Drag Racing Is Dead

67 Post GS · 02-01-2023, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe huestis

Drag racing in some form I believe will live on but our traditional stock/SS as is has a conclusion date in our lifetime. No tech. lower quotas, no newer model cars in the guide except COPOS, Drag Packs. and Cobra Jets. Maybe a few later model Camaros and Challengers. Plus the tech officials capable of proper enforcement of the rules are waning and many aging out in the not to distant future. I was watching a tape of a past sportsman race where they showed the age of stock/SS active drivers and I bet 80% were over the age of 50. Many younger racers are more into this no prep, twin turbo nonsense than us seasoned racers. Enough rambling.

I would consider myself a younger racer and you are correct from what I have seen. Everyone is into LS, drag radials, twin turbo wanna be street outlaw stuff. There are a few still into odd ball makes, traditional muscle cars but not many. For myself, I'm trying to get my car back out as a stock eliminator car and am collecting parts needed for my engine. I'll gladly accept sponsorship too! This stuff ain't cheap to do!

Doug Hoven · 02-01-2023, 03:08 PM

Personally, I don't think drag racing will ever completely die out, at least not for quite a long time. Class racing, specifically Stock and Super Stock, are definitely in trouble. While the numbers look good now, the elephant in the room is that I would say more than half of the racers in these classes are over 55. The issue at hand is not only that young people aren't getting into cars, but the cars they are getting into are not very friendly to these classes. Predictably, us young stock/super stock racers communicate regularly through texting, social media, etc. One of the things brought up by multiple fellow racers is the alienization of import cars in class racing. The import car following is huge, especially here in New Jersey. We hear the stories our parents tell about project cars, and most realize the prices are way too high on the sought after muscle cars someone like myself would dream of owning. Instead, they go out and buy something like a Mazda miata, Rx-7, Honda S-2000, Infinity G35,etc. and they "Hot Rod' it. I'm not talking about the typical Atco Dragway Tuesday night "rice burner" crowd with 25 year old civics they put mom's hair dryer on top of, but it would be interesting to see someone be able to build a more modern import street car for stock eliminator, and run against something like a 396 375hp Camaro. I've been told by many adults to just "save my money" and "you'll have plenty of time to go racing when you have a good job 10 years or so from now." The time to go Stock and Super Stock racing is now, so for the past 2 years I've nickled and dimed and begged and pleaded my way into doing as much racing as I can now, before it's too late. Just some food for thought.

Dave Noll · 02-02-2023, 03:29 AM

In the Stock Car Classification guide are 2 years of Honda Civic and 1 year of Mitsubishi Truck. In the Rulebook is also the SS/MX classes. Somebody went to the trouble to get these submitted, laying at least a beginning groundwork for Imports in Stock/SS.

tavirace · 02-02-2023, 07:39 AM

I've been working on a Toyota Super Stock car for a few years now. It's been slow but hopefully this year I will have it running. It is a 1986 Toyota Corolla ae86 rear wheel drive powered by a Toyota 2jz non turbo straight six cylinder engine with a powerglide. It's built for Super Stock CX, the index is 11.00. I raced a 327 Chevelle for years before this , my enthusiasm for something this different has gone up and down but no one is going to buy it so we'll have to see what it does.

Ron Ortiz · 02-02-2023, 11:31 AM

When I got into this sport there were a lot of older guys who were really good at engine stuff and some who were good at driving, some had both those skills. Most of them got that way from learning by trial and error, getting experience.
Now I am older and all of us young-uns back then are older too. Our ranks are dwindling due to age and a variety of challenges. But there is a whole new crop of young-uns out there now. Stock and SS is alive, just the sanctioning body is limiting its participation at the national event level.
What about new blood in the sport? Difference is the cars we had you could work on them compared to todays cars. And today has far more imports on the road.
Some on here post about the "street venues" attracting crowds, it is true, they do pack them in. Maybe it is time to incorporate them.

David Lee · 02-02-2023, 12:17 PM

i think the nhra has to stop looking to the automotive industry to enter their cars into the nhra. There are plenty of challengers, mustangs, camaros and chargers that could be added if the nhra could bring them in.

Jim Caughlin · 02-02-2023, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Noll

In the Stock Car Classification guide are 2 years of Honda Civic and 1 year of Mitsubishi Truck. In the Rulebook is also the SS/MX classes. Somebody went to the trouble to get these submitted, laying at least a beginning groundwork for Imports in Stock/SS.

What is SS/MX?

Charles Stewart · 02-02-2023, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Caughlin

What is SS/MX?

NHRA rulebook SS/MX section 12G page 28-33

Dave Noll · 02-02-2023, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Caughlin

What is SS/MX?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Stewart

NHRA rulebook SS/MX section 12G page 28-33

Page 185 and on.

Cars classed SS/AX - SS/EX and then SS/VX for the air cooled VW's.

02-01-2023, 03:08 PM	#2
Doug Hoven Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Jersey Posts: 211 Likes: 189 Liked 826 Times in 163 Posts	Re: Drag Racing Is Dead Personally, I don't think drag racing will ever completely die out, at least not for quite a long time. Class racing, specifically Stock and Super Stock, are definitely in trouble. While the numbers look good now, the elephant in the room is that I would say more than half of the racers in these classes are over 55. The issue at hand is not only that young people aren't getting into cars, but the cars they are getting into are not very friendly to these classes. Predictably, us young stock/super stock racers communicate regularly through texting, social media, etc. One of the things brought up by multiple fellow racers is the alienization of import cars in class racing. The import car following is huge, especially here in New Jersey. We hear the stories our parents tell about project cars, and most realize the prices are way too high on the sought after muscle cars someone like myself would dream of owning. Instead, they go out and buy something like a Mazda miata, Rx-7, Honda S-2000, Infinity G35,etc. and they "Hot Rod' it. I'm not talking about the typical Atco Dragway Tuesday night "rice burner" crowd with 25 year old civics they put mom's hair dryer on top of, but it would be interesting to see someone be able to build a more modern import street car for stock eliminator, and run against something like a 396 375hp Camaro. I've been told by many adults to just "save my money" and "you'll have plenty of time to go racing when you have a good job 10 years or so from now." The time to go Stock and Super Stock racing is now, so for the past 2 years I've nickled and dimed and begged and pleaded my way into doing as much racing as I can now, before it's too late. Just some food for thought. __________________ 1189 F/SA Defunzalo Racing Enterprises

02-02-2023, 03:29 AM	#3
Dave Noll Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Div. 6, Eastern, WA Posts: 709 Likes: 2,666 Liked 238 Times in 111 Posts	Re: Drag Racing Is Dead In the Stock Car Classification guide are 2 years of Honda Civic and 1 year of Mitsubishi Truck. In the Rulebook is also the SS/MX classes. Somebody went to the trouble to get these submitted, laying at least a beginning groundwork for Imports in Stock/SS. __________________ Dave Noll, EF/S ,?/SA 6526

02-02-2023, 07:39 AM	#4
tavirace Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 37 Likes: 7 Liked 18 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Drag Racing Is Dead I've been working on a Toyota Super Stock car for a few years now. It's been slow but hopefully this year I will have it running. It is a 1986 Toyota Corolla ae86 rear wheel drive powered by a Toyota 2jz non turbo straight six cylinder engine with a powerglide. It's built for Super Stock CX, the index is 11.00. I raced a 327 Chevelle for years before this , my enthusiasm for something this different has gone up and down but no one is going to buy it so we'll have to see what it does.

02-02-2023, 11:31 AM	#5
Ron Ortiz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Englewood, Florida Posts: 989 Likes: 35 Liked 317 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Drag Racing Is Dead When I got into this sport there were a lot of older guys who were really good at engine stuff and some who were good at driving, some had both those skills. Most of them got that way from learning by trial and error, getting experience. Now I am older and all of us young-uns back then are older too. Our ranks are dwindling due to age and a variety of challenges. But there is a whole new crop of young-uns out there now. Stock and SS is alive, just the sanctioning body is limiting its participation at the national event level. What about new blood in the sport? Difference is the cars we had you could work on them compared to todays cars. And today has far more imports on the road. Some on here post about the "street venues" attracting crowds, it is true, they do pack them in. Maybe it is time to incorporate them. __________________ Ron Ortiz 2102 STK

02-02-2023, 12:17 PM	#6
David Lee VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,168 Likes: 487 Liked 346 Times in 126 Posts	Re: Drag Racing Is Dead i think the nhra has to stop looking to the automotive industry to enter their cars into the nhra. There are plenty of challengers, mustangs, camaros and chargers that could be added if the nhra could bring them in.