What I feel nhra needs to do?

[Billy Nees]

Art, the difference isn't about whose generation is "stupider". We are all "stupid" at one point or another. I like to think that our generation wanted to learn from its mistakes and make what we had into a better deal but that takes time and a lot of trial and error. The next generation wants "instant gratification". They don't or won't take the time to figure out how to do something. They want someone to hand it to them "right now" or they don't need it. Go to your local track on a friday night.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Art, the difference isn't about whose generation is "stupider". We are all "stupid" at one point or another. I like to think that our generation wanted to learn from its mistakes and make what we had into a better deal but that takes time and a lot of trial and error. The next generation wants "instant gratification". They don't or won't take the time to figure out how to do something. They want someone to hand it to them "right now" or they don't need it. Go to your local track on a friday night.

Billy for the most part you are right. But we took weeks at the track to properly tune a car.
Now they can do it in a couple of hours on a chassis dyno.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Art, the difference isn't about whose generation is "stupider". We are all "stupid" at one point or another. I like to think that our generation wanted to learn from its mistakes and make what we had into a better deal but that takes time and a lot of trial and error. The next generation wants "instant gratification". They don't or won't take the time to figure out how to do something. They want someone to hand it to them "right now" or they don't need it. Go to your local track on a friday night.

I agree1000% with this statement. Todays generation is mostly (not all) a bunch of know it alls. They dont respect anyone or anything. If I talked the way to older people or parents like some do today I would have been handed my azz in a hand basket. At lot of younger people on here are good, eager to learn, they work hard and have been brought up right by good parents (Just one Example: Bobby Warrens sons).

[art leong]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

I agree1000% with this statement. Todays generation is mostly (not all) a bunch of know it alls. They dont respect anyone or anything. If I talked the way to older people or parents like some do today I would have been handed my azz in a hand basket. At lot of younger people on here are good, eager to learn, they work hard and have been brought up right by good parents (Just one Example: Bobby Warrens sons).

Terry did you ever hear the phrase. Turn on, Tune in, Drop out?
I'm sure all our parents were happy and pleased.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by art leong

Terry did you ever hear the phrase. Turn on, Tune in, Drop out?
I'm sure all our parents were happy and pleased.

Im happy to say I never "Turned on, Tuned in, and Dropped out even after hearing of it. I NEVER did drugs of any kind even during the all expense paid trip to South East Asia courtesy of Uncle Sam and yes I saw some bad "S##T" during the experience and I believe thats a cop out with some verterans as an excuse to stay high and become homeless screw ups. . You are close to my age.....did YOU ever make the trip or stay high in NY ? I channeled all of my focus into cars, drag racing, and the opposite sex back in the 60's before and after I came back in one piece. Great theraphy.

[Ron Middleton]

Ok, Let's look at where this thread has gone and the perception we have posted here:

Art, none of these import driving kids would give two ****s about stock even if their car was in the guides. you're talking about people who honestly think stickers=hp, and that a 106mm turbo has to be better than a 56mm even if it is a stock motor. They, with few exceptions, have no interest in doing "more with less". They would rather have 600WHP and still run 15's because a) they can't stage a car, much less make a pass, b)it wouldn't hook if they could, and they don't understand why, and c) it would probably throw CV axles like Tebow throws touchdowns. I'd bet a stack that even if the cars were in the guide, you wouldn't see a significant increase in car count due to them. Hell if my memory serves there were more B/SA cars at Indy than there where cars total at most of those import races (not counting the bracket cars).
__________________
Chad Rhodes 2113 AA/SA, I/SA

Chad,
I think you missed the boat here. The youth today don't have a clue about Stock/Superstock because they basically haven't been exposed to it. When is the last time you saw a Stocker at a local track? When was the last time any of us took time out to help any of these young people instead of bashing them? I started taking my son(before his death) and then my nephew and some of his friends to divisional and National events and they all thought Stock/Superstock and Comp wre cool classes but kinda hard to understand. The big problem I saw then was that most all the time when walking through the pits, very few racers took time to acknowledge these young people or even seem interested in letting them know about Stock or Superstock. I can count with 1 hand how many people took time out to even acknowledge these spectators. If racers don't show any interest in these possible newcomers how welcome and interested do you think they will be?

Casey. That's the point I'm trying to make. This Generation doesn't have a patent on stupid. If given the chance some of them would gravitate towards stk/ss. Not a lot but enough to replace us. Now there is no chance for that.
__________________
Art Leong 2095 Stk, SS

You're absolutely right Art. The opportunity and guidance is what most of them need. We started drag racing Stock/Superstock because that was the norm in drag racing at that time. Now there is so much more out there to offer and on a local level there aren't very many Stock/Superstock guys out there with there cars and no classes for them except ET racing on a local level.

I'm with you on this one Bernie ..........we have plenty of new cars and the Jr.Dragster progran is churning out new blood.......we certainly don't need new classes.....and without the factories sending in specs there are no rules to follow .All this plus with all due respect to Chrysler racers how many were not going to race their Chrysler 300 in Stock or SuperStock because its not in the guide ?
__________________
Jack Matyas 1547 B/SA E/SA

While I believe Jack is right on Jr. Dragster program bringing in new blood I don't think many are going to gravitate toward Stock/Superstock even if more cars were in the guide. Most of these racers will probably gravitate towrd the .90 classes or to Top Sportsman or Top Dragster.

X2 Let them race with their own kind ! The "Jap Junk" with fart can mufflers is one reason our economy is in such bad shape to begin with. BUY and RACE AMERICAN even if a lot is assembled in Mexico these days. OK....."Burn" me up Scotty !

really...where does this come from. Back in our days we raced the cars we drove or ones similar to them. What's the no. 1 selling car in America today. It isn't a Chevy or a Ford so guess what....most young people drive Hondas, Toyotas, and Nissans. Don't blame them it's the US companies (who took far to long to get good reliable small cars to market) and the parents who bought these cars who pushed the auto industry in this direction. Buy American is a very sad misnomer these days when it comes to cars. With so much being built, assembled, etc. in other countries most companies are global and not just US or foreign. You find small segments of people racing old American cars in areas all over the world just as you find foreign company cars being raced here in America. That is a fact of life and isn't going to change any time soon.

I agree1000% with this statement. Todays generation is mostly (not all) a bunch of know it alls. They dont respect anyone or anything. If I talked the way to older people or parents like some do today I would have been handed my azz in a hand basket. At lot of younger people on here are good, eager to learn, they work hard and have been brought up right by good parents (Just one Example: Bobby Warrens sons).

Again, here is someone stereotyping the majority due to the minority. I would tend to believe that the percentage today of disrespectful, know it alls is pretty close to what it was when I was a teenager (but know there's so many more in that age group among us).

My god art what exactly constitutes "new blood"? To me it's any and all new racers. My kid started in the Jr. program, he's been bracket racing ever since, even managed to win the track championship @ Summit Raceway. He would love to class race he's even ran my SS car on a few occasions..... he's "new blood". Just because he's my kid does not negate the fact that in time he'll have the knowlege and finances to have his own class car. Hope he doesn't frequent this sight much as after seeing all the pissing and moaning he'll probably rethink the matter. Over the years I've enjoyed reading the racers posts on here and even thrown in my thoughts now and then. It seems this winter there has been more bitching and moaning than ever before and most from a select few racers that thinkl NHRA is doing them wrong. If you don't like the rules, the factors, ect. ect. just stay home and pound on your keyboard, maybe stomping your feet and holding your breath may help also. There are alot of things that have happened in the last 2 years that haven't exactly pleased me, now I have a couple choices here, go elsewhere to race, just accept it and go on or park my junk. Art I've never met you so I can't pretend to know your circumstances, however I do know that like it or not all the internet bitching in the world has no sway with NHRA. Joe
__________________
Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

Joe, this is how most forum posts end up like. If we had the internet and forums when I was a teenager it probably would have pretty much been the same then as it is now. We all have our differences on how, what, where and when all this happened but the truth is most of this is a slow evolution and we hardly see it coming until one day we realize it isn't near the same as it was when it was perceived or started. I think though we can all have an impact on our future if we all work toward a common good for the whole and not just for ourself. The hard part is getting a mojority on the same page, just look at this thread.

You really think that's why the economy is in such bad shape? Because some kids bought a $500 Civic and bolted some autozone parts on it.....haha.

****, my import, which I race, was bought used from an american. I paid state sales tax on it, bought nothing but domestic parts to make it fast from US companies, paid a fabricator in the US to build it, how is that hurting the economy???? Take a look at GM and Chrysler now, they are more import than imports have ever been. That is one reason the economy (automotive wise) has started to suffer. Obviously there are many other reasons. But that's another debate.

I'm definitely not sticking up for the kids driving around in the fart can POSs, nor am I defending the disrespectful kids of this generation, I just want to let you know that just because you decided to build a Honda to race, it doesn't lump you into that stereotype.

It honestly gets pretty old hearing all this talk. I mean when I drove Merryfields 10 second stocker (drag pak) at US Nationals, everyone was wanting to talk to me, ask questions, etc. But when they asked about what I drove (owned), and I told them it was a 9 second street car (Honda), and that I'm turning it into a SS car which should be deep into the 8's, they either just ignored me, like I was lying to them, or showed no interest whatsoever. I see both sides to this, but people need to be a bit more open minded.
__________________
Carey Bales - 316D

Good comments Carey.

Let's not start bashing the kids please, face it as kids how much of a clue did we have? Man I could build a fleet of cars with the stuff I broke over the years, some due to ignorance, some from the no money factor. Personally I've seen a few of the import racers who's stuff was pretty impressive, not all but quite a few. Why not let these racers try their hand at making their stuff run, whos it hurting? My kids a very good bracket racer and has some decent mechanical skills, is he ready to assemble a 10,000 rpm engine.... no but he's learning just like all of us had to learn. Comparing the seasoned class racer to the upstart racer is just not fair I'm sure if we all think back we can all see that it didn't happen overnite, it took years to develope the skills to field our cars, for those of you who were born with this gift I salute you. Joe
__________________
Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

Joe your right. There are so many that are quick to judge but not get involved. Take some time out to concentrate on the good and not the bad about many of the youth today and you might just see a difference. We all seem to get so caught up in our own world we don't take enough time to look around and see the good that is around us. Be alittle more perceptive, a little more open and you might just find that gem of a person in the group you were just talking about. JMT.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Chad, my kids a 20 something racer. He's grown up at the track, he's never shown any interest in the imports, probably due to the fact that I never did. What type of car one races in my mind does not have anything to do with ones IQ. Maybe these new import racers had no one to show them the ropes I don't know, however just the fact that their trying is good in my book. There are always going to be racers that excel over the others be it their driving or wrenching abilities. I like different stuff, I enjoy the look on peoples faces when I turn up my V6 and it sounds like a giant pissed off weed wacker their eyes about pop out of their heads. I've not been to a race with my car that a herd of young kids haven't come by and ask about my stuff, after answering all the how big of turbo and how much NOS questions I like to talk to them and show them my stuff.Who knows that kid may be the one that decides this is for him. Our sport can never thrive yet alone survive without the interest of the young people, after were gone in the words of the great Goerge Jones....."Who's gonna fill their shoes?" Joe

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by buzzinhalfdozen

Chad, my kids a 20 something racer. He's grown up at the track, he's never shown any interest in the imports, probably due to the fact that I never did. What type of car one races in my mind does not have anything to do with ones IQ. Maybe these new import racers had no one to show them the ropes I don't know, however just the fact that their trying is good in my book. There are always going to be racers that excel over the others be it their driving or wrenching abilities. I like different stuff, I enjoy the look on peoples faces when I turn up my V6 and it sounds like a giant pissed off weed wacker their eyes about pop out of their heads. I've not been to a race with my car that a herd of young kids haven't come by and ask about my stuff, after answering all the how big of turbo and how much NOS questions I like to talk to them and show them my stuff.Who knows that kid may be the one that decides this is for him. Our sport can never thrive yet alone survive without the interest of the young people, after were gone in the words of the great Goerge Jones....."Who's gonna fill their shoes?" Joe

I dunno Joe, the argument could be made that with an inclination toward drag racing and $10k to spend on a car (daily driver/bracket car) that the guy who chose an acura over a used F-body or mustang wasn't quite as sharp. We all know that RWD just works better on a drag strip, and if that was your goal why would you make life harder on yourself. Besides in the long run wheelies are way cool.

[boostedf22c]

Originally Posted by Chad Rhodes

I dunno Joe, the argument could be made that with an inclination toward drag racing and $10k to spend on a car (daily driver/bracket car) that the guy who chose an acura over a used F-body or mustang wasn't quite as sharp. We all know that RWD just works better on a drag strip, and if that was your goal why would you make life harder on yourself. Besides in the long run wheelies are way cool.

You do know that there are RWD imports.

Different strokes for different folks. I'm glad not everyone want's to build the same exact car, it's what makes this hobby exciting to me. I can appreciate and enjoy all aspects of it. As long as it's a well built ride of course.

There is no argument that if you are on a $10k budget and you want to race, and be fast and consistant that an f-body or mustang, etc. would be a far better choice, but who is really on a $10k budget building a class car????haha

[Mark Yacavone]

Artie,
I for one , understood what you said and agree with you, for the most part....and thank you for thinking outside the box.
Being involved with nostalgia events, it pains me to say it, but S/SS desperately needs new blood and new cars that can participate at a reasonable cost (maybe pure stock, NHRA style?)
As more and more veteran racers retire or quit due to underfunding (read : those who will not or can not justify spending the exorbitant cost of running a S/SS ) , something needs to be done to replace them.
I'd love to see more of these type suggestions ,rather than bashing "all that Jap junk"