Unscientific informal poll

[Ronnie Scott]

WJ
I ran at Orange a few times early sixties. Injected buick in 50 ford owned by Ronnie Lepalm. also ran my roadster there in early eighties if my memory serves me right. Someone put togeter a sunday race trying to promote a new track for the northeast. I beilive Wally Roberts, Mike Fitts and Barry Rebero were also there. No traction compound just a great time and many memories.

Any one remember Charleston and the seagulls?

[Ed Carpenter]

Yes 43

When I was a kid and went to the track with my dad all the cars were 67-69 camaros, 55-57 chevy, mustangs, gto's, cudas, etc. It was awesome. Today the younger guys don't want to class race. My son who is 21 wants to build his 70 nova into a 10.5 car LS turbo power or some crap like that. I asked him why don't we make it a 396 stick car in stock? He said why in the hell would I do that. He says everyone is going that direction in his age group. Nothing we can do about it. Ed

[Doug Blackley]

Have to agree with you Ed. Of course, in todays world you won't ever see a Pontiac GTO Judge tv ad with the kid cruising the local burger stand like they ran for the 1970 model year. That said, how different is the current fan base for the super fast street cars than when guys were building coupes, etc back in the day? Oh almost forgot, 48.

[W J]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Scott

WJ
I ran at Orange a few times early sixties. Injected buick in 50 ford owned by Ronnie Lepalm. also ran my roadster there in early eighties if my memory serves me right. Someone put togeter a sunday race trying to promote a new track for the northeast. I beilive Wally Roberts, Mike Fitts and Barry Rebero were also there. No traction compound just a great time and many memories.

Any one remember Charleston and the seagulls?

Yes Ronnie, Charlestown, Rhode Island....and Sanford, Maine as well. Gus Zuidema and Harr Ford Cobra, Pete Murphy and his '55 Chev Wapid Wabbit Gasser, Gene O'Neill and his '65 Hemi Coronet, then the Hemi Dart....I ran a '64 Malibu SS Chevelle stocker back then....Warren Lederer. WJ

[69Cobra]

Yes 33

I wish I could have lived back in the 50's and 60's. To be a part of that era would have been awesome to me. Today if you are not building a 8 second ride you don't have anything impressive. Here in Cincinnati there are more than a couple 8 second street cars that have been sold in the 20k dollar range. I will spend more than that to build a competitive stocker motor to run high 10's and at that not be street able.

To be honest. This topic has been that little voice in my head for the past 4-5 years. At 33 I grew up with my Dad and his friends racing in div 3 in the s/ss ranks and it’s in my blood. I've been racing my Dad's old stocker since the early 90's and really want to pull the trigger on a stocker motor to put the car back where it belongs. I want my own U.S. Nationals Wally and that is what drives me. But when all I read on here is people bitching about this and that and how entry fees keep going up and purses and contingencies keep falling it really makes me wonder if I have a brain in my head to be considering jumping in this arena. I respect what you guys do with what you have to do it with and that’s why I want to see if I can be competitive against todays stockers. I just haven’t justified the money side of it yet.

Sorry Ed I know all you wanted was a simple Yes or No.

Cheers!!!

[Dan Schlieker]

Yes 57

[W J]

Originally Posted by 69Cobra

Yes 33

I wish I could have lived back in the 50's and 60's. To be a part of that era would have been awesome to me. Today if you are not building a 8 second ride you don't have anything impressive. Here in Cincinnati there are more than a couple 8 second street cars that have been sold in the 20k dollar rangI will spend more than that to build a competitive stocker motor to run high 10's and at that not be street able.

To be honest. This topic has been that little voice in my head for the past 4-5 years. At 33 I grew up with my Dad and his friends racing in div 3 in the s/ss ranks and it’s in my blood. I've been racing my Dad's old stocker since the early 90's and really want to pull the trigger on a stocker motor to put the car back where it belongs. I want my own U.S. Nationals Wally and that is what drives me. But when all I read on here is people bitching about this and that and how entry fees keep going up and purses and contingencies keep falling it really makes me wonder if I have a brain in my head to be considering jumping in this arena. I respect what you guys do with what you have to do it with and that’s why I want to see if I can be competitive against todays stockers. I just haven’t justified the money side of it yet.

Sorry Ed I know all you wanted was a simple Yes or No.

Cheers!!!

Kris, have you contacted any reputable Ford drag race engine builders regarding your combo? I'd like to think you could build a competetive stocker motor for your Fairlane for substantially less than $20k. BTW, that is a great model car to compete with, and quite scarce as well....I say: "go for it". Lastly, sure wish I was 33 again.......WJ (63) P.S. Att. ED.....This has been a great thread!

[John Leichtamer Jr]

YES 61 look like im 25

Grew up in a town with a dragstrip. Got to see all the new factory racecars when they came out. I would not trade that time for anything.
the track opened in 1958, got to ride on the grader when they where building the track. that will put racing blood in you.

Hammer

[GRAMPS1182]

yes 69

[cutta]

If I get my hands on a 10 billion dollars, No!

Otherwise, Yes
Age: 23

In those days, the marketing for the sport was done on the showroom floor. Almost every car made had the ability to perform well on the strip. And all of you older guys took advantage of that by building the sport of drag racing. Racing every weekend and becoming pioneers for us youngins.

Today's fans and racers are more about the bang for the buck, fast as you can go type racing. Nitrous, Turbos, Superchargers are pretty much all some people care about. I love this stuff and I hate it when NHRA doesn't grant sportsman respect because the survival of these classes gets put at risk. On top of fans, the fact that fuel economy is becoming so important doesn't help either cause no company wants to produce a performance vehicle for the street. There are few, but not like the olden days.

To bring back that resurgence today, a monumental effort would have to take place and unfortunately, money is the only way to accomplish that. A massive marketing scheme would have to be put in place and the meshing of the new and old would have to take place to attract fans from both sides. I also think that IHRA and NHRA forming an alliance would grab more racers and create a better opportunity increase payouts by neither organization having to put 20 events on individually. Also, if NHRA would think to the future and form a bond with NMCA, ORSCA, or ADRL, they could take a step towards mending the gap between the Outlaw and Sportsman racing. Forgive the long reply, I'm a dreamer!

This is part of would I would do with the 10 billion dollars. I would also host an event for the biggest payout ever scene by Super Stock, Stock, and Comp. 100,000 payout for each class. Whew would I love to see that turnout.