Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

After the announcement that Englishtown is stopping Drag racing, it makes me wonder about the future. So enjoy it while you can.
We always talk about kids not being involved but what is going to happen when we are all in self driving electric cars? They say it is 10 years down the road when it will be the norm. And if the politicians can figure out a way to make money off these technologies, watch out.
It is coming. Your thoughts.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

One door closes another door opens.

There's still Atco and Numidia. Both are good tracks. They will benefit from the closing of e-town.

There's Island also. Island has faced the same pressure to close for a long time. The track has been in disrepair for as long as I've gone there. I wouldn't be surprised if they close in the future.

One of the reasons I've stayed in Jersey is because of the tracks. With the outrageous taxes and stupid politics of the state, I know that I'll be moving within the next 5 to 10 years. There are a lot of tracks down south and around the country. I don't have to stay and take the abuse of state and local politicians and neither does anyone else.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I cannot believe how many people are not only accepting electric/autonomous cars, but embracing them! Normally I'd say they are the same wack jobs that would live in an apartment in a city and take public transit, but no, more and more people I know are saying stuff like "well that would be nice to just get in and the car take you somewhere" HOLY CRAP! It's bad enough, at a party I hosted a while back, I was in the minority when I brought it up, very few wanted to be bothered with driving.

Further, talk of electric cars that you pay for, drive 5 years under a "warranty" then trade in for another, no maint/repairs/etc was being talked about as if it would be mans saviour! Like buying a toaster, when it breaks, throw it away and get another. Seriously, have we slumped to this???

I ain't going down without a fight.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

Driverless cars are another indicator of the lost interest in the mechanics but instead in the electronics. We hung out at a garage or service station. These people hang out at a coffee shop and do all their work from a distance on a computer. Are they really getting any personal association while just sipping and typing? I doubt It.
We are a vanishing breed and skill level and interest. Good luck to you guys who are just approaching retirement age. It will be gone as you know it just like it is gone as I knew it already. Long live Class Racing and Jr. Stock.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I got my drivers license when I was 16. So did everyone I knew in High School in 1974. Driving was a blast, a new adventure.
Today it is inconvenient. Adventures happen on cell phones,
But I`m not sure it will change that fast.
Gasoline tax is hard to replace.
Mike a114

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

Young people are not getting driver’s licenses so much anymore. In fact, no one is. According to a new study by Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, the percentage of people with a driver’s license decreased between 2011 and 2014, across all age groups. For people aged 16 to 44, that percentage has been decreasing steadily since 1983.
It’s especially pronounced for the teens—in 2014, just 24.5 percent of 16-year-olds had a license, a 47-percent decrease from 1983, when 46.2 percent did. And at the tail end of the teen years, 69 percent of 19-year-olds had licenses in 2014, compared to 87.3 percent in 1983, a 21-percent decrease.

I am 74 and started driving trucks on the farm at 14. Everybody had their license at sixteen and we all had something to race, I had a 40 olds with a 54 324 engine. Today kids have computers and don't care about driving. Is there any way to turn this around?

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I got my learners permit the day after my 16th birthday, then about 6 months later I took my road test and got my "Junior License" which is basically a learners permit but you can drive between your home and work, a work-study program, college, or night school (no high school) between 5 and 9 pm. If you take drivers education (which I did just so i could get my license as soon as possible) you can get your full license at 17, if you don't you cant get it until 18. So for many it isn't even possible to get a license at 16

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

While it's true in general that the love affair with cars among kids has dropped off, there's a huge following in the small tire and grudge stuff. Enough that there is even a TV show about it. Bracket racing also has a big draw.

Stock, SS and comp have lost a lot of participants but drag racing is still very much alive. There are a lot of young people still involved just not in stock, ss and comp.

The grudge and small tire events draw a lot of spectators. Nobody wants to sit around and watch bracket racing. There's a reason for that and contrary to some people's point of view it's not about the crashes.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

How do you change anything? get involved with your Grand Children. That is the generation learning things. The last generation is lost. They are the computer hacks.
Spend time with your grandkids teaching carpentry, plumbing, how to check air in tire, parts of a real car. They might surprise you with their interest in Grandpas toys, hobbies and CARS. They will be the ones who might keep it alive.They are the ones who need to be impressed with the lack of Craftsmen, skilled in all the trades. They might chose a trade like welding where a great salary can be earned as opposed to a college degree.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I wouldn't take Englishtown's closing too hard for the sport as a whole. The sport in the Northeast? That's another story. They have a shortage of land, are overtaxed and over regulated. Most of the rest of the country doesn't have that trifecta of negativity hanging over their heads (Cali has two of the three).

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

Agree Dick; to help get out grandkids out of the "virtual world" we've started taking one grandkid on our sojourns to the Pacific Northwest in the summer. Lots of Jr Ranger Park badges along the way. Got the 9 year old helping in the garage and getting ready to put him on a little 50CC dirt bike (pretty sure his Mom doesn't read this forum, or at least I hope not!).

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

NHRA COMMUNITY GOES INTO PROBLEM-SOLVING MODE FOLLOWING NEWS OF ENGLISHTOWN EXIT
By Susan Wade Fri, 2018-01-19 23:27
http://competitionplus.com/drag-raci...glishtown-exit

Everyone has a theory on solving the problem and why it happened but no one is giving the real reason or reasons that the Napp family pulled the plug.

Were they tired of trying to please the neighbors, was the NHRA the only one making a profit off of the facility?
Why aren't the people in the know doing any useful talking?

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

Another trend that doesn't bode well for people that actually do something is licensed pilots, as well as AP licensing.

When they don't like cars.....they sure as Hell don't give a rat's sphincter about planes and flying.

Little Timmy Cook at Apple will get 10 million applications to design some silly-assed, mindless app for a freak'n phone, but no one can find a M/E to enhance the landing gear on a Cessna Citation.

The guy that raced that old 303 Olds in V/S....he moved on and is retiring from a well paid job rebuilding Lycoming and Continental gas burners.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I was thinking along the same lines.
IMO, the people in the know aren't talking because it's nobody else's business.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

As to "Little Timmy Cook", he's following the money trail.
Just a bit more money in IPhones, than there is general aviation. (Sarcasm.)

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

True, but I'm thinking if there was a monetary or neighborhood problem the Napp family would have issued an explanation to the racers but if the problem was with the NHRA they are more likely to take the attitude that some things are better left unsaid. JMO

\

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

In the end, it's all about the money. Don't give yourself a headache trying to think too deeply on this one.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I agree. But I don’t have kids or grandkids. However, I try and get ANYone I know to the track. And they all love it. It’s a pretty easy sport/hobby to get excited about and addicted too. The cars, awesome people and good and bad times. Just need to keep getting people interested.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

Drag Racing is fine. It's not going anywhere. However, it is changing.

A local drag strip, or even a drag strip that hosts national events is a business. So many seem to lose sight of that. It needs support from the locals. Some of the guys complaining here wouldn't be caught dead at their local track, but complain and moan when it closes.

We sponsor a little Nostalgia series at our local track. It is very, very successful and we have cars coming out to the track that have been tucked in garages for years. We have Nostalgia SS, Nostalgia Gassers, and old type Modified Production cars. It has worked beyond our imagination. The Nostalgia thing works....period correct cars. Technical rules loose, to make it easy to race, and easy to get the old iron out there. Always cool. Draws a decent spectator count, too.

The same track is PACKED on special Street only Saturday grudge type race days, no classes, just locals coming to the track in their whatever-they-drive, and the place is jammed. "Grudgement Day" is a very successful venue. Newer Hemis, Turbocharged Imports.....some of them are pretty doggone fast, too.

They have large Alky funny car events, "Night of Fire", all kinds of stuff going on, something for everyone. Wheelstanders, jet cars. A Show.

Local Brackets for the local rank and file.10.5, whatever. It's a busy place.

A lot of guys seem to be waiting for the day when each track has local class eliminations, as they did in the past. Those days are gone, and they are not coming back. Like any business, the tracks are going to adjust, as any business has to. The ones that do, as well as the racers that do, will be just fine.

Personally, I like it. Although it's been my home track for years, I love racing and being there now, and would much rather do that than travel as we did in the past. I get to go home, eat a ham sandwich, use my own bathroom, and sleep in my own bed. At this age, I've found I really like it. I wish I would have done it sooner.

As I understand it, Etown's local participation and support for drag racing was down to nothing. A National event, and a divisional that draws, and the rest of the racers who race at those never coming otherwise, won't cut it, financially. Add to that the Napp's constant stream of litigation, as well as a guaranteed payday, and well, it's easy to see why they threw in the towel.

If you want racing to continue, support your local track. It's what's happening, and you'll even find some extra $ in your pocket.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I agree with above. Friday nite test and tune brings more people and cars then Sunday race day. $15 to test $5 to watch, fron 6:00 to 10:00. A whole lot of money changes hand from the spectators. No rules no tech. You wanna run In the grudge race, put up $20, winner and second get the money. Track pays out nothing.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

We have at least one Friday Night a month Grudge Night. Lots of Street Outlaw Big and Little tire stuff.

Lots of money changing hands at those races.....Just like the Old Street
Racing!

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I never understood why the sanctioning bodies having Stock & Super Stock classes don't advertise with the nostalgia, car show an old vs new angles. Many of the cars in those classes are antiques, vehicles that parents & grandparents had while growing up, many are of car show quality that you can eat off of! Just like car shows or magazines, many you just don't see anymore anywhere else because they are "safely" tucked away. At the races, many are doing what they were built to do. While still not the main show at national events, it could reach a broader market, especially at divisionals, opens, association races, etc. A extra note in the corner of a print or internet ad couldn't hurt.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

lucky you ! Wished it was me ! ! !

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

It’s the only way I was able to build a Comp car. :)

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I agree but the bad part, most and I mean most think they're too good to do that stuff. They wouldn't think of going to a regular bracket race.
One showed up one day and all the people and racers where all over it saying how cool it was and couldn't believe it ran that fast with a stock looking engine.
Mike

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

So when you get anyone to come to the track, what do they like and do not like. You are also probably one of the youngest comp car owners
I know you race a lot of heads up races and also comp. Previously super stock.
Just looking for your insight.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

They like the people. The social aspect. Hanging around with family and friends. The racing when it’s head up. When I start talking about Comp rules and indexes and handicaps and all that they kind of lose interest.

I mean I don’t blame them. I still don’t quite understand it all. I’m a first generation racer. I wasn’t brought up around NHRA class Racing. I totally respect it, I’m just not all that excited about it anymore. I was introduced to Racing with heads up, Pro Tree. And I never realized how much I truly disliked NHRA class racing until I owned/drove a “fast” car. And by “fast” I mean so much under this made up “index” that someone came up with. We all kind of lost passion in this type of Racing once we started talking about slowing the car down. Most would be thrilled to have a Comp car that can go almost .90 under. But when the talks are...slowing it down, dumping it early, etc.. Doesn’t even make sense in RACING!! The people/racers are the only reason we are still supporting some of the NHRA races. And the fact that Indy is only 8 miles from our shop. Haha.

Crazy to think at age 40 I’m one of the young ones. Haha.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

What people need to understand in Sportsman racing there is more to the equation than just going fast. There are a lot of nuances that come into play with Sportsman class racing. The combos are not all created equal so to balance that you have to have some sort of index system. The racers are really in control of the indexes. If you run your car all out the index will be adjusted to the performance that the car is capable of. If you are holding back then the index does not get adjusted as fast. The best place for a spectator in handicap racing is the finish line not the starting line if they want to see how close the racing is at the top end. The index system is not very difficult to understand if the announcer is knowledgeable about the type classes that are being run. Not everyone is interested in heads up and grudge type racing so there is a little something for everyone in drag racing. The cost to run a comp car has really gotten out of control and that is killing the class for the majority of racers. All of the other NHRA sportsman classes have also gotten very expensive to compete in but those classes are still healthy. I have been racing for 40 years and have about 10 - 15 years left to race if my health holds out. Hopefully I can keep going for a while. I do enjoy racing Super Stock even though I am one of the slow guys. Its all about having fun in the end.

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I spend a lot of time here on the west coast. I hear a lot of talk about self driving cars and communicate now and then with an electrical engineer working on the subject at Google. He won't say a word but, I get the impression that the cars are a ways off.

Have another friend working at Flir. Probably need their stuff to make the cars a reality. He also doesn't say much.

Pretty sure they will have a few cars in ten years. Then, they'll need buyers.

I wish them luck.

:cool:

Re: Drag racing Enjoy it while you can
 

I don't......Sounds like the way old people and foreigner drive today !