Entry level class?

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

I just looked in the 2024 rulebook and I could’ve swore at one time in the past super Street was listed as an entry level class that wording is not there anymore. I guess even NHRA knows better.

OK here’s another question. How did you get started in drag racing?
For me, I went with my father and watched a funny car show at US 13 dragway after that I wanted in! so we ran my daily driver in the trophy class the very next weekend that was my beginner class
And yes, after years and years of bracket racing my introduction into NHRA class racing was with super Street and at the time it was a 4/10 tree, which made it very difficult with any 10 second car

I saw my first LODRS event (it wasn't LODRS then) about 1976 at Bowling Green.


I literally "walked on" to a team of guys racing Super Pro, Super Gas, and a class called "Jr. Pro Stock" while I was in high school. I moved up to building the engines and transmissions, and setting up the rear ends, as well as being a crew chief. They bought a dragster and went Super Comp and fast bracket racing. I literally learned from some of the very best, Jimmy Bridges, Harry Vineyard, Ronnie Duke, Mike Lynch, Sonny Elliot, and a host of others.

[Lenny5160_v2]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Super Comp is mostly populated with $50K+ 4 link dragsters, with $30K+ 598 big block Chevy engines, $4K PowerGlides, and $5K of electronics and throttle stops. Hardly "entry level".

These cars are certainly out there, but if you showed up in the Super Comp staging lanes with $30K in your pocket you could probably pick from at least half the cars there.

There are reasonable ways to get into just about any class if you don't mind being on the slow end. Everyone keeps going faster and faster, but it isn't necessary to be competitive.*

*applies more to Super-classes; there are actual competitive advantages to being fast in S/SS.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160_v2

if you showed up in the Super Comp staging lanes with $30K in your pocket you could probably pick from at least half the cars there.

Everyone keeps going faster and faster, but it isn't necessary to be competitive.*

I disagree on both points. $30k super comp turnkey cars are few, everything old and mostly junk and competitive is not winning a round or 2 but being a threat to win any race and the championship!

[M120]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

You guys are funny, the only real entry-level class now is super comp
And as for taking away throttle stops, big motors, and all that crap you’re delusional they run an 11 50 850, and 10 flat class with no electronic help and hardly ever get very many cars. They even tried to run those classes at Nhra divisionals a few times what a joke so don’t think that’s gonna happen. We race by NHRA rules that’s it. Of course I want the best car within the rules. If you don’t like it, don’t play.

Fwiw, I liked index racing. Had fun and I had friends racing Outlaw10.5.
I used to drive by Atco to go to Cecil for the SSCS.

I didn't build the car for index but fit the rules and could be .000 on .500 PT.
With ATI contingency it was $750 for a win for $50 entry.
I'd run PD as well. Go some rounds and get money back. Runner up'd there was my best there.

Not sure on any plans for racing in the future. It was nice having a track one mile away.
FLC!

[Keith 944]

Originally Posted by M120

Fwiw, I liked index racing. Had fun and I had friends racing Outlaw10.5.
I used to drive by Atco to go to Cecil for the SSCS.

I didn't build the car for index but fit the rules and could be .000 on .500 PT.
With ATI contingency it was $750 for a win for $50 entry.
I'd run PD as well. Go some rounds and get money back. Runner up'd there was my best there.

Not sure on any plans for racing in the future. It was nice having a track one mile away.
FLC!

You are correct it’s a lot of fun, I had a 67 Dodge that I ran in the 1150 index class when I wasn’t running super Street or super gas somewhere. I won quite a few times and it was a different way of racing. No doubt but winners will win and people will find a way to cheat in those classes too. My whole response about those classes was that it didn’t or wouldn’t replace super street someone on here was bashing super Street for going overboard with motors, electronics, etc. basically saying it was time for no electronic classes, that is not a replacement just a different style. I like all of them and play by their rules that guy just needs to understand when they make rules you play by them don’t try to change them because you don’t like them.
And for what it’s worth stock is not an entry-level class either. they just need to stop all the enhancements, etc. etc. leave things the way they are if anybody wants to come in they’ll have to do it like everybody else get a car, work on it, pick a class and go racing. We should all be glad the classes that are there now are there so we can all enjoy

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

You guys are funny, the only real entry-level class now is super comp
And as for taking away throttle stops, big motors, and all that crap you’re delusional they run an 11 50 850, and 10 flat class with no electronic help and hardly ever get very many cars. They even tried to run those classes at Nhra divisionals a few times what a joke so don’t think that’s gonna happen. We race by NHRA rules that’s it. Of course I want the best car within the rules. If you don’t like it, don’t play.

You failed to read what was written. No one proposed changing the rules in Super Street. We merely stated what kept the class from being "entry level". No one suggested taking anything away from anyone. A couple of people said it would be more entry level IF some things were changed. No one suggested the should, must, or would be changed. In fact, I specifically stated I was not proposing a single rule change, that it wasn't a class I was involved with in any serious way, and I had no standing to make such a proposal.