Will you miss the Pros?

Lyn Smith · 05-30-2007, 11:25 PM

If you will ,then get to a National Event this year. I guessing Sportsmen and the Pros will have seperate events In 08 .What does everyone else think?

Lyn Smith

roadrunnerrunner · 05-30-2007, 11:33 PM

Not me..I have much respect for them,but little in common anymore...Have been hoping for separate events since the Gatornationals were held in Orlando a few years ago.[ so the "sportsman racer could enhance his/her experience"] I certainly don't think they will miss us,....

Billy Pires · 05-30-2007, 11:55 PM

YEA I MISS PRO STOCK TRUCK

-A/FIA 1981-

Nitro Joe Jackson · 05-30-2007, 11:59 PM

No, I mean HELL NO !!!!!!!!!!!!

"Nitro Joe" Jackson
www.nitrojoes.com
nitrojoe@neo.rr.com

Jim Wahl · 05-31-2007, 12:45 AM

Joe, when do the new stats come out? I have run out of good stuff to read! Jim

Jim Wahl
6 Time National record Holder
2239 BF/S
I miss Buster Couch also! 'cause Div.2 will always be "Buster's Rebels"

LNorton · 05-31-2007, 01:20 AM

We eat during pro sessions and hit the fence during s/ss.

Lee Norton
Performance Punch Embroidery Digitizing
Slowtime Motorsports
I/PS '02 Firebird 231 V6

JDEMARZO · 05-31-2007, 07:07 AM

Went the D-1 Open and it was wonderful. The Dutch classic will have class, and all D-1 Opens have either Top Stock or Junior stock to let it hang out and no pro's. Relaxing and watched the catagories I want to without the nonsense. Actuall found a good seat. At this stage of life I can do without the Pro's..........By the way Saturday the Grove had lots of spectators due to thier creative marketing. Too bad Dave Ley does not have 6 identical twins for each division.

Joe

Dick Butler · 05-31-2007, 09:10 AM

Miss the pros? The time they take to run? the noise? the space their outfits take up in the pits? the fact they are the highlight and the Sportsman racing is relagated to Thursday when no one is there to watch?
Might be but.....?
What about the Atmosphere at the race? the cash inflow of spectators? the attraction of sponsors money? the professionalism of their outfits and crews?
Sportsman racing can be made a show of its own with spectators and sponsors but NOT without changes.
Sportsman racing will not live as a participant sport like current points meets. It must be more professional, more spectator oriented and that would require HARD changes for the racers who live and breath bracket racing.
Alcohol cars can be the draw if marketed. The TOP/STK and TOP/SS format if expanded can appeal and draw people and sponsors again. More racers can enjoy the return of Heads up racing at the same time as appealing to Spectators and sponsors. Comp has an appeal .
The Super categories would take changes or could be moved to local racing. People who have an interest in these cars want to race them not watch them and they are not Spectator popular so no spectators would be drawn to the events.
Bottom line is National events ARE THE events but they were ruined by time used by pros and lack of attention to the "dumbing down" occuring in Sportsman racing by poor planning and lack of attention to their appeal values.
Maybe if NHRA has to pay attention to using Sportsman racing it will be the best thing that can happen.

Dick Butler 3529

Bunkster · 05-31-2007, 09:48 AM

I acquired my own absolute, total hatred of "Pro" type cars back in the sixties at National Trails in Columbus. (Oh, I respect them, I just loathe them.)

This was in the day of push cars and no reverse. Whenever it was time for these cars, Clark Radar would call out on the PA system.."Wire Wheel...time for Wire Wheel". If you raced a regular car, this meant it was time to go take a nap. There was a traffic light arrangement in the staging lanes and it would go red when it was time for "Wire Wheel".

It would take forever to push each one and get them started. They would enter at the finish line and push them towards the starting line. Then they would have to push them back and forth to get them turned around so they could stage. All too often, their tune-up sucked so bad, they would pop and crack, then break and blow oil everywhere.

Wire Wheel? Good riddance.

stockracer · 05-31-2007, 11:18 AM

I agree and disagree with some of your purposed answers Mr. Butler...It will take a lot of work to make sportsman racing a large spectator draw, but it can be done...Instead of the Ashley & John show, tell the spectators about sportsman racers that bust their *** all week to play on the weekend. But I like how you push your new classes as an answer to sportsman problems, but I know I dont have a $150,000 SS car to run in a heads up race where the most money always wins!
The best approach is to educate the spectator on bracket racing instead of just turning everything in to ego-fed heads-up racing...It never helps when the announcer at a national event says "Coming up next is Stock/Super Stock, Now would be a good time to visit the mid-way and get a hot dog" !
And I dont know if anyone else has noticed, but most of the pro stock guys are getting shafted on post round interviews, instead we get to see ashley cry and hit a cone, or selzies kid drive a go-kart, or kenny bernstien tring to hire everyone elses crew! BUT...Its only an opinion

05-30-2007, 11:25 PM	#1
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,199 Likes: 282 Liked 967 Times in 194 Posts	Will you miss the Pros? If you will ,then get to a National Event this year. I guessing Sportsmen and the Pros will have seperate events In 08 .What does everyone else think? Lyn Smith

05-30-2007, 11:55 PM	#3
Billy Pires Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Somerset, MA Posts: 99 Likes: 6 Liked 23 Times in 3 Posts	YEA I MISS PRO STOCK TRUCK -A/FIA 1981- __________________ Billy Pires 1414 STK, 1414 SS

05-30-2007, 11:59 PM	#4
Nitro Joe Jackson VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Loudonville, Ohio or where ever the Nitro Lounge is parked Posts: 2,293 Likes: 57 Liked 67 Times in 19 Posts	No, I mean HELL NO !!!!!!!!!!!! "Nitro Joe" Jackson www.nitrojoes.com nitrojoe@neo.rr.com __________________ Nitro Joe Jackson STK 3431 nitrojoe@neo.rr.com

05-31-2007, 12:45 AM	#5
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,844 Likes: 666 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Joe, when do the new stats come out? I have run out of good stuff to read! Jim Jim Wahl 6 Time National record Holder 2239 BF/S I miss Buster Couch also! 'cause Div.2 will always be "Buster's Rebels" __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 NHRA D2 National Open Stock Champion 1982 NHRA D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

05-31-2007, 01:20 AM	#6
LNorton Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: RacerTees.com Posts: 505 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 2 Posts	We eat during pro sessions and hit the fence during s/ss. Lee Norton Performance Punch Embroidery Digitizing Slowtime Motorsports I/PS '02 Firebird 231 V6 __________________ Lee Norton - N229 STK IHRA H/FIA - NHRA O/SA RacerTees.com

05-30-2007, 11:33 PM	#2
roadrunnerrunner Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ocala, Florida Posts: 23 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Not me..I have much respect for them,but little in common anymore...Have been hoping for separate events since the Gatornationals were held in Orlando a few years ago.[ so the "sportsman racer could enhance his/her experience"] I certainly don't think they will miss us,....

05-31-2007, 07:07 AM	#7
JDEMARZO Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 72 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Went the D-1 Open and it was wonderful. The Dutch classic will have class, and all D-1 Opens have either Top Stock or Junior stock to let it hang out and no pro's. Relaxing and watched the catagories I want to without the nonsense. Actuall found a good seat. At this stage of life I can do without the Pro's..........By the way Saturday the Grove had lots of spectators due to thier creative marketing. Too bad Dave Ley does not have 6 identical twins for each division. Joe

05-31-2007, 09:10 AM	#8
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Miss the pros? The time they take to run? the noise? the space their outfits take up in the pits? the fact they are the highlight and the Sportsman racing is relagated to Thursday when no one is there to watch? Might be but.....? What about the Atmosphere at the race? the cash inflow of spectators? the attraction of sponsors money? the professionalism of their outfits and crews? Sportsman racing can be made a show of its own with spectators and sponsors but NOT without changes. Sportsman racing will not live as a participant sport like current points meets. It must be more professional, more spectator oriented and that would require HARD changes for the racers who live and breath bracket racing. Alcohol cars can be the draw if marketed. The TOP/STK and TOP/SS format if expanded can appeal and draw people and sponsors again. More racers can enjoy the return of Heads up racing at the same time as appealing to Spectators and sponsors. Comp has an appeal . The Super categories would take changes or could be moved to local racing. People who have an interest in these cars want to race them not watch them and they are not Spectator popular so no spectators would be drawn to the events. Bottom line is National events ARE THE events but they were ruined by time used by pros and lack of attention to the "dumbing down" occuring in Sportsman racing by poor planning and lack of attention to their appeal values. Maybe if NHRA has to pay attention to using Sportsman racing it will be the best thing that can happen. Dick Butler 3529

05-31-2007, 09:48 AM	#9
Bunkster Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 307 Likes: 0 Liked 43 Times in 10 Posts	I acquired my own absolute, total hatred of "Pro" type cars back in the sixties at National Trails in Columbus. (Oh, I respect them, I just loathe them.) This was in the day of push cars and no reverse. Whenever it was time for these cars, Clark Radar would call out on the PA system.."Wire Wheel...time for Wire Wheel". If you raced a regular car, this meant it was time to go take a nap. There was a traffic light arrangement in the staging lanes and it would go red when it was time for "Wire Wheel". It would take forever to push each one and get them started. They would enter at the finish line and push them towards the starting line. Then they would have to push them back and forth to get them turned around so they could stage. All too often, their tune-up sucked so bad, they would pop and crack, then break and blow oil everywhere. Wire Wheel? Good riddance.

05-31-2007, 11:18 AM	#10
stockracer Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 79 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I agree and disagree with some of your purposed answers Mr. Butler...It will take a lot of work to make sportsman racing a large spectator draw, but it can be done...Instead of the Ashley & John show, tell the spectators about sportsman racers that bust their *** all week to play on the weekend. But I like how you push your new classes as an answer to sportsman problems, but I know I dont have a $150,000 SS car to run in a heads up race where the most money always wins! The best approach is to educate the spectator on bracket racing instead of just turning everything in to ego-fed heads-up racing...It never helps when the announcer at a national event says "Coming up next is Stock/Super Stock, Now would be a good time to visit the mid-way and get a hot dog" ! And I dont know if anyone else has noticed, but most of the pro stock guys are getting shafted on post round interviews, instead we get to see ashley cry and hit a cone, or selzies kid drive a go-kart, or kenny bernstien tring to hire everyone elses crew! BUT...Its only an opinion