question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket racers.
 

Since class racing needs an infusion of new blood I have a question. I know I may get killed for this but I will ask anyway. Since nhra created Jr. Dragster to get kids into racing would it be an idea to have maybe a legal street stock for divisional. With all the people with muscle cars and the import crowd and now with the mustang, camaro and the challenger. I was wondering a low budget class style for street legal cars. Something with simple rules that somebody can come in to a division and feel what it's like and could get the taste.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

Yeah, it could use it. Doubt there's a snowballs chance in H#)) it'll happen. Be another class, more cars and it would need to be policed and tech inspection performed. Something I sincerely doubt NHRA is interested in.

Closest thing out there is IHRA's Pure Stock. Unless you live near any IHRA tracks, well, you basically have a "stock" bracket car. I wanted to run my Achieva in this class but it doesn't fit. Another factor, some combos don't support or allow all IHRA classes. Locally for me, Ohio Valley and Beech Bend in Kentucky run combos but only the Valley allows some IHRA classes (no PS'ers).

Took my dime rocket to the Doorslammers at Ohio Valley this past Sunday. We ran it in the Pro bracket. Accomplished a couple bests, it ran a 10.69 at 66.69 mph. previous bests were 10.83 and 65+ mph. I'm still short of the IHRA EF/SA index of 9.85. Other than basic hot rodder stuff, we haven't done anything to the car, yet.

Start a build, put something together and jump in.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

While it's not a "stock" type class, NHRA has been trying some heads-up, .500 Pro-tree index classes (10.0, 11.0 and 12.0) as a less expensive alternative to the Super classes and simpler rules. No spec tech like Stock & SS.! Rumor had it that one source of cars would be from the Stock and SS classes. But they've only been getting a handful or less per class.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

Until NHRA makes changes at the top things will never change.The upper echelon is
entrenched in their glass house surrounded by their bean counters and lawyer types.They're making big money are are comfortable with themselves.Until the members
(sportsman and pro racers find a way to put pressure on them to change the formula,
you guys will be spoon fed the same old crap.Me?I'm done.When my membership
runs out next year that will be my total breakaway.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

Skills, I've already sent a letter a couple of weeks ago to my Div 1 Director Bob Lang on a proposal to have a new class for entry level at divisional races which would allow new style cars to race in a bracket format. I was told that they were looking into it. Do the same thing and after a while we might be surprised. Claude Ruel

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

For the most part isn't this what the divisional opens are for?

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

X's 2.....Its worse than trying to stop drinking ! You have to find another hobby to ease the withdrawls.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

What you are looking for already exists but I won't hold my breath waiting for an NHRA track to try it. Beaver Springs Dragway has a class for kids (12-16?) in which they race their parents street car, 1/8 mile, 10.00 or slower with the parent in the passenger seat. In an area where the average parent can't afford a JR dragster it's very popular. Some of the kids have graduated to running the regular bracket program and are very good. For more info, check out their website.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

TCR (Teen CHampionship Racing), for kids 13-17. The track I work at weekly (Quaker City in Ohio) has it also, as do Pittsburgh and maybe a few other tracks. Great, and more affordable alternative to Jr Dragsters. As Billy stated, street-legal cars only, 10.00 and slower, 1/8 mile. Child drives the car from staging lanes to timeslip booth; parent/adult co-rider navigates the vehicle through the pits.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

That is actually what I am talking about Billy that is a great idea. It needs to be for anybody though. Fans like myself that may want to experience what it's like. Tracks have the Friday night street stuff so with the same rules street legal over 10 in the quarter. Random pairing maybe 50 to enter or whatever run at division's and opens. Ed I understand how you feel but nhra is just like the country if we don't do something it will disappear. You all love the dutch because it is all about the racer even if you don't have 20000fans. We can bring in new racers and fans to the national level if we don't at the divisional levels. I look forward to the dutch now because there isn't any nitro or stopping for espn it's just wall to wall racing all day and no scrap. Love muscle cars but I wasn't around with the height of it all. I work for ups freight and believe me there are people there that would be all over this.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

They used to allow co pilots years ago.No more.The bottom feeder lawyers and insurance types took care of that.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

Here's the problem: What cars would these guys and gals run, how would they buy them, what would keep the rich kid form dumping everyone and how would you keep costs down.

The Junior Dragsters started out cheap and affordable and have morphed into tens of thousands of dollars.

Lastly, how can they steer and text at the same time and still cut a light?

This is a dead horse! Today's kids don't want any part of drag racing because it's too hard to text, check your play list, play angry birds and pick your nose at the same time!

JimR

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

...and the kids today think that its not worth watching anything as slow as Super Stock. In their world either nitrous is king or twin turbos and prochargers rule. Not that any of them would ever race something like that. They just like to watch those FAST cars run heads up.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

Jim, I agree with most of what you said but I don't think every kid today thinks that way...probably 90% of them are into the latest techno thingys but there are still probably the other 10% that are going to school and learning something in the automotive field. Those 10% might just be the ones that do care a little something about drag racing or sportsman racing...I'm sure some of those kids are interested in several types of racing out there, probably the quicker classes but some could still be interested if shown or persuaded. You just have spot someone out of school that shows or takes interest I guess.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

Basicly there is not enough time or pit space to run all the classes that NHRA and IHRA has on the plate. If this was done it would have to be at some other race than the points races, National opens, etc. Before S/G, S/C, T/D, T/S, S/ST, snow sleds, etc. were introduced the stockers, Comp cars,and S/S cars could get 3-5 time shots easy even when they ran Top Fuel, Funny cars, and Pro stock back in the stone age. Not so today.

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

X-Tech where have you been havn't seen as many post from you lately? I think this could work it doesn't have to be at every divisional. Maybe at tracks that thought it could work. I place like E-town or Atco that are near a large population with a big street racing segment. Kids still love cars we just don't have muscle cars to run to now. Look on car dominion and you will see some of the things young people do with there cars. This doesn't have to be a huge money thing, just simple rules no tech. Wouldn't dialing in take away the need to spend tons of cash since you have to run your number after cutting a light?

Re: question for Mr. Billy Neese and fellow dime rocket race
 

Most of the new young guys dont like to hear what us old farts have to say so I usually just read the forum once in awhile. Mostly answering some nostalgia stuff.