How Ironic...

Gary Smith · 06-08-2008, 04:37 PM

How ironic many of us feel sportsman drag racing is the true foundation of the sport, knowing NHRA would flounder without the presence and character of Stock and Super Stock. To put in perspective Jim Woods sentiments about the formation of the Southern S/SS Association "to make the Stock and Super Stock racers the stars again" and "do things like we did in the old days", the last statement in this article written by Mr. Dirt himself, Bret Kepner, says it all!!
(copied from http://www.northernthunder.com/bigge...s.html#econo):

1977 PRO Nationals
Lakeland (Florida) International Raceway

The PRO had held together long enough to produce mildly successful National Challenge events at both Tulsa ('75) and Union Grove, Wisconsin ('76), and with Garlits returning to the helm, had reinstated its commitment to increasing the sport's professionalism and prizes. The group's final hurrah, however, was a planned four-event season in 1977 that lost all of its momentum after the first race.

Having survived "attacks" from racers and officials on both the association's honor and intent, Garlits steadfastly promoted the PRO's first (and eventually last) '77 event near his Florida home at Lakeland Intermational Raceway. With fields cut to only eight positions available for Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock, and two blown alcohol divisions (Pro Comp), qualifying should have been intense.

However, while 24 Top Fuelers and more than enough Funny Cars appeared, Pro Comp was eventually combined into one class when only twelve cars showed. Pro Stock suffered from a mere six cars on the grounds -- and only four for the first round!

Once again, Garlits was racing in his own show and eventually won Top Fuel eliminator, but not before again becoming involved in repeated rules conflicts with other racers. Eventually, rules became less of an issue when two separate instances of legality despite lack of compliance to PRO regulations were rushed through by event directors. Lack of competent racetrack cleanup and a slow program schedule due to the lack of entries made the event a never-ending, one-lane affair with few closes races. Pro Stock became the event's biggest embarassment when only one winner emerged after the division's first round of eliminations!

The true irony of the PRO's last event was the apathy of the professional racers who had abandoned Garlits in his attempt at elevating the sport. While virtually every top team clamored to jump on the PRA bandwagon in '72, they had eventually thrown their fortunes (and their fates) to the other major sanctions within five years, defeating Garlits' ability to make a continued impression within the sport. The lack of loyalty hurt Garlits' feelings as well as his bank account, and the final event on the PRO ledger showed only a handful of big name drivers -- the ingredient needed to draw the paying specators -- attending.

The other lesson learned from the Lakeland event was that which proves the sportsman racers' contribution to drag racing. Had the PRA/PRO included the lower categories of racing rather than attempt to present a show of less than two dozen machines on race day, could it have turned the tide? We may never know the answer.

06-08-2008, 04:37 PM	#1
Gary Smith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 820 Likes: 9 Liked 132 Times in 30 Posts	How Ironic... How ironic many of us feel sportsman drag racing is the true foundation of the sport, knowing NHRA would flounder without the presence and character of Stock and Super Stock. To put in perspective Jim Woods sentiments about the formation of the Southern S/SS Association "to make the Stock and Super Stock racers the stars again" and "do things like we did in the old days", the last statement in this article written by Mr. Dirt himself, Bret Kepner, says it all!! (copied from http://www.northernthunder.com/bigge...s.html#econo): 1977 PRO Nationals Lakeland (Florida) International Raceway The PRO had held together long enough to produce mildly successful National Challenge events at both Tulsa ('75) and Union Grove, Wisconsin ('76), and with Garlits returning to the helm, had reinstated its commitment to increasing the sport's professionalism and prizes. The group's final hurrah, however, was a planned four-event season in 1977 that lost all of its momentum after the first race. Having survived "attacks" from racers and officials on both the association's honor and intent, Garlits steadfastly promoted the PRO's first (and eventually last) '77 event near his Florida home at Lakeland Intermational Raceway. With fields cut to only eight positions available for Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock, and two blown alcohol divisions (Pro Comp), qualifying should have been intense. However, while 24 Top Fuelers and more than enough Funny Cars appeared, Pro Comp was eventually combined into one class when only twelve cars showed. Pro Stock suffered from a mere six cars on the grounds -- and only four for the first round! Once again, Garlits was racing in his own show and eventually won Top Fuel eliminator, but not before again becoming involved in repeated rules conflicts with other racers. Eventually, rules became less of an issue when two separate instances of legality despite lack of compliance to PRO regulations were rushed through by event directors. Lack of competent racetrack cleanup and a slow program schedule due to the lack of entries made the event a never-ending, one-lane affair with few closes races. Pro Stock became the event's biggest embarassment when only one winner emerged after the division's first round of eliminations! The true irony of the PRO's last event was the apathy of the professional racers who had abandoned Garlits in his attempt at elevating the sport. While virtually every top team clamored to jump on the PRA bandwagon in '72, they had eventually thrown their fortunes (and their fates) to the other major sanctions within five years, defeating Garlits' ability to make a continued impression within the sport. The lack of loyalty hurt Garlits' feelings as well as his bank account, and the final event on the PRO ledger showed only a handful of big name drivers -- the ingredient needed to draw the paying specators -- attending. The other lesson learned from the Lakeland event was that which proves the sportsman racers' contribution to drag racing. Had the PRA/PRO included the lower categories of racing rather than attempt to present a show of less than two dozen machines on race day, could it have turned the tide? We may never know the answer. __________________ Gary Smith "another broke racer spectating"