Disappearing Stockers in Michigan!!!

[Harry 6674]

tpoh you must one of the younger racers who started in bracket racing then moved to stock. I didn't.When I started in stock it was real racing. None of this shoe polish crap on the windows so I'm sorry to see the class diluted to the point of no heads up no breakout racing. As you can tell not many fans in S/SS racing like there used to be. Its a shame because the class has such great potential. Just lose the shoe polish and watch the fans stay in their seats when we race.

[Wade Mahaffey]

I truly respect the class racers of old. The first one there....wins, within the rules that is. And I hear and see the passion and it's awesome! My question is what do/did these old class racers do to keep that type of racing alive! What do the racers do to promote that type of racing?

Wade Mahaffey

[tpoh815]

Harry, then the guys with the most money and NOT skill wins! Sounds like the pro classes to me. Remember the fact is (LIKE IT OR NOT) its a shoe polish race 90% of the time. Fact is I can except the fact that there is faster and more skilled than me without the ego. "Hey you just beat me to the finish line but you lifted" (WHY) . Its to protect your combo right? Have you ever done this Harry?? So I don't worry about someone kicking my combos *** while they protect their own. I don't make the game up I just try to play it within my only means. Don't blame the player,blame the game.Good luck in all your racing endeavors. As always I'll be at the bottom of the ladder and happy enough to play again and the way things are going, I'm sure they will be more than happy to receive my money again. Mike

[Sean Kennedy]

You can also thank those who cried to lower the indexes three tenths.

They don't want people on a smaller budget to be able to race stock. I'm sure someone will say that's not true. But 'go work on your car' = spending several thousand dollars most of the time.

If you wanted to continue to discourage people from racing in stock and getting their feet wet, lowering the indexes was the best thing you could have done. Congratulations.

[Harry 6674]

Originally Posted by Wade Mahaffey

I truly respect the class racers of old. The first one there....wins, within the rules that is. And I hear and see the passion and it's awesome! My question is what do/did these old class racers do to keep that type of racing alive! What do the racers do to promote that type of racing?

Wade Mahaffey

Actually S/SS was promoted a lot harder by NHRA,track owners and race sponsors then today. We were a big deal and the races drew a lot of attention. Just like Pinks All Out the stands would be packed.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Wade Mahaffey

I truly respect the class racers of old. The first one there....wins, within the rules that is. And I hear and see the passion and it's awesome! My question is what do/did these old class racers do to keep that type of racing alive! What do the racers do to promote that type of racing?

Wade Mahaffey

Short version.........NOTHING Wade.....Its not fesable today to run anything close to "Top Stock" like the first one at Norwalk in IHRA and the deal Dave Ley ran with all of the bogus HP ratings coming out of the new car manufactures today. it would be a nightmare trying to equalize the combos. The old drivers for the most part went funny car racing for the match racing money. Back in the day Chrysler Corp built ringers such as the Hemi Darts and Cudas (but neat S/Sers) at a time when Ford just gave up and got out other than street production cars (428 CJs) and GM was not allowed to build anything with an engine of over 400 inches in a mediuem sized car (other than the Corvette) . NHRA then came out with the first 10 classes of Super Stock in 1967 but it to was just a bracket race other than class. NHRA and some of the old S/S racers tried again and Pro Stock of 1970 was the outcome and now you see what a "Bastard" money class Pro Stock has become. Pro Stock today should be called "Funny Cars" You cant even see over the carbon fiber hoods of those freaks. I wont even go into the total lack of tech inspection/enforcement of rules today of cylinder heads, Intakes, etc. of stock today. Even todays Super Stock engine is wilder and more advanced than a Pro stock engine of just 25 years ago. Where do you draw the line?
P.S. Even todays so called AA/S and A/S cars are quicker and faster than yesterdays heads up class called Pro Stock. How mamy remember that fact of life !!! Yeah I know, new technology, blowers, better tires, better transmissions, even the air is better and the earths rotation has slowed down to make stockers and S/S faster.....yeah right.

[Chuck Beach]

First off it is stock eliminator which is made up of stock class cars, if you don't fit in a class then you can't run stock. Second, I like to go to the races that have class because it gives me two opportunities to race for the price of one, in most cases NHRA class wins pays you some $$$. I know this was an IHRA race but look at Indy, everyone talks about it all year long, it is about class racing.

There were fewer cars at Martin because:
1) economy sucks
2) no class racing
3) too hot to race
4) fuel prices
5) IHRA payouts
6) other categories they have added for entertainment (pro sled?)

Just my chump change thoughts ...

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Chuck Beach

First off it is stock eliminator which is made up of stock class cars, if you don't fit in a class then you can't run stock. Second, I like to go to the races that have class because it gives me two opportunities to race for the price of one, in most cases NHRA class wins pays you some $$$. I know this was an IHRA race but look at Indy, everyone talks about it all year long, it is about class racing.

There were fewer cars at Martin because:
1) economy sucks
2) no class racing
3) too hot to race
4) fuel prices
5) IHRA payouts
6) other categories they have added for entertainment (pro sled?)

Just my chump change thoughts ...

You pretty much nailed it Chuck. Of course its going to be hot (#3) at Indy also but Indy is Indy.

[GTX JOHN]

I agree with you Sean. Lowering the indexs three tenths was the best thing they could of done to lower car count. We have seen a number of young racers and other newbies that were unable to run the new indexs. How long do you thing they will stay in stock? I don't have a personal Axe to grind....all our cars are easier to run without as much worry of going too fast.and tripping possible adjustment. I JUST WORRY ABOUT THERE NOT BEING ANYMORE STOCK TO RACE. I sure would have a bunch of expensive temperamental bracket stuff. Just my .02 worth

[Jim Kaekel]

One thing you guys missed regarding the IHRA is the Evan Knoll/Torco fiasco. Both the IHRA and NHRA were benefitting from his sponsorship dollars and the IHRA, in particular, really got hit hard when Torco collapsed. The sad thing is, the joker behind it all that raped Uncle Sam for all that dough, still remains a free, walking man!