Who's Racing & Who's Parking for '09?

[Larry Munk]

Traded in the Class A for a Class B dumped the dulley and the box trailer. Parked the Mustang got the front drive stocker and a Tow Dolly. Gas prices just got reasonable but it looks like the new Congress and Admministration will adjust that shortly. May not be racing large but we'll go where and when we can, tried doing the bracket thing and it don't cut it anymore for us. Happy New Year. There shoud be more room in the Pits as it sure looks like the Pro's are dropping like flys.

[greg fulk]

I pretty much have the same plan every year...I run the Div.3 races @ Indy,Norwalk & Columbus. I always like to go south in the spring to run either Mooresville or Farmington IHRA & I run Sun. @ Clay-City. I haven't got my Vacc back yet but I put in for the Norwalk Nat. with the Nat. @ Charlotte as alternate.

[Tod Lane]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Too bad this country doesn't seem to care much about "MADE IN THE USA" anymore, because if we did then (I feel) we wouldn't have the economic woes we're dealing with now...did our country have these problems back in the 50's-mid-70's? I think not!!!

As Archie Bunker used to say...."THOSE WERE THE DAYS"!!!

True on the "MADE IN THE USA", but there were some rough patches in the seventies, the Camaro in my Avatar was a victim of one such time in the early eighties.

I remember cheap gas for about two months after I got my drivers license...

We have laid off since 1987 and decided early in 08 to get back in, just in time for me to get laid off Halloween day...

[Robert Swartz]

I know our IHRA stocker won't be ready next season. Maybe the Nova bracket car will get resurrected by late summer.

What I'm wondering, tracks? I'm sure ORP in Indianapolis will be running. I wonder about the smaller tracks. I'm going to be like someone else noted, if my work slows down, that translates into fewer dollars for other pursuits. If the tracks start going down due to the economy, that could become a problem.

I've got an "outlaw" 1/8 mile track less than 7 miles from my house. And then another 8-10 tracks all within 1- 3 hours drive. Imagine most of these will survive.

I guess I picked a heck of a time to get back into this?

Robert Swartz

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Tod Lane

We have laid off since 1987 and decided early in 08 to get back in, just in time for me to get laid off Halloween day...

Hey buddy, was hesitant to bring this up, yeah, there's that too!

Like someone else said, pit space will open up. Bet this brings an end to "renting" pit stalls! Times must've really been good for that to happen. It was still first come, first serve when we last graced a drag strip.

Robert Swartz

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

What I'm wondering, tracks? ...If the tracks start going down due to the economy, that could become a problem.

Robert Swartz

Yeah, I've wondered the same. Like the rest of corporate America, the NHRA owned facilities are bloated beyond management. But if most other operators are smart, they'll get creative. I was never a big nitro fan, but match racing seemed to fill the stands during the '70s. And with the pro sponsors drying up, low dollar teams may need to resort back to this activity. Who would want to pay NHRA a $100 admission fee to see nothing more than JFR vs DSR when they can go to their local track and see some local nitro-nostalgia-A/FX whatever for $15 admission? That's what I'm picturing. I also remember some awesome weekly class racing at E-Town during the late '70s & early '80s.

They may need to start thinking like the '60s & '70s again...LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL!!! In fact there were plenty of local racers "in the day" that could really put on a show. It's all in the promotion!! (except Tom Compton's promotional methods which comprise of: a safe, vaseline, mirrors with plenty of smoke, and sphincter forecepts).

People I'm going to watch closely: the New family, Blake Bowser, Bernie Longjohn, Pat Joffrion, the Baders, George Case, even Bruton Smith (unlike Compton I think he's a real promoter). I feel these could be the next promotional movers & shakers of our sport.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Gary Smith

They may need to start thinking like the '60s & '70s again...LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL!!!

I saw a similar thread relating to this on another forum. That may be an uptick for the local tracks. Those that can still afford to race may find it more profitable to race closer to home. On the other hand, most local shows ARE bracket races. That may not be the cup of tea some are leaning towards.

I remember in the 70's, when tracks started switching to brackets and dropping classes. Alot of people sold cars or quit altogether. Back in those days, many a stickshift SS and Modified car went up for sale because it was just too expensive to bracket race those sorts of car. That was the reason I built my Chevy II. I had a 67 Mustang stick car.

To get back on track, maybe a loose association of racers may be a thought. Tod and I attended a S/SS combo at Ohio Valley this fall. I thought it had a decent turnout, I'm easily impressed (snicker!). The Valley is an NHRA track but they allowed the IHRA cars to participate. With everyone running either indexes or (allowed) dial unders, this made for a larger field of participants. More food for thought.

Wish I had my IHRA crate motor car ready,
Robert Swartz

[Jeff Goss]

I spent entirely too much money getting my 64 Wagon Superstocker going. Haven't raced in 5 years. Kids, money, and vacation schedule have kept me away.

This year, the car is ready. The vacation schedule still sucks. This may keep me racing locally only, in brackets and the limited Combo races. If I can make 2 Divisionals I will run the National in Seattle. Too many people have helped me get this back together to sit out another year. I feel like I let everyone down

Really looking forward to racing again.

Jeff

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Notch1320

Finally sorted out my clutch issues, so this year I will be out a a few races once we get everything dialed in.

Gary, what are you doing for 09?

How is the Stocker?

I hope to at least run the Arizona divisionals, but my companies having an all employee meeting near the end of the month---I have mixed emotions on how this will go, because the last time we had such a meeting, layoffs insued prior to it. I'm going to try to be positive, but with sponsors backing out, loans being needed by companies to get by, and contingency sponsors falling off the tree like autumn leaves, it's getting tough.

As for the car, I still need to replace my lower control arm, before I can race again (after Las Vegas' blown slick ordeal). Otherwise once I do a few easier things (hoses/belts), the car will be ready to try and make this year in Div. VII better than last year was---It's been 10 months now since I had that red-light (-.022) loss to Brad Burton, that kept me out of the quarters at our first race (and would've also given me a chance to finally avenge my 3rd rd loss to Mike Cotten from the '99 Mile High's, by .009!!!)...that 10pts that I could've gotten (since I was on the good side of our other-wise double breakout run), would've had me up to 23rd in the final points standings, and tied for 21st (and with my budget and our racers out here I feel that I would've accomplished something major), so I have something to shoot for this year!!!

Good luck with your car, and I hope to see you out here as well!!!

[THE LEGEND]

Plans right now are to run as many of the divisional races as possible. We figure to be on the road around 25-30 weekends this year.
Chip