Average Age

[Milton Gamble]

I'm curious. It's enjoyable to see so many racers that qualify for Senior/AARP status.

Is there any data that gives the average age of competitors?

The Greek is in his 80s. Was he the oldest?

One of the reasons I ask, my current hobby for the last 25 years has been racing 1/24th scale slot cars. We are not attracting the younger generations. There are a lot of reasons. No "Reset Button", they don't like to build or tinker as my generation did...etc.

Also, I'd like to say thanks to all of you that are posting pictures and commenting.

Indy is still on my "Bucket List". I thought it was going to happen this year, but I had knee surgery in January, injured the other knee in May along with a severe hamstring pull/tear, and 3 weeks ago I tore the meniscus in the knee that was operated on. It is a complete tear this time.

[FireSale]

Ha! If you think slot cars is for old folks, try model building. Wait, if you race slot cars you probably build models, too.

Funny note to this is that I (70) raced slots at a family owned toy store in the 60's and our biggest competitors as young teens were adults in their mid 40's.

There are enough 30-40 year olds in the sport to keep it going, but when you get to the S/SS ranks where raw engine/tuning savvy rules the winners tend to be the old wrench guys. Part of it is money. A young guy can put together a bracket car for Sportsman or Pro and still street it, so it has more use than a pure race car. To buy a ready to run Formula Firebird or build one from a shell takes more than a pinch out of the paycheck. You can do this with a '72 Comet or Mustang II, but the "low HP"/high challenge combos don't seem to appeal to the young folk.


The oldest S/SS racers out here in the Pacific Raceways area I can think of are Pete Kost (K/SA) in his 80's and Alan Falcone (GT/EA) in his 70's. Pete has driven Pro Stock and Alan is a former D6 champion. Both tough cookies.

[Jim Caughlin]

When Falcone and Terry Anderson raced in the finals at the Seattle Nat'l event two years ago, it was mentioned that was oldest combined age for two finalists, they were both 69 at the time. Pete Kost amazes me, he has secretly figured out the fountain of youth, he never seems to age. Also note that he is cutting lights and going rounds, he is in the top 10 in Div 6 right now.

[Rory McNeil]

Keeping with Div. 6 Stock & S/S racers , I don`t know how old he is, but I remember watching Jerry Joslin racing his E/S 71 Z/28 before I was old enough to drive, I`m in my 60s now, and he is still racing that same Camaro still (that he bought new), as well as his SS/GTH 4 speed Monte Carlo. Jim Johnsons S/S 55 Chev has been his race car since he bought it in the mid 60s. Cal Methods been racing for a few years as well! And although he mainly runs ET brackets now, 80 year old Dave Wren still has the aluminum nose 63 Max Wedge Plymouth that he runner upped at the 68 Winternationals, as well as a 68 Hemi Cuda that he bought new.

[Carguy49]

At a race recently Pete Kost and Jim Devine raced each other. There combined age total is a bit over 155. Today is Pete's 85th birthday so you do the math on Jim. Two great guys and tough racers to boot. Jim can still row a 4 speed.

[Shaun Quill]

This is a great thread!! God Bless em’!!!!

[Greenlight]

I think Bill Gibbs (DIv 4 Super Stock) is 88 and has got to be on the short list of oldest drag racers.

[G Schenck]

Average age in comp elim. semis were 68 years old.
Greg

[BRETV]

I think Don Fezell is 80yrs young or close to it, running Factory Showdown. He gives me hope everyday!!






Bret Velde
2003 SS/LA

[Bob Lasko]

look in the staging lanes, it's all gray. I would say the average is about 65 years young.

Bob Lasko