRA divisional this year I ran a stk/ss combo friday night, divisional saturday, bracket saturday night, and another divisional sunday. 4 Races within 48 hours!

Clint Blezien
#31 A/FIA

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

You get it. Life has options.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

A lot depends on the economy, but I think we will run some IHRA this year, and less NHRA. I laid out all of the races within a reasonable driving distance on a calendar yesterday, so I can look and see what I want to do. Last year we didn't race much because business was bad. Things are looking up a little, so hopefully we can do more racing this year. The CJ/DP thing is disheartening for sure, but it won't stop us from racing

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Thanks to the new cars, and the cry babies, nhra has changed the ahfs to where it really kills performance.
I can save a bunch of money, already cancelled a set ot step merge collector headers and a new intake system with 4 throttle bodies. I hope the manufactuers drop nhra.
If I keep racing I'll just run 6 tenths or so under and cry and moan to get defactored.
I have fought the thought for years that Stock/Superstock was way above bracket racing.
I now have changed my mind.
At the PRI show I had nothing to do, no reason to try to learn anything that might help me go faster. And there should be no reason for anyone to strive for performance Just let the Automatic Help For Slugs do the work for you
And I doubt it will do anything to fix the problem. The new cars will never run all out when they can get whacked 2 or 3 classes at once. If a person is bleeding from a cut, you can stop the bleeding by stopping the heart from beating.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Art, i wouldn't be so quick to blame "the cry babies" as you call it. Most of those who have complained about the new cars said the same thing, put them in their own class so they can sort themselves out like the EFI cars. I don't recall anyone saying that the AHFS needed to be butchered the way they did it. I think its awful. NHRA does not listen to its customers, and they are lazy. They took the easy way out, didn't fix the root of the problem, and created another set of problems

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Chad I wouldn't really call you a cry baby. You have a dog in the hunt. You are directly effected by the new cars. (I might not agree with you 100% on how to fix it, but your argument is valid) But you have more rights to voice an opinion about something that directly effects you. Most of the crying on here is from those that are not effected at all. That was one of the reasons I got in the mix. The cars themselves don't effect my racing at all. The changes nhra made DO.
And like you said it probably won't help those that are directly involved

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Well I guess we will have to race more than we planned

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Clint

You may want to consider the Saturday nite Sunday combo races at Bowling Green. Two races in two days.

Larry Hill

#32 A/SA

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

I'll bet everybody was wondering.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

We are actually looking at running SS/DA to keep you guys from hating us so much and being able to run it all out

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

I'll bet everybody was wondering.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Well here goes nothing - I raced last season as much as most of you and more than some of you and can't say the new cars had much to do with how my season turned out .Had my share of heads-up races and had my head handed to me by "old" traditional cars on several occasions .Maybe some of you might think about placing yourselves on the ladder where you can stay out of harms way as some of the "touring pros" have done the past few seasons .Other than winning class at the Sportsnational races or Indy what have you lost - as some have put it - its just a "bracket" race other than class or heads-up deals .

Please don't take this as I'm OK with the new car HP's as I'm with most of you - their wrong and like it or not all we have is the new revised system the NHRA has put in place and by mid-season next year a bunch of the big-hitters will have been put in their place .

How many of us have been involved in heads-up races ( new car vs old car ) during eliminations ? Can there be that many I don't know about .................

Finally - I'd be willing to bet that the economy has kept more of us home during the past few seasons than any new car . As guys we're just too vain to admit it ...............And like it or not staying home to teach the NHRA a lesson won't fix anything as its been tried in the past and the efforts were fruitless .

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Question: Shouldn't the new cars only affect Class racing, Qualifying, and cars running in the higher stock classes? Would that keep some of you guys from attending races? Is it just a principle thing or do racers really fell they don't have a chance to win races?

PS: I'm not trying to offend anyone is asking this question, just curious as to peoples reasons for staying parked.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

well I look at it like this, right is right, wrong is wrong. It debases the entire eliminator, and is NOT good for the sport as a whole

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Great post Jack - Finally someone speaking the truth.

We do not have heads up races that often and against a new car even less.

I have many more underrated Camaros and early Mopars in my class than Drag Paks

The new cars will be correct soon and they do not impact our racing that frequently.



:-) peace

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

There is one in my division being built for my class. Heavily populated class with plenty of heads ups.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

I am building a stick shift DP, and plan on running one of the new v10 cars. And I am going to race as much as I can.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

It probably would make a great S/G combo.....LOL.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

You going to drive it Jeff?

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Jeff......How are ya going to hold yer beer while trying to shift gears? Ya might spill some of it......Heh Heh

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Don't think Jeff has enough hands to drive a stick car. Lol

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

I'm gonna get a lot younger person to use that other pedal. And unlike my present DP, the V10 car did not require tht drink holder be removed, so that is a real help.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

LOL......Love ya big guy. I knew you would have it all under control. Have a Merry Christmas.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Kevin would be dangerous in one of those things. 'Course, Kevin is dangerous in anything.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

I know I may get some flack for this but I am getting a little frustrated listening to everyone complaining about S/SS. I am a fan and if you guys park them then it doesn't hurt NHRA it hurts us fans to come to see your cars run and maybe to say hello and chat about your cars. Yes the new system sucks I like to see the big numbers on the board if I didnt I would just go to Maple Grove and watch the sunday bracket runs. The new cars arent going anywhere Ford and Chrysler are spending good money and time on these cars and thats a good thing this sports needs the advertising and the money that the factories can bring. Maybe as paying members you can get something adjusted so big runs from new or old combos wont get you crushed. Remember there are more sportsmen racers than pros Just a comment from a fan who does care about the little guys.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

fixed

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

I looked at the DP V-10 at the PRI show and would love to own one but $100,000 is out of range for what I want to spend for a play toy. I agree....Kevin would be a killler in a stick version.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Its to bad you dont have a lot of money, time and sweat invested in a AA thru E or F stocker to see how it would feel to you. The new cars are cool, the guys racing them are good guys and Ive known some for a long tme but NHRA screwed up big time on this deal !

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

The new cars will not influence my plans. I will be tickled to be racing alongside them once again in my old station wagon. I just want to be racing again! My car is a '64 Plymouth with a 425 hp engine and a 3995# minimum weight that can run A-B-C/SA. I run C because I could never get it quite light enough for B. I actually went a second under the old index at Mission a couple of years ago but still in either class, the '70-'71 Challengers will kick my butt as surely the DPs. Likewise, I've looked at the tail lights of a couple of big block Mustangs that were almost as old as me. Need I even say that they're all driven be people that I like? Hopeless match ups won't deter me from enjoying myself.

That being said, I would like to see the new cars in a situation where they didn't have to hold anything back. I personally lean towards finding a way to give them their own class at least on a temporary basis. They are exciting cars that should bring attention new blood to our sport. We should welcome them with arms open wide.

Happy Holidays!

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock #6621

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

If it only involved one it was one too many. Underfactored by 10-30 hp is one thing. Being underfactored by 100 -125 hp is another. People will spend 15 k in the winter trying to make up that 10-15 hp. in performance improvements. They won't waste anything trying to make up a couple tenths when they are being outrun by a half second. Most racers aren't in the dark about spending money that is how most can afford to race. ie: disposable income.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

SS Engine Guy -- Because I don't know you or even who you are I'll go under the assumption that your business is building engines - that being said you make some valid points in that 100hp is too much to be underfactored .But you need to tell your customers that they should continue development on their engines as no one combination will have a stranglehold on a class forever .When these new cars get caught up with the right HP your customers will be ready to take them on .

On another note - don't blame all of your customers not spending money on new engines or rebuilds as you hit the nail on the head -- they need disposible income and the economy is to blame for that -- not Ford or Chrysler .

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

I too will be racing as much as I can, with as many of my cars and trucks as I can in stock, superstock and will try my hand in Super Street too....new car or old, they are all fun....

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Jack I appreciate the reply and I agree. I have been telling my customers not to give up on their programs. So far none have, they just aren't going to spend any money on "go fast" experiments. I do about 2 to 1 SS vs. S engines. So far SS has yet to be affected as much as stock but customers are concerned that they don't want the way underfactored stuff in SS either. Not that they don't like the new cars. They just don't like the new factors and with the latest enhancement of the ahfs they aren't as concerned with going fast which equates somewhat to spending less money on technology and in testing and dyno time which effects my bottom line.

Now for the poor economy. As we know, several factors (actually hundreds) have caused a poor economic outlook. But one that sticks in my mind is bail out money. This is a two edged sword because unemployment is a viscious circle. However, the Big 3 car companies should have never been granted bail out money. I wouldn't qualify and you and most others here wouldn't have a chance at getting a Gov. bailout based solely on the fact that you offered an inferior product or service. This bailout was necessary to avoid a big spike in unemployment. But did it really do anything? The Big 3 still layed off lots of workers and most are still unemployed. That is better than all of their workers. But what about the downturn economic effect...partly caused by other auto unrelated businesses to lay off workers and therefore adding to the unemployment spike. Its a vicious circle. I'm not going in to any more economic opinions as this is not what this thread is about. However, I do think that car companies did have and are still having a negative effect on class racers.. I don't think that you can say its the economy any more than you can say it is the car companies that are partially at fault. And I'm talking dollars and jobs here. Forget the junk hp factors for now. Personally I am glad to have any major manufacturers support in drag racing or any other motorsport. However, not at the expense of other competitors. ie: underfactored experimental race only applications. This is stock class racing not "run what ya brung".


Now on in-sight into what my customers are willing to do:

-- start another santioning body
-- run heads up runs light and possibly illegal (which I certainly don't agree with)
-- run another association and to hell with the extra traveling
-- change their combos to SS/mod
-- all kinds of other goofy but not impossible stunts

You all know what kinds of ideas racers can come up with benchracing....haha

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

wait till some of your stocker customers start ordering SS motors "but without the belt drive, crank trigger, and fancy intake". lol

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Start a new body -- its been tried - and they failed .
Run light - not in this division --they weigh every heads-up
another association - the other association has done even less than the NHRA with this problem - they're just sitting on their hands .
Change combos - really not that bad of an idea - we've got some real hitters in this division that run SS/MOD cars
And lastly --- Goofy - he resides here also ..........

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

For someone who raced a lot before 2009 and not much in 2009 and 2010. In 2008 I ran 6 Nationals, 8 divisonals and 3 opens plus combo races that I could make. I raced almost every weekend from April till the end of October. There were two reasons I cut back on racing. First I had a really bad hip and second I thought it was wrong for NHRA to put these new cars in stock. Well I got my hip fixed and I'm ready to go but I still won't race much with NHRA until there are changes made. If no changes happen I probably will do something else.

It's just patently unfair for cars that have relatively honest hp factors to have to run against these bogus cars that are as much as 100-125 hp under rated. If some of you think that's crying you can kiss my ***. To me it's standing up for what's right and fair and what you believe in. Why doesn't NHRA let me run a fast burn motor in my car ar 285 hp. Jeff I would gladly run you heads up in the same class with that deal. As long as the four guys that are in charge at NHRA are getting money from Ford and Chrysler nothing will probably change. What I do with my racing operation is my way of saying to NHRA that I don't agree with how you are running our organization.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Jack, the running light has been mentioned before, to push them further under in an attempt to bring them in line sooner. If the light car lost anyway, so what? Can you loose twice? We all have to weigh around here too.

Re: How are the new cars remaining in Stock classes going to affect your racing this
 

Guess I should have said more on this subject Ed -- to make a difference one would have to be a few hundred pounds light and I'm sure if one were caught this light there would be officials to deal with - it is cheating no matter what -- suppose the other guy redlights or something - talk about being redfaced .Great idea but not recommended as it could backfire ...............