Did Anybody Else Catch This?!

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

He didn't lose his edge so much as he lost all his backing. That tends to stop the wins and the development in a class that costs as much as Pro Stock does.

Unfortunately, he may be right. This country is not the "car loving" society/nation it once was, there are not even that many real "car people" in the OE automotive businesses. The economy is not great, and will not be for a while, if not a long while. NHRA has been trying to strangle all of the geese laying the golden eggs for a while.

I'm not saying it's time to pack it in. I am saying that we've seen far better days, and will not see them again without changes. And the changes are not likely so long as some of the people now in power remain there.

Our current administration says we are on the road to recovery Alan.. We all must be lost because I cant find that road...

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Originally Posted by Barry Polley

Our current administration says we are on the road to recovery Alan.. We all must be lost because I cant find that road...

Who said," We're hopelessly lost, but we're making good time?"They must know something we don't.

[Mike Taylor 3601]

CARGUY49,
I agree with you and I'm only 46
Mike Taylor 3601

[Bobby Zlatkin]

Cost of competing was not the only reason Warren gave for "drag racing being in it's waning days" He also commented on all the empty seats in the stands. I'm sure the NHRA didn't want to hear that on the air. But unlike all the other butt sucking pros, he had the b-lls to say it on air.

My wife commented on that just before Warren's interview. And Pomona is not in the boondocks. It is in the center of what was once considered the center of the car culture.

[chris ok]

On a better note.

Ricky Jones winning the race, fantastic finish. Very happy for them and their independent team.

Antron and Shawn Cowie winning the Mike Aillo sportsmanship awards.

I just read these stories on competionplus.com. I have to thank that site for 2 stories to remind why drag racing is the best motorsport, no, best sport in the world.

Great final rounds all around.I look forward to the sportsman show next week.

I hope NHRA rethinks this whole racing thing. Our country needs it. It is a true team sport of not just muscle. You need to know Math and Science.

Chris

[Wade Mahaffey]

The Hot Rod enthusiast participation is not what it used to be, but neither is anything else! Everything in our world has been about, how can I get it done faster, cheaper, and with less effort on my part. With race cars, none of those things are possible, unless daddy's got big pockets, or at least somebody has got deep pockets. Now, it's easier to just play it on TV ie
Baseball, Football, NASCAR, etc. No kids riding bicycles anymore with a baseball glove on the handlebars that's for sure LOL Most folks that participate in auto racing have probably had something with wheels on it most of their life ie toys, bicycles, model cars, slot cars, etc

I was at SEMA last week, and boy was that a site to see. I can say that there are plenty folks left, that love the car culture. I have been to PRI several times, but SEMA is about more than drag racing and the show was at least five times larger that PRI. My approach is to built a car that can be enjoyed in Super/Stock...and with a days worth of drive train changes can be enjoyed on the street.

Wade Mahaffey

[Tom P]

Originally Posted by Wade Mahaffey

I was at SEMA last week, and boy was that a site to see. I can say that there are plenty folks left, that love the car culture. I have been to PRI several times, but SEMA is about more than drag racing and the show was at least five times larger that PRI.

True enough, it is all types of racing and other car stuff, show cars, restoration, trucks, etc.

But it's still an automotive trade show and what was disturbing to me was there were hardly any or no line ups to get an autograph from Don Garlits, Tom McEwen, Don Prudhomme, Richard Petty or Mario Andretti (the last two guys mostly ran in circles, just a little drag racing) but the lineup to see some MMA fighter there was a thousand people long. As many "Affliction" shirts as there were car event shirts.

Sure some cool drag stuff there though, the Mach IV and Backup Pickup in Galpins tent, the MT tires booth had the monocoque 70 Mustang funny car and Challenger1 speed record car, newly restored Joe Shubeck AA/FD in the front hall, the EMPI Lightning Bug in the "window tint building" that Gale Banks diesel dragster, etc.

But Warren is right, the attendance is also misleading since many people are just there for the noise and to get drunk and can't be counted on to sustain the sport. If fuel cars next year were almost silent but running 2's at 400mph those people would not be back because they aren't the automotive diehards the sport used to have and still needs.

[theman440]

"Our current administration says we are on the road to recovery Alan.. We all must be lost because I cant find that road...

AMEN!

[novassdude]

Originally Posted by Bobby Zlatkin

Cost of competing was not the only reason Warren gave for "drag racing being in it's waning days" He also commented on all the empty seats in the stands. I'm sure the NHRA didn't want to hear that on the air. But unlike all the other butt sucking pros, he had the b-lls to say it on air.

My wife commented on that just before Warren's interview. And Pomona is not in the boondocks. It is in the center of what was once considered the center of the car culture.

Did any one else notice the grandstands being used to hold big banners rather than spectators?

[NHRA1971]

Originally Posted by novassdude

Did any one else notice the grandstands being used to hold big banners rather than spectators?

I saw that. Very sad to see it.