End of Stock and SuperStock Racing??

[Don Kennedy]

I always thought when I made up my mind to race in 1963 that it would fun to Race a Class Car and have always ran a Class car since the very beginning and see no reason to change. I enjoyed the racing a lot and at that time racing was just that . About the Early 70s I stated to realize Just what was going on with these Stock and Super Stock Racers. I then really started to enjoy racing even more.

It is all about Attitude, Atmosphere, Family, and Compassion: I then realized that the Stock and Super Stock Racers have” Something Very Special”.

The Racers are the Movers and Shakers of their world. They make Major Decisions in their Community, their Business, their Churches, and the Company they worked for. They have the uncanny ability to “See The Whole Picture” I then knew what this whole deal was about. They are all very positive about life. They also have this same aggressive and positive attitude in Racing.
They are very successful in their world and have a choice to what class they can run. But will not change, as this is their challenge.

The Class racers are very Family oriented. They treat just about everyone equal at the Drag Strip from the youngest person to the oldest person, with unity in racing. Heck no wonder the children of Drag Racers have turned out successful as the kids were treated with high esteem from the very beginning and know how to have discipline in their lives.. These racers were able to communicate to all, their high standards, family values, and most important their integrity to others in a way that is awesome. The fact that their whole families are devoted to adhering to a set of rules, discipline is there. The fact that their families are willing to sacrifice for one goal is amazing. . These Friends that a racer develops at a race track is like no other sport, as these are friends who would support each other for ever, but on “The Line” they are going to rip you apart and then if they lose afterwards they will help that racer for the next round. Amazing isn’t it.

Compassion like no other is abound. Most of the racers are very compassionate about the Stock and Super Stock Class. Most of the racers eat, drink, dream, and think about how to make their car go faster and quicker every day within the rules. They don’t race for profit. They race with compassion. They are very disciplined and believe in rules. They are honest and have a high standard to adhere to. When they think a rule is out of line they will react with passion. They will move in a professional fashion to change the rule. They want to run in a” Performance Oriented Class” As Stock and Super Stock Racing is Their Life. These racers will look you straight in the Eye and go deep into your mind and say well done ,with out saying a word and the person who understands this will acknowledge the inner satisfaction of the silent compliment of you won this time but be ready next time.

One of the most Amazing things in Life about these Stock and Super Stock racers is that they will never quit and the last one standing will be the Winner or is that true?
In My opinion the Stock and Super Stock Racers and their Families are all winners for ever and when it is all over someone will say “Well Done Stock And Super Stock Racers You are all Winners” and you have made a difference in Life
I wrote this a "few" years ago and still believe it applies now ,just my opinion
Don

[Carl Weisinger]

Going to Piedmont, NC this weekend for a IHRA Pro-Am event. I see they are having a
Stock/Super-Stock Combo race on Saturday of the event,.......... with buy-backs.

Buy backs were started in the first place at a bracket race up north. It was a suggestion made as a way to meet a minimum number of entries for a full pay out. The car count at
the bracket race wasn't very good. Hence, buy backs. See the similarity?

I suggest we race all the regional Stock/Super-Stock events we can, if for no other
reason than to keep ourselves interested. Anybody too good to hit a few "no box" E.T.
races also?

Hope everyone has a safe week.

[RJ Sledge]

When this thread was started it was in the form of a question.

I am sure that most S and SS racers want to continue with what they enjoy. I was just thinking about some ways that we as racers could help.

Kyle and I were thinking about what could be done by the racers themselves to help improve our (S and SS) position. Maybe NHRA does not need any help from us. I believe anything that can be done to improve attendance, while emphasizing S and SS, is a plus for everyone involved.

I apoligize if anybody took my question as a statement of S and SS coming to a end. Bottom line I just want to see it continue and grow.

Problems are somethimes hard to correct, but new ideas and suggestions on the positive side are essential.

Appreciate all who responded

RJ

[Don Kennedy]

Originally Posted by RJ Sledge

When this thread was started it was in the form of a question.

I am sure that most S and SS racers want to continue with what they enjoy. I was just thinking about some ways that we as racers could help.

Kyle and I were thinking about what could be done by the racers themselves to help improve our (S and SS) position. Maybe NHRA does not need any help from us. I believe anything that can be done to improve attendance, while emphasizing S and SS, is a plus for everyone involved.

I apoligize if anybody took my question as a statement of S and SS coming to a end. Bottom line I just want to see it continue and grow.

Problems are somethimes hard to correct, but new ideas and suggestions on the positive side are essential.

Appreciate all who responded

RJ

NHRA needs to Listen to Stock and Super Stock racers they know how to solve NHRA problems and can make sure NHRA will be successful in the future . I know this for a Fact

[RJ Sledge]

Well said Don, and your earlier post was also, amazing that you wrote it several years ago and its all still relevant.

RJ

[SStockDart]

RJ, it is still relevant and Don's comments are perfect. I have to believe that those at NHRA that read this forum understand that those of us that love this sport, want it to get better......Those that are critics and spread doom and gloom, need to find something else to do.

If I were to believe that Stock and Super Stock racing is doomed..................Don and I will be racing at the next Arizona Nationals Finals. (I ain't quitting.....I am too old to change)

[Dick Butler]

RJ and Don. Your comments are very true. I am afraid many cannot fathom changes that might affect their personal focus. Part of these classes is the major book work used to find the "magic combination" . This research provided a starting point for an advantage which promised to make us more competitive than others in the class. The only problem has been this research led to political pressure to create a place to run more and more combinations and more and more specs to adjust.
Result is the massive class structures done to please the most people to keep or increase the participants.
Problems developed for class racing as Total racers in the country might have become static while classes increased. Result less per class participation in areas of the country, fewer participants to allow in the event to have class winners instead of bye runs.
Result emphysis of racers shifted to eliminator from class win.Pride in winning a Trophy was decreased by bye run wins.
Less emphysis on Record holding and also not rewarded with points so no reason to tear down.
Along came Factory Bogus cars (Only bogus due to neglect of potential by NHRA)
Hope the working to win Class can come back in more events and classes.
Are people really willing to move from the 50 year old parts and specs to a cheaper more standard car to create a show in class racing(like Mod class with limits) I doubt people can change their focus if it were suggested.
I LOVE CLASS RACING.

[Mike Carr]

Car counts might look down from years past on the surface. But, a few facts to consider:

~Quotas. 1996, I went to the Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove. 126 S/S showed up. 1999 (the Hurricane year), 132 or so Stockers were on the sheet (a few DNQ's). But now, with NHRA setting the quota for some races at 60-80 cars, you can't just look at that and say "Oh my, car counts are down..." NHRA makes it appear that way but cutting the car count (quotas) in half from 15 or so years ago.

~Some people are picking and choosing events. They may not go to certain LODRS or National events, for a variety of reasons (too many races in close proximity, in both distance from home and many races within a short time frame, plus alternative events like S/SS Associations, IHRA, bigger money bracket events, etc). Look at Division 1 the past few weeks. Memorial Day was Maple Grove LODRS, next weekend E-Town National, two weeks later Lebanon Valley NY LODRS, the next week Epping Nat'l. Week before Maple Grove was the Norwalk LODRS (many D-1 racers attend). Memorial Day I also had two S/SS races at Quaker City in Ohio (just over the PA line) and the week of E-town was the IHRA races at Pittsburgh. One or more races may have had a slightly lesser car count because some can not afford (in money or time off work) to attend all. Some people elect not to go to certain tracks because of conditions (pit area, race surface, other reason or combination of the above). Lebanon Valley had over 100 Stockers. Maple Grove always gets over 100 on Memorial Day.

Just a few things to consider. I wouldn't say Class Racing is dying. Certain events/tracks may suffer a bit for varying reasons. But dying? Not sure I would use that term. And, yes, there are some newer/younger talent coming into Class Racing (would still be one more if NHRA/IHRA hadn't ran him off). Hopefully the next few years will see an equal number coming in as racers leave... become older, start cutting back, retiring, or worse.

[FlyingW]

As the son of the legend Jimmy Waibel who raced from the days of flag starts in 1958 at Lake Wales, Fl through the glory days of jr.Stock, a major player in the STK factory wars of the 60's and 70's to the bracket format of today, I have become a DIE-hard 2nd gen racer driving his last car he built and my oldest son Jacob turns 15 in just a few weeks and he already moves "by driving" the car around the shop and even load it in the box. He has plans of moving up to Top Fuel and he will. He learned the track from his jr. Dragster, he will tell you he will learn to drive in the K&N camaro and then after a season or two he wants to go a big rail car, than to the world of Top fuel and he will tell you its because each step is important to be a champion. Now the only reason Iam not wining in the K&N camaro YET.... I had to pay my dues in the racing world I feel they are paid and there is a wally coming back to Waibel Comptition in STOCK thats what built NHRA thats what started it all "....my cars faster than yours......." so 2nd and 3rd gen drivers stay true to your roots for things we take for granted I.E. order any part and race they had to build ans stock/super stock Racing will only die if our generation allows it.
Jeremy Waibel
Waibel Competition
'69 K&N Camaro
NHRA STK 2230

[Rose Racing]

I am a young S or S/S enthusiast and love class racing and I am in the early 20-30 year old demographic and currently bracket race at Norwalk and I hope in the next 10 or soo maybe more years I will build my own class car....... I know most of the younger generation currently racing at Norwalk and DWAY 42 in West Salem as I have raced every week in and out for 10 years since Jr Dragsters and every one of them thoroughly enjoys bracket racing and almost every one of them wants a 7 second dragster and every one of thems goal is to run in the .90 classes either Super Comp or Super Gas and they all love delay box racing with throttle stops and the whole every young kid wants to run heads up 10.5 or radial classes are highly exagerated. I refuse to run a delay box as I would rather leave off the bottom bulb and drive the car like past racers have. My father has never raced before and I started driving a Jr Dragster that he bought for me(including trailer) and he has always supported me and we bought a Bracket tube chassied Pinto that I have raced for the past 3 or 4 years(sooo please not all kids in Drag Racing are second generation racers) and he is also a big fan of Super Stock and thats our ultimate goal! Heres an ideer and dont slaughter me for it but How about a older car with a new engine GT class? Its all the rage in car building to put a new LS GM engine in an old Camaro or a Mod Motor in a old fastback Mustang sooo why not in Stock or Super Stock? Most kids I went to school with somewhat know new cars but love muscle cars and I always got alot of praise driving my 78 Dodge to school and I think it would be very popular just thinking out loud.....