End of Stock and SuperStock Racing??

[Conway Witten]

Where I think NHRA is over looking things is, nobody in Pro Stock engine building or crew chiefs came out of any other classes than, modified (comp), super stock or stock. Bracket classes and junior dragster can make drivers but the real brains started in sportsman class cars? With them kind of letting sportsman racing kill it’s self only gives them an excuse to end them and hope they migrate into the super classes. One thing that I think would help is for the stock, super stock have horsepower and changes done by a committee of racers. Then have the racers elect a certification team. With a committee of peers doing the changes, takes out the silly automatic factoring system, and does not give any thought to density altitude? And you could allow the use of Holley 750s on small block and 850s on big blocks in super stock? A Holley is cheaper than a q-jet or 4gc and leaves the horsepowers alone; this puts the old cars more in line with the fuel injected cars. Then if they need power the committee could adjust it. I know for a fact a lot of cars setting at home now because the horsepowers are out of line because of going fast in the spring or fall.

[Jim Wahl]

Originally Posted by Conway Witten

Where I think NHRA is over looking things is, nobody in Pro Stock engine building or crew chiefs came out of any other classes than, modified (comp), super stock or stock. Bracket classes and junior dragster can make drivers but the real brains started in sportsman class cars? With them kind of letting sportsman racing kill it’s self only gives them an excuse to end them and hope they migrate into the super classes. One thing that I think would help is for the stock, super stock have horsepower and changes done by a committee of racers. Then have the racers elect a certification team. With a committee of peers doing the changes, takes out the silly automatic factoring system, and does not give any thought to density altitude? And you could allow the use of Holley 750s on small block and 850s on big blocks in super stock? A Holley is cheaper than a q-jet or 4gc and leaves the horsepowers alone; this puts the old cars more in line with the fuel injected cars. Then if they need power the committee could adjust it. I know for a fact a lot of cars setting at home now because the horsepowers are out of line because of going fast in the spring or fall.

No thanks Conway, I'll take my Thermo Quad over a Holley any day! Jim

[SStockDart]

You are so right, Mark......you could spend $20,000 to promote a "Diesel Black out" drag race........and draw 20 diesels, and 50 fans. That makes no sense. You could spend $20,000 for advertising a John Force match race with whoever............and maybe break even. I'm just saying...

[Conway Witten]

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

No thanks Conway, I'll take my Thermo Quad over a Holley any day! Jim

Of course you could keep you thermo-bog, either solid fuel or mixer! But if a simpleton like me wanted to run a Holley we could?

[Jim Wahl]

Originally Posted by Conway Witten

Of course you could keep you thermo-bog, either solid fuel or mixer! But if a simpleton like me wanted to run a Holley we could?

Yes sir, of course you could!!! Jim


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[Frito]

"What were the time of day that the Stock and Super Stock were run back then? Were they run before most people were out of bed or could be at the track"?

Last year at Indy, while helping a friend in Stock, some of his friends from his home town came to watch stock and super stock eliminator. They called and said they were at the gate and could not get in untill 9AM. The problem was it was 8AM and the stockers had already started running. When I ask the NHRA people at the gate about it they said the racers gate was open but spectators had to wait until 9. So much for filling the grandstands.

[will prater]

I had a similar experince at Topeka several years ago. My son and I went up into the stands by the starting line on the pit side to watch Stock and Super Stock qualifying on Thursday am. We were run out of the stands because I was told they were for reserved seating. Cost $10 dollars to get in on Thursday, only tickets being sold. Good thing there was only about 10 people in the stands. Didn't take too long to get us out.

[Bobby Fazio]

On Thursday?! What a joke... They need to get rid of the reserved seating that's pointless with the lack of fanbase these days.

[Biscayne]

Originally Posted by Conway Witten

Of course you could keep you thermo-bog, either solid fuel or mixer! But if a simpleton like me wanted to run a Holley we could?

To me though. That's part of the problem. Stock class is getting farther and farther away from stock. I built a Stock class car about 4 years ago. Ive taken it to about 3 NHRA events in the last 4 years. And only 3 because of how I was treated. Very first race I went to in DIV 1. Got treated like shi* by tech and all the officials. Im guessing all because I was new. I had one issue in tech. I did not have an NHRA decal anywhere on my car. Which I took care of right away. Then was given a bunch of shi* during fuel check, because I did what they guy next to me did. You would have thought it was the end of the world. And NHRA wonders why they have no turn out. If you treat the racer just a little better, then they might make more $ and have a better car count. Ive had no desire to go back to any NHRA event since. Then back to the whole "Stock Class" thing. The class is getting farther and farther away from stock. Roller rockers, etc etc etc. I know my opinion does not mean much. But just my experiences with NHRA.

[Sean Marconette]

Originally Posted by Biscayne

To me though. That's part of the problem. Stock class is getting farther and farther away from stock. I built a Stock class car about 4 years ago. Ive taken it to about 3 NHRA events in the last 4 years. And only 3 because of how I was treated. Very first race I went to in DIV 1. Got treated like shi* by tech and all the officials. Im guessing all because I was new. I had one issue in tech. I did not have an NHRA decal anywhere on my car. Which I took care of right away. Then was given a bunch of shi* during fuel check, because I did what they guy next to me did. You would have thought it was the end of the world. And NHRA wonders why they have no turn out. If you treat the racer just a little better, then they might make more $ and have a better car count. Ive had no desire to go back to any NHRA event since. Then back to the whole "Stock Class" thing. The class is getting farther and farther away from stock. Roller rockers, etc etc etc. I know my opinion does not mean much. But just my experiences with NHRA.

Scott it is very unfortunate that you were treated poorly. It should not matter if you are new or old to the game. All I can suggest is having someone experienced in class racing to get you pointed in the right direction at your first few races. Make it a point to talk to the tech guys during the race. They are not at the race to be the bad guys. But if they need to be they will, and have every right to be. The tech guys are under the gun to get cars through tech to keep things moving, inexperienced and unprepared racers may push their buttons and could have been the result of how you were treated.
Where I live, I have D-3, and D-4 races within 3-5 hrs from me. D-3, and 4 tech guys have always been great to deal with. If you are an out of division racer they will usually really look things over well, but if you have a clean car and have followed the rule book there will be no issues.
Just because the rules change to allow seats, roller rockers and whatever else that comes along, does not mean everyone has to jump in and start keeping up with the jones.

Sean