The State Of Sportsman Racing - Interesting Read

[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.

[Chris Barnes]

I think that bracket racing and class racing are mutually beneficial. Bracket racing is excellent practice for Stock when I don't mind putting my beautiful Stocker on the line against some primer Frankenstein Pinto driven by the track champion. And the tricks that we have to use to remain "Stock" can sometimes translate into cheap tricks for bracket cars.

I was at the Good Guys races last weekend and I was amazed at how many people showed up. Sure there were nostalgia funny cars but I didn't see the stands empty out when the slower hot rods were running. It made me think about how do we get these people to show up regularly?

I love racing, I've been doing it for 22 years now, 12 in Stock and always bracket racing. I'm self employed and I've made my fair share of sacrifices for this. I love to win but that money is pure gravy.

[Rsmith38]

Originally Posted by 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.

A couple of thoughts - from a racer who has long ago raced at napierville
1 - I don't currently have a Passport.
2 - The Schedule June 25-26 ASRA Lebanon
July 1-3 D1 Lebanon
July 9-10 ASRA Epping
July 16-17 Napierville
July 22-24 D1 Epping
Along with Epping and Englishtown Nationals in June and the ATCO Divisional Aug 5-7 That is more racing than many can afford ($ or time) so many pick and choose the closer events.

[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.