The State Of Sportsman Racing - Interesting Read

[Lee Valentine]

I agree with what Kevin said in a lot of ways,l came from the best time for a car guy. Yes we had Vietnam and the draft,everyone was coming home and buying muscle cars and going racing. I've been doing this since 1962 and still enjoy it. The only thing that will stop me would be health issues or something out of my control.You only get one chance at life live it doing what you want. I don't buy the money excuse because I managed to race on a budget for years by doing everything possible myself.

[Bob Lasko]

Originally Posted by Lee Valentine

I agree with what Kevin said in a lot of ways,l came from the best time for a car guy. Yes we had Vietnam and the draft,everyone was coming home and buying muscle cars and going racing. I've been doing this since 1962 and still enjoy it. The only thing that will stop me would be health issues or something out of my control.You only get one chance at life live it doing what you want. I don't buy the money excuse because I managed to race on a budget for years by doing everything possible myself.

No truer words spoken for the majority of racers and the racers from the 60's including me
Bob Lasko

[cicero819]

Can anyone explain why in Div.1 the turn out of cars is so poor when Napierville was offering $20k for a win, they should have had more than 100 cars! Too many primadonnas out there. NHRA doesn't pay that much. Please don't bash Bracket Racing because if it wasn't for that type of racing Drag racing would be gone by now. Great article.

[Ed Carpenter]

Originally Posted by Jeff Niceswanger

Hi Kevin ...

Great Post ... You got me thinking .. I still work in a factory (Union Shop), work a 40 -60 hour week ( weekends included) and carry my dinner bucket and hard hat back and forth to work everyday ... Probably,...... back in the "60's" that you speak of, 90 % of NHRA members were just like me ...... I wonder how many "dinner bucket carriers" there are now days racing Class Cars ? I'd say that has been replaced by business owners..
In the Factory I work in, there are 400 members, and 150 management team... Out of those #'s, there are 2 of us that race cars. 1 that pulls trucks, .... I'm the only class racer, the other guy is into the small tire 5.0 Ford stuff...( We compare notes as he is setting up a new Holley FI system on that mustang ...)
Back in the 60's, ALL guys were into cars, Right? ... Look at how its changed...

Try running super stock on a state trooper salary.......I really can't afford it....im currently out of racing because of 2 back surgeries....I do plan on coming back I got new engine from J Allen and hope to kick some *** in SS/H when I get back.