Conversation with Mike Baker @ IHRA

Bruce Noland · 03-23-2009, 10:00 AM

It's been said before many times, but it is worth repeating - the IHRA guys are really decent people to engage in a conversation. No dismissive attitudes from them and they go out of their way to offer their help.

Mike and I covered several topics and threw in some old time bench racing to boot. The new OEM cars came up during the course of our conversation. Mike said he had some preliminary conversations with racers about the new cars;Ford and Mopar. He said that he was interested in creating a Factory Muscle Class for these new cars. As I remember, he may have mentioned something about setting up some match races for these cars. That is really getting back to the 60's OEM power-wars.

I'm going to a few IHRA races this year. These guys really deserve the racers support.

Michael Lyons · 03-23-2009, 12:34 PM

They are good people. Problem is the tracks are getting further away and lesser facilitys. Entry fees continue to go up and purses are the same or less and contingencies are way down. If fuel costs spike back up, you would almost lose money even if you won a points race.

Stephen & Horace Johnson · 03-23-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Lyons

They are good people. Problem is the tracks are getting further away and lesser facilitys. Entry fees continue to go up and purses are the same or less and contingencies are way down. If fuel costs spike back up, you would almost lose money even if you won a points race.

I totally agree with you about the tracks are getting further and further!!!

Stephen Johnson #2162
Horace Johnson #2167
SS/D 427 ford Fairlane NHRA-IHRA

Bruce Noland · 03-23-2009, 01:03 PM

Living in Virginia makes the access easier. Given my skill level, making money with one of these things never occurred to me. But, I do understand these are important considerations for many racers.

Chuck Beach · 03-23-2009, 01:20 PM

There are approximately 145 IHRA stock eliminator classes now, what the heck, there is always room for one or two more ...

Ed Fernandez · 03-23-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Beach

There are approximately 145 IHRA stock eliminator classes now, what the heck, there is always room for one or two more ...

But at least these cars,and the Camaro if and when,will be where they belong,away from combos that
are pretty much evolved,where the new ones are just evolving.Someone will probably say that the F.I. cars were in the same catogory,but they duked it out mostly in their own class.Now that the hp got needed
corrections they blend in to the established classes they are in.Lets see what developes.

Ed F.

Bruce Noland · 03-23-2009, 01:48 PM

Chuck,
Mike is very much aware of IHRA's "too" many classes reputation. He feels everybody should have a fair place to race and offers no apologies. Nor should he. You can always call him if you would like to discuss it further.

Evan Smith · 03-23-2009, 01:53 PM

Ed,

So all new combinations are supposed to have their own class to "duke it out" until they evolve? Basically, that is what you are saying and it is rubbish. This is RACING! Not everything can be fair and not everyone can be a winner.

If the older combos were tapped out, no one would be getting HP, but that isn't the case because all combinations, when worked on, continue to evolve. Fact is, Detroit is finally building cars that are fast again and that are interesting to Stock racers. These cars are fast, in most cases way faster than any true muscle car of the '60s, thanks to development in the entire engine (not just EFI). I love the early muscle but for comparison's sake, my wife's 2007 Mustang GT automatic with only a performance re-flash to the computer went 13.28 at 105 mph (in killer air). With gears and a cold-air intake it's in the 12s. That is quicker and faster than virtually all of the coveted muscle cars, which we all love. The Mustang has only 281ci and weighs 3,600 lbs.

Evan

Jack Matyas · 03-23-2009, 02:18 PM

Evan -- You're soooooooo right -back in the day I had a new '69 Z-28 that was a second slower than your wife's Mustang.......BTW , does she know you were trackin' with her car ?

Evan Smith · 03-23-2009, 02:23 PM

Shhhhhhh, if she sees this thread I'm dead!

03-23-2009, 10:00 AM	#1
Bruce Noland VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,855 Likes: 83 Liked 444 Times in 145 Posts	Conversation with Mike Baker @ IHRA It's been said before many times, but it is worth repeating - the IHRA guys are really decent people to engage in a conversation. No dismissive attitudes from them and they go out of their way to offer their help. Mike and I covered several topics and threw in some old time bench racing to boot. The new OEM cars came up during the course of our conversation. Mike said he had some preliminary conversations with racers about the new cars;Ford and Mopar. He said that he was interested in creating a Factory Muscle Class for these new cars. As I remember, he may have mentioned something about setting up some match races for these cars. That is really getting back to the 60's OEM power-wars. I'm going to a few IHRA races this year. These guys really deserve the racers support. __________________ Bruce Noland 1788 STK

03-23-2009, 01:03 PM	#4
Bruce Noland VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,855 Likes: 83 Liked 444 Times in 145 Posts	Re: Conversation with Mike Baker @ IHRA Living in Virginia makes the access easier. Given my skill level, making money with one of these things never occurred to me. But, I do understand these are important considerations for many racers. __________________ Bruce Noland 1788 STK

03-23-2009, 01:20 PM	#5
Chuck Beach Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 664 Likes: 12 Liked 58 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Conversation with Mike Baker @ IHRA There are approximately 145 IHRA stock eliminator classes now, what the heck, there is always room for one or two more ... __________________ Chuck Beach 3340 STK

03-23-2009, 01:48 PM	#7
Bruce Noland VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,855 Likes: 83 Liked 444 Times in 145 Posts	Re: Conversation with Mike Baker @ IHRA Chuck, Mike is very much aware of IHRA's "too" many classes reputation. He feels everybody should have a fair place to race and offers no apologies. Nor should he. You can always call him if you would like to discuss it further. __________________ Bruce Noland 1788 STK

03-23-2009, 01:53 PM	#8
Evan Smith Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 400 Likes: 7 Liked 115 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Conversation with Mike Baker @ IHRA Ed, So all new combinations are supposed to have their own class to "duke it out" until they evolve? Basically, that is what you are saying and it is rubbish. This is RACING! Not everything can be fair and not everyone can be a winner. If the older combos were tapped out, no one would be getting HP, but that isn't the case because all combinations, when worked on, continue to evolve. Fact is, Detroit is finally building cars that are fast again and that are interesting to Stock racers. These cars are fast, in most cases way faster than any true muscle car of the '60s, thanks to development in the entire engine (not just EFI). I love the early muscle but for comparison's sake, my wife's 2007 Mustang GT automatic with only a performance re-flash to the computer went 13.28 at 105 mph (in killer air). With gears and a cold-air intake it's in the 12s. That is quicker and faster than virtually all of the coveted muscle cars, which we all love. The Mustang has only 281ci and weighs 3,600 lbs. Evan __________________ Evan Smith 1798 STK

03-23-2009, 12:34 PM	#2
Michael Lyons Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Garden City, MI Posts: 226 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Conversation with Mike Baker @ IHRA They are good people. Problem is the tracks are getting further away and lesser facilitys. Entry fees continue to go up and purses are the same or less and contingencies are way down. If fuel costs spike back up, you would almost lose money even if you won a points race.

03-23-2009, 02:18 PM	#9
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,923 Likes: 404 Liked 2,027 Times in 397 Posts	Re: Conversation with Mike Baker @ IHRA Evan -- You're soooooooo right -back in the day I had a new '69 Z-28 that was a second slower than your wife's Mustang.......BTW , does she know you were trackin' with her car ? __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO

03-23-2009, 02:23 PM	#10
Evan Smith Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 400 Likes: 7 Liked 115 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Conversation with Mike Baker @ IHRA Shhhhhhh, if she sees this thread I'm dead! __________________ Evan Smith 1798 STK