CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post

TommyPettigrew3076 · 07-05-2020, 01:27 AM

I am a firm believer things need to evolve to live and prosper I also believe there is a limit . The class at least in my lifetime that I was old enough to understand the sport has been out of hand since the early 90's car counts kept going down too much money needed to run and even for some people most would consider wealthy out of reach . Its d impossible for an " average " person to compete in fuel or Prostock for that matter and that is an issue. Indy car and even though it is relative Formula 1 put the brakes on development and rules. I think it is very irresponsible as a sanctioning body to ignore the cost to run a class and see the signs that a hand full of people are keeping it alive and depending on that . Any ideas will surely fall on deaf ears until someone or some of us in the trenches somehow make it into the the NHRA corporate food chain and make a difference. Garlits has spoken on this matter many times saying he would have a car out there right now but he's not going to blow up his stuff every round to be at the front of the pack considering what it cost and the return . He would go race after race never changing a motor at times not even changing pistons or heads . Yeah I know I know that was then and this is now but isn't now the time to put rules in effect to lower the cost to up the car count so someone that MIGHT be able to scrape up the cash to get a used car and some parts and a few volunteers and go racing maybe not set the world on fire but be out there be seen and help the class and the sport. 1000 foot racing sucks , none of us can even relate to what it cost to run one drivers are picked by sponsors more or less . I think most of us at one time were drawn to NHRA racing because of the fuel cars and hoping one day to pilot one but to be honest competing in stock there have been national events I have raced at and never watched a fuel car go down the track . Maybe its because now being able to compete at an event and dreaming about it as a kid its different for me now . In my opinion when more semis than truck and trailers are parked for a class its time to start pulling in the reigns on them and review the cost of the class and who is actually competing and flipping the bill . Man to think it wasn't too long ago or so it seems that a couple or three guys with some decent jobs could put together a fuel dragster and make it pay for itself and maybe win a little money but I was born to late to see that and its sad that me or any younger people ever will . Just like the Radial tire stuff you can race for $10,000 to $25000 all day for less than what we pay to run stock or super stock at a national event.

07-05-2020, 01:27 AM	#10
TommyPettigrew3076 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fishers Indiana Posts: 63 Likes: 9 Liked 26 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ? I am a firm believer things need to evolve to live and prosper I also believe there is a limit . The class at least in my lifetime that I was old enough to understand the sport has been out of hand since the early 90's car counts kept going down too much money needed to run and even for some people most would consider wealthy out of reach . Its d impossible for an " average " person to compete in fuel or Prostock for that matter and that is an issue. Indy car and even though it is relative Formula 1 put the brakes on development and rules. I think it is very irresponsible as a sanctioning body to ignore the cost to run a class and see the signs that a hand full of people are keeping it alive and depending on that . Any ideas will surely fall on deaf ears until someone or some of us in the trenches somehow make it into the the NHRA corporate food chain and make a difference. Garlits has spoken on this matter many times saying he would have a car out there right now but he's not going to blow up his stuff every round to be at the front of the pack considering what it cost and the return . He would go race after race never changing a motor at times not even changing pistons or heads . Yeah I know I know that was then and this is now but isn't now the time to put rules in effect to lower the cost to up the car count so someone that MIGHT be able to scrape up the cash to get a used car and some parts and a few volunteers and go racing maybe not set the world on fire but be out there be seen and help the class and the sport. 1000 foot racing sucks , none of us can even relate to what it cost to run one drivers are picked by sponsors more or less . I think most of us at one time were drawn to NHRA racing because of the fuel cars and hoping one day to pilot one but to be honest competing in stock there have been national events I have raced at and never watched a fuel car go down the track . Maybe its because now being able to compete at an event and dreaming about it as a kid its different for me now . In my opinion when more semis than truck and trailers are parked for a class its time to start pulling in the reigns on them and review the cost of the class and who is actually competing and flipping the bill . Man to think it wasn't too long ago or so it seems that a couple or three guys with some decent jobs could put together a fuel dragster and make it pay for itself and maybe win a little money but I was born to late to see that and its sad that me or any younger people ever will . Just like the Radial tire stuff you can race for $10,000 to $25000 all day for less than what we pay to run stock or super stock at a national event.