Index Change Rumor - Page 4

stock1080 · 11-23-2019, 09:26 AM

Or, is it just to keep the newer cars in stock? what ever the reason, NHRA pops its head up to make changes to the "entry level class" Makes no sense, 9in tires on 9 and 8 second stockers, who enjoys 150mph cars going by them at the top end? Said no one. Thanks

The Hawk · 11-23-2019, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stock1080

who enjoys 150mph cars going by them at the top end? Said no one. Thanks

I do !!!!!!!!!

snoopybob · 11-23-2019, 10:24 AM

If they lower the indexes 2 tenths, it will STILL be the same cars that qualify at INDY.

B Parker · 11-23-2019, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duster1256

I work on my car all the time and probably spent more than I should of to get the car back out. I never said anyone is cheating nor did I say you have to be a millionaire to race, it has just gotten a little out of control.

My post was not intended for you just a general post. I've raced Chevy's most of my life for several different reasons. The main one has alway been parts availability and prices for them. I still think for reasonable money you can have a competitive Stocker. Look at all the 98 and 99 Camaro's and Firebirds that are out there for sale. Twenty five grand can buy you a really nice car. Yes Twenty Five grand. It is almost 2020 and twenty Five thousand unfortunately is not a lot of money. BP

Billy Nees · 11-23-2019, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B Parker

It is almost 2020 and twenty Five thousand unfortunately is not a lot of money. BP

Yes Barry, it is and NO, I don't have a problem with you.. Ya know NHRA keeps harping about how they want to get "young blood" into this sport. How easy to come by do you think 25K is when you're a 20-30 year old with a college loan, a new bride and dreams of buying a house? Or a 30-40 year old with a mortgage and young children? Or a 40-50 year old with college age kids and still paying on that 20-30 year mortgage?
And NHRA and Racers alike can't figure out why the majority of Racers that have the time and money to go to 4-5-6 Divisional and 4-5 National events are 60-70 even 80 years old and retired?
Enjoy your 25K "cheap" Racecar now because we are going to fast become extinct and then you can turn your 25K "cheap" Racecar into yard art cause you won't be able to find anyone to sell it to.

Myron Piatek · 11-23-2019, 05:11 PM

Even if you get a deal on a reasonably fast race car, you have to have the time & money to maintain that level. This becomes harder if indexes keep getting lowered. All that does is steepen the learning and financial curve needed, which can get discouraging to start or even maintain a racing program. Slower cars can still be competitive in regular eliminations by (not easily) achieving the current "minimum performance standard" (index), but they have to accept the odds in possible heads-up runs.

There are several opportunities for "fast" cars - qualifying, class eliminations & regular random heads-up runs, without discouraging the slower cars. There has to be a balance for Sportsman racers because too much emphasis on having to be among the fastest brings it closer to a Pro-like atmosphere ($$$) and it's obvious that many can't maintain that level there even with sponsorship. Pro's barely have full fields. Luckily. Stock & SS still, usually, do.

IMO National events are detrimental to Sportsman racing because of the low quotas and high investment in grading points. While a local racer may still not be able to afford to enter a "local" national, the "Baby Gators" trend may be helpful by providing for a greater number of cars to run heads-up for class.

Sure, Stock & SS is "performance based". But even from the start when you could be competitive with a street legal car off the showroom, it was more creativity within the rules and driving skill, not necessarily money. They are, after all, "Sportsman" classes.

Can't help but wonder if this is even a possible a rumor or someone just doing their annual "pot stirring" to see who they can get fired up.

340Cuda · 11-23-2019, 08:29 PM

While I can see the logic in lowering the indexes I don't see anyway it won't lower car count at the divisional races.

I for one expect to be struggling next year to get an old SS/BS car to run the current index in the heat. Lower the index much and you will only see me at the local test and tune.

Bill Lamb
4340

SDT1DYI · 11-23-2019, 09:13 PM

NHRA should provide a way that those Stock
Racers who love the challenge of having the fastest Class car can do so with out getting penaltized. Dropping 2-3 tenths from indexes does not solve the core issue.

Steve Teeter. STK 6380/6283

B Parker · 11-23-2019, 09:23 PM

Nhra

B Parker · 11-23-2019, 09:34 PM

Billy have you noticed most of the new young blood that have started racing Stock are in new 100,000 plus cars. Or they are second or third generation class racers. I don't know anyone under thirty whose remotely interested in getting involved in our type of racing. They would be nuts to. Why spend the money it cost to buy or build a car. Then buy tow equipment. Tow how many hours away and pay the entrance fee and now need a place to stay for several days. With no chance of getting your money back. There is nothing cheap about our type of racing. If your going to start drag racing why wouldn't you go to the local track with a car pay 1/3 the entrance only race for the one day and have a chance to win just as much. With almost no set of rules other than safety. It's just not the same car generation we had years ago. The only new blood NHRA seems to be interested in getting involve in class racing are with the new cars. They changed the rules that helped bring the cost to where it is. Then chased most of the sponsor's off that paid money. And if that wasn't enough now let only 50 cars in each class at national events. Unless of course your in a new car that you can race in Factory Stock. Our class is a pain in the #ss for them. Our type of racing has a shelf life that we can agree on. And at my age I don't really care about what my car is worth 5 to ten years from now. Not sure how long that is but as you said look at the ages of us guys racing. But even more important look at the ages of the guys and girls involved in it from the NHRA side Do you see many young people getting involved in that side of it. The money is about the same as it was when I started racing stock in the seventies. What does 25k equal to money in the seventies? BP

11-23-2019, 09:26 AM	#31
stock1080 Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: malden,ma Posts: 246 Likes: 274 Liked 94 Times in 38 Posts	Re: Index Change Rumor Or, is it just to keep the newer cars in stock? what ever the reason, NHRA pops its head up to make changes to the "entry level class" Makes no sense, 9in tires on 9 and 8 second stockers, who enjoys 150mph cars going by them at the top end? Said no one. Thanks

11-23-2019, 10:24 AM	#33
snoopybob Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 8 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Index Change Rumor If they lower the indexes 2 tenths, it will STILL be the same cars that qualify at INDY.

11-23-2019, 05:11 PM	#36
Myron Piatek VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,542 Likes: 34 Liked 138 Times in 51 Posts	Re: Index Change Rumor Even if you get a deal on a reasonably fast race car, you have to have the time & money to maintain that level. This becomes harder if indexes keep getting lowered. All that does is steepen the learning and financial curve needed, which can get discouraging to start or even maintain a racing program. Slower cars can still be competitive in regular eliminations by (not easily) achieving the current "minimum performance standard" (index), but they have to accept the odds in possible heads-up runs. There are several opportunities for "fast" cars - qualifying, class eliminations & regular random heads-up runs, without discouraging the slower cars. There has to be a balance for Sportsman racers because too much emphasis on having to be among the fastest brings it closer to a Pro-like atmosphere ($$$) and it's obvious that many can't maintain that level there even with sponsorship. Pro's barely have full fields. Luckily. Stock & SS still, usually, do. IMO National events are detrimental to Sportsman racing because of the low quotas and high investment in grading points. While a local racer may still not be able to afford to enter a "local" national, the "Baby Gators" trend may be helpful by providing for a greater number of cars to run heads-up for class. Sure, Stock & SS is "performance based". But even from the start when you could be competitive with a street legal car off the showroom, it was more creativity within the rules and driving skill, not necessarily money. They are, after all, "Sportsman" classes. Can't help but wonder if this is even a possible a rumor or someone just doing their annual "pot stirring" to see who they can get fired up. __________________ LOCOMOTION Racing

11-23-2019, 08:29 PM	#37
340Cuda VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,672 Likes: 3,866 Liked 802 Times in 339 Posts	Re: Index Change Rumor While I can see the logic in lowering the indexes I don't see anyway it won't lower car count at the divisional races. I for one expect to be struggling next year to get an old SS/BS car to run the current index in the heat. Lower the index much and you will only see me at the local test and tune. Bill Lamb 4340

11-23-2019, 09:13 PM	#38
SDT1DYI Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Indianola Washington Posts: 405 Likes: 0 Liked 455 Times in 147 Posts	Re: Index Change Rumor NHRA should provide a way that those Stock Racers who love the challenge of having the fastest Class car can do so with out getting penaltized. Dropping 2-3 tenths from indexes does not solve the core issue. Steve Teeter. STK 6380/6283

11-23-2019, 09:23 PM	#39
B Parker Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 849 Likes: 980 Liked 2,336 Times in 464 Posts	Re: Index Change Rumor Nhra Last edited by B Parker; 11-23-2019 at 09:35 PM.

11-23-2019, 09:34 PM	#40
B Parker Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 849 Likes: 980 Liked 2,336 Times in 464 Posts	Re: Index Change Rumor Billy have you noticed most of the new young blood that have started racing Stock are in new 100,000 plus cars. Or they are second or third generation class racers. I don't know anyone under thirty whose remotely interested in getting involved in our type of racing. They would be nuts to. Why spend the money it cost to buy or build a car. Then buy tow equipment. Tow how many hours away and pay the entrance fee and now need a place to stay for several days. With no chance of getting your money back. There is nothing cheap about our type of racing. If your going to start drag racing why wouldn't you go to the local track with a car pay 1/3 the entrance only race for the one day and have a chance to win just as much. With almost no set of rules other than safety. It's just not the same car generation we had years ago. The only new blood NHRA seems to be interested in getting involve in class racing are with the new cars. They changed the rules that helped bring the cost to where it is. Then chased most of the sponsor's off that paid money. And if that wasn't enough now let only 50 cars in each class at national events. Unless of course your in a new car that you can race in Factory Stock. Our class is a pain in the #ss for them. Our type of racing has a shelf life that we can agree on. And at my age I don't really care about what my car is worth 5 to ten years from now. Not sure how long that is but as you said look at the ages of us guys racing. But even more important look at the ages of the guys and girls involved in it from the NHRA side Do you see many young people getting involved in that side of it. The money is about the same as it was when I started racing stock in the seventies. What does 25k equal to money in the seventies? BP