Interesting Comments from David Rampy

[Kdw1403]

Great post Mr. Rampy. I was just getting into racing when David was driving the High Times opel and Nova . I not only agree with Davids post but with everybodys post. I severely cut back my racing about 10 years ago because of the kid thing. Always God and family first. I have been saying for about 8 years that NHRA has been trying to seperate the pro racer from the sportsman racer and only run the professional catagories at national events and the sportsman guys only run the points meets. In my eyes the TV money for the pro classes is the only thing keeping NHRA afloat. The future doesn't look good for NHRA. IHRA and NMCA and a couple others are much more fun to run. The future of all racing is very uncertain right now. I wish Mr. Rampy could get with some of some wealthy people and start a grass roots drag racing organization that truly thought the sportsman racer was the back bone of the sport. Mr. Rampy will always be an ambassador for the sport of drag racing. Happy Thanks giving to everybody.

[Jeff Niceswanger]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

We used to get stuff like that at all national events. I used to use Penzoil, the rep (very nice gentleman) used to bring a case of oil by at every race. 24qt cases of oil. Free ACCEL spark plugs, and Fram filters. First day was making the rounds, loading up. Never asked, given to us.

Ed . Remember the 3 "Participant" tee shirts that Eldebrock gave out for everyone of the racers ... I was just a kid hanging around with Terry Lynn ( he ran D-Gas Class), but those T's were cool

[boostedf22c]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

Appreciate your comment Cary, and while your car created a lot of interest when it first appeared at Indy the ensuing hassles with NHRA are probably indicative of just how receptive they would be to trying to again build a following with that segment. Do you think 'traditional' class racers would welcome more classes while Stock and SS quotas keep shrinking? Also wonder where the 'tech-less' direction (=cut qualified staff) would fit in with new classes. Think the import racers would put up with the hassle of running NHRA when they can attend so many Import Races that fill the stands? Afraid NHRA has completely drank the DSR/JFR/COPO/CJ kool-aide and they will probably ride that horse into the ground meanwhile giving lip-service to Class Racing, Comp and Pro Stock.

I got hassled pretty hard one year at US Nationals for sure. To the point of not allowing me to race. It was really hard for me to come back to NHRA after that, but I wasn't going to let 1 bad apple spoil my fun. I'm glad I came back because I've been treated well since then.

I don't know if others from my genre of racing would've came back or not. But there are a lot of really nice cars that could definitely put more buts in the seats and develop some rivalrys as well!!

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

I seem to recall NHRA did just that a few years ago, with the NOPI series. Between very few race cars in each class, with drastic spans between qualifying positions, constant breakage, no shows, and singles, very few "races" had many runs with 2 cars running together, even fewer where the 2 cars ran within 20 feet of each other.

It was like 10 years ago, and it was dissolved way too early to even know whether or not it would've worked. GM and Mopar money pretty much drove every privateer away! I raced in that series and sold my car in 2003. Pretty sure it was dissolved in 2006. Yes, there were definitely breakages, major discrepancies in qualifying times, you had factory backed teams and privateers, but you need to realize that the cars we raced had ZERO aftermarket support, unlike the factory teams....which was why there was such a wide gap in ET/MPH. We were basically making due with OEM parts. It was probably like 60 years ago, but I would imagine there was a time where you guys didn't have the beauty of just opening up a catalog and ordering parts that wouldn't break. Things are a lot different now. A ton more cars, and much better aftermarket. So the racing is a lot better, and the parts are a lot stronger. So those 2 items have been addressed.

The cars I'm thinking of wouldn't be stock or super stock. They'd have to fit into some sort of Comp class or even a class of their own. It could work and be successful if implemented properly. There are a lot of 6 second, well built imports, and a handful in the 5's now.

I'm obviously just spit balling, but I hear people say things like the younger generation isn't in to racing. They are, but unless they were born into class racing, most lean towards import/sport compact, heads up racing.

[farmco r/sa]

Thanks Fred for sharing the very candid interview with Mr Rampy.
Would not have seen it without this thread. Would like to make a comment
on the fact that is nice to feel appreciated. Much to be said
about that. While our home track is not perfect this past friday
we had our annual awards banquet in downtown Denver.
Very nice venue in downtown Denver and the Bandimere family
always works very hard to create a memorable night with lots of
pictures, video , and audio. Food was good and it was a very nice
evening. Kudos to the Magna fuels super gas racers who shared the "superman" award for their outstaning sportsmanship.
The Bandimere family and staff always thank the racers and family for their support. It seems like nearly every year the track and or facility gets
some kind of upgrade and is well maintained.


Thanks again to all the Bandimere and Crispe family's as well
as the staff. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Jeff Niceswanger

Ed . Remember the 3 "Participant" tee shirts that Eldebrock gave out for everyone of the racers ... I was just a kid hanging around with Terry Lynn ( he ran D-Gas Class), but those T's were cool

Yes sir. I had forgotten about those. Always ended up with 2 or 3 hats as well.

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by boostedf22c

I got hassled pretty hard one year at US Nationals for sure. To the point of not allowing me to race. It was really hard for me to come back to NHRA after that, but I wasn't going to let 1 bad apple spoil my fun. I'm glad I came back because I've been treated well since then.

I don't know if others from my genre of racing would've came back or not. But there are a lot of really nice cars that could definitely put more buts in the seats and develop some rivalrys as well!!



It was like 10 years ago, and it was dissolved way too early to even know whether or not it would've worked. GM and Mopar money pretty much drove every privateer away! I raced in that series and sold my car in 2003. Pretty sure it was dissolved in 2006. Yes, there were definitely breakages, major discrepancies in qualifying times, you had factory backed teams and privateers, but you need to realize that the cars we raced had ZERO aftermarket support, unlike the factory teams....which was why there was such a wide gap in ET/MPH. We were basically making due with OEM parts. It was probably like 60 years ago, but I would imagine there was a time where you guys didn't have the beauty of just opening up a catalog and ordering parts that wouldn't break. Things are a lot different now. A ton more cars, and much better aftermarket. So the racing is a lot better, and the parts are a lot stronger. So those 2 items have been addressed.

The cars I'm thinking of wouldn't be stock or super stock. They'd have to fit into some sort of Comp class or even a class of their own. It could work and be successful if implemented properly. There are a lot of 6 second, well built imports, and a handful in the 5's now.

I'm obviously just spit balling, but I hear people say things like the younger generation isn't in to racing. They are, but unless they were born into class racing, most lean towards import/sport compact, heads up racing.

Well it's pretty obvious that Comp could use some of these cars to help before it flatlines.

[boostedf22c]

Originally Posted by HR9121

Well it's pretty obvious that Comp could use some of these cars to help before it flatlines.

I agree.

[BRINK]

Originally Posted by boostedf22c

Exactly. And there are a ton really nice, fast cars.

If NHRA made a few classes for them, and gave it a chance, they'd pull in an entirely different genre of cars and fans.

NHRA already tried the lice lockets and it didn't work. As I recall, the fans hated the cars, also.

[randy wilson]

Originally Posted by BRINK

NHRA already tried the lice lockets and it didn't work. As I recall, the fans hated the cars, also.

I have an idea, but we get beat up every time we bring it up.

[boostedf22c]

Originally Posted by BRINK

As I recall, the fans hated the cars, also.

Yeah. Looks like the fans hate us.



The 10 people in the stands that are there to watch Stock and Superstock probably do hate us though. Lol