IHRA and Memphis

[Rich67stang]

As Dan Has stated. Everyone has an excuse, My self included ( I have run full IHRA schedule since 2004) I chose to Try a full NHRA schedule this year. I Love racing with IHRA.

Reasons for dismal car counts:

Too many other races available, If NHRA/IHRA was the only show in town car counts might be larger.

Racers cannot afford to race 2 series and choose NHRA.

Racers Have a big Ego to race anything other than NHRA.

[MR DERBY CITY]

275 miles north east of Memphis there was a Saturday and Sunday NHRA combo at Bowling Green, Ky....The previous 2 weeks there was a NHRA points meet in Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis ,Indiana. 42 cars attended the combo..It was hot as temps exceeded 90 degrees....These 42 racers attended the combo knowing that in a matter of days most would be returning to run the points meet...I think its pretty clear cut any way you slice it....

[Dave1695]

Many good points have been brought up, but one glaring problem is the average age of current stock and super stock racers, and the low number of young ones getting into class racing. Not sure what it will take to entice more young racers over to our side; hope an answer is found before it is too late.

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Originally Posted by Dave1695

Many good points have been brought up, but one glaring problem is the average age of current stock and super stock racers, and the low number of young ones getting into class racing. Not sure what it will take to entice more young racers over to our side; hope an answer is found before it is too late.

Exactly.

[Dan Fahey]

Originally Posted by Nmbr1GMfan

Exactly.

Suggested this before.
The new Cars from US and Foreign manufacturers are the cars that people are buying and racing them.
If you want Stock to be populated by a younger generation.
Got to create a path to consider Stock and Super Stock
Which includes migrating them through a Pure Stock Class to allow them to compete.
IHRA limits to 2005 and NHRA ignores them completely.

The car racing market will invent itself around the large sanctioning bodies.
Hence the success of NMCA and other more flexible organizations.
If you want a younger set you have to go after them.
NMCA is packing them in.

NHRA and IHRA to survive in todays market are going to have to invite foreign models to compete.
BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Nissan and so on.

There is such resistance to these cars that it is killing potential growth.
But that IMHO is where the market is growing.

My 1995 Impala SS is more than 20 years old.
But one of the newer cars compared to the old stalwart racers from the 60's.

Factory Stock is popular but for the rest of Stock you got to grab the lower HP cars.

D






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[Sam Capizzi Jr]

Here's a different point of view from someone that's been doing this for a few years now and under the age of 40.

Stock is crazy expensive even with a dime (not so)rocket. Demands all of your spare time just getting to the track. Travel expenses have increased. Entry fees increased. Ihra you need to have 2-3 days off and Nhra 3-4 days off work. I can go on and on. Now how many people under the age of 40 can afford to work 4 days a week, spend $300 plus travel expenses, start a family, buy a house etc.

When ihra had divisions it was something to try and win. 2-3 good weekends and you could win the division but now youre committed to 5 weekends and 2 of those aren't even close for anyone in Ontario Canada/New York. So what's the point for us to travel 8-10 hours to Maryland or Virginia especially once someone wins everything in the south.

Ihra/Empire put on a great weekend but their business model sucks.


On a side note Empire has 1000 to win races every weekend for $50. Sometimes double headers so why even travel.