Econo Modified

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Rick Shirey

So what is so different now that so many people are so adamant that it will never happen?

Something called the ProStockTruck lawsuit is what makes it so different.
If you aren't willing to "pay to play" then don't expect your own eliminator.
Now if you were willing to set up your own loose circuit that would travel around to local tracks and put on a show for minimal cost or no cost to the track owner (kind of like midwest nostalgia PS, supercharged warriors) then you might get something going. THAT would be the way I would suggest you get going anyway, if there is interest in it it will thrive.
If one of you wants to send me a PM, I'll give you my ideas on what you're trying to do but I already spelled it out for Dick years ago and he wasn't interested.

[joespanova]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Something called the ProStockTruck lawsuit is what makes it so different.
If you aren't willing to "pay to play" then don't expect your own eliminator.

What the heck does that have to do with this? So some guys built some trucks for an eliminator that wasn't popular.......it sure as hell wasn't for me anyway. The trucks would run , I would go walk thru the pits.
Its a hobby , these are toys.get over it.


Whats this "pay to play" crap he keeps referring to?
.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by joespanova

What the heck does that have to do with this? So some guys built some trucks for an eliminator that wasn't popular.......it sure as hell wasn't for me anyway. The trucks would run , I would go walk thru the pits.
Its a hobby , these are toys.get over it.


Whats this "pay to play" crap he keeps referring to?
.

I'm guessing that news travels slow in your neck of the woods.
NHRA created PST and a bunch of Racers built them, spending millions to do so. It didn't bring in the expected revenues, NHRA did away with PST. Racers that spent millions to build PSTs sued NHRA and won a settlement. I doubt that we will ever see NHRA create a new Eliminator again.
The NHRA Pro Mod program isn't run by NHRA, it is run at NHRA Natl. Events but the Pro Mod Owners make their own financing, not NHRA. That is where the "pay to play" comes from. The owners have to pay NHRA to be there. It will be the same with the TF Harley deal.

[randy wilson]

I really doubt any org. will start this, but we can hope. I believe they will keep doing, what they're doing, until no one hardly shows up to race, or watch. Insanity is doing the same thing over, and expecting different results. NHRA shot themselves in the foot getting rid of Modified, but hate to admit it. The magazines, if you remember, dried up at that point. That WAS the most interesting class in NHRA, and it was NOT the quickest. I doubt this idea would garner a lot of attention at a national, but at a local level, I believe it would. What we might beg for is one div. printing a set of rules, give us a year, and try it at the div. level, and national opens. Just a thought.

[SStockDart]

I'll throw a curve ball out here...
In 2013, there were 798 Super Stockers and 1,112 Stockers that got points in NHRA. Yet we have difficulty filling 80 spots in National Events.....
If another eliminator (Econo Mod) were added, would it take from the existing number and just move them or would it bring in new cars/racers? My guess is that at least a good portion of any Econo Mod entries would come from existing racers....Therefore, why would anyone (sanctioning body) want to do it to just have the same results (number of cars).
Additionally, I have read comments on here about having a "spec" head....What would be the spec head for my Mopars? When you talk about a spec head, you are probably talking about Chevy engines, therefore, you just eliminated Mopar and Ford racers that a garage full of parts.......Econo Mod is a bad idea, IMO.....way to many variables.
What the sanctioning bodies would be interested in hearing is "how can we/they make racing more interesting to attract more cars, more spectators, and new racers"????

We have less than a hand full of sportsman racers that are able to travel the country and apparently make a living....I don't recall what a non-qualifying Top Fuel or Funny Car gets paid....or a first round loser, but I believe it is $10,000 to $20,000. Additionally, I don't believe they pay entry, like us. I could be wrong. I would be in favor of NHRA reducing the number of Qualifying cars in Fuel. Reduce the number from 16 to 12, then allow the fastest first round loser back in.....however the math works out.
Then, move the funds back to the Sportsman racer. Let's face it, $20,000 to a fuel car with a $3,000,000 budget is not nearly as important to them than $4.00 Diesel fuel and entry fees are to us....

[randy wilson]

Gary, where have you been. The Brodix spec head is for CHEVY, FORD, AND MOPAR!!!!!! Also, more cars will come, and I doubt that many will come from current eliminators. They can keep doing what they're doing, and get the same results. NOT interesting anymore. No one cares anymore in the spectator world.

[SStockDart]

Originally Posted by randy wilson

Gary, where have you been. The Brodix spec head is for CHEVY, FORD, AND MOPAR!!!!!! Also, more cars will come, and I doubt that many will come from current eliminators. They can keep doing what they're doing, and get the same results. NOT interesting anymore. No one cares anymore in the spectator world.

Sorry Randy, I have had no reason to keep up with spec heads. My Bad. I just checked with Brodix. Small block Mopar only.....not BBM

[joespanova]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I'm guessing that news travels slow in your neck of the woods.
NHRA created PST and a bunch of Racers built them, spending millions to do so. It didn't bring in the expected revenues, NHRA did away with PST. Racers that spent millions to build PSTs sued NHRA and won a settlement. I doubt that we will ever see NHRA create a new Eliminator again.
The NHRA Pro Mod program isn't run by NHRA, it is run at NHRA Natl. Events but the Pro Mod Owners make their own financing, not NHRA. That is where the "pay to play" comes from. The owners have to pay NHRA to be there. It will be the same with the TF Harley deal.

Interesting , I didnt know that about Pro Mod.....and LOL , its not that news travels any slower here.........I'm just not interested in the "politics' of drag racing.
The NHRA needs a complete overhaul and the idiots that run the organization are too thick headed to realize it. I saw the crowds this year in Atlanta that are a fraction of days gone by. Countdowns , classes spectators don't relate to ( i.e. 9.90 , 8.90 cars ) the "staggering" of participation from event to event in the ProMod classes , alcohol classes , comp. classes etc etc is just f'd up period.
If they were to "incorporate" some of the "heads up " class cars that run outlaw ( turbos , NOS and so on ) in their programs the crowd appeal would truely swell.
But like I said , its an archaic organization with their heads in the sand.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by joespanova

I'm just not interested in the "politics' of drag racing.

The politics and the f**kups in the upper management levels (and their lack of the feeling to need to fix their f**kups) make it harder and harder for me to enjoy going NHRA racing every year.

[FINESPLINE]

Personally, I think you there are some fantastic ideas for a spec head class. The biggest problem is that many people think in terms of selling the idea to the NHRA. Forget about the NHRA and start thinking in terms of forming your own association or group and sell that to the track owners. Have your own touring show but keep it realistic as travel expenses may dictate the amount of participation.