IHRA Stock GT Class Years

[impstocker]

Have a friend with a 73 Duster uncut bracket/street car. He is updating the roll bar to a cage plus installing a 62 413 395HP Stock Eliminator motor. Wants to run Stock. How can we petition IHRA to allow the years in their Stock GT class to go back to 1955 like in Super Stock now. I did e-mail Mike Baker. Have not heard anything back. Any suggestions, opinions. Would NHRA ever add a Stock GT class?

Will Lamprecht 65 Impala I/SA in progress.

[Jim Woods]

I have tried to get this same thing done for years.The answer always the same.NO.

[j h henderson]

I think that this would be a win-win for both IHRA and it's racers. If you have a car with an overrated horsepower, you can change to another IHRA accepted horsepower/engine combination without having to change bodies. It would take pressure off IHRA Officials to adjust horsepower ratings and would require only one change in the rulebook-1980 to 1955.

[Jim Woods]

Correct jim

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by j h henderson

I think that this would be a win-win for both IHRA and it's racers. If you have a car with an overrated horsepower, you can change to another IHRA accepted horsepower/engine combination without having to change bodies. It would take pressure off IHRA Officials to adjust horsepower ratings and would require only one change in the rulebook-1980 to 1955.

It would be nice if IHRA Stock GT set their rules up like NHRA Super Stock GT as far as : any Stock engine into any year Stock body of the same make.


I know it won't happen, but for years I have dreamed up different combos in Stock that would be fun.

We classify our engines on our tech cards by year, and we also classify our bodies by year, so the tech cards would stay the same with this idea.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by j h henderson

I think that this would be a win-win for both IHRA and it's racers. If you have a car with an overrated horsepower, you can change to another IHRA accepted horsepower/engine combination without having to change bodies. It would take pressure off IHRA Officials to adjust horsepower ratings and would require only one change in the rulebook-1980 to 1955.

Seems this would make sense. There probably aren't a dozen of these cars in the whole country anyway. I'd love to piece together a 289/271 hp engine for my Mustang II. Too expensive for a bracket engine.

Could also see this class as a way to revive the old Formula Stock rules. That ship sailed long ago. Besides the purists would squeal too loud. Like the fwd and foreign cars, don't want to open up the class for further participation.

Still working on my U/SA car.

[Dan Fahey]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Seems this would make sense. There probably aren't a dozen of these cars in the whole country anyway. I'd love to piece together a 289/271 hp engine for my Mustang II. Too expensive for a bracket engine.

Could also see this class as a way to revive the old Formula Stock rules. That ship sailed long ago. Besides the purists would squeal too loud. Like the fwd and foreign cars, don't want to open up the class for further participation.

Still working on my U/SA car.

Always thought it was sad Ford and GM only used 2v Carbs on the 80s Mustang II and Monza.
4bbl would have made a popular performance cars.
I understand the push to put another engine in a stocker.
Especially if it is a simple drop in and not require custom adjustments.

One suggestion is to let them upgrade to the 4bbl.
Leave in regular stock as there is a HP track record to move up a class.

However, GT class allow racers to prepare previously unsuitable combinations when you have a good chassis and a known engine.
Great opportinity to bring in more more later model cars in the 80s and 90s.

It would be cost effective considering the 50, 60 and 70 cars are becoming expensive to prepare and as the collector folks drive prices up.

My 2 cents!

[Mike Pearson]

There are already way too many different classes in stock and super stock. Part of the interest to run these classes is to find something that will be competitive. Stock and Super Stock was never intended to have every combination included and some are just not good combo's to attempt to run the class. I can see no good reason to change the rule. Stock should be running the engine that came with the car. They already have the crate motor classes. Just my opinion.

[impstocker]

Mike I can understand not wanting to add anymore classes but you wouldn't be adding any classes with this move, just change the acceptable years from 1980 back to 1955. It is already done like that in NHRA SS GT class.

IHRA does have more Stock classes than NHRA with the FI, GT and Crate motor classes. I would like to see NHRA add a GT class, but thats another thread...

Will Lamprecht

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

There are already way too many different classes in stock and super stock. Part of the interest to run these classes is to find something that will be competitive. Stock and Super Stock was never intended to have every combination included and some are just not good combo's to attempt to run the class. I can see no good reason to change the rule. Stock should be running the engine that came with the car. They already have the crate motor classes. Just my opinion.

In principal, I agree. To a degree this is a moot point. SS is already an expensive class. As the newer cars continue to populate stock, I can forsee the older cars slowly being pushed aside. The popular old cars are/will become too expensive/valuable to build.

This will in turn lead to a reduction of classes. This already is taking place, how many of the newer cars that could be run in the lower clases are even being put in the guide. The manufactuers aren't interested in putting them in.

We already have nostalgia SS, can a nostalgia Stock class be far behind. Stock appearing eliminator may rear it's ugly head sooner than we think.

Stock GT might give some a chance to participate in an actual class. Much like Pure Stock. Both classes are too limited. Building expensive oddball combos to go compete against tube chassis bracket cars at the local tracks just isn't a lot of fun. Kind of what stock is becoming, lol!