Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I been watching some old videos,brought back a lot of old memories,and have come to the conclusion that Larry Carrier's IHRA is about my favorite drag racing, I don't think IHRA has ever been the same since Larry Carrier sold to Billy Meyer.

Get on youtube watch some of the late 80's TNN coverage,peoples home videos.
I think it is some of best drag racing around.

The old WCS races were always huge before IHRA split into divisions.
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I gotta agree. We ran a few divisional races then and it was fun.
Guess that was "the good old days"

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

About 10 of us used to race every IHRA race stock super stock and Top stock.They had the pros the race was a blast and the pit parties next to none.Then the bottom fell out pros became an exhibition.What a shame we have never been back nor have my friends.For a while I think they were becoming as big as NHRA.I wish they could return to where they were when Bill was running the show we would be back.Not that we don't like NHRA we would just do both .

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

IHRA was never covered by TNN. Ever.

Also, Larry Carrier was gone as of January 1, 1988.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Late 80's to mid 90's best memories for me.. Nothing better than the spring and fall nationals at bristol with Kepner on the mic..

After I got my drivers license me and a friend went on friday and stayed the whole weekend for the spring and fall nats every year.. That was a lot of grass mowing back in the day..

I can sit and watch the espn shows for hours.. (I still say ted jones or IHRA needs to sell yearly complilations of the shows on DVD I know I would buy one today.. lol

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I got my networks confused,enjoyed you on the mic also Bret.
I remember the Billy Meyer year well no class racing
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I have been running IHRA all season in 3 classes, Having a great time. Yes the pros are not as big a show, but still entertaining. We still party in the pits after racing or go to the local restaurants. IHRA racing is what you make out of it just like anywhere else. If racers complain about it others will be discouraged to attend. It is all perception, I have attended many NHRA events that were like going to a funeral, but racers still keep going every year. Racers will generate any excuse that seems fit not to attend events with any sanction. I cannot race IHRA and NHRA, I cannot be away from work that many days, I just choose IHRA and support them the best I can.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Nobody knows the sport better than Bret..........
Also , I was surprised to hear you ( Bret ) announcing for the "Greer Gassers" ?
How the hell did they get you at their events?

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I'm glad that Bret's posting!!!!!!!!!!
Glad to hear from you dude!
Hope your feeling much better!!!

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I honestly did not go looking for this, I just came across it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzwwaVMCPrk

Sorry

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

That must be the one exception...........anyway , in that case TNN meant "the nobodys nationals" because with the exception of Clay Millican or Smith nobody ever heard of any of those other racers.
Funny how NONE of the "professional" racers with the IHRA , some who were season champs , could never win a single NHRA race in the same category..........Rickie Smith and Clay Millican , for example.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I still like IHRA, but back when Larry Carrier had it up till 88 is my favorite era to watch.

Joespanova,
I know what you are saying.but I also remember NHRA guys running some IHRA races and them not doing so well in IHRA
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I had the honor or Brett announcing when I had my first national event win at the first IHRA SportsNationals in LaRue, Ohio 1988 (Marion County International Raceway) I always enjoyed racing IHRA it was really laid back style racing.
https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/...e0&oe=545A30B8

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

TNN to Telecast IHRA Drag Racing
http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=54331

It was broadcast on TNN in 2000 and some in 2001, with some of the coverage moving to Speedvision. There was a published 2002 schedule of IHRA on TNN, but that parts a little fuzzy for me. In 2003, coverage went to SPEED Channel.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Not so.......Glidden and Shepherd kicked hiney almost every time they hit the IHRA circuit. I would imagine the same was true of Bernstein and others.........

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Nitro Joe, that picture sure brings back some memories. Look at how young everyone looks. We had the pleasure of running IHRA and finished # 2 in Quick Rod in 1987. I think it was a great organization at the time and hope it can return to it's former self. Thanks for posting.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Richie Stevens ran the Empire Nationals in 1996 and he's won a few times at NHRA races, whether he started in IHRA or not I'm not sure.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

There are a few IHRA World Champs you may have heard of... Doug Herbert, Michael Brotherton, Pat Dakin, Gene Snow, Connie Kalitta, Don Garlits, Dale Creasy, Jr, Del Worsham, Chuck Etchells, Ed McCulloch, Mark Oswald, Dale Pulde, Raymond Beadle, Kenny Bernstein, Warren Johnson, Bob Glidden, Lee Shephard, Bruce Allen, among others...

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I know that.....:rolleyes: those racers "prioritized" the NHRA first .........they ran both.......my point is , as far as I recall , none , zero , of the IHRA champs , that focused almost exclusively on the IHRA have ever won an NHRA championship and in most cases , an event.
Steve Spiess , Rickie Smith , Clay Millican and so on......... for example.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Ok.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Its called budget....... How much of a budget did Doug Herbert,Rickie Smith and Clay M or( Frank Gugliotta most recently) race on compared to other NHRA racers?If you dont have the finances you generally wont win in THE NHRA PRO $$$$ GAME Its kinda like the ABA vs NBA when DR J came into the NBA with th 76ers and got beat by the Celtics and Lakers DR J may have been the best player but the celtics and Lakers had better teams...... I know i know not drag racing but a similar comparison

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Guess you never heard of Dan Fletcher. Saw him first when his super stocker was orange and racing IHRA at the empire nationals in 1990. There are also alky funny car drivers in Nhra who were stars in IHRA. I went to both the summer nats at w town and empire nats. Both great times in their own rights. IHRA could race well into the night or even morning on Saturday night qualifying which were some great shows. Best was a quick 8 showdown finishing at 3 in the morning. Great night after a late start from New York rain.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

So Glidden , Johnson , Iaconio and Shepherd only won because of a "budget"? LOL
I think it has a lot more to do with engine building "prowess" than simply a budget.
I don't think ( for ex.) Smith is / was even in the same league regardless of $$$. Truely the level of talent was like you say AAA baseball to major league.

BTW , I'm talking "Pro" here........not sportsman.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I applaud IHRA's effort to keep entry fees stable, in the face of rising cost across the board. They do a great job of running the Pro Am races when weather forces a double up in one day. I hope more people support them in coming years, to insure we all have a choice of where to race!

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Wow! John Scott kicked my head in! I forgot all about the brief TNN relationship at the turn of the century and Michael Beard backed it up!

Thanks for the concern on the health front, too. I'm well ahead of the recovery curve and haven't had a "bad day" yet. It took a lot of work to put me back together but, apparently, everybody involved did a great job!

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

okay whatever good for them they were supperior racers................

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

I'm not getting into peeing contest here,but will say this Rickie Smith practically dominated IHRA mountain motor pro stock for several years and everything he has raced since he has done well,won pro mod championship last year.
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

OK...since you "poked" the Hornets nest again I'll come back with my last shot..........as far as I know , the NHRAs premier Pro Stock racers never had the interest in IHRA racing that they did the NHRA and only toyed with the larger " IHRA " engines briefly and even competed in the IHRA events with their NHRA 500 inch combos , since they were as quick or quicker. You can believe that the best talent in the NHRA ranks would collectively clean house in any IHRA events if given the same level of interest they had with the NHRA.
In other words , Glidden , WJ , Sheperd , Iaconio and so on spending as much effort on the mountain motor combos...........Smith likely wouldn't have the record he had.......................I've never regarded Smith as an engine builder per se.....only a "customer" .

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Bret,

Wishing you a speedy and full recovery.

Your coverage of the IHRA back in the day was too cool.

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

x 2

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Wasn't the Carrier IHRA era the WINSTON DRAG RACING series ???

Re: Larry Carrier's IHRA
 

Larry Carrier started it in 1970 ran through 1987
Winston was sponsor can't remember what year they left
Mike Taylor 3601