Back from Indy-what's happened to Stock Eliminator?? - Page 8

Alan Roehrich · 09-03-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan Stinson

What exactly does it explain? please do inform me.

Because you have no idea what Stock Eliminator is all about. You race 10.5, that is nothing even remotely similar to Stock Eliminator.

Chris Barnes · 09-03-2011, 11:51 PM

I don't want to jump on anyone but I totally agree with Alan. As such I honestly believe that the new factory drag cars must be put in Super Stock if we are to respect the system as it exists.

That said, there seems to be plenty of potential to race the new Mustangs, Challengers, (and Camaros) in Stock as presented from the showroom. Even that will be a challenge to the rule makers. I do not understand the resistance to creating new classes, even as a stop gap measure. It seemed to work out okay for the FI deal. Why can't we have our cake and eat it too?

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621

BadBanana · 09-04-2011, 01:14 AM

In my humble opinion, there is ssooo much wrong with Stock and Super Stock racing today, that it is almost beyond fixing !!!
They need to, once again, give it some track and fan appeal. They need less classes instead of more. Less classes with about 15 or 20 cars in each class at the national events - something for the fans to get pumped about - then NHRA will once again get pumped about it.
To do this they need to get the hp ratings straight, for old and new cars, so they can both compete.......and they need to get the indexs right so only the very best cars can run under, The fans don't want to see, and don't understand, how a guy in a given class can win eliminator when he can run .10 under, when there are other similarly classed cars that can run .90 under, because of the dial under and breakout rules.
We don't want to make S and S/S look like Super Gas and Super Comp , do we???? If you love these cars, you don't !!!
Get the hp ratings much, much closer and fairer and reduce the class indexs so that very few (only the best) can run under. Then fairly make fewer classes There will be more cars in each class and more all-out racing. The fans will love it, the racers who can still compete will love it/ those who can't, won't like it but can go bracket racing in S/G or whatever. Some will leave the ranks and some will return to the ranks because they will be RACING again.
Right now, the only people who like these classses are those who run in it and their friends. The fans don't, and NHRA thinks of it as a "filler" - no more/ no less .... an annoyance, at best.
I guess I have a lot to say after seeing this from the days of the early 60s through today. My opinions won't make everyone happy; but if you're like me you want to line up against cars of equal potential, race hard and all-out, and if you get there first - you win; and if you lose, you go home and work harder, not just change your dial under !!!

Neil Smedley · 09-04-2011, 01:31 AM

You are exactly right in my opinion Mr. Banana. In fact, reading your post fills my eyes with a few tears. I also think the sport is beyond repair..........

BadBanana · 09-04-2011, 01:56 AM

Hey Neil; I knew I could count on you. Not too many of us left !!
How are you doing out there in "bandido land"? Stay safe and say hello to Marilyn for me. I've heard from Paul Dilcher on here and just recently Tony Janes. How did Tony know about Glen Campbell Chev. ? I thought he was a CA boy.
I did the motorcycle ride out rte 66 last June but never made it to Phoenix area. By the time I got to Santa Monica, after riding to Chicago from FL and then Chi. to Santa Monica, I was whipped, so I put the Harley on a truck and flew home. We went through the Okla. City floods and a windstorm in NM, among other things - not bad for someone looking at his 70th B-Day next month. I am now in Wake Forest, NC, closer to my son and grandson.
Would love to meet up with you again and talk about our wonderful trip across the country in 1971 or 1972 with Dean Becker !!!

I'm expecting some "flak" from my previous post from those too young to see what it was like in the early to mid 60s. I remember the first time I was told I "broke out" (at the preNationals meet in Muncie, IN, driiving the '57 Bad Banana). "Broke out what", I said. "You went too fast", they said. "Well, excuuusssee me", I said !!! - "isn't this a race???" At that time you apparently couldn't go more than .20 under the National Record.

BadBanana · 09-04-2011, 02:28 AM

to continue about my first breakout (1964 in Muncie). We had thought we had just won Stock Eliminator over a famous Buick stocker "Big Daddy" or "Daddy" something that I had seen in national Dragster; and Ted Hartman , who owned the Bad Banana was furious (us small town Western New Yorkers had not yet heard of "Brake-outs"); and I had to physically restrain him as he wanted to drive the Bad banana INTO the timing tower.
Being a young college kid at the time, and always hungry, I had made a deal with Ted that every time I ran under the record, I got a Peanut Butter sandwich - so I was happy !!!!
another story here: We didn't have line-locs yet so Ted had put an old hand brake arm, mounter under the steering wheel with a rod down to the brake pedal, so I could use the gas and clutch and, also, hold the car on the line - we, also, had a convex mirror way up on ther front fender so I could see the tire and the staging line.
With the indexs where they are now let's fly into Pomona, get a rental car that fits a good low class, put tires on it and go racing--- and then feel cheated if somone else had an advantage !!!!!
OK, I'll be quiet now !!!

davidhuff · 09-04-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadBanana

to continue about my first breakout (1964 in Muncie). We had thought we had just won Stock Eliminator over a famous Buick stocker "Big Daddy" or "Daddy" something that I had seen in national Dragster; and Ted Hartman , who owned the Bad Banana was furious (us small town Western New Yorkers had not yet heard of "Brake-outs"); and I had to physically restrain him as he wanted to drive the Bad banana INTO the timing tower.
Being a young college kid at the time, and always hungry, I had made a deal with Ted that every time I ran under the record, I got a Peanut Butter sandwich - so I was happy !!!!
another story here: We didn't have line-locs yet so Ted had put an old hand brake arm, mounter under the steering wheel with a rod down to the brake pedal, so I could use the gas and clutch and, also, hold the car on the line - we, also, had a convex mirror way up on ther front fender so I could see the tire and the staging line.
With the indexs where they are now let's fly into Pomona, get a rental car that fits a good low class, put tires on it and go racing--- and then feel cheated if somone else had an advantage !!!!!
OK, I'll be quiet now !!!

Sure love your stories and a great fun post!

SSDA Hemi · 09-04-2011, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidhuff

sure love your stories

Same here, keep them coming...

Nathan Stinson · 09-04-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

You really are lost as last year's Easter eggs. You don't race Stock Eliminator, and you don't have the slightest idea what Stock Eliminator is all about.

The new cars were never street legal cars, ever, in any shape, form, or fashion. NHRA Stock Eliminator required the original car the combination was based on to be street legal, all the way up until 2008.

Every car we've raced in Stock Eliminator and Super Stock started as a real street legal car as produced by the factory for street use. A 69 Camaro 427/425, a 69 Camaro 350/255, a 69 Camaro 396/375, and a 94 Camaro 350/275. THAT is what Stock Eliminator is all about. If you cannot grasp that concept, you will never understand Stock Eliminator.

I grasp exactly what you are saying, but read what you typed. Up until 2008...... It is 2011 the game has changed. Now the good thing about it is if/when NHRA sees it your way they will take the magic pencil and make new classes for the cars that some of you have come to loathe, and at that point all you guys will have to find something else to whine about. I grasp everything you said about the way stock was, but I also grasp that it has changed right or wrong.

Dale Shannon · 09-04-2011, 09:58 AM

No flak here I agree with you a 100% ran s/ss from the 70s-90s have fewer classes and most importent put a person like Farmer in charge he would have these new cars already in the right class . Then let the cream come to the top, this may put a brain behind the wheel not just a shoe.

5

09-03-2011, 11:51 PM	#72
Chris Barnes Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Back from Indy-what's happened to Stock Eliminator?? I don't want to jump on anyone but I totally agree with Alan. As such I honestly believe that the new factory drag cars must be put in Super Stock if we are to respect the system as it exists. That said, there seems to be plenty of potential to race the new Mustangs, Challengers, (and Camaros) in Stock as presented from the showroom. Even that will be a challenge to the rule makers. I do not understand the resistance to creating new classes, even as a stop gap measure. It seemed to work out okay for the FI deal. Why can't we have our cake and eat it too? Chris Barnes Wagons of Steel Stock 6621

09-04-2011, 01:14 AM	#73
BadBanana Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 76 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Back from Indy-what's happened to Stock Eliminator?? In my humble opinion, there is ssooo much wrong with Stock and Super Stock racing today, that it is almost beyond fixing !!! They need to, once again, give it some track and fan appeal. They need less classes instead of more. Less classes with about 15 or 20 cars in each class at the national events - something for the fans to get pumped about - then NHRA will once again get pumped about it. To do this they need to get the hp ratings straight, for old and new cars, so they can both compete.......and they need to get the indexs right so only the very best cars can run under, The fans don't want to see, and don't understand, how a guy in a given class can win eliminator when he can run .10 under, when there are other similarly classed cars that can run .90 under, because of the dial under and breakout rules. We don't want to make S and S/S look like Super Gas and Super Comp , do we???? If you love these cars, you don't !!! Get the hp ratings much, much closer and fairer and reduce the class indexs so that very few (only the best) can run under. Then fairly make fewer classes There will be more cars in each class and more all-out racing. The fans will love it, the racers who can still compete will love it/ those who can't, won't like it but can go bracket racing in S/G or whatever. Some will leave the ranks and some will return to the ranks because they will be RACING again. Right now, the only people who like these classses are those who run in it and their friends. The fans don't, and NHRA thinks of it as a "filler" - no more/ no less .... an annoyance, at best. I guess I have a lot to say after seeing this from the days of the early 60s through today. My opinions won't make everyone happy; but if you're like me you want to line up against cars of equal potential, race hard and all-out, and if you get there first - you win; and if you lose, you go home and work harder, not just change your dial under !!!

09-04-2011, 01:31 AM	#74
Neil Smedley Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 163 Likes: 32 Liked 22 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Back from Indy-what's happened to Stock Eliminator?? You are exactly right in my opinion Mr. Banana. In fact, reading your post fills my eyes with a few tears. I also think the sport is beyond repair..........

09-04-2011, 01:56 AM	#75
BadBanana Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 76 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Back from Indy-what's happened to Stock Eliminator?? Hey Neil; I knew I could count on you. Not too many of us left !! How are you doing out there in "bandido land"? Stay safe and say hello to Marilyn for me. I've heard from Paul Dilcher on here and just recently Tony Janes. How did Tony know about Glen Campbell Chev. ? I thought he was a CA boy. I did the motorcycle ride out rte 66 last June but never made it to Phoenix area. By the time I got to Santa Monica, after riding to Chicago from FL and then Chi. to Santa Monica, I was whipped, so I put the Harley on a truck and flew home. We went through the Okla. City floods and a windstorm in NM, among other things - not bad for someone looking at his 70th B-Day next month. I am now in Wake Forest, NC, closer to my son and grandson. Would love to meet up with you again and talk about our wonderful trip across the country in 1971 or 1972 with Dean Becker !!! I'm expecting some "flak" from my previous post from those too young to see what it was like in the early to mid 60s. I remember the first time I was told I "broke out" (at the preNationals meet in Muncie, IN, driiving the '57 Bad Banana). "Broke out what", I said. "You went too fast", they said. "Well, excuuusssee me", I said !!! - "isn't this a race???" At that time you apparently couldn't go more than .20 under the National Record.

09-04-2011, 02:28 AM	#76
BadBanana Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 76 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Back from Indy-what's happened to Stock Eliminator?? to continue about my first breakout (1964 in Muncie). We had thought we had just won Stock Eliminator over a famous Buick stocker "Big Daddy" or "Daddy" something that I had seen in national Dragster; and Ted Hartman , who owned the Bad Banana was furious (us small town Western New Yorkers had not yet heard of "Brake-outs"); and I had to physically restrain him as he wanted to drive the Bad banana INTO the timing tower. Being a young college kid at the time, and always hungry, I had made a deal with Ted that every time I ran under the record, I got a Peanut Butter sandwich - so I was happy !!!! another story here: We didn't have line-locs yet so Ted had put an old hand brake arm, mounter under the steering wheel with a rod down to the brake pedal, so I could use the gas and clutch and, also, hold the car on the line - we, also, had a convex mirror way up on ther front fender so I could see the tire and the staging line. With the indexs where they are now let's fly into Pomona, get a rental car that fits a good low class, put tires on it and go racing--- and then feel cheated if somone else had an advantage !!!!! OK, I'll be quiet now !!!

09-04-2011, 09:58 AM	#80
Dale Shannon Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Denver NC Posts: 74 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Back from Indy-what's happened to Stock Eliminator?? No flak here I agree with you a 100% ran s/ss from the 70s-90s have fewer classes and most importent put a person like Farmer in charge he would have these new cars already in the right class . Then let the cream come to the top, this may put a brain behind the wheel not just a shoe. 5