Nhra strikes again - must read for stk/ss at ned nat event

[RobbieRacer]

And that Mark, is sad, but very true. Beltsanders. Too Funny.

[Coleydog]

I'm new to class racing but been around since the flag man. I read and comment on a lot of these posts about aluminum manifolds, knocking HP off for certain engine combos, list goes on. Maybe NHRA is getting tired of the bickering back and forth and these cars bring less hassle with a whole lot less work on their part. Now I love S-S/S racing but for the average beer guzzler in the stands, no clue how it works. The allure of the no prep whatever is they're fast and heads up and no slamming on the breaks to keep from running out. Do any of you watch Street Outlaws? These cars are fast, high 3s to very low 4s on a non preped street, they have the high tech traction control electronics to keep them going straight. The "chief" was invited to the Indy race for exhibition and fans where six deep at the trailer. The country has gone nuts over this show and NHRA is trying to tap into those viewers. Hate the say it but class racing has become a glorified bracket race, I know there's heads up racing occasionally, but the fans don't pony up the big gate fees to watch what they can see at the local tracks for a lot less money. I don't have the answers but sorry to say there's a new game in town and it's not good for class racing.
Mike

[HandOverFist]

How about everyone use a sealed crate motor at the same weight...be lots of heads up then.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

How about everyone use a sealed crate motor at the same weight...be lots of heads up then.

That would be NMRA's Coyote Stock.

Tight racing and wheels up launches.
It's popular right now for sure, but not exactly entry level stuff.

At least NHRA Stock still has entry level classes for those not wanting to spend more than 15K

[Alan Roehrich]

Sealed crate engine programs have done a fabulous job of decimating grass roots circle track racing. Does wonders for smart engine builders who know how to blueprint and tune. The amount of cheating I saw when those hit the tracks boggles the mind. When one of those 355HP crate engines sounds like the small block in Rampy's Bantam Altered, you know everything is above board, and the playing field is as level as a tournament billiard table.

[Don Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Coleydog

I'm new to class racing but been around since the flag man. I read and comment on a lot of these posts about aluminum manifolds, knocking HP off for certain engine combos, list goes on. Maybe NHRA is getting tired of the bickering back and forth and these cars bring less hassle with a whole lot less work on their part. Now I love S-S/S racing but for the average beer guzzler in the stands, no clue how it works. The allure of the no prep whatever is they're fast and heads up and no slamming on the breaks to keep from running out. Do any of you watch Street Outlaws? These cars are fast, high 3s to very low 4s on a non preped street, they have the high tech traction control electronics to keep them going straight. The "chief" was invited to the Indy race for exhibition and fans where six deep at the trailer. The country has gone nuts over this show and NHRA is trying to tap into those viewers. Hate the say it but class racing has become a glorified bracket race, I know there's heads up racing occasionally, but the fans don't pony up the big gate fees to watch what they can see at the local tracks for a lot less money. I don't have the answers but sorry to say there's a new game in town and it's not good for class racing.
Mike

Mike you are right to a certain extent you are correct there is another class of racer out there .Racing on the streets is not safe regardless of the way the show is planned or set up for entertainment. No prep is ok .and I doubt you will see all the unsafe actions at a NHRA Drag race . I see them on videos with fans on the staring line with the race cars .I know this won't happen at a NHRA way to much liability not to mention dangerous to the people what are they thinking they are not invincible and can't get hurt silly people. You say there is a new game in town I say no this type of racing has been going on since I was a kid many many years ago .lol

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by Don Kennedy

Mike you are right to a certain extent you are correct there is another class of racer out there .Racing on the streets is not safe regardless of the way the show is planned or set up for entertainment. No prep is ok .and I doubt you will see all the unsafe actions at a NHRA Drag race . I see them on videos with fans on the staring line with the race cars .I know this won't happen at a NHRA way to much liability not to mention dangerous to the people what are they thinking they are not invincible and can't get hurt silly people. You say there is a new game in town I say no this type of racing has been going on since I was a kid many many years ago .lol

Back to the original post, I will be at new england.....since I am always parked at the end of the track, behind some trees, I am not going to worry about flying shrapnel and such.....fans in the stands that might be another matter, from a marketing standpoint, announce they are next, get the butts in the seats, and run a round of SS qualifying to get em all worked up, and then unleash the edge of disaster class.

[Alan Roehrich]

Street Outlaws is pure scripted "reality" TV.

And that's fine, if that's your thing, but it will be like all of the rest of it, gone as soon as the new wears off.

Honestly, that whole image, and getting rid of it, is the exact reason for NHRA existing to begin with. I guess what was once old is new again.

The same goes with the "no prep" and other "outlaw" stuff. The new wears off, and the uninformed crowd wanders off looking for the next new shiny object.

None of that is a long term plan for the over all or general health of the sport. NHRA may use it as something to kill off class racing, simply because they're so short sighted that they cannot see past the next payout after the next national event. But it will just be another nail in NHRA's coffin. The crowd WILL move on.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Don Kennedy

You say there is a new game in town I say no this type of racing has been going on since I was a kid many many years ago .lol

Right, Don..and I'll bet that competing at these various events doesn't cost $350 , car and driver, and $100 + for a couple of crew men or family members ; thus another part of the allure.
NHRA has priced themselves out of the realm of the average working guy, in my opinion.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Right, Don..and I'll bet that competing at these various events doesn't cost $350 , car and driver, and $100 + for a couple of crew men or family members ; thus another part of the allure.
NHRA has priced themselves out of the realm of the average working guy, in my opinion.

Where NHRA has priced themselves completely out of the market is in the stands. It's absurd. And it's a huge reason you don't see kids in the stands with their parents.

And that's exactly why the long term is so bleak. Because those kids in the stands with eyes as big as saucers, and a smile a team of plastic surgeons can't remove are where new racers come from.