Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

And they are running stock class. Good job nhra. You seem to be successful with making more room in the pits.
Only 2 superstockers (class eliminations) for Commerce with 3 weeks to go.

Time to send out more dvds, maybe they should try soft porn.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

What is the point in going to a race with class eliminations when there is no class win money? The "Wally" wont help pay for gas, diesel, or wear and tear on the race car. Then again one would have to win class if it did pay anything.......LOL.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Yup, then the NHRA spin will be "Well you guys don't support us anymore, we can't afford to pay for class!". Mark my words. Jim

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Thanks paac commitee. (Unnamed racers and manufacturers)
It's time to stand up and take a bow. Look at all the trophies you have saved nhra, and the extra pit space you created.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Jim they don't pay for class now. Plus with no singles they cut way down on the trophies.
Whats going to happen is 9.0, 10.0, 11.0 and so forth. No teardowns, no heads up runs.
No listening to people complain etc.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

The pits were getting to crowded anyway (is that why they call it "the pits") with all of the huge motor homes, 40 something foot+ trailers and extra areas being used by the so called Pro's for their "kissy kissy" areas..

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

So basically the "Billy Meyer" theory? Correct?.....I just believe with the economy the way it is the NHRA is not indicating a reason or giving us a reason to race with them...There are other options, be it some might night be reasonable. But, they are venues to race at. I believe to continue to support the associations, opens and combo races that support us. LMHO

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

What is the paac committee you're always complaining about?

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

It's the super secret commitee composed of racers?, manufacturers (I know of one the comp group), and nhra officials (they are always a big help anyway).
That got together and decided to enhance (their word not mine) stock and superstock racers. With trophies only, no contingency at 8 of the 12 events that run class. Supposedly doubling the contingency payout at the other 4 (another untruth). Getting rid of class singles. Now all the singles have to run each other index to index, first one there wins (I'm sure Michael Beard really built that car so he could run DP's and CJ's without the benefit of a breakout.)
They supposedly offer a national class performer award for the most wins in the stick and auto classes in each eliminator. With the best 3 out of the first 5 events counted.
Since it's inception there hasn't been a thing posted or printed about it except that they changed the rules (a week before the race) that 1 of the sportsnationals could be used for the points total.

I think I covered it. Anything I missed?

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

I knew about all the "enhancements" and changes, but never heard of paac before???

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

It was mentioned in the article that the Scooter bros (comp group), other manufacturers, several racers, and some nhra officials formed the commitee.
They decided the changes that were made.
So far only the Scooter Bros have come forward and admitted participation in the commitee. Seems to me (only my opinion) that bernie seems to know an awful lot about it when he wants to. Maybe he is one of the commitee.

Here's a quote from him 4/6/11
"Thanks,

I should have put on there that I'll add to the above sticky when I get more, all is good!
__________________
Bernie Cunningham 7053 STK "

You can figure it out your self.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Did someone mention Billy Meyer??????????????
Man before his time.
I love s/ss racing but the Heads up stuff makes more sense economically.
Fire away
Chip Johnson

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

ONLY if they make evryone rip out all of that delay box and throttle stop/timer crap for good .

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Agreed

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Hey, Art, are we gonna get these posts for every race? We get the picture, car counts are down this year.


-Toby

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

It's not "the" Scooter bros, it is a friend of mine named Scooter Brothers. It's a man's name, his first name is Scooter, his last name is Brothers. It's not a couple of brothers.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

X2

Think it could be the economics (gas prices)?

Think it could be people wanting to keep their money in their hands instead of NHRA's for as long as they can?

The count will certainly be down but I think it will double by the end of this week.

I think taking time off from work can be a factor - may not want them thinking racing is more important than work - LOL.

Not every down side thing going on is related to NHRA



:-) peace

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Thank-you Toby,Thank-you,Thank-you,Thank-you!
Dan.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Fuel prices were higher in 2008. Care to compare counts?

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Maybe because it's tax season, but I can't help but compare NHRA to the IRS. They try to get as much money as they can from you, then make things so complicated that it's hard to figure out if or how you'll get any of it back! They just can't keep it simple and consistent.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Art, most people I know were in better shape financially in 2008. Honestly, 2008 was at the beginning of the slump we're still suffering from 3 years later, with a jobless "recovery". People still had a lot more reserves in 2008, at least the majority did.

Add to that the fact that NHRA has increased the cost of racing significantly several times since 2008.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Really?

Weekly average gas prices:

2008: ........... 2011:
Feb: ............ Feb:
04 $3.03 ..... 07 $3.18
11 $3.01 ..... 14 $3.19
18 $3.09 ..... 21 $3.24
25 $3.18 ..... 28 $3.43

Mar: ............ Mar:
03 $3.21 ..... 07 $3.57
10 $3.27 ..... 14 $3.62
17 $3.33 ..... 21 $3.61
24 $3.31 ..... 28 $3.65
31 $3.33

Apr : ............ Apr:
07 $3.38 ..... 04 $3.73
14 $3.43 ..... 11 $3.84
21 $3.55 ..... 18 $3.89

Source:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist...TE_NUS_DPG&f=W


-Toby

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Looking at the entry lists it seems the super cars are not as affected by the economy. i wonder if it might be something else.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Super cars are cheaper to run, maintain and build. Well over 50% of the super pilots double up with 2 cars in 2 classes. They are also eligible for about twice as much in decal $ compare to S/SS.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Toby on that you are right, but fuel was high in 08 not that much different now maybe 3 cents a mile. And like Greg said I guess the .90 class guys get their fuel for free.
Stock and Superstock are at 30 year lows.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Not all cheaper. You want to buy a Superstocker that can get the instant hit anywhere for $15,000 PM me

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Art
Super cars are the super gas, super street and super comp.......................

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

I know that I was just stating it doesn't have to cost a bundle to run stock or superstock.
Just like you don't need a stacker and a toterhome.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Even adjusted for inflation, today's prices tend to be higher than 2008.

http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Art,
You're looking for one problem, the one that bothers you the most, to be the cause of the bigger problem. However, the vast majority of Stock and Super Stock racers are not completely engrossed in class eliminations, and any financial rewards they might take home from them.

We have 3 class wins at National Events in the last 3-4 years, counting one with someone else driving another car. We like running class, but it does not determine when and/or where we race, or if we race. From talking to a lot of people, that seems to be the case for the majority.

The one big problem, car count, is not a matter of any one factor, but rather a matter of several factors. Fuel prices, the economy, and NHRA,
are all factors. Most racers would not be deterred by ONE factor, but facing several factors is another matter entirely.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Anybody ever thought about what it costs to go watch in Houston?

Gas from Baton Rouge to Houston = about $200-$230 of fuel

3 day of pit side seating - $138

crew pass - $85

3 nights of a best western hotel - $100/night

plus food
which everybody knows at a nat for a burger and coke is $8+

i respect those of you, who aren't complaining, and going racing. Yes times are tough. It's tough right now for a local bracket racer to go race within 50 miles of home. I understand, that not everybody is financally stable to go to every divisional or national meet, but all this bashing on the NHRA, and the "Good job NHRA posts" are really to much...especially if you're financially stable and posting those, (not saying that anybody is).

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Looks to me like class runoffs and setting national records is dead as long as you can't run over a second under without getting your combo hit with HP. It's not any fun to me if I can't run my car balls out every run like a performance based class should be.Why waste the money to attend a national event to win class if you have to throttle stop it. I can drive 25mi to the local track to do that.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Good post, Alan. I think everybody knows if they were still paying for class as in years past, Art probably wouldn't give a rat's *** how many cars were entered. It's just an excuse to complain about how they changed the class payouts.

Art, in my humble opinion, you need to get over it. No amount of complaining is going to change things. The sponsors don't want to pay for class anymore -- especially singles -- and it sounds like you're lucky to get the program they have now.

Even if they were still paying for class like before, I doubt the car counts would be that much higher. Most people only get $150 - $300 for class. Is it worth driving 500 - 1000 miles to win $150?


-Toby

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Well Alan if that was the case for most? Why are the quotas higher by at least 20% for those events that run class? I know some of guys have there cars so cutting edge they don't want to waste 2 or 3 runs to win class. Some just don't care if they are the fastest in the class or not.
I quit stock because it was absolutly no fun worrying about getting factor every run. That isn't racing to me. I know of 3 racers that are probably no going to race anymore because of the no singles rule. This all started with the qualifiers only at Indy do please the crybabies. Now it has evolved to why should he or she make $500 for a class win when I can't. As far as the manufacturers are concerned they sell just as many parts to a car the makes a single as someone that has 15 cars in their class. As far as my situation goes I make a single I qualify where I want. If there were 5 cars in my class it wouldn't matter. Would it?
For me I'd go to a race and make $750 for a class win. It paid for a lot of my expenses.
People on here say I have no right to expect to win class. If so build one and beat me.
And take the hit.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Cost to race> Stopped at the Petro in Shreveport on the way to Dallas, took on about $400 in diesel @ 4.069 per, stopped on the way back and took on almost $400 again, but @ 4.099. The Petro was the highest of the truck stops. Kevin stopped south of Dallas at a QT for 3.89 a gal. Next week Houston, 600 miles @ 6 mpg, that's about $400, generator for Thur-Sun lets say 40 gals, thats $170, 2 entries in Stock $610, crew $85 Food, say $150 Thats about $1400 plus beer, now we are over $2000. This ain't for the light hearted. Ditto to Toby post

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

hey jeff we got 4.99 miles per. add two blown trailer tires at $900 to that. and how much can you win!!!!!!!

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Uh, I don't race stock class or SS, but it has always seemed to me that the dedicated racers that do, really don't do it for the money...I mean come on...the win doesn't even pay the damn bills. Seemed all the stock class racers and Super Stock racers I ever met that race seemed to be doing it because they just love to race that type of car...Ya'll are never going to get Super class or top sportsman money...That's just the way it is...The faster you run..the more pay out there is...It's always been that way...And the NHRA sure as hell isn't going to change it.

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Quote Andy's dad:
Think it could be the economics (gas prices)?

Think it could be people wanting to keep their money in their hands instead of NHRA's for as long as they can?

The count will certainly be down but I think it will double by the end of this week.

I think taking time off from work can be a factor - may not want them thinking racing is more important than work - LOL.

Not every down side thing going on is related to NHRA



Maybe the fact that NHRA let the factories dictate to them the competitiveness of their cars has something to do with the car counts?



Quote Toby:
Art, in my humble opinion, you need to get over it. No amount of complaining is going to change things. The sponsors don't want to pay for class anymore -- especially singles -- and it sounds like you're lucky to get the program they have now.

Toby,the sponsors sure like the fact that we advertise for them for free every time the car comes out of the box.And how about the hoops you have to jump through just to get paid,in some cases if you get paid?

Another thing is that admit it or not,there are a lot of sportsman racers out there who really are loaded or are up to their collective a$$e$ in debt,to be running around the country in their land barges.Just look around the pits at the rigs and carsin just S/SS.Before anybody get their nuts twisted I'm not one bit jealous of anyone's financial situation.I race within my budget.Would I like to travel more,you bet your tookus.Until then I'll stay within my means.In the end it is a combination of the economy,travel costs and the way we are treated at the races.I think the economy and fuel will get better than reason #3.Just my $2 (inflation you know).

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Course we used to do it for a trophy. And probably still would. So save your Confederate Dollars. The South will rise again

Re: Houston only 17 stockers with 1 week to go?
 

Jeff Please bring some BEER for me..