Crate Engines in NHRA?

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

The fly in the ointment is the Billy Nees and Bob Shaw racers, but how many new racers are being educated into that perspective and mentality?

Sorry for the rant, guys.

Well Dwight, it's not for lack of trying on my end! It seem to me that you and Alan (and others) are always trying to help Racers also.
The biggest problem I have trying to get young people to try Stock and SS is the purse structure. I personally believe the ridiculous purses we are running for is the BIGGEST issue that we face (moreso than the AHFS, new cars, etc.).
How can I convince someone who can go to their local track with a Bracket car that they should try building a "specialty" car, spending 3,4,5 days at some far away track where they'll pay a ridiculous entry fee to be treated like crap and in those 3,4,5 days run one race with a purse that's lower then they are used to running for locally? Exposure? Fame?
We'll get no new blood (other than SLRCs) until NHRA makes it worthwhile for them to try it. We're dead, we just haven't fallen down yet.

[Hagen Gary]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Well Dwight, it's not for lack of trying on my end! It seem to me that you and Alan (and others) are always trying to help Racers also.
The biggest problem I have trying to get young people to try Stock and SS is the purse structure. I personally believe the ridiculous purses we are running for is the BIGGEST issue that we face (moreso than the AHFS, new cars, etc.).
How can I convince someone who can go to their local track with a Bracket car that they should try building a "specialty" car, spending 3,4,5 days at some far away track where they'll pay a ridiculous entry fee to be treated like crap and in those 3,4,5 days run one race with a purse that's lower then they are used to running for locally? Exposure? Fame?
We'll get no new blood (other than SLRCs) until NHRA makes it worthwhile for them to try it. We're dead, we just haven't fallen down yet.

Well said. Everybody is worried about how the new cars and thier factors are slaping traditional stockers in the face, and they don't see that NHRA has been straight kicking us in the balls for years with the purse structure. If I wasn't born into this, No way in hell would I be doing it.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Hagen Gary

Well said. Everybody is worried about how the new cars and thier factors are slaping traditional stockers in the face, and they don't see that NHRA has been straight kicking us in the balls for years with the purse structure. If I wasn't born into this, No way in hell would I be doing it.

I wasn't born into it, but then I'm not just real bright.

[Greg Hill]

At least IHRA rates the crate motors fairly and puts them in their own class.

[Hagen Gary]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

I wasn't born into it, but then I'm not just real bright.

From what I gather, the risk vs reward was worth it years ago when you were doing it and my father started. How many new people have shown up out of nowhere in the last 10 years? I'm willing to bet its less than 1/10th of the people who left the sport.

[Dwight Southerland]

Billy -
I wholeheartedly agree with what you bring up as another major issue. In fact, I could easily argue that it is THE issue that is molding the future of Stock/SS racing. It is encouraging that regional associations are making progress in making other options for the existing racer population. IHRA is doing some good stuff, too. I do not beleive that the answer is not going to come from NHRA, however. What may be happening is the planets aligning for a good chance for a national level sportsman association/organization/racing venue. It might possibly be a coalition of several regional associations with some of the characteristics that existed for the separate divisions when NHRA first formed - identity, inter-regional competition, few but significant national races. Such an arrangement is easier to fund and likely easier to promote. What is key is a national level governing body for the assurance of consistent competition (national rules management and enforcement agency). When you think about it, NHRA could provide that sanctioning role and rules management, but not be the race company. That would look more like what SEMA does for equipment sanctioning.

Also, it seems that part of an answer lies in getting some program going that could be implemented at the local or semi-local level that would be foundational for supporting broader geographic competition. March Madness would not be as big a deal without the SEC, the Big Ten, etc. and their contests.

Thinking out loud.

[Randall Klein]

Interesting concept about regional S/SS series coming together as "conferences" in 3-5 "national races" with a year-end October Madness....the mistrust of a national group (SRA etc) would be mitigated by the local trust and vetting....couldn't afford an annualized tech crew, but for a handful of national get-togethers I could see paying a recognized tech overseer (Wesley, Travis) to "keep-'em-honest"

A payout could be patterned after the "buy-in" poker series, and/or from dollars saved from NHRA fees

The BIG problem as I see it, is access to the super tracks we have all come to enjoy which I'm afraid we would be locked out of

just dreaming

[Bob Pagano]

Randall & Dwight, I dont think its a dream or a passing thought. As nhra looses its grip and pushes traditional S & SS away we as a large group could then form our own deal. At that point Alex Denysenko type races can be run just like ADRL .

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Hagen Gary

From what I gather, the risk vs reward was worth it years ago when you were doing it and my father started. How many new people have shown up out of nowhere in the last 10 years? I'm willing to bet its less than 1/10th of the people who left the sport.

Yes, years ago if you won Indy, and had to bomb your record in the final to win, you could build a different car with what you won. Still pays about the number of dollars, but they aren't worth much anymore. Ten grand in 1970 would build another car if you did your own work, and most of us did back then..