[Roo]

Hi.

This is my first post here, but Ive been reading the site off and on, mostly whenever there is some crisis or goings on in the drag racing world. First off, I'm a nobody. Ive raced one divisional and one national, and was an easy trip for my opponent to the next round at both events.

As a novice S/G racer, I didnt expect to set the world on fire, all I wanted was to not look foolish. I barely met my goals. You see, I sat in the stands for years at the only National event within a reasonable distance of my home. I live in North/West Ontario, and my closest track is BIR. If I dont mess around I can make it there in 6 hours.

For many years, I watched the NorthStar--Champion Auto--Colonel's truck--Lucas oil Nationals from the stands and wanted so badly to someday race there. I had an 11 sec bracket car I owned since I was 15 years old, but at 3900lbs, it was a poor choice for super gas car. SST isnt contested at BIR, so I decided to construct a new car. As a professional mechanic, with great science and math skills, an ability to learn and read anything I can get my hands on, I knew I could do it.

Now, Im not a rich man, I worked hard on my dreams, doing whatever I could to get my car completed. I even went into great debt to do it. I built my own motor, transmission, rear ends etc.. I did my own welding, my own tin work, and I even painted the car myself in my own garage. A show winner it isnt, but I can park it anywhere, even amongst show winners, and it still looks pretty good.

So with the car done, years after I gave into my desire to race in S/G, I began the process of using it. Remember I said Im not rich, and I live 350 miles from the closest possible place to race, so using this car is an expensive adventure. A weekend going to race can get to $1000 pretty easily, so I'm lucky to get out more than 3 times/year. At BIR brackets, youre lucky if you can get more than 15 runs in 3 days, unless you enter 2 classes and pay more entry. Anyway, you can imagine at that rate,the S/G learning curve is very slow, especially for a guy that does everything himself.

So, since Im a Canadian that likes to race, and needs a competition license, I have to subscribe to National Dragster. Initially, I enjoyed it, but with everything NHRA, you can see its rapid decline in quality. I have to drive 6.5 hours to Minneapolis to get my chassis certified, and out of the 3 times Ive had it done, never once have I paid less than $150!! He seems to charge what he wants?? and of course, everytime it gets certified,he tells me I need another bar here, or another bar there.

Anyway, Im a shoestring budget racer, and there just isnt room for these cost increases. In 07, I entered the divisional, got my grade point, a $1000 grade point. I entered the National, whatever the cost was, I was excited to reach my goal. I was suprised at the "insurance" cost, epecially since there was no policy??? I know when I buy insurance anywhere else, I get a copy of the policy, so I know what Im insured for. Not this time.

anyway, to end this boring long story... after fuel prices went crazy last year, I decided to sit things out, and spent some money on home improvements, something that I can get a return on, instead of drag racing. I was hoping to return to racing this year, but the increase in everything $$NHRA$$, Im forced to sit it out again.

This time Im sitting out for good. I will never renew my membership, licence, or get my car certified, or enter anything NHRA ever again. I'l cut up my car if I cant sell it, and part out the rest. I still have my old bracket car, and if I need a fix, I'll race it now and then, staying out of the license range. Im not the only one who feels this way