Back from Indy-what's happened to Stock Eliminator??

[Ed Fernandez]

Quote Chassis 1:How do you ever expect Class racing to move on if you do not appeal to the next generation? Money or not, most kids do not know anything about carbs or distributors. But they do know how to lap top tune and injector tables and maps.

All the whine and cheese here. Why not just get another hobby. Most of you do not even know what it is like to be a fan and not be able to participate. But yet you load up and be there days early why the average fan works his knuckle to the bones to afford to come and watch you race. You have all priviledges and others only dream to have something old or new.....

Put on a pair of glasses and see who owns or drives most of the new cars.Old farts with the money to afford these cars and all the associated costs.Most of the next generation driving these cars don't foot the bills.
Stop and take a look at the present day "fans".The majority are either clueless about our cars or just don't give a damn.They're there to get an autograpgh from Force or one of the other "main players".The old time S/SS fans are either gone or they're one of us either
driving or crewing.
If you do chassis work,like your title says,where do/did you make most of your money from,the old cars or the new ones?
There's room for the new cars,if NHRA get's their collective heads out of their a$$e$
and either correctly factors or puts these pretenders (HP wise) in their own class.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by chassis1

How do you ever expect Class racing to move on if you do not appeal to the next generation? Money or not, most kids do not know anything about carbs or distributors. But they do know how to lap top tune and injector tables and maps.

All the whine and cheese here. Why not just get another hobby. Most of you do not even know what it is like to be a fan and not be able to participate. But yet you load up and be there days early why the average fan works his knuckle to the bones to afford to come and watch you race. You have all priviledges and others only dream to have something old or new.....

take it all for granite as others are happy that new cars appeal to the younger guys to keep it alive....

they could always go home and play x-box and Black Ops.....

BE THANKFUL!!!!!!.......others that you do not know thank YOU!!!!!! old or new cars..

Chassis1

The problem with your position is the new FX factory race cars aren't bringing anyone new to Stock or Super Stock. Plain and simple. They sure aren't bringing new individuals. There are some guys with dealerships that might not have run the class before that have new cars now.

For all the hype we had blown at us about the new cars bringing droves of new fans, new participants, and great coverage, none of it has come true. None of it. The stands are still mostly empty, the car quotas are most often unfilled, there are no new magazine articles about Stock or Super Stock, and no new TV coverage either. Nothing.

What we DO have is guys either sitting at home most of the time or quitting completely.

The new cars have only served to change the basic premise of Stock Eliminator, that was once production cars, legal to license for street use, certified for safety and emissions, with valid VIN's, but is now "what ever the factories want to send NHRA the specifications for, even if they never actually build one single car like it."

I have yet to figure out how changing the basic premise of Stock Eliminator, the foundation of the class, so that it is no longer Stock Eliminator, is going to "save" Stock Eliminator.

[greg fulk]

Originally Posted by vic guilmino

billy nees number 1 quif. at cecil
does all his own work
no acid

Where's the like button?

[Nathan Stinson]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Not the way it is now. Cars never sold for street use were not allowed in Stock Eliminator. It had to be legal to license it and drive it on the street in all 50 states. Not any more.


Go try to get the specs to race a production street legal new Ford Mustang to race in Stock. Then you'll see the difference.

So how many of the stockers out there today are legal for street use? I dont see what that really has to do with it. It also used to be that stockers couldnt run wheelie bars, had to run stock fuel pumps, etc. The "premise" of the class has been changing for years. The difference is some people change with it and some bitch about it and get left behind.

[69Cobra]

What Alan is trying to explain to you is up until 2008 every car that competed in Stock you could go to the dealership and buy off the show room. I love the new Mustangs and if funds would allow I would build one yesterday. But the point is Stock was something that everyone could relate to because everyone could go and buy that car so to speak from their local dealer. Not the case with the DP's and the CJ's. I personally love the manufactures involvement but I do agree that if things keep up they should have there own FX class to run in. When I come home from Afghanistan in a couple years I will be running our '69 Fairlane Cobra in Stock and that's just how its going to be for me, Old School.

Originally Posted by Nathan Stinson

So how many of the stockers out there today are legal for street use? I dont see what that really has to do with it. It also used to be that stockers couldnt run wheelie bars, had to run stock fuel pumps, etc. The "premise" of the class has been changing for years. The difference is some people change with it and some bitch about it and get left behind.

Talk to Billy Nees!!! I'm sure that he has a combination that is both attractive and moderately inexpensive. Remember: You don't have to be the quickest. It is 90% bracket racing. Later in your life (after children and stuff) you may have more money to afford the better parts and run with the Big Dogs. But for now... get out there and enjoy it. It is all about fun and frindship!!!!

Originally Posted by 676869ford

All-

Let me start out by saying I don't have the means at this point in my life to build a class car, but it will always be a dream of mine to be able to make a go of it some day.

That being said, thank for allowing me to post on this forum.

And to the point...I saved vacation time this year to take off and spend a couple days at Indy to watch stock and super stock. Unfortunately, I was suprised and dissapointed to see how the landscape has changed! What has happen to these class(es)? I went to see the classic wheels up action of CJ's, Hemi's, 427 Ford's, Max wedge Mopars, Camero's, Mustangs, Fairlanes, Novas, Chevelles, etc....where are they??

I'm a Ford guy and I only saw 3 FE powered Fords in both classes. I guess at my age (37), I should be completely turned on by the late model CJ Mustangs and DP Challengers, but that's just not me.

The allure of these two classes has always been the grass roots nature. The fact that it still felt like it was connected to the days when muscle cars were born. I have a tremendous appreciation for what technology has made possible with the new muscle cars, but they're just too far out of reach for me. I'll never be able to afford a new CJ Mustang or Drag Pak Challenger.

Maybe I'm way off base and just don't have a clue what it costs to put a car in Stock, but I always had hopes that I could setup my 69 Mustang or 67 Fairlane with a vintage CJ or 390 GT combo and possibly afford to go stock racing. I know one thing for sure, I don't ever see myself being able to afford the $100,000 pricetag to get started in a new CJ Mustang.

Now it looks kind of hopeless...

[676869ford]

When I started this thread, I was just wanted to know what had happened to all the cars I went to see.

Thanks for all the responses! I think I have a much better appriciation for situation, that's for sure.

As a fan and hopeful future participant, I honestly can see both sides. I guess the reality is that Ford isn't selling that many FE's these days, haven't seen any Mark IV big blocks at the dealerships lately, and I'm pretty sure Chrysler has given up on development of the Max Wedge engine.

Times do change. But we've never been in a time like this one. There's never been a more distinct difference in era's of cars...but some things are the same. There will always be people who want to race and factory battles for sales on Monday are what got stock and super stock their starts.

I say it's time for NHRA to seperate the modern cars from the old iron. If it means classifying the original muscle in "Nostalgia" Stock and Super Stock then so be it. That really is what it's about for me I guess, the nostalgia. I was born in 1974, after these cars were in there heyday's, but they still appeal to me because I like the hystory and long for a time when life was simpler. It seems to me that there are more reproduciton parts than ever to keep the vintage iron going. I say keep the rules for the Nostalgia classes similar to what they are now, but make sure the new parts availability will allow them to keep going for years to come.

As for the more modern cars, I say let them keep the Stock and Super Stock wars raging for the factories! And if they're going to keep with the "What Wins on Sunday, Sells on Monday" theme, talk to the factories about an FX class for the all out factory race cars, and let's get Stock and Super Stock going with "normal" Mustang GT's and R/T Challengers and for cryin outloud some Camero's!

AND PROMOTE THE CLASSES! I'm guessing the majority of people who buy tickets to come watch the mega bucks nitro madness don't have a clue how much fun they could have actually coming to the track and PARTICIPATING because they're blinded by the marketing and promotional side of things. Do any of the average fans believe there's really any "entry-level" in NHRA? Shouldn't it be Stock Eliminator?

I guess everyone needs a dream...

[Jim Kaekel]

Originally Posted by chassis1

How do you ever expect Class racing to move on if you do not appeal to the next generation? Money or not, most kids do not know anything about carbs or distributors. But they do know how to lap top tune and injector tables and maps.
All the whine and cheese here. Why not just get another hobby. Most of you do not even know what it is like to be a fan and not be able to participate. But yet you load up and be there days early why the average fan works his knuckle to the bones to afford to come and watch you race. You have all priviledges and others only dream to have something old or new.....
take it all for granite as others are happy that new cars appeal to the younger guys to keep it alive....
they could always go home and play x-box and Black Ops.....

BE THANKFUL!!!!!!.......others that you do not know thank YOU!!!!!! old or new cars..

Chassis1

A lot of opinion here. Do you even race in Stock or Super Stock? For having such a bold opinion of real racers, why don't you sign your REAL NAME?

[NWDragracing]

Originally Posted by Jim Kaekel

A lot of opinion here. Do you even race in Stock or Super Stock? For having such a bold opinion of real racers, why don't you sign your REAL NAME?

Jim,

Wes is a racer, engine builder and also the owner of Pro Header Systems and I think he has been racing a way bit longer in the Stock/Super Stock ranks than you.

http://proheadersystems.com/default.asp

[BlueOval Ralph]

This has been said again and again and again!!!! Quickest wasy to fix is to BRING BACK EFI CLASSES!!!!