End of Stock and SuperStock Racing?? - Page 14

Billy Nees · 06-30-2013, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

as each of us is overtaken either by the grim reaper or the realization that individual ingenuity and personal commitment are no longer adequate tools to offset the effects of the almighty checkbook in a pay-to-play environment.
Drag racing drew most of us in with the offering of "doing" not "watching" car racing. When we can no longer "do" most of us simply decline to "watch."Cheers,c

I was told by my Div. Director that "I don't sanction drag races anymore, I sanction alternative lifestyle weekends". And that pretty well sums up what NHRA wants from participants/customers at/in their program. If they're comfortable hanging out in their coach with their friends and enjoying a nice weekend away with the family then they're probably not as concerned about stuff like run-orders and payouts.This isn't a slap at the "pay-to-play" racers, it's just a fact, an opinionated fact. I'm all for people spending their monies where ever they want to and if they're willing to spend it on/in "my sport" then that's all the better. BUT, over the years I've seen a great majority of "pay-to-play" racers come and go. I guess that they get bored easily.
From my experiences, most of the "doers" that are or were in the sport are not very good "watchers" or spectators. I'm still trying to do the best that I can to keep "my sport" alive and well!

06-30-2013, 09:42 AM

Post of the year on this subject. Couldn't have been said any better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

It is my opinion that the "end of Stock and SuperStock racing" will not likely come upon us in the form of a bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder. Rather, it will seep into our lives in the manner of carbon monoxide slithering under the door, a virtually undetectable, highly lethal mixture of an aging constituency and creeping economics.

Instead of an earth-shaking announcement that puts us all out of business at once like a medical pandemic, it will more likely take on the form of three thousand separate, widely spread obituaries popping one-at-a-time as each of us is overtaken either by the grim reaper or the realization that individual ingenuity and personal commitment are no longer adequate tools to offset the effects of the almighty checkbook in a pay-to-play environment.

Drag racing drew most of us in with the offering of "doing" not "watching" car racing. When we can no longer "do" most of us simply decline to "watch."

Cheers,

c

442OLDS · 06-30-2013, 09:46 AM

I am pretty sure that Stock and Super Stock had a quota of 70 each at Norwalk. They must have raised the quota to 75 and right now,both classes are full.

chris3racing · 06-30-2013, 10:51 AM

Well it's Sunday morning, I have my coffee and my cigarettes and I find this post at the top of the list.

First of I am over 65 years old and I have been drag racing since I was 13. I have been racing Stock, Super Stock and Modified Production for most of those year even though I started out at 13 as a crew member for a B/G car. I was racing almost every other night somewhere on the East Coast back in the days of SuperStock Match Racing "Sunday, Sunday." I have raced on a Wednesday night somewhere on the East Coast with the stands and the fence jam packed to see and Eight Car SuperStock Match Race. And Yes I have a 72 Duster which I work on almost every day and am ready to go racing any time. But yes it is completely different now, just read this site anytime you turn on your computer. There is so much argueing and complaining. I remember days when a car broke everyone pitched in got him running even though you knew before the day was over you might have to line up beside of him.

If you don't think NHRA will pull the plug talk to racers who raced Modified Production or Pro Stock Truck. The biggest crowd pleaser "back in the day" was a pair of modified production cars paired up with those high winding small blocks with the wheels so high the bumper was almost ground off. How many in North Carolina can remember the Gas and Modified races on Sunday at Kinston Dragway. If you were not there early you parked in the field. How long before there will be a parade of the last standing stock/Superstockers at the last race before it ends?

BRACKET RACING, sorry but this and TEST-N-TUNE is what is keeping many of the drag strips open. I just heard a Track Owner tell a group of racer that his biggest money making night is TEST-N-TUNE. The stands are full and the pits are full. There is no fighting, argueing and complaining on TEST-N-TUNE. That is only because they don't have to advertise and racers who want to run their cars will show up anyway and bring all their friends with them to watch. No BRACKET RACER, be in the Stock and SuperStock pits before eliminations and watch the marker bottles come out before they even get in the cars. When we went away from pulling into the pits with B/S, C/SS, E/MP, B/G on the windshield and pull to the starting line and the tower put in what ever the National Record was on that date, as published every week in National Dragster, then it became a Bracket RACE. In those days, Lord help you if guys like Bobby Warren and Haywood Register out of Clinton, North Carolina had been racing the week before. Look back at the old Dragsters in Stock in those days and see how quick your National Record could change.

CAR SHOWS, I am local and I have so many requests to display my race car at Car Shows. I and my sponsors have to thank Pinks All Out 2009 at Z-Max Dragway to thank for that. I probably give away 40 or 50 photos cards at some car shows of the photo taken at Pinks All Out at Z-Max. I have made this comment in post over and over, We as racers have to promote the sport of drag racing. The tracks don't do it any more. They seem to think that everyone will get up, turn on the computer, and go see where there is a drag race that week-end. Well let me tell you a secret. There are people here in North Carolina who don't even know that there are still drag strips operating in North Carolina. I had the race car on display yesterday at a car show for the Children's Miracle Network Charity. I had a gentleman come up and look at the car, looked at the poster of photos and then saw the names of the tracks we run at. His comment was I use to drag race years ago and remember all of those old tracks. Most of his racing was at Piedmont and some times at Person County, now does that tell you how old he was. He said and I quote " I heard that Piedmont had been sold years ago and had been closed up." This is not a one time thing, this happens almost every time we have this car on display at a CAR SHOW. The thing I like most other than talking to people about the car and drag racing is the young people and children that come up and want to talk about drag racing and drag race cars. I have a bad habit of making show car owners mad because I will open the door, take down the window net and put a young person inside the car to see what it's like. Parents and grandparents will take pictures and the last thing those smiling faces ask before they walk away is " when and where are you going to race again."

Okay three cups of coffee, don't know how many cigarettes, and I know I have stepped on enought toes to keep this board going for weeks. But I for one will be drag racing and around drag racing events until there is and ad in the news paper to bring flowers. I have three generations working on and racing a car as a family. The only way the type of car you want to race will survive is if you as a racer and a spectator promote the sport, attend the races you can afford, and when you are put out of the race stay and support your friends and fellow racers to the end. Don't put your car on the trailer and leave. You have already spent your money, stay and enjoy the race.

Don't turn down some charity in your area when asked to display your car or better yet you go to them and offer your car for display, WE are the future of the sport that we all love. "Inside this car is a blood borne disease for which there is no know cure, DRAG RACING."

Dick Butler · 06-30-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 442OLDS

I am pretty sure that Stock and Super Stock had a quota of 70 each at Norwalk. They must have raised the quota to 75 and right now,both classes are full.

Not to be smart but S and SS are eliminators not classes.
A/S or SS/F are classes. If you divide the 70 cars admitted into "class" I bet there are 50 Bye Runs....(Might not run class there)
Create one or two Mod classes with limited motors and points for records towards a prize or trophy and watch the cars come out of the closet.

442OLDS · 06-30-2013, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Butler

Not to be smart but S and SS are eliminators not classes.
A/S or SS/F are classes. If you divide the 70 cars admitted into "class" I bet there are 50 Bye Runs....(Might not run class there)
Create one or two Mod classes with limited motors and points for records towards a prize or trophy and watch the cars come out of the closet.

Yea,sure.

Dick Butler · 06-30-2013, 03:43 PM

Running class is and was the most rewarding. First you have the chance to have the same car, same hp, same parts. Then you get to tune it, work on it, drive it against the SAME cars owned by other people. You drive it better, tune it better maintain it better then you can WIN class. You run eliminator as extra. Eliminator you can lose so many ways it seems less rewarding except for loving being there Sunday in front of the crowd
442 you may be correct the thrill of heads up racing has been dumbed down a lot in some cases. Many $ stock and SS cars now can create the image of $ being the only thing which counts but regardless the cost the winners still are putting together the package to win.

442OLDS · 06-30-2013, 04:24 PM

If HEADS UP racing is the solution,they why were there less than 16 Pro Stockers at the last NHRA National event (for a 16 car qualified field),and furthermore,why do the fans typically leave when the Pro Stockers race?

Dick Butler · 06-30-2013, 04:40 PM

Million $ cars with Million $ budgets. No chance of everyday racers.Try a REAL Camaro vs a Real Mustang, vs a Charger same Specs and owned by a guy in your town and it could be different. No TURBO vs, injected vs Charged. ALL THE SAME STUFF>

chris3racing · 06-30-2013, 05:20 PM

442 it's easy to figure out why everyone leaves the stands after Pro Stock. It's time to warm up in the Hot car pit area. If you are in the pits during any racing after top fuel and fuel funny car you will know because the pits will fill up. Unfortunately that is the show they came to see.

06-30-2013, 09:46 AM	#133
442OLDS VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Elgin,IL Posts: 1,338 Likes: 5 Liked 281 Times in 102 Posts	Re: End of Stock and SuperStock Racing?? I am pretty sure that Stock and Super Stock had a quota of 70 each at Norwalk. They must have raised the quota to 75 and right now,both classes are full.

06-30-2013, 10:51 AM	#134
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: End of Stock and SuperStock Racing?? Well it's Sunday morning, I have my coffee and my cigarettes and I find this post at the top of the list. First of I am over 65 years old and I have been drag racing since I was 13. I have been racing Stock, Super Stock and Modified Production for most of those year even though I started out at 13 as a crew member for a B/G car. I was racing almost every other night somewhere on the East Coast back in the days of SuperStock Match Racing "Sunday, Sunday." I have raced on a Wednesday night somewhere on the East Coast with the stands and the fence jam packed to see and Eight Car SuperStock Match Race. And Yes I have a 72 Duster which I work on almost every day and am ready to go racing any time. But yes it is completely different now, just read this site anytime you turn on your computer. There is so much argueing and complaining. I remember days when a car broke everyone pitched in got him running even though you knew before the day was over you might have to line up beside of him. If you don't think NHRA will pull the plug talk to racers who raced Modified Production or Pro Stock Truck. The biggest crowd pleaser "back in the day" was a pair of modified production cars paired up with those high winding small blocks with the wheels so high the bumper was almost ground off. How many in North Carolina can remember the Gas and Modified races on Sunday at Kinston Dragway. If you were not there early you parked in the field. How long before there will be a parade of the last standing stock/Superstockers at the last race before it ends? BRACKET RACING, sorry but this and TEST-N-TUNE is what is keeping many of the drag strips open. I just heard a Track Owner tell a group of racer that his biggest money making night is TEST-N-TUNE. The stands are full and the pits are full. There is no fighting, argueing and complaining on TEST-N-TUNE. That is only because they don't have to advertise and racers who want to run their cars will show up anyway and bring all their friends with them to watch. No BRACKET RACER, be in the Stock and SuperStock pits before eliminations and watch the marker bottles come out before they even get in the cars. When we went away from pulling into the pits with B/S, C/SS, E/MP, B/G on the windshield and pull to the starting line and the tower put in what ever the National Record was on that date, as published every week in National Dragster, then it became a Bracket RACE. In those days, Lord help you if guys like Bobby Warren and Haywood Register out of Clinton, North Carolina had been racing the week before. Look back at the old Dragsters in Stock in those days and see how quick your National Record could change. CAR SHOWS, I am local and I have so many requests to display my race car at Car Shows. I and my sponsors have to thank Pinks All Out 2009 at Z-Max Dragway to thank for that. I probably give away 40 or 50 photos cards at some car shows of the photo taken at Pinks All Out at Z-Max. I have made this comment in post over and over, We as racers have to promote the sport of drag racing. The tracks don't do it any more. They seem to think that everyone will get up, turn on the computer, and go see where there is a drag race that week-end. Well let me tell you a secret. There are people here in North Carolina who don't even know that there are still drag strips operating in North Carolina. I had the race car on display yesterday at a car show for the Children's Miracle Network Charity. I had a gentleman come up and look at the car, looked at the poster of photos and then saw the names of the tracks we run at. His comment was I use to drag race years ago and remember all of those old tracks. Most of his racing was at Piedmont and some times at Person County, now does that tell you how old he was. He said and I quote " I heard that Piedmont had been sold years ago and had been closed up." This is not a one time thing, this happens almost every time we have this car on display at a CAR SHOW. The thing I like most other than talking to people about the car and drag racing is the young people and children that come up and want to talk about drag racing and drag race cars. I have a bad habit of making show car owners mad because I will open the door, take down the window net and put a young person inside the car to see what it's like. Parents and grandparents will take pictures and the last thing those smiling faces ask before they walk away is " when and where are you going to race again." Okay three cups of coffee, don't know how many cigarettes, and I know I have stepped on enought toes to keep this board going for weeks. But I for one will be drag racing and around drag racing events until there is and ad in the news paper to bring flowers. I have three generations working on and racing a car as a family. The only way the type of car you want to race will survive is if you as a racer and a spectator promote the sport, attend the races you can afford, and when you are put out of the race stay and support your friends and fellow racers to the end. Don't put your car on the trailer and leave. You have already spent your money, stay and enjoy the race. Don't turn down some charity in your area when asked to display your car or better yet you go to them and offer your car for display, WE are the future of the sport that we all love. "Inside this car is a blood borne disease for which there is no know cure, DRAG RACING."

06-30-2013, 03:43 PM	#137
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: End of Stock and SuperStock Racing?? Running class is and was the most rewarding. First you have the chance to have the same car, same hp, same parts. Then you get to tune it, work on it, drive it against the SAME cars owned by other people. You drive it better, tune it better maintain it better then you can WIN class. You run eliminator as extra. Eliminator you can lose so many ways it seems less rewarding except for loving being there Sunday in front of the crowd 442 you may be correct the thrill of heads up racing has been dumbed down a lot in some cases. Many $ stock and SS cars now can create the image of $ being the only thing which counts but regardless the cost the winners still are putting together the package to win.

06-30-2013, 04:24 PM	#138
442OLDS VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Elgin,IL Posts: 1,338 Likes: 5 Liked 281 Times in 102 Posts	Re: End of Stock and SuperStock Racing?? If HEADS UP racing is the solution,they why were there less than 16 Pro Stockers at the last NHRA National event (for a 16 car qualified field),and furthermore,why do the fans typically leave when the Pro Stockers race?

06-30-2013, 04:40 PM	#139
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: End of Stock and SuperStock Racing?? Million $ cars with Million $ budgets. No chance of everyday racers.Try a REAL Camaro vs a Real Mustang, vs a Charger same Specs and owned by a guy in your town and it could be different. No TURBO vs, injected vs Charged. ALL THE SAME STUFF>

06-30-2013, 05:20 PM	#140
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: End of Stock and SuperStock Racing?? 442 it's easy to figure out why everyone leaves the stands after Pro Stock. It's time to warm up in the Hot car pit area. If you are in the pits during any racing after top fuel and fuel funny car you will know because the pits will fill up. Unfortunately that is the show they came to see.