No Bump at Indy
 

With 2 weeks to go and looking at car counts for stock and super stock , looks like all will get in and there will be no bump .

Very sad when the US National cant pull in 360 stock and super stock cars , 17 of the SS car's are SS/HA so we really only have 81 super stocker entered.

Wake up NHRA your losing the guys paying for the show . Fans are leaving as well . Not that you care that I have noticed .
( comments directed to senior management only)

Expecting to be torn down and tossed for something , cars might not hook as they have to much power for the track prep or compound used who knows? . What a fun 6 days can't believe I entered 2 cars and got Cambria to enter 2 cars . Looking forward to going to Bowling Green for the first time

51% filled with 17 days 2 go before registration closes . 471 cars short at $355 per car =$167,000 short at the gate

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Used to LIVE for Indy. Freshening them. Washing them. Hitting BG for a warm up and heading North. The lines changed every few years. The parking was always an issue. The crowds in the pits, the heat, the rain, the hard work. THE FUN. Even tear down became expected with 3 good cars to get in the field. Somewhat sad as people were eliminated and the "Circus " began to leave the fields leaving brown grass and dust. Eliminator was okay but the Trophy for class was THE PRIZE.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Maybe everybody is saving their money for "The Class Nationals" race next year.

Just Super Stock & Stock ALL WEEKEND LONG= A Win - Win Event.

Thank You Michael Beard

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

It will be more fun, better organized, and we won't just be "filler". I'll bet the track will hook all weekend long. By the third or fourth round of class a Indy NHRA will do nothing to the starting line if the past is any indication of the future.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

How many entered are first timers to Indy? How much new blood is there in S/S this year? (I'm talking about a one man operation with no previous family or close friend involved in class racing....If you find one please put it on here) There surely is a problem, and it is that there is no back up. The folks that are racing these days are it....that's all that's left. Young folks will not commit to the same things that we loved and built. It requires too much effort....and they're not interested. They can see that the aggravation to enjoyment ratio is upside down. There is so much that they can do with their time and money. It's sad, but it cost to much and Fletch and Bertozzi get all the money LOL Having said all that, I'm still working on my entry for S/S. I'm not in the younger group....I'm with you folks! But all my eggs are not quite in the same basket. I can enjoy my car in some other ways.

Wade Mahaffey

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Go Michael, sounds like it may be the shot in the arm!

Wade Mahaffey

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

It requires too much money.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Still 2 weeks to go.It still will be tough for some of the older Stockers to get in.But it is Indy and a great race to witness.There will be a bump in Stock ,but SS with all the early leavers most cars that stay get to run.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

^^^ Those first 3 sentences fits me to a tee...newbie-one man operation with no family (or close friend) connection to class racing.

I ran my first NHRA Stock race in May of this year, so I have zero grade points, so maybe Indy next year for me.
Plus, the roll bar is not in my stocker yet, so I cannot enter S/S with it.(yet)

However, as posted above, Michael's Class Nationals will be THE event of the year in 2014.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Alan, My hat is off to you for the effort and I hope to see you at both races.

Wade Mahaffey

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

I love Indy but its a lot of time and money.Also if you have an older car in A;B C stock why would you bother.Cant win class.NHRA has bent over backwareds to save
THE late model CLASS CARS.140 trigger at opens .Index adjustments.Creating there own class and unhittable index..These are the Facts,

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Wow lots of negative stuff.Me I can't wait to race and have a beer with Teuton and Race Armstrong who has kicked my *** every time.Last race I told him the tower wanted him his passport had expired.My wife Paula should be racing her new COPO heads up yea baby bring it on.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Alan Mackin, you raced at bowling green so you have one grade point, there fore you can enter Indy, I think I am correct? Tom

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Wishing my CJ was done for this year but sadly with my work schedule has not cooperated with all the work that needed to be done.

It would be nice to rent someone's Stocker/Super Stocker to make this years Indy but it looks like it will have to be next year for the my first Indy. I will be there routing you guys on all week.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

I'm planning on entering Indy, but there are 2 things I'm waiting for. The car is ready now, but it can't run better then 5 under. So, I waiting to see how many entries there are to see how deep the bump will go. 140 car count is about the break point that I think I can get into the eliminator . You have to figure that a few don't show, then there is breakage which usually takes out a few. I don't mind being an alternate. As long as it's a shoe polish race, I'm good. The second is the weather. I don't want to tow 1200 miles to get rained on, down here (South Florida) we've had our share of rain for the season.
NHRA made it easy to see just where you are as far as car counts these days, back in the day, you would send in your entry and receive your acceptance by mail. When you got to Indy, that is when you found out how many cars where in your class.

Casey Miles
248H "F" NHRA Stock

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

GOOD LUCK with that!

I don't see the Stock quota being full at all,but I really don't think 5 under has a chance.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Paul , give it a few years this is only your second trip out there. FYI you will be in the combo race as you are the only ssa/a car this year

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

That's why I'm waiting to enter, I know that 5 under wouldn't do it. I'm in an old combo with a small motor and alot of weight. It comes down to that there are too many people with too much money to compete against.

Casey Miles
248H "F" NHRA Stock

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Several more will enter in the next two weeks. I look at Indy as a vacation, you actually spend about the same or less than if you went on a nice trip somewhere for a week. I have just as much fun if not more at Indy.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

It's not always about the money, sometimes it's about the adventure and the uncertainty. I went to the 50th for my first time. Ran .98 under and felt pretty good untill I was 140 something. The next morning I threw everything I had at it and qualified. It was a great feeling that has lasted with me a long time.
If you talk common sense, trying to win a race with all the pro's showing up
Fletcher, Biondo, Cummings, ect doesn't equate to having the best chance at success. But Indy is not about all that. It's about chasing a dream, racing at the most hallowed ground we can race on in the country. Against all odds for the common racer, in class and the eleminator.
If you can defy the odds for 5 days it can change your life forever, and cement your place in history. I'll be attending for the 4th time in my life, hope to get past first round for the first time. I can't wait.
If your thinking about going, don't let common sense hold you back, you never know what you might be able to pull off. It could be a memory for a lifetime in racing.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Wow, what a great perspective. Thinking about Indy makes me shiver ...It is the BEST as far as I am concerned. Only going as a spectator but I can not wait. Used to go every year back in the mid 1980's thru to 1990's. Last time there was 1999 now my son is old enough to appreciate and endure the experience,so 12 hour drive here we come !

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

It's a great time ,but its tough race to get in my .768 last year didn't get me in,every year I go faster but just not enough. I made it one year by the skin of my teeth lol! I'm gonna sit this one out, but probably wished I would have went!!

Oh and there will defiantley be a bump for sure I'd guess .80

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Thanks Tom.
I got a call shortly before I saw you post and was told the same thing.
I didn't know national opens counted towards grade pts.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Todd, the year you showed up with the ol green Goat and won class over one of the fastest Mo pars in the country will go down in my book as a real Indy moment!!!Thats what class racing is all about my friend.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

I'm coming as a spectator, and just for Thurs, Fri and Sat - my interest is really only in the Stock / Super Stock cars. I love the show you guy put on, best of luck to all of you. Mr. Cambria - I'll be coming to check your car out, it's my favorite of the COPOs : )

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Thanks Lyn, one of my greatest moments in racing if not the best.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

All I can say is what the old country and western song said " Yall Come." It is quite unique, there are manufacturers receptions, cars you have never seen, and lots of really great people to meet and converse with. If you only go to win class and don't know if you can get in, I can tell you how. Believe me there are ways to get in. Some time you just gotta soup-um-up.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

What is sad to see is that of the 207 entries on the list, there are less than 20 from divisions 5, 6 and 7 combined. One can only conclude that the cost of travel is keeping them away.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

CGALL,
I would say your right.
I'm from Div.1 & live in NJ.
I'm looking at Comp Elim on down to Super Gas & Do Not See A Lot Of Div. 1 Cars
listed.
In SS i see a few hemi cars listed, In Stk. i see alot of High Class Cars listed.
I would say Div.3 has the Most Cars entered in these categories, probably cause it's
a close tow for them.

THE RACE TO GO TO: IS NEXT YEAR @ COLUMBUS. CLASS NATIONALS.
STOCK & SUPER STOCK ALL WEEKEND LONG........... :)

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

CGALL, the cost of traveling has just gone out of sight and I think it is the real culprit of low car counts. At 4 bucks for diesel and almost as much for gas, it's a real burden. Throw in the racing cost itself, and we have 2013.

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Guys it used to be we had so much fun cost did not matter , For me its the fun part that's missing

Joey Wilkes told me in 2004 the only way to make money in drag racing is to start with 2 million and in a few years you can make it into 1 million so the money part is not new to anyone.

But like the other 550 guy's I'm going and hope to have some fun . Going to hang with with Mr Jeff all week and learn to drink properly so that I can put things in there proper perspective for the US Nationals


Todd , I love green 400 firebird since the first time I saw Truman driving it

Re: No Bump at Indy
 

Bo, as usual you are always welcome as is your lovely wife Shoron and well mannered children (which were probably raised by wolves), but how about your lil short yankee buddy. Should we let him in the club. His wife is a charter member, but I'm just not sure. Time will tell. I'm a lot more mellow than I used to be.