Stock by class

[Mike Carr]

Originally Posted by Mike Meier

Thanks for throwing me under the Escort Mikey...lol.

I'VE never complained about being underneath an escort.....

[Just Observing]

Originally Posted by Bruce Schoenbaechler

Hey Capt. Jack.....didn't See Carlton Sweasy's Name On The List. Is He Sitting This One Out?

No he has a hired gun, Matt Forbes, driving for him at Indy.

[Bill Howell]

Does anyone know if the FWD cars are planning to stay entered in the classes on the list? I may bring my FWD car instead of my Mustang if the faster engine is not ready for the Mustang and don't want to upset the apple cart. I can run B, C or D with it.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by stockracer

Dick I do agree with you on most things...You CAN NOT get rid of heads-ups...It is what class racing is based on...But Top/SS and Top/S is only the fast cars, and Im not kiddin when I say &200,000 to get in. But, lets make it 9.0 breaks in SS and 10.5 in Stock... Get more than the few cars that are already involved...There arnt many of those fast cars that can reach the min weight in Top/SS in my part of the country...BUT if you get all the cars in the 9.0-10.0 breaks, I think it would take off out here! Just an Idea!

I hate to break the news to you, but at Bowling Green, in Top Stock, there was not a car there that came close to $200K. Not even $100K. And so long as the rules remain the same, ie. the car MUST be entered in the NHRA event where Top Stock is running, and must pass tech, the only time you will see $200K cars is when someone decides to race a rare original car, like Borgstrom's Chevelle, or one of the real Hemi or Shelby cars.

[stockracer]

Alan...Being as I wasnt there, and only have second hand info, your could be right...But from the way that arts car/cars are described to me...It was my assumption, based on appearance and et that to build a car of this caliber, 200,000 wasnt a bad guess...I mean if you have to spend 100,000 on a cavalier that runs a small block GT class, whats a big block muscle car cost to build? It was only my assumption...

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by stockracer

Alan...Being as I wasnt there, and only have second hand info, your could be right...But from the way that arts car/cars are described to me...It was my assumption, based on appearance and et that to build a car of this caliber, 200,000 wasnt a bad guess...I mean if you have to spend 100,000 on a cavalier that runs a small block GT class, whats a big block muscle car cost to build? It was only my assumption...

You didn't read my post. I said there weren't any $200K cars in TOP STOCK. I did not mention TOP SUPER STOCK.

There probably aren't ANY of the really fast cars in SUPER STOCK, capable of running Top SUPER STOCK that are not VERY expensive. Art's cars, that were in Top Super Stock, are both Corvettes, and sure, they're expensive. So was the Mopar that won. Any A, B, C, or really, even D class car is going to be expensive.

Still, the crowd loved BOTH Top Super Stock AND Top Stock, and the fast cars in Top Stock were generally under $50K. The guys who raced it had a blast. For a race with a VERY weak turnout, due as much to a holiday weekend, the two classes did well. It should be VERY obvious to anyone who is actually paying attention, and has any real knowledge, that the Top Stock and Top Super Stock program is VERY good for sportsman racers, look at the class car count in Division 1.

And the way the two classes are to be run, they do not take anything away from Stock OR Super Stock. They are bonus races. Not one thin dime of money is taken from the regular classes, none. They (the other Stock and Super Stock cars)do not get shorted a time trial either. Or a parking space. And since the cars running Top Stock and Top Super Stock have to run "on kill" in order to win, they aren't getting an EXTRA time shot either. Trust me, I was there, and working on a Top Stock car, AND I put my money where my mouth is and put up money towards the purse. We WORKED to run Top Stock, every single qualifying shot, and it didn't do a thing for our regular program. We just had fun running an extra race and trying to go fast with no breakout.

[stockracer]

Alan...I was refering to top/ss, guess I should have clarified. But, whats the price for a winning top/stock car...Not just a car that enters, makes a few passes, but a car that will win? My whole point is that you cant save the sport with cars that only 10% of the people can afford to run. Of course most superstock guys could sell there stuff and buy a A/SA camaro and run heads up, but top/ss is only feasible for a few. From what I understand that jr. stock class in D-1 was pretty cool, more realistic, more people can run with average cars...I think maybe smith won in the fox body, and youve got camaros, corvettes, and basically any e-f-g-h-i cars running. And I would be willin to bet that to build a car that will run 10.30's (wj) in the weather yall had, to buy motor, trans, car, evrything would prolly be around 80,000 or more...How far off am I?

[Dick Butler]

I know someone will always be able to find fault if thats their goal. Unfortunately it can be and IS expensive to race NHRA class and Drag Racing in general. It is not really a place for everyone to run and many should not try whose budget should include food, clothing and shelter first. It adds a goal us to work harder, advance and earn enough to be competitive and someday a winner.
Week end bracket racing is a good starting place and many try that first as motor and chassis rules are non existant except safety. Many prefer this level.
IF someone desires to step up and can afford what it requires to compete they CAN join NHRA Points meets , Opens and Nationals. When the cost is too much then they can always return to Bracket racing week ends but their desire to race and their budget to race at NHRA events cannot be used as a reason to limit the racing in the organization.
Lower class racers which think they want more Heads up racing can always ASK for it .
AH was developed by racers in the class then supported by MOPAR. TOP/SS and TOP/STK were started by racers in these classes.
With input, others can be represented also. Jr/STK is coming next if requested.

[stockracer]

Dick Im not looking for a fault in your idea...Im tryin to include more people. I do like seeing this kinda racing where people race for pride in their work! My last few post were to prove a point on cost, alan doesnt believe me or looks for faults in my comments for some reason...

[Dick Butler]

Stockracer, My whole goal is give EVERYONE a chance to enjoy more class racing. First TOP/SS and TOP/STK to get some racers involved and then expand as fast as supported. Jr. Stock next to parallel Div 1.
If racers enjoy this racing more often during the year than just a rare National maybe NHRA will pick up the idea. Maybe they will offer it more often.
Maybe lower class cars will want it too.
As the idea returns that heads up is fun to do more often maybe combining classes will occur which will add even more of this racing. Combined classes MEANS more cars /class and that is more heads up racing everywhere. Like you said pride to win class again.
Maybe the "SHOW" value of S and SS will pick up and we will get advertised so paying spectators can support more races and sponsors can use S and SS again to sell their products at MORE meets.
A big dream project but together with our common enjoyment of class racing we CAN save this kind of racing and have fun doing it.
Thanks for your comments and please help if you enjoy the idea of Class racing S and SS style.
Dick