When P/S was interesting.
 

Old National Dragster article.

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

You could just as easily re-title this thread "When Drag Racing was interesting".

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

There are more Pro Mods, than Pro Stockers, in Charlotte.
All but one, ran quicker than #1 qualifier
Mountain Motors?

Mike A114

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

YOU really nailed it this time Billy !

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Great article.... isn't this what Factory Stock is trying to achieve?

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

sorta... only one model for each brand today.
Back then.. Arrow, Omni, Volare, Fairmont, Zephyr, Pinto, Vega, Monza, Starfire, Cutlass and....Camaro.
Big and Small Block.
Mike A114

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Reaching back a little further Cuda, Dart, Hornet, Gremlin, Challenger, Maverick (including a “taxi”), etc. Point being innovative ways to get the job done and drivers that could tell you exactly what the car did and what it needs...no computers. The Golden Age to be sure.

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

LOL... and some how, Tech inspectors sorted it all out...and I recall one combo had to add weight, but don`t remember which one.
Mike

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

and there you have it!!!

When the sanctioning body dictates everything, then innovation becomes illegal.

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

The combo that had weight added usually had Bob Glidden on the doors !

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

That's when Glidden got mad and showed up in a Plymouth Arrow.

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

The Hemi was the first engine to be penalized with weight.

Mopar basically pulled their cars from Pro Stock because of it for a while.

Big Block cars were the basis for Pro Stock....

A/MP cars that match raced and they set some basic rules at the beginning.

Jenkins dreamed up the Vega small block combo and pretty much started the various small block, light weight cars overtaking the Big block cars.

Engine mods got out of hand and radical head modifications by everyone got out of hand.....


Weight to cube was used but with wheelbase lengths added to the mix.

Bob Glidden could make pretty much any combination he touched out run everyone else but R-M was a close second once they dreamed up the small cube BB combo........I saw some heads done in that era for those engines.....Both Big and small block......Iron and aluminum....

500 cube engines was an attempt to level the playing field.....It did.

Various people were accused of cheating using NOS......and oxygenated fuel was also being used.

I saw heads from that era......and also some of them being used in Competition eliminator engines......

Welding and modifying cast iron heads got real creative.....and even blocks....

It was far more interesting than today and that is no doubt....

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Thanks for the refresher, Rich
It was a glorious time..
No such thing as aftermarket heads
Some things don`t change for Mopars, I guess...
I remember a Comp guy had a trailer explosion, that was supposed to be caused by a fuel "additive" (I think it was called Propalene oxide) and a Pro Stock team had a similar incident in the pits (but with Nitrous oxide), that resulted in a suspension.
Mike

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

The canted valve Ford Cleveland head had a 1/2 lb. per cubic inch penalty in Comp. Modified and Pro Stock.

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

oops

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

I was at the last Molson GrandNationals in Montreal. What a crazy place it was to race at. Same race Shirley went over the guard rail.Bob Glidden had his Ford Fairmont there. Not one piece of sheet metal lined up right. The saying on the back was "She ain't pretty but she sure can cook". He was right there. I would watch Grumpy start the Vega up I think it was. While idling he would put his finger on the carburetor vents. Shake his head and pull the carburetors back off and into the trailer they went. They would do big burn outs and numerous dry hops. Pull the wheels off the ground on every shift and they were the same car you owned or could buy.
It was my favorite class. Plenty of personality to go around.

Paul

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Saw some really great racing in my many years in the sport as both a racer, crew guy and just a spectator...


Early Pro Stock was fantastic as well as Modified Eliminator....

I have a button from Indy 1985 I think it was...…

" I saw the first Pro Stock Challenge"......and I was there...…

I also saw many Pro Stock Match races and circuit races and they were worth the price of admission by themselves.....

Dick Landy on the back bumper out to about 3rd gear in his Challenger was one I will never forget...…..Jenkins sitting there cigar hanging out wondering what the heck he just saw...….They were supposed to race and Landy just pulled up and made that run ignoring Jenkins.....

Sox and Martin, the first real professional looking team I ever saw......Very impressive at the time...…

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

I remember Conn. Dragway Match races. Jenkins, Dyno, Rickie Smith, Ronnie Manchester, Pat Musi, Don Campanello....

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Think Bo has added a lot to the current P/S scene but seeing the handwriting on the wall apparently he’s stepping away to Factory Stock and other formats....

https://dragillustrated.com/butner-t...d-out-of-nhra/

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Not correct Comp and Modified had .20 of a pound added in May of 1978 not 1/2 pound.

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Well Worth looking at the forum for Billy's one
liners...:D

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

I think when the rules let up in the 80's and they started letting the Aero bodies run in PS and FC a lot of fan base was lost. I could go on but I'll just address PS as it should be replaced by Factory Stock and only OEM castings used, such as block, heads, intake etc. not billet replacements. They need to go back to 1/4 mile racing slowing down the cars no matter what it takes!!

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

It’s official, NHRA is dropping PS off the 2019 schedule at Houston, Atlanta, Norwalk, Bristol, Topeka and Epping. Most have no problem drawing plenty of Pro Mods to keep it “interesting” for fans. Would seem that if they were interested in saving the teams $ they would have dropped the Western Swing but that’s obviously not the intent.

So NHRA, you made this Pro Camaro class...how ya like it now?

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

NHRA's reasoning was to lessen the financial burden on those teams already participating and to increase participation in the class---you already have several racers that have announced their intentions for 2019 and that is "to not compete" in pro stock, so you currently now have less than 16 car fields at almost every race in 2018--with the 2-4 maybe 5 racers that will not be back for 2019---where is this pool of new racers/teams going to come from that will be necessary just to get back to the current number of entries and possibly increase beyond the current level of 15-17 cars per event---NHRA is going to need "at least" 5-7 new drivers/teams---I do not see that happening ---sure you might pick up a local guy for a race here and there but you I don't think are going to pick up what NHRA envisions with this decision---(PRO ) FACTORY STOCK would be maybe the better direction to go but you are going to need "tech people" that know what is legal on these cars---you have 3 manufacturers some use NA engines- some have "blown" engines -some have both kinds of engines--- how do you level the playing field--you have about 90 days to get the (pro factory stock rules implemented and for guys to get their cars to comply with the rules--- or do you put it off until say Gainesville to start ??? MY .02 cents---FED 387

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Well its official Mountain View and Nobile WILL NOT compete in Pro Stock in 2019--- going to compete in SAM Factory stock and Top sportsman---has Enders or Butner said for sure their plans---ANY NEW players out there???

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Bob Utner said awhile ago he is going FS/XX next year.....