Has professional drag racing lost it's audience?

[Fat Hack]

It may be just me, but it seems like big time Drag Racing has lost most of it's magic and charm over the past couple of decades. (I know some may say it happened before that, but from my memories it went downhill after the mid 80s).

Sure, there's camera clown John Force, that foxy Angelle and strong contender Larry Dixon...but in my eyes, the sport has lost much of it's match-race magic!

I suppose it started when funny cars lost their names and just became loud, fast-moving corporate billboards. I remember rooting for the Chi-Town Hustler every week while my buddy pulled for the Blue Max. We knew the drivers' names...but we still refered to them by their car's identity. I was a Hawley fan and my friend was a Beadle groupie, but we taunted each other with quips like "The 'Hustler's gonna STOMP the Puke Max!" or "The Blue Max is gonna blow the Guzzler back to Chi-Town!".

We even went so far as to stage our own grudge matches...I bought a burgundy colored bike and my buddy had a blue one...we naturally squared off against each other dreaming that we were racing our favorite funny cars through my old neighborhood!

Nowadays...how much fun is it to root for the Castrol car, or any other sponsor-plastered shapeless lump? The cars don't even resemble what they're supposed to be anymore...and their individual identities are LONG gone!

In the Pro-Stock ranks, car names weren't needed so much because the focus was on driver vs driver and brand vs brand. The Camaros ran Chevy engines, and the Fords ran Fords. Rivalries sprung up within the brands, too....who would be the Top Gun in the Chevy ranks from week to week? I was a Frank Iaconnio fan, while friends pulled for Lee Shepherd. Others dug Glidden or Johnson, or cheered on the make they liked most.

The Top Fuel class was all about who was fastest. Muldowney, Amato, Hill and the rest slugged it out to topple records and set the bar higher on their way to each new event win!

There was also the age-old NHRA vs IHRA competition. I remember thinking IHRA was cool because they allowed the "Mountain Motors" with gargantuan 800+ cubic inches in doorslammers! This held my interest even though the big names ran NHRA events on TV for the most part.

Other weekly attractions were guys like Buddy Ingersol who took factory type cars such as turbo V6 Regals and transformed them into blistering 1/4 mile terrors just as the heroes of the 60s had done!

Maybe it's just natural to view a favorite sport with a nostalgic gleam as we get older, and to believe that it's less exciting in the present...but all I know is that I used to follow drag racing religiously and was eager to see the eliminations on TV or in person...whereas today I give it only a passing curious glance. I see today's generic race vehicles and forgettable personalities (minus a few obvious exceptions, of course!) and there just seems to be something missing.

Maybe it started to lose some lustre when Lee Shepherd died, and continued to drop off as sponsors replaced names and the whole sport just seemed to grow over commercialized and impersonal? Who knows, but the great rivalries that fueled fan excitment are gone, even though the media tries it's best to create them today. Who watches the races still? Anyone still follow it week-to-week...or has it lost much of it's fan base to the circus known as NASCAR and big time wrestling????

Anyone else feel this way??

[Bigcheese327]

Drag racing lost me when the Super Stock cars went away (and that was ten years before I was born, practically!). There's just no appeal to me in watching an unstreetable car drive down a closed course. That holds true for LSR and NASCAR too. If doorslammers came back in these events I'd actually regret not having cable to watch ESPN2.

[Crosley]

I think NHRA is sytematically killing the sport.

Higher gate prices. My employer pays my way into a meet and I will not go. My wife goes with me and it still costs too much to see the race.

My wife has always helped me with our cars , so leaving her home ain't an option.


The entry fees have increased greatly.

Nwo they are talking about some kind of class rotation thing.

[choprods]

Id rather go Golfing with the Pope...

[Pigiron]

Go to any national event and watch the stands. Nitro cars run, stands full, no nitro no fans in stands. I sat at a recent Winternationals and felt bored. Same shit different day. I recently tried to race my 27T at a local track. I was turned away because I did not have a roll cage. NHRA stands for No Hot Rods Allowed. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Roothawg]

Bracket racing has killed the sport. Who wants to watch a guy run 60 ft and then the stutterbox kicks in and the car basically dies for a second or two....

People want heads up racing and that leaves about 4 classes in NHRA.

[Roothawg]

That's why Winston Cup is thriving....heads up racing.
World of Outlaws...heads up racing.
Moto X - heads up racing.
Even the freakin monster trucks run heads up.

[autocol]

root... spot on...

[Deyomatic]

I would personally rather go to a "street night" event, like they do on a weekly basis at most tracks to see what regular guys were able to squeeze out of their cars. I really don't care how fast John Force goes when Castrol spent $20 million dollars to get him there. Back in the old days, it seems that it was for the fun of it, "this is what I made and this is how I made it go fast." Now it is, "this is what my sponsors paid for and this is what my pit crew built, to exacting NHRA specs, and this is how I drive it.
Don't get me wrong, they've got balls just for getting in anything that fast. I just don't particularly care to watch or support their budgets.

[safariknut]

Drag racing died for me on June 18th 1964 at an airport in Sanford Maine.I was heading for boot camp in 2 days and had purposely stuck around to see a best 2 out of 3 featuring Don Garlits and Art Malone.
The first run Don ran an 8.1 185 and Malone hit a marker cone in the traps and bent a front wheel.As luck would have it one of the other racers(Sidebotham Engineering I think)had the same front end setup and offered to loan Art a wheel.
The second run Don ran an 8 flat and Malone cleaned out the timing lights and bent his front axle.
It seemed as though the show was over and the natives were getting restless.Then still another racer(a relative unknown from Georgia named Pete Robinson)offered to run Big Daddy with his blown 352 in SBC gas dragster.Talk about a David and Goliath setup!
Only thing was Sneaky Pete had his infamous"jack"car.He'd stage(only had a flagman then;one Tom "Tuna"Steed who would eventually campaign his own fuel car and I believe still is)and then they'd rock the car back onto this cam device which lifted the rear wheels off the ground.Just before the flag dropped he'd engage thw clutch and the rear wheels would spin furiously sometimes even smoking a bit if they grazed the asphalt.
The flag dropped and he kicked the lever forward and pulled a GIGANTIC holeshot on Garlits.He turned an 8 flat 177 and Don just caught him in the traps turning a 7.8 195 MPH.
If I remember correctly Don refused to run him again.I think he was afraid Robinson would get him the next time.
The next race I attended was many years later and it was a lot of psuedo-Funny cars and little else.I never went back.
By the way without a doubt the GREATEST car I ever saw(and heard)run was the Lyle Fisher/Red Greth Speed-Sport roadster from Arizona.There was painted across the rear just above the EIGHT exhaust pipes coming out under the turtle deck,"Ol'Noisy II" and if you never heard that car run you missed something BIG.

[FEDER]

I think you guys are lookin at the wrong end of the sport.If it werent for bracket racing NONE of us would have a chance at the racetrack.It would stricktly be a whos got the most money game.Root what you were saying isnt really bracket its INDEX RACING. They run on a 10.90-9.90-8.90 Index.That means they get as close to 10-9 or 8.90 time as they can without going faster-I AGREE BORING!!! In the brackets you see what your car runs then dial it in and race against your dial. If it were heads up NOBODY that owns a car slower than 8 or 9 seconds would have a chance.So they would get one run and go home.With bracket racing Everyone has a chance.There was a guy here locally that raced a pinto wagon that ran in the mid 20s.The one guy owned the car and drove and his fat buddy would ride along.These guys would show up and smoke stink bud all day and race the pinto. Shit it was like Bill and Teds exellent drag race adventure and I saw them win TWICE!My point being heads up racin is cool for those that can afford it.But for Me ill take bracket racing-----FEDER

[Hot Rod Ron]

Here at the local drag strip they have run what ya brung on most friday and saturday nights. Just get past tech and have a ball. To me that is what real drag racing is all about not how big your budget or transpoter is.

[four-thirteen]

I'd love to go superstock raing with a legal stock 413 in my plymouth. I could do it, and I'd run maybe 11.50s with a decent motor in my budget. Problem is, I'd need to be in the low 10s to be anywhere near winning any events. Going that fast means sticking $30,000+ into a motor and $10,000+ into a tranny. The biggest payout for S/S is, I think, $10,000 at the nationals. So even winning a few events I couldn't even break even.

I guess i'll have to go build my own strip, with blackjack, and hookers... Dave

[Tman]

If it aint the HAMBdrags it aint shit!!!


Day of the Drags would fall into the HAMBdrags cat.

[296 V8]

NO. ONE WORD TIME BOMB.

[scarliner]

Hack, I would have to agree with you, I always looked at drag racing as the ultimate sport for me, it had fast cars,great smells and good looking girls too,it dont get no better than that.But I guess in order to stay as big nhra,you gotta keep the mooola rolling in.I almost puke everytime I here a nhra or nascar driver,get out of thier car and ramble on for two minutes about the bla bla bla bla so-n-so car,before they can ever comment on anything that happened,geeeez! give us a break!Anyway I hardly pay any attention to nhra or nascar and thats sad cause I consider myself a car nut and Im sure there has to be some good points to whats happening there.On the plus side I have been going to a lot of small tracks and races and I am here to tell ya ,drag racings not dead.Theres a lot of lo-buck guys still out at the local tracks having fun almost weekly.And I think I am getting ready to be one of them.Ive got plans to build some kinda car that I can race whenever I want,at the local tracks and also go to some events,like the HAMB drags.Im, not making a job of it,just want to have fun and meet some cool folks.

[Phil1934]

They are so clueless they look to NASCAR for inspiration. Remember Pro Stock truck? And they reserved a certain # of spaces for each of the big 3 manufacturers with the remainder to be fought over by the little guys. And the big $ classes run so scared if someone wins one week with a Waterman pump and Mooneyham blower, they all have it the next week. The ingenuity of one off combos will never be seen again. I guess they just can't appreciate them from the corporate suites. Speaking of which, I made the last Nats in Atlanta and after waiting for the track to dry for 4 hours while the dryer truck sat idle, the races finally started and they employed an army of security to keep the 1/4 full stands out of the premium seats. When one fan said call the cops, I'll sit where I want, the flood gates opened. But this disregard for the fan will keep me away from all but test and tune night. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Curly]

I used to loved to hate Warren J. I was pleased when somebody beat his grumpy, cranky ass but at the same time kinda let down.

And as long as were on the subject of racers...Shirley Muldowney will NEVER be anyone to me. She was a bitch to my mother when my mom said she also raced at a local track and looked up to her! Barb Hamilton was the first woman to be licensed to run a supercharged car not Cha Cha da Bitch Of course Miss Ego Muldowney doesn't want you to know that! My mom quit racing in 1965 and is my personal favorite and Barb runs a close second!

[John Copeland]

Fat Hack,
I did an article (Photo Flashback) in Rev Magazine's last issue, that is almost a mirror image of what you have written. I still love to see the fuel cars run, but your right, their all corporate billboards!

Shoe

[201]

It definatly lost alot when they did away with push starts.I guess it was too hard to get the t.v. commercials in.Around '74-'75 a friend had Ronny Potter's first Golden Nugget car(jr.fuel,192 wheel base,sml. block).I remember pushing it off with a '65 Chevy wagon.Had to get it up to 55-60mph,Danny let out the clutch and covered the windshield with raw fuel till it caught.The next year was plug in electric starts.Just didn't give you the same show.

[John B]

3 words- test and tune. Cost like 10 bucks to run,5 bucks to spectate and you get as many runs as you can fit in. If you got a good strip they will try to hook up grudge matches. Some even do a tropphy run at the end of the evening. Haven't been to the strip for anything else in a couple years.

[Rocket88]

Electronics have ruined drag racing! The super catagories suck! Boring to watch and most of the fans don't really understand why the cars "die" 60 feet past the starting line. I like to watch stock, super stock and comp eliminator. A good chance to see some cool wheels up shit and cars with 3 pedals. And don't even get me started on ET snowmobiles! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[metalshapes]

I hate spec racing! It is boring because all the cars are the same, and when the rules are to tight, thats what it becomes. You can only recognize a car by its color scheme, and the TV personality that gets out of the driver seat to rattle off the names of his sponsors.
That goes for Drag racing, Nascar, and Indy car, etc.

[Smokin Joe]

I wrote this a few years ago, it still holds.
http://www.srv.net/~jxc/Feb00.html

If you have a local track, support them by showing up on the test & tune nights or the High School drags. You'll have a great time...

[Roothawg]

I preach this a lot but if they would go back to cubic inch per pound, everyone could run heads up. Sure people would lie but that's what teardown money is for.

[rikaguilera]

I grew up at the drags. Literally.. My father and my uncle had a top fuel dragster, and an altered (remember those?)
I still keep up with the what is going on today, and of course enjoy the sounds and smells. Who here could not get excited seeing a top fuel rocket do a burnout?
But I will be the first to say that I HATE bracket racing. I love heads up because it is you against me. Car against car. Yes, money will sometimes (ok, a lot of the time) make for the fastest car, but heads up is what makes the titles of "fastest car in town".
I see the 10.5" tire class in NHRA as one of the most exciting. I say make them all shift sticks, no tubs, and no computer aids. That is a real car, in my opinion of course.
The cars in todays drag racing have gotten so competitive and close that it does get boring after a while.
All that said, I would sell my mother for a four second pass in a fueler though! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[plan9]

fun post ...

this weekend i was at gotellis speed shop in south san francisco.. we got to talking about the changes in drag racing... they showed me pics of gotelli sr.'s roadster in 1957/58, and told me about his dad getting the speed bug BAD, which resulted in him stripping the roadster the weekend after to go faster (flatty powered)... i believe in 1960 he built a SBC powered rail, its featured in Rodders Journal while running at half moon bay dragstrip, (forget what issue).. and was one of the first to run triple springs, (they claim being the first to develope and run triple springs) to avoid valve float with a flat tappet. they went on to explain that isky, who was their sponsor marketed the spring shortly after... they talked about garlitts coming out and schooling everyone... it was fun talking about the stuff

modern drag racing (1990's) is only exhibition foder for me, always has been... drag racing events i attended as a kid were goodguys nostalgia drags... stuff i could afford in my lifetime, old cars with normal people driving them.

agreed rikaguilera, heads up should be the way... its like preaching to the choir here though, everybody here is overly nostalgic (i mean that in a good way)...

[Samantha]

Hey Curley...I agree, Shirley Muldowney has always seemed kind of snotty. Don't forget Shirley "Drag On Lady" Shahan though...super nice lady. My husband has raced with her son before...very cool people.

[12packo94s]

speaking of muldowney
at the last big race in joliet this year it was damn funny,, on her trailer was a ordinary cheap ass hardware store for sale sign that just said

entire top fuel operation for sale enquire within

duct taped to the back lift door of her trailer

i got a pic somewhere it just seemed funny as shit at the time

[Smokin Joe]

From WDIFL

[Pigiron]

I think about the only excitment in No Hot Rods Allowed dragracing is listening to Whit Bazemore complaining. I think he is missing a good bet by not getting a major wine company to sponser his car, Mad Dog 20/20 perhaps. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[John Copeland]

I appreciate what someone had to say about Kenny Bernstein and his perspective on corporate sponsorship. KB was an independently wealthy entrepreneur from day one, and he is the guy that was fortunate enough to have landed a sponsor that provided him with the equipment and budget that it takes to win. When he was winning in the Flopper or T/FD, he was a flaming asshole, almost unapproachable to the majority of his fans. I've seen him turn his back and walk away from kids trying to get his autograph. When he ran into a competitive dry spell, he almost became human again, and started to greet the public. Two years ago he milked the system with the "Forever Red Tour", his much publicized retirement and passing of the torch to his son Brandon. Made zillions of bucks selling all of the farewell stuff. Where is he today, probably going through tech inspection at Pamona while his son is mending from a dumb ass attack he had at Englishtown. I have to say this, I certainly don't want to see anyone injured in a sport that I have lived my entire life, and Kenny's son Brandon is no exception. But I'm wondering if he refunded any of the troops that purchased those bullshit T-shirts, when he climbed back into the cockpit. And now, by his own admission, he feels that his retirement was a bit premature. Trust me, you'll see him back next year, maybe even a two car Bud team. And yes, Shirley may be a bit snotty at times but she's a real person and a talented Top Fuel pilot, she got almost sideways during qualifying at Indy this year, and had the skill to know how to give up and save the car for another day. Brandon could learn something from her ability to do what he didn't! All that being said, and it certainly is just my opinion, I still like going once a year and watching the fuel cars run. I live within 20 minutes of National Trails here in Columbus, and never go there, other then when the NHRA circus is in town. Let's here it for guys like Eddie Hill, couldn't pick a nicer guy or better embassador for the sport! In reading what all of the previous posts have said, I come to one simple conclusion...........the times have changed without question, technology has changed the sport and with the fast pace of technology comes a huge rise in the cost of competition. I for one, liked the evolution of reversers and electric starters, Christ, it used to take forever to get a pair of fuel cars staged! Didn't wind my watch, I wanted fire and smoke and noise! I lost my best friend a year or so ago, we had gone to the Spring Nationals for 20 consecutative years. One of his sayings kind of put the changes in perspective, and I'll quote him. "Come on man, let's go finance a burger, 90 days, same as cash"!

Shoe

[dean3870]

I have to say that their is nothing in the world to me like the sights, and smells of a national event! But its not what it was ment to be any more. Its all about the money. I can remeber sitting in a mall parking lot as a little kid walking around looking at all the cars on open trailers, and ol ramp trucks. Thats when it was fun! and that was in the mid 80s. I grew up with the only dream in my head, and only 1 goal i had was to run stock eliminator just like my father, and grandfather. When i finaly got old enoughh to do it the (RACERS) and NHRA have taken all the true meaning of the sport away! Its what can we do to change the rules, Look at a old rule book, the only thing the same is the class letters on the windows! I have a 1972 buick GS that was my fathers, and i would love to run it in G/SA but it has to weigh 3860LBS and run some where in the 11.30s to be any where close to compeditive. I went to the US nationals this year for the first time since 1984 i took a walk late monday night when we got there, no sounds, no smells. nothing but the moon lighting up a place, and a sport that has meant so much to so many, and think about all the blood sweat and tears that have been left on that track took my breath away. And we and nhra are killing it! The pros the sportsman cars all of it, when one out of every 3 stockers have a toterhome, and stacker then some things wrong. I love this sport, it has meant more to me, and my family than it could to any one, but lets face it. its dieing, just like the GOV. lets hope AHRA does some thing good!

[Gator]

This thread is 6 years old.

[bigolds]

Wtf

[Dolmetsch]

I have thought about this too. At our local track Shannonville Motorsports park they have a test and tune night anfd the palce is packed. You cant even leave if you want to because someone is parked behind you. Mostly street cars and a few nostalgia type cars and the odd time trial from a pros tyle race car. Go ack on Sunday when the big $$$$$$ cars are runnig for the gold and there is hardly anyone in the stands. maybe 30 or 50 people. The night before there was no sitting room. I asked why is that. I will take it even further. Why would I and many others rather watch Pinks All Out or Pass Time rather than a NHRA national event. Could it be that the pro racing is so far removed from reality or the attainabilty of normal people that it has becoe irrelevant? WHy does no one want to watch the faster cars even at our local track but will sit in the stands all night to watch street races and such? I dont know the answer but the trend is very obvious. Somewhere drag racing has passed the audience by.
Don

[mudflap261]

I have thought about this too. At our local track Shannonville Motorsports park they have a test and tune night anfd the palce is packed. You cant even leave if you want to because someone is parked behind you. Mostly street cars and a few nostalgia type cars and the odd time trial from a pros tyle race car. Go ack on Sunday when the big $$$$$$ cars are runnig for the gold and there is hardly anyone in the stands. maybe 30 or 50 people. The night before there was no sitting room. I asked why is that. I will take it even further. Why would I and many others rather watch Pinks All Out or Pass Time rather than a NHRA national event. Could it be that the pro racing is so far removed from reality or the attainabilty of normal people that it has becoe irrelevant? WHy does no one want to watch the faster cars even at our local track but will sit in the stands all night to watch street races and such? I dont know the answer but the trend is very obvious. Somewhere drag racing has passed the audience by.
Donit has become professional wrestling on asfault

[rustynewyorker]

Suddenly it's 2003. Wow, the threads still on the board go back a long ways.

[speedtool]

That's why Winston Cup is thriving....heads up racing.

It's not Winston Cup anymore, and for the last few years - it is NOT thriving.
If you watched any of the races, you'd see large empty areas in the stands.
If you read any of the racing media - you'd know that ticket sales are way down.
About the only racing that is growing is the ADRA, and they give their tickets away.

[Diana The Doc]

Professional drag racing does still maintain a somewhat healthy audience (the number of people in the stands at some events are still relatively decent)... Although we have to take into account the fact that drag racing has always been an "underdog" in the world of professional sports... Despite the fact that it appears to be a "simplistic" concept of a motorsport, with two cars leaving from a standing start, accelerating to the finish line, first one to cross it wins, lotsa people watch it, yet still don't "get it" or can even comprehend why anybody would want to do it--- And yes, the "corporate" and "glossed over" treatment and "makeover" that the sport has undergone over the last couple of decades has become a "turn off" for some of those who are more inclined to enjoy the sport in a more "down 'n' dirty" and "nitty gritty" fashion... I realize that this is a sensitive (and often controversial) issue, and opinions definitely vary among those in the gearhead community... Being the "underdog" of a sport that drag racing really is, it's a sport that does occasionally have difficulty gaining traction (not necessarily just on the track) but among all the other forms of professional sports/entertainment which it finds itself working so hard (maybe even too hard) to compete with in getting a decent piece of the mainstream sports market share... It's tough out there... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

[terrarodder]

Another old guy sounding off. Did some drag racing in the late 50s early 60s. To me drag racing died when they stopped giving trophys and payed money to winners and did away with class's like comp.coupe, street roadster or just old gas class's. We did it just for fun.

[fab32]

Another old guy sounding off. Did some drag racing in the late 50s early 60s. To me drag racing died when they stopped giving trophys and payed money to winners and did away with class's like comp.coupe, street roadster or just old gas class's. We did it just for fun.

Can I get an AMEN!!!

Frank

[Buick59]

I think that it may have lost some of it's audience. But has replaced them ten fold. I have been to some standing room only events in the last couple of years.

[Johnny Hotrod - BC]

Nhra needs better tv coverage. end of story

[crackerass54]

It's all corporate, I don't even really like to go to the BIG races, I have a better time at the smaller tracks, watching joe blow in his chevy truck pull a front wheel two inches and he thought that was the greatest thing in the world, Thats where the real fun is, with people that love it, The big racers don't LOVE what they do, just LOVE that check they get. Look at NASCAR,(both sports our lifestyle has deep roots in) you can't get anymore corporate than that, it's all for money now. I actually saw a roll of tape that said "The OFFICIAL TAPE OF NASCAR" I mean really? I dispise NASCAR. Anything NHRA is getting pretty close to the same feelings from me at the moment. Give it ten more years and I'm sure I'll hate NHRA also. My view on BRACKET RACING since someone mentioned it, is that the word RACING should'nt be used, Why even drive a car down the track at all? Why not just walk up to the booth, wait for the light, hit a button, and see who did it faster, NOT RACING.

[BISHOP]

You said it good crackerass.

Corporate money ruins everything. Always has, always will.

[humpie]

It all boils down to money and tax deductable.If the nhra teams had to build cars and buy parts,they would not be on tv.It's just like football or basketball or maybe even bicyle riding(did i say bicyle riding.i give that up 50 years ago when i was a kid)The rich get richer and well you know the rest.:mad:

[racingonerobb]

Why not just walk up to the booth, wait for the light, hit a button, and see who did it faster, NOT RACING.

Seems they did just that at a bracket final this year!! Saw it at Drag Race results site. Practice tree finals now thats racing!!

[Von Rigg Fink]

I helped a friend in the years before they closed down Detroit Drag Way..O/T car so I wont go into that end of things..
I used to love going in the many years before(as a spectator, and before all the wierd rules came in), and once i got involved in being his engine (drive train bitch)..it lost all its good clean fun..braket racing..WTF is that? it all came down to who had the best equipment and who was faster at flicking a switch

my way was match the cars close, green light..who made it to the end first wins..anything else is just jerkin the gerkin..thats how i feel anyways...heads up racing is what i want to see, and be involved in with out all the gadgets

[Little Wing]

Bracket Racing ,,made it sucky

"you loose ,you went to fast " to fast ?? Thats the whole idea

[RichFox]

Todays pro cars are to much like Spec racers. Before you had all kinds of different things to look at. Different ideas to think about. It was interesting. That's why HAMB drage and Pinks All Out are fun. Home made cars with personality really racing as best they can.

[Von Rigg Fink]

Bracket Racing ,,made it sucky

"you loose ,you went to fast " to fast ?? Thats the whole idea


Exactly!

[Zig Zag Wanderer]

This thread is 6 years old.


yes, but still timely....there's still a lot of discontent with the NHRA.

great thread.

can anyone shed some light on the newly re-formed AHRA? will it be more of a grass-roots organization; and do they have any tracks up and running?

[oj]

I am still active in drag racing and there is another organization out there ADRL or something like that that is all heads-up run what you brung. Rules are basically tire size and car weight. We run 1/8th mile for a couple reasons, safety being formost. A friend runs in this event and he clicks off 3.70's; the whole event is basically cars that run under 5 seconds in the 1/8th and it costs $10 for a spectator. We run a door car on nitrous and have run 4.40's. It is like old-time racing, we all stick together and help each other and have a ball. The fans just love it, it is an incredible form of racing. It reminds me of the early days of promod racing. We run local events, it is all outlaw type racing i can get the proper name for the national events if anybody is interested.
Thats' it ZigZag! AHRA! Thats pure excitement with some oldtime racin.

[Diana The Doc]

I recall Robert Williams once telling me how he gave up on drag racing when he thought it became more about corporate gloss and less about "real" hot rodding-- And I realize that there's quite a few people who share that same opinion... However, it does seem that no matter what it is, sports, entertainment, etc, it's inevitable that corporate big money will eventually work its way in and morph and modify the scene into something that $uit$ the corporate side of it better-- And it's very hard to keep things "real" when corporate dollars break down the floodgates-- In drag racing, the sport has reached such a high plane (financially) that if the corporations walked away now, it would cause a major collapse of the whole system... I too enjoy "grass roots" heads-up outlaw drag racing, and I can appreciate drag racing stripped of gloss and corporate trimmings, however, there's lots of people among the general population who prefer the more corporate and "glossy" version of the sport-- I've learned to appreciate practically all the different forms and financial formats the sport has morphed into-- It should be very interesting to see where this all goes in the next decade or two... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

[Little Wing]

Exactly!

That was actually said to me,,Back in teh 80's racing at Englishtown.

Lined up,,and first shock a fucking Chevy Suburban !! with a bunch of class win stickers and I think his ET was like 21 seconds :eek:

I had a 68 Charger,,lights go ,,we go I cross first ( was very excited cause if I won that race I got a Trophy )

Pull in all excited ,,only to find out the Chevy got the win cause I "broke out"

I was pissed,,That was my last trip to the track

I understand Consistency,, yet,,if I can go faster to me thats what racing ment.

I also understand there are rules,,but hey,,that was my fastest time of teh day ,,which also made me happy,,yet cost me the race..

Just all seems backwards to me

[greg32]

Good thread......agree with the NHRA comments in general. Look at ADRL racing series. On tv every so often. Heads up, no rules, run what ya brung. 1/8 mile only, and door cars well over 200mph. They charge $10 per car load to get in, period.Pack the stands, sponsored by National Guard. NMCA/NMRA is also cool for door car fans.NHRAs B.S. has given opportunities to these series.

[Rat L. Can]

It's not just drag racing that suffers from the same disease - Indy Car racing has become a spec class as well. All the cars are the same, powered by identical fart-can sounding Hondas. There's no innovation to speak of and the fans are tuning out.

Tom Jobe, of "The Surfer's" fame, said it best when he was asked why he abruptly quit drag racing in the mid 60's:

"I could see a day when the only thing that would differentiate the cars would be their paint jobs and that doesn't interest me.."

Pretty much spot on and if it doesn't interest the competitors, why should we think spectators would give a shit..?

[Von Rigg Fink]

That was actually said to me,,Back in teh 80's racing at Englishtown.

Lined up,,and first shock a fucking Chevy Suburban !! with a bunch of class win stickers and I think his ET was like 21 seconds :eek:

I had a 68 Charger,,lights go ,,we go I cross first ( was very excited cause if I won that race I got a Trophy )

Pull in all excited ,,only to find out the Chevy got the win cause I "broke out"

I was pissed,,That was my last trip to the track

I understand Consistency,, yet,,if I can go faster to me thats what racing ment.

I also understand there are rules,,but hey,,that was my fastest time of teh day ,,which also made me happy,,yet cost me the race..

Just all seems backwards to me

sounds like the same feeling i got and why i quit, same for my friend that i helped crew..I dont even go any more to even watch, if i wanted to i could see the braket racing in my living room and probably tell who was going to "win" before they even staged.

I still have one of the 3 -68 Chargers I owned..a bit large and heavy for drag racing (out of the box so to speak) but put enough Ummmph in them and they sure do pull hard.

Now the HAMB drags, I have to go see this one of these days

[Stu Padasso]

Quoting John Force in his November 2009 Drive Magazine editorial, "So, its not about winning and losing on the racetrack. Its also about winning and losing in Corporate America". Also, "my real job is selling the sport of drag racing and selling product for my sponsors". He goes on to say that the budget for EACH of his 4 funny cars is 3 million bucks a year!!
Give me amateur racing/sports any time!!

[choke]

I think a new set of rules should be initiated for the true nostalgia cars. If the cars only run 1/8 mile you should be able to run a 3 point cage in a dragster or altered. As long as a car dose not exceed 150 MPH you can loosen up on alot of the safety rules. Ufortunately most dragstrips here on the west coast are under NHRA sanction, so you have to run their rules! It's funny how NHRA ignored nostalgia racing until it became a cash cow. Then all of a sudden they jumped on board full throttle!!!! NHRA needs to adress this because this is the real grass roots of drag racing. And if it goes away so does a big part of their customer base.

[executioner]

yes.
big money and electronics have ruined it for me even on a bracket car level
with the event of cross over delay boxes,stutter boxes,shift noids,and other hocus pocus it has become a matter of who has the best electronics.
all you have to do now is matt the pedal, unpress a button,and steer.
how much skill is involved there?
no foot braking,launching,or aticipating the lights involved.
at summit motorsports park they have such high cement barriers all you can see it two roofs going down the track
big fun there.:rolleyes:

[Older'n dirt]

yes, but still timely....there's still a lot of discontent with the NHRA.

great thread.

can anyone shed some light on the newly re-formed AHRA? will it be more of a grass-roots organization; and do they have any tracks up and running?

Here's the latest on the resurrected AHRA. Rod Saint from Florida started reorganizing it and has recently brought in the son of Jim Tice who originally founded the AHRA. Along with Jim Tice, Jr is Troy Moe who was also an integral part of the original AHRA.
I've been in touch with Rod Saint for over a year and wish him and the new operation nothing but success. The NHRA could use some serious competition and the little guy/grass roots racer needs another choice. I hope the new AHRA furnishes both.

http://ahradragracing.com/AHRA_HOME.html

BTW, this is a new website and still doesn't have a lot of information posted. The former site (which was disbanded just recently) had information on at least three tracks that have committed to AHRA for 2010. At present there is no official rule book but one of my last communications with Rod Saint indicated it is VERY close to hitting the press.

We operated an AHRA 1/8 mile strip in the late '60s thru mid '70s and had a great association with Jim Tice and the entire organization. When I contacted Rod Saint and told him of our previous association he was excited to hear the stories and even offered his support of the Dragway Reunion we've had for the past few years. He's a genuine person and a true car guy who is also races a big block '70 Cuda.

[Larry T]

Professional drag racing and bracket racing aren't even close to being the same.

The pros have gotten to big and now that sponsorship money is drying up they're in pretty big trouble. Add to that, spectators don't have as much disposable income and there are even more problems. And the new format sucks. Other than that it's OK. (G)

To get into drag racing as something to do instead of something to watch, bracket racing has gotten way to high tech and boring. That leaves Test & Tune/Run what you brung and the smaller Nostalgia meets. They're pretty much grass roots drag racing and they are about the only drag races that still bring a smile to my face.
Larry T

[brandon]

I think you guys are lookin at the wrong end of the sport.If it werent for bracket racing NONE of us would have a chance at the racetrack.It would stricktly be a whos got the most money game.Root what you were saying isnt really bracket its INDEX RACING. They run on a 10.90-9.90-8.90 Index.That means they get as close to 10-9 or 8.90 time as they can without going faster-I AGREE BORING!!! In the brackets you see what your car runs then dial it in and race against your dial. If it were heads up NOBODY that owns a car slower than 8 or 9 seconds would have a chance.So they would get one run and go home.With bracket racing Everyone has a chance.There was a guy here locally that raced a pinto wagon that ran in the mid 20s.The one guy owned the car and drove and his fat buddy would ride along.These guys would show up and smoke stink bud all day and race the pinto. Shit it was like Bill and Teds exellent drag race adventure and I saw them win TWICE!My point being heads up racin is cool for those that can afford it.But for Me ill take bracket racing-----FEDER


if you think bracket racing is boring ....take your hot rod to the strip and run that thing. you will have a ball........ no matter how slow or fast:D

as for a good show , take in one of the 8.5 tire shows. pretty good show , a 26x8.5 tire car running 5.40's ( heard they are in the 5.20 range) in the eight.

[kurtis]

I think a new set of rules should be initiated for the true nostalgia cars. If the cars only run 1/8 mile you should be able to run a 3 point cage in a dragster or altered. As long as a car dose not exceed 150 MPH you can loosen up on alot of the safety rules. Ufortunately most dragstrips here on the west coast are under NHRA sanction, so you have to run their rules! It's funny how NHRA ignored nostalgia racing until it became a cash cow. Then all of a sudden they jumped on board full throttle!!!! NHRA needs to adress this because this is the real grass roots of drag racing. And if it goes away so does a big part of their customer base.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

If you had a chance to race a dragster or altered as you mentioned, i guarantee you wouldn't build it with a 3 point cage, even if it couldn't exceed 130MPH. What you are saying is you would rather build a showcar instead of a racecar. Why risk injury or loss of life?

Nostalgia racing has never been a cash cow for the NHRA. Don't believe me? Big time corporate sponsors want nothing to do with old cars and 'hotrodders'. I take it you have heard the possible closure or relocation of the museum?

Nostalgia racing is not grassroots dragracing in the eyes of NHRA. Divisional racing is, always has and always will be. When was the last time you went to an NHRA Divisional show? Plenty of old cars there. Stock and S/Stocks too, just like the old days.
Heck, they even have FEDragsters racing in Comp. Elim. ..And they're quite successful too..

[TrannyMan]

Bracket Racing isn't so bad and neither is Index racing. Most of the Nostalgia races that I run are run on a index. What I think most people are referring to are "electronic racers". Those are the ones that jump off the line, then shut down and then take back off.

[Little Wing]

see I don't get "Nostalgia racing" casue most of what I see is old bodies stuff with modern technology ..Very rarely do I see OLD cars ,,survivours ,,etc I don't see a modern chassis with all the electric dodads and whooie ,,and a Glass Willys body as a Nostalgia car

More reproduction or recreation

as a TRUE Nostalgia car can't pass inspection

[lippy]

Hi Wing. Most of the old chassis are in bad shape metal wise. Tubing on a dragster that's 40 yrs old is usually rusted inside. chrome moly that's .058 isn't safe after 40 yrs. NHRA ain't the only game in town either. We run outlaw stuff and will run any car, anytime, A/fuel, top fuel, pro mod, I don't care. Just show me the money.:D:D

[Ontario55]

I don't mind paying $50.00 for a day of drag racing and the freedom to walk around in the pits and talk to crew and drivers
But when you start the 1/8 mile racing , I'm out

[tubman]

My summer place is less than 20 miles from Brainerd International Raceway. I was talking to one of my buddies last summer, and we decided it might be fun to go to the drag races (NHRA regional meet), not having been to one for more years than I care to admit. I got on their website, took one look at the prices, and it was game over. Super expensive, and they charge for every extra you can imagine. Premium parking, semi-premium parking, shuttle service, and even a fee if you bring a golf cart (I'm 67 with arthritis and didn't relish the walk from the free parking, well over a mile). I can't even imagine what a weekend would cost for someone with no free lodging. I used to race in the '50's and 60's. It lost it's appeal to me when they got rid of the human flagman and started using the tree. Guess I'll stick to the vintage dirt car, if we can get some races scheduled.:confused:

[Little Wing]

Hi Wing. Most of the old chassis are in bad shape metal wise. Tubing on a dragster that's 40 yrs old is usually rusted inside. chrome moly that's .058 isn't safe after 40 yrs. NHRA ain't the only game in town either. We run outlaw stuff and will run any car, anytime, A/fuel, top fuel, pro mod, I don't care. Just show me the money.:D:D

Yes that I understand and the safe aspect is paramount,,but even a 'good' old car would not meet cage requirements based on things I've read.

Hell I bet Jungle Jims Vega would pass nowadays,,lol

yes Viva Outlaw Drags :D

[hotrod32@usfamily.net]

Oh ya come to ssfr at bir in aug 2010 must be a member run your wheels off grudge, or just you and the clock racin the way it used to be FUN!!!!!

[hotrod32@usfamily.net]

breezy point and your bitchin about money come on nhra the circus, all the rest of it the clowns, and tv...........

[HATED1]

I'd love to go superstock raing with a legal stock 413 in my plymouth. I could do it, and I'd run maybe 11.50s with a decent motor in my budget. Problem is, I'd need to be in the low 10s to be anywhere near winning any events. Going that fast means sticking $30,000+ into a motor and $10,000+ into a tranny. The biggest payout for S/S is, I think, $10,000 at the nationals. So even winning a few events I couldn't even break even. The guys with fat wallets are killing it as much as the NHRA.

I guess i'll have to go build my own strip, with blackjack, and hookers... Dave

my buddy races c-gas competetively and runs in the low 9's on a good day. he has nowhere near that amount of money into his motor and tranny. not even half of that quote you threw out there. maybe you should research it a little more.

[Unkl Ian]

Racing used to captivate the imagination. Now it is too much like Hollywood.

[Gasser1961]

I have been a drag racing fan for the past 20 years. So I don't know anything about the good old days, but I don't like the way the NHRA is moving the sport. There are maybe 50 guys that have fuel cars that can run on a big time scale, that's top fuel and funny car. I see the sportsman racer paying the bills and the pro guys get all of the rewards. I can't stand watching super class cars with huge engines that could run in the 7s run 9's with a delay box.

I go to the Winter Nats and Finals every year. The price for one day keeps going up and up and up.

I found nostalgia racing about 10 years and fell in love with it. Most of the names have new equipment but I find it more fun then the Big Show stuff.

I know the days of 3 guys running a fuel dragster with a hemi from the junkyard are long gone. That's why I think it's important to support guys like the ANRA and the new AHRA.

[kurtis]

Racing used to captivate the imagination. Now it is too much like Hollywood.

If you want your imagination to be captivated go to a national event and wander through the Comp. Eliminator pits. If 4cyl. BB Chevys {1/2 a moutain motor} or 7sec. I6 cylinder altereds take your fancy then i'm sure you would have a new found respect for the 'little guy' racers.

If you want Hollywood, hang around Camp Force and immerse yourself in dribble.

[Lowrders]

I went to "Arm drop Live" this year at Cedar Falls raceway here in Iowa and I have to say it was the most fun i've had at a dragstrip in a long time. It does eventually turn into a money game, but heads up racing off a guys arms is pretty neat. Run what you brung! A friend had a car that was obviously faster than the car he raced, but he missed a gear in final eliminations and he was out. Too bad, but thats how it goes. Lots of fun to watch. Indexing is retarded and so is nascar. But really, how else do you make a sport competitive when now its a big money game. Technology destroyed everything grass roots racing and nascar was all about, so they have to make rules on things or else its even more about how much money you have. But i makes it boring.
Going to nascar, i wish they would have a type of go buy a car off the dealership floor, do whatever you want the the engine as long as internals are the same, cage it, race it. I would watch. That would be real STOCK Car racing again.

[Larry T]

my buddy races c-gas competetively and runs in the low 9's on a good day. he has nowhere near that amount of money into his motor and tranny. not even half of that quote you threw out there. maybe you should research it a little more.

Not much to do with Pro racing, but this is a comparing apples to oranges. The only C/Gas class I know of is NHRA Heritage Series. You build your car to the rules, and pick you're index and you're there. No weight/cubic inch anywhere in the deal. If you wanna run a 540 cu. in. engine in a 2500 lb. car and tune it for D/Gas (10.60) that's fine.

It's a little bit different in the big show where there is a weight/cu. in. in SS. The last .100 that's the difference in winning and putting it on the trailer might cost $10,000.00 in technology.
Larry T

[storm king]

The answer to the original question lies right here. Has NHRA drag racing lost it's allure? Look at Royal Shifter's Drag Cars in Motion thread, almost all nostalgia cars, and what, almost 800 pages with over a million hits? And look at this thread, which is what? six years old and has four pages? There's the answer. NHRA sucks. It sucks so bad, the ashats in charge don't even know how bad they suck.

[Lee Martin]

But when you start the 1/8 mile racing , I'm out

I too prefer 1/4, but 1/8 mile is still better than not having local strips. We have a lot of 1/8 mile tracks on the east coast and we do a lot of racing. Hell, most ADRL events are eighth and their Pro-Mods consistently run high 3's, low 4's.....nothing boring about that.

-Lee
Atomic Radio
www.atomicpinup.com (http://www.atomicpinup.com)

[dean3870]

yes, but still timely....there's still a lot of discontent with the NHRA.

great thread.

can anyone shed some light on the newly re-formed AHRA? will it be more of a grass-roots organization; and do they have any tracks up and running?
ahradragracing.com they are fully insured, and looking for tracks! check it out, lets hope they do some thing good with this sport!

[RugBlaster]

They (the NHRA) needs to get those mop-squeezers out of those cars and back into the kitchen where they belong. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif

"Git yer biscuits in the oven, and yer buns in the bed."----Kinky Friedman

[CruZer]

They lost me years ago with the advent of the cookie cutter /all the same motors and only covering the top 4 classes at NHRA events on TV.(Boring)
Now I see IHRA Pro Mods,etc. on ESPN and SPEED and I watch them every time they are on.

[Gasser1961]

If the NHRA had Funny Cars that looked a lot more like the real thing and Pro Stock cars that people still drive it would make a much better show. Nobody makes a 500 ci carb motors !!! How about Mustang vs Camaro vs Dodge and I would say even the imports. Front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive.

[Nitro crew chief]

I am the crew cheif on a nostalgia funny car (picture below) and we run in the midwest. Most of the events we run with the NPCA (nostalgia pro comp assoc.), a really good bunch of guys that run for the fun of it and must have period correct looking cars. We run a 73 Duster body, 8-71 blower, single mag, 2 speed lenco, and NO computer, yes we still tune the car by reading the plugs, and we can run any % of nitro we desire. We also still run the entire 1/4th mile !! The group of funny cars we run with, some replicas of old cars (Chi Town Hustler, Stardust Cuda) and some just good looking cars with names as they were in the day. Most of us run in the low 6 second range with a few high 5 second runs occasionaly. We have a great time and try to put a good show for the fans, Long burnouts and dry hops, yep you heard me right DRY HOPS. We also don't rope our pit areas closed to the fan, you can accually come up and touch the car and watch between race prep unlike the current day cars. We are running in Bowling Green this weekend as are the NPCA guys, so if you want to take a trip down memory lane come and watch.
I haven't been to a current day NHRA race in years, and quite frankly I don't really miss them.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c50/crewcheif/077-1.jpg

[Flipper]

I am the crew cheif on a nostalgia funny car (picture below) and we run in the midwest. Most of the events we run with the NPCA (nostalgia pro comp assoc.), a really good bunch of guys that run for the fun of it and must have period correct looking cars. We run a 73 Duster body, 8-71 blower, single mag, 2 speed lenco, and NO computer, yes we still tune the car by reading the plugs, and we can run any % of nitro we desire. We also still run the entire 1/4th mile !! The group of funny cars we run with, some replicas of old cars (Chi Town Hustler, Stardust Cuda) and some just good looking cars with names as they were in the day. Most of us run in the low 6 second range with a few high 5 second runs occasionaly. We have a great time and try to put a good show for the fans, Long burnouts and dry hops, yep you heard me right DRY HOPS. We also don't rope our pit areas closed to the fan, you can accually come up and touch the car and watch between race prep unlike the current day cars. We are running in Bowling Green this weekend as are the NPCA guys, so if you want to take a trip down memory lane come and watch.
I haven't been to a current day NHRA race in years, and quite frankly I don't really miss them.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c50/crewcheif/077-1.jpg

Looks like one hell of a cool toy!

[texasred]

I think you need to spend a few hours in a titty bar

[Zig Zag Wanderer]

Here's the latest on the resurrected AHRA. Rod Saint from Florida started reorganizing it and has recently brought in the son of Jim Tice who originally founded the AHRA. Along with Jim Tice, Jr is Troy Moe who was also an integral part of the original AHRA.
I've been in touch with Rod Saint for over a year and wish him and the new operation nothing but success. The NHRA could use some serious competition and the little guy/grass roots racer needs another choice. I hope the new AHRA furnishes both.

http://ahradragracing.com/AHRA_HOME.html

BTW, this is a new website and still doesn't have a lot of information posted. The former site (which was disbanded just recently) had information on at least three tracks that have committed to AHRA for 2010. At present there is no official rule book but one of my last communications with Rod Saint indicated it is VERY close to hitting the press.

We operated an AHRA 1/8 mile strip in the late '60s thru mid '70s and had a great association with Jim Tice and the entire organization. When I contacted Rod Saint and told him of our previous association he was excited to hear the stories and even offered his support of the Dragway Reunion we've had for the past few years. He's a genuine person and a true car guy who is also races a big block '70 Cuda.

thanks Older'n dirt & dean3870 for the dirt on the resurrected AHRA.

it looks like a lot of opportunities for heads-up racing in the "traditional" classes and in the national event sportsmen classes and there seems to be some room for open-minded interpretation of those classes as well. i would like to see that rulebook when it is available. hopefully a more basic outline of the rules will also be posted on the website as well.

[Diana The Doc]

There's no denying that the "nostalgia" scene has given a lot of racers and fans who no longer appreciate "the big show" a place in the sport of drag racing where they can feel more "comfortable"... Here in my neck of the woods, there's E'Town's Nostalgia Summernationals/Old Time Drags/Funny Car Reunion event, a race that I've been a dedicated part of since its original inception, and I assure you, this event provides plenty of fun and entertainment for those seeking an "alternative" to the mainstream drag racing scene... Different strokes for different folks definitely applies in the drag racing world... I've been a huge supporter of nostalgia racing, so much so, that I even went as far to co-produce Drag Racing Underground's FUNNY CAR REUNION RAW video/dvd a few years ago, I believed in the nostalgia scene THAT MUCH, so much that I sacrificed a lot of time and effort to make that release happen-- And it's been a huge success both here in the States and overseas (especially Japan for reasons that even I can't quite understand)... And I am not alone in my love for the nostalgia genre of drag racing, there's many racers and fans who now gravitate to this scene in droves, the numbers are always growing... So, if "The Big Show" isn't necessarily "floatin' your boat" anymore, I welcome you to check out nostalgia drag racing, get a schedule from your local drag strip(s) and make a date to "be there" for a nostalgia race, you most likely will not be disappointed... It's a groovy scene that I enthusiastically recommend and endorse... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

[Zig Zag Wanderer]

I am the crew cheif on a nostalgia funny car (picture below) and we run in the midwest. Most of the events we run with the NPCA (nostalgia pro comp assoc.), a really good bunch of guys that run for the fun of it and must have period correct looking cars. We run a 73 Duster body, 8-71 blower, single mag, 2 speed lenco, and NO computer, yes we still tune the car by reading the plugs, and we can run any % of nitro we desire. We also still run the entire 1/4th mile !! The group of funny cars we run with, some replicas of old cars (Chi Town Hustler, Stardust Cuda) and some just good looking cars with names as they were in the day. Most of us run in the low 6 second range with a few high 5 second runs occasionaly. We have a great time and try to put a good show for the fans, Long burnouts and dry hops, yep you heard me right DRY HOPS. We also don't rope our pit areas closed to the fan, you can accually come up and touch the car and watch between race prep unlike the current day cars. We are running in Bowling Green this weekend as are the NPCA guys, so if you want to take a trip down memory lane come and watch.
I haven't been to a current day NHRA race in years, and quite frankly I don't really miss them.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c50/crewcheif/077-1.jpg


awesome, just awesome. takes me right back to 1973

[lostforawhile]

the NHRA being so boring is the reason the Pinks series is so popular. Whoever came up with that idea was a genius, bring back the heads up drag racing people were missing

[Frank Carey]

The last time I went to the drags they started with flags. When I heard about the change to brackets I knew there was no reason to go back. But the old philosophy that the fastest guy wins is alive and well. At Bonneville. Bonneville is one of those things everybody should do once - like Mardi Gras or News Years Eve in Times Square. And you'll see the kinds of innovation that characterized the early years of hot rodding. I saw a guy at Bonneville with a home-made intercooler on a flathead. You don't order these kinds of things out of a catalog.

[BrokeDick]

Here's my take, NHRA events= I stopped going years ago too expensive (spectate) and boring. Pacific Street Car Association (PSCA) check out one of their races good stuff.
1/8 vs 1/4 mile= I've done both and I like 1/8 mile faster pace and good tight racing.
Bracket Racing= Try the footbrake class (no electronics) .
Test and Tune= When I go on the TnT night the stands are full and you see every type of car from brand new off the showroom floor to full on race car. I always tell people it's cheap entertainment, you pay your $10 bucks or $20 if you want to run your car. Me being a bracket racer I've talked to everyone from the youngster getting started with his car to the old timer's who tells some stories about back in the day what he used to drive and race. TnT nights are fun and about the cars.
Run what you Brung= Starts out pretty even but then the money will take over and change it and kill the class, look at the good 10.5 tire car it takes a lotta money to run those classes.

[Diana The Doc]

I've enjoyed contributing to this thread... I feel in the name of fairness, it's worth bringing the fact to the discussion that "bracket racing" isn't entirely the doing of the sanctioning organization(s)... The racers themselves are largely responsible for the "Brackets" format of drag racing getting such a stronghold on the sportsman side of the sport... It's also worth noting that although Bracket Racing may not be the most desirable form of motorsport entertainment from some spectators' perspective, there's a h*ck of a lot of racers who are addicted to the handicapping way of racing... And also in the name of fairness to this discussion, I think it should be mentioned that Heads-Up Racing has made an incredible "comeback" the last several years, and there's new generations of drag racers who make up a large population of non-Bracket Racing participants... There's an event 'round here called SHAKEDOWN AT E-TOWN that is ALL Heads-Up racing and I assure you that the car count and number of enthused spectators is massive... There's room for everybody, no matter what their racing format preference might be... And "Heads-Up" racing is alive and well at the drags, you just need to do a little research to find it... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

[dean3870]

A nother problem i have is the records being set! Look at Tony Schumacher last year. Most wins in a year, most consecutive wins The people that held these record earned them with half the races in a season, and did most of their own work, if not all of it! I dont think the drivers of today should be put on the record page with the real drivers of yesterday! just my opinion!

[Mr48chev]

It's probabably been said a dozen time but for spectators I think that the cars look so much alike that they have lost almost all brand identity. Years ago when you could easily identify almost any brand and model of car or funny car made to look like one of those guys often rooted for their favorite brand of cars even if they didn't know the drivers. Now on some of the funny car bodies the only difference between a Ford and a Chevy is the airbrushed grill and tail lights.
I've never been all that big a fan of the pro cars and would rather watch high school kids in the high school drags and watch some of them improve on each round than wait between cars while the pro car crews piddle with them at the starting line.
Plus like everyting else, the cost of going has to cut down on a lot of fans attendance at as many races as they would like to go to.

[a boner]

The most fun drag racing was when they still utilized a flag man.

[Frank Carey]

a boner is right! And I was a flagman. Lots of good memories

[6t5frlane]

That was actually said to me,,Back in teh 80's racing at Englishtown.

Lined up,,and first shock a fucking Chevy Suburban !! with a bunch of class win stickers and I think his ET was like 21 seconds :eek:

I had a 68 Charger,,lights go ,,we go I cross first ( was very excited cause if I won that race I got a Trophy )

Pull in all excited ,,only to find out the Chevy got the win cause I "broke out"

I was pissed,,That was my last trip to the track

I understand Consistency,, yet,,if I can go faster to me thats what racing ment.

I also understand there are rules,,but hey,,that was my fastest time of teh day ,,which also made me happy,,yet cost me the race..

Just all seems backwards to me

So you went to E Town, raced brackets ( you have to dial your et ahead of racing BTW ) and did not know you would lose if ya broke out ???

[Deuce Daddy Don]

Going back in time (1951), when drag racing was a great thing to observe between 2 cars, admission was 50 cents (including pit pass) at Santa Ana. Just about anyone could run all day & have a blast, same thing when Lions opened, the stands were mostly vacant because everyone was racing or in the pits getting ready. Then came along the hot shots & big name sponsors & slowly things went in reverse, the "little" guy didn't run his car, he went up into the stands to observe instead of participating, I know this from experience, then in Pomona, years later the price of admission was up to 3.25 in 1963, I could see the writing on the wall, & thats the last time I ever attended the drags.------Not bitter------Just history!!------Don

[62nova]

I enjoy NHRA. At least the super/stock classes. I get there early to watch those tires lift up. Of course I HATE the 8.90 etc. crap.

[I Drag]

So the idea of beating a Suburban with a Charger is exciting (?), but when you lose on a breakout you never return?

It helps to know the rules before you play a game.

This is the end problem with heads up racing; it's fun when you think you have a faster car. When you don't, mmm...not so much. What if you had to run heads up against a dragster in that Charger?

A good friend of mine spends about $50,000 a year running Comp because he perceives it as non-bracket racing. Yet all he talks about is his index, and CIC, and how he can't go more than .60 under, blah, blah, blah. He is bracket racing.

I'll stick to nostalgia brackets.

As to the original question, I don't even watch Pro racing.

[Little Wing]

So you went to E Town, raced brackets ( you have to dial your et ahead of racing BTW ) and did not know you would lose if ya broke out ???

Nope,,had always raced on Front Street and Delaware ave up to that point,,Did the dial in but did'nt really know what it was about

and yes was exciting cause as I said would have been a trophy,,prior to that truck ,,I won my other races ,,Against a Camaro,,and a Cougar,,,just barely won with against the Camaro

and yes a better understanding of what was going on would have helped

I guess in my eyes the truck had no business being there wasn't a race car,,and with such a high ET

Guess that the difference between organized and unorganized racing

and if I lost to a Dragster well I could live with that,,loosing to a faster car is one thing

loosing to a slower time...

[I Drag]

I didn't mean to pick on you, L'Wing, I wanted to use your experience to illustrate my point about heads up racing.

I'll tell you this, getting good at bracket racing IS exciting. I recommend it to anybody. And if you want to be racing all-out, handicap yourself .1 to .05 less than your car's best time. This will keep you from breaking out. You should be almost dead even at the finish line. It is exciting. It's not heads up racing, but it's all out racing.

I told myself I would not advocate for brackets any more, and here I am doing it again.

[MENACE]

Just cant stomach to watch it anymore the ASHLEY/JOHN FORCE show

[Newbomb Turk]

Watching a 4 second race is almost as exciting as watching identical cars turn left for 3 hours.

[Diana The Doc]

Bracket racing can be complicated, especially to novice spectators... Understanding dial-ins, christmas tree handicapping, and break outs makes some peoples head spin... Comp racers have their own unique format of racing that confuses the novice spectator too-- Although as I posted earlier, there's both Bracket and Comp racers who are absolutely addicted to racing with their respective format and wouldn't have it any other way... Heads-Up Outlaw racing is certainly the flavor of the month, actually the flavor of the new millennium in the sport-- And although there are some classes that are sort of budget friendly, a lot of heads-up racing requires mucho money-- It's a war zone... The heads-up scene is currently a lot more in favor with spectators because it's conducted in a way that's more true to the way the sport was started by the original pioneers (like during the "old days" of drag racing)... Nostalgia racing is now more popular than ever before... A large portion of nostalgia racers aren't as concerned with winning as the other genres of drag racing are (at least they claim they're not, and that they're more concerned with "putting on a show")... Although it's only natural for nostalgia racers (or ANY racer) who've been doing it for awhile, and who've spent a considerable amount of cash and elbow grease on their cars to want to activate the win light, go rounds and get in the winner's circle... It's definitely a mixed-bag in drag racing these days-- It's even the proverbial "ball of confusion" to some onlookers--- It should be interesting to see where it all goes over the next several years... I definitely believe Heads-Up and Nostalgia racing will endure... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

[Smokin' Joe]

Nope,,had always raced on Front Street and Delaware ave up to that point,,Did the dial in but did'nt really know what it was about...

When were you tearing up Front Street and Delaware Ave? I used to be there nearly every Friday and Saturday night in the early 70's. When the cops would chase us away from Front Street, we'd go over to Delaware Avenue, from there, it was on to Oregon Ave... when they'd turn on the fire hydrants, a few of us would trek out to the airport, or even over to Jersey. Dang, they really were the good old days! Now THAT was a lot more interesting than the JFR Traveling Circus that NHRA has turned into!

[lostforawhile]

If the NHRA had Funny Cars that looked a lot more like the real thing and Pro Stock cars that people still drive it would make a much better show. Nobody makes a 500 ci carb motors !!! How about Mustang vs Camaro vs Dodge and I would say even the imports. Front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive.exactly, this is a friend of mine running his 86 import, it's the only one running like this as far as I know, still got a good time even though he missed a shift and blew the motor halfway down the track. accidentally shifted up into second and bent all the valves. The grass roots racing like this is where it's at. forget all the high dollar BS today. he's usually running against other people, but I think this was a test run. http://www.grs-motorsports.com/noticias/foro/videos/etown/fall2009/111.wmv

[Gasser1961]

See it's not just me!!

[Jack Thomas]

In football they say "defense wins championships, offense wins fans." I think that for the track operators and sanctioning bodies it's "bracket racing wins racers and heads up wins fans."

[Prostreet32]

I agree

[Smokin' Joe]

In football they say "defense wins championships, offense wins fans." I think that for the track operators and sanctioning bodies it's "bracket racing wins racers and heads up wins fans."

Very well put.

[Prostreet32]

I love the "nostalga funny cars" vintage looks, 1/4-mile passes, lots of smoke,..
Great stuff!

[Little Wing]

I didn't mean to pick on you, L'Wing, I wanted to use your experience to illustrate my point about heads up racing.

I'll tell you this, getting good at bracket racing IS exciting. I recommend it to anybody. And if you want to be racing all-out, handicap yourself .1 to .05 less than your car's best time. This will keep you from breaking out. You should be almost dead even at the finish line. It is exciting. It's not heads up racing, but it's all out racing.

I told myself I would not advocate for brackets any more, and here I am doing it again.

Yeah ,,I thought later about that adjusting teh time thing

[Prostreet32]

"Jungle Jim" was/is my hero...( and "Pam" wasn't too tough on the eyes either,...LOL)

[Little Wing]

When were you tearing up Front Street and Delaware Ave? I used to be there nearly every Friday and Saturday night in the early 70's. When the cops would chase us away from Front Street, we'd go over to Delaware Avenue, from there, it was on to Oregon Ave... when they'd turn on the fire hydrants, a few of us would trek out to the airport, or even over to Jersey. Dang, they really were the good old days! Now THAT was a lot more interesting than the JFR Traveling Circus that NHRA has turned into!


yeah flooding the street ,,lol I was early 80's to late 80's

[shfifty five]

Well just this summer was the first time i had gone to the Summer Nationals at Englishtown NJ. I did have a great time, but i definitly agree that it is just billbords on a rocket ship. Ive always said to my self all these dragsters look the same, they all look the same to me. I wont lie though, to watch and here somthing like that go that fast is insane. It also cost me 50 buck to get in to the damn place.For that price I should have tailgated in the muddy parking area with all the hill billy's, red necks and mullets and just listend on thier radio.

[budd]

where the rules for safety in drag raceing loose me is, i can buy and run a motorcycle that will run 10's only wearing a leather suit, but my old dragster with a flathead has to have a special roll cage, you can't tell me if that motorbike jams me up against the rail that the leather suit will save me, i think people are getting paid to make the rules so the more rules means more pay. i want to open a drag strip in Cuba, F the rules.

[Retro Jim]

The best time I had was racing at the 75/80 Drag in brackets back in the early 70's . There was just the car and whoever had one to race . They were all street cars and no computers , nitrous and any of the stuff that use to make you use your head ! We all had a blast and if you were lucky that night you might get a trophy or a case of oil . A classes winner got a water decal for your car . We all loved it . It finally closed down some years back . Now it's open again . It's not the same . I wish there was tracks where you run what you brung . No blowers , turbos , computer or nitrous . Just your car or truck , engine trans and drive train and you figure out how to make your ride run strong that night . When drag racing got to be High Dollar to race , it lost it's touch . When the 1970's went so did the racing ! Too much big corporate driven computer cars . It's just no fun wondering which one will blow the tires or crash so the other one will win ! That just plain sucks the big one . I loved racing where the driver mis tuned the engine or plain missed a shift or something like that . Big time drag racing sucks and who can afford to go and take your family to a day of drag racing ? Not me ! That's why street racing is coming back strong ! you run what you brung and winner takes all ! That was fun back in my day but way to dangerous today ! We need those kind of tracks again ! I want a track like the HAMB drags had for people to have fun ! Bragging rights till next weekend was the best fun there was !

RetroJim

[Jack Thomas]

"Run what you brung" is alive and well, see Jalopy Showdown pics @ www.beaversprings.com (http://www.beaversprings.com)

[James Maxwell]

There's no denying that the "nostalgia" scene has given a lot of racers and fans who no longer appreciate "the big show" a place in the sport of drag racing where they can feel more "comfortable"... Here in my neck of the woods, there's E'Town's Nostalgia Summernationals/Old Time Drags/Funny Car Reunion event, a race that I've been a dedicated part of since its original inception, and I assure you, this event provides plenty of fun and entertainment for those seeking an "alternative" to the mainstream drag racing scene... Different strokes for different folks definitely applies in the drag racing world... I've been a huge supporter of nostalgia racing, so much so, that I even went as far to co-produce Drag Racing Underground's FUNNY CAR REUNION RAW video/dvd a few years ago, I believed in the nostalgia scene THAT MUCH, so much that I sacrificed a lot of time and effort to make that release happen-- And it's been a huge success both here in the States and overseas (especially Japan for reasons that even I can't quite understand)... And I am not alone in my love for the nostalgia genre of drag racing, there's many racers and fans who now gravitate to this scene in droves, the numbers are always growing... So, if "The Big Show" isn't necessarily "floatin' your boat" anymore, I welcome you to check out nostalgia drag racing, get a schedule from your local drag strip(s) and make a date to "be there" for a nostalgia race, you most likely will not be disappointed... It's a groovy scene that I enthusiastically recommend and endorse... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

Oh my, "floating your boat," I haven't heard that line in about 10 years! Thank you for the retro flash back!

[Phil1934]

IHRA will no longer have Pro qualifying, instead inviting select racers. I guess new racers will all be offspring? Or maybe they haven't thought that far ahead.
http://www.ihra.com/article/5239.html

[CarCrazy2619]

Drag racing lost me when the Super Stock cars went away (and that was ten years before I was born, practically!). There's just no appeal to me in watching an unstreetable car drive down a closed course. That holds true for LSR and NASCAR too. If doorslammers came back in these events I'd actually regret not having cable to watch ESPN2.


Hey! Super Stock is still alive and well. ESPN2 is only focused on top fuel, funny car, pro stock and pro stock motorcycle. Once in a while they show all the classes when they air the sportsman series. If you can, go to a NHRA event and you'll see a lot of doorslammers.

[Little Wing]

I yhink that was gonna happen anyway,,that one day ( who knew when ) that the speeds reached would just be to much,,tracks would have to be redesigned,,,or worse

ok we can now go no faster,,now what ???

I think the 1/8 mile stuff kinda showed that,,so maybe now it will bw how fasy can you go in a shorter distance ??


maybe its over and we've gone to fast ?

[Comet]

The excitement of going to the track and maybe seeing some all-new record because of a performance discovery, that's over.

When Big Daddy broke 270 with that 272 mph charge in the Super Shops car, it was still exciting. When the flops were reaching 300 it was as well. They made it to what, 337 or something. Now it's 1000 feet and if they start running big numbers who knows what will happen, they will be slowed down. The thrill is over. Progress I guess.

It had to happen.



I yhink that was gonna happen anyway,,that one day ( who knew when ) that the speeds reached would just be to much,,tracks would have to be redesigned,,,or worse

ok we can now go no faster,,now what ???

maybe its over and we've gone to fast ?
Yep, I was going to say the same thing. I still enjoy NHRA racing and I wouldn't expect a traditional hot rod forum to embrace it. Fans are out there. But yeah, if drag racing is about going faster than the next guy, it shouldn't be surprising to anyone that it became about money. So the money comes in and the speeds continue to rise. Eventually something has to give when those speeds reach such levels you can't race safely anymore. Sure you can make restrictive rules, but it's still drag racing and that's about going faster than the next guy. Somehow, they find ways to bring speeds back up.
About the NHRA professional classes, people pay to see TF'ers go 300mph and shake the earth. That is a huge appeal to people (maybe not on here). The NHRA knows that and is struggling now to keep speeds at 300mph, but still be safe for drivers.
As many have said, there are a lot of options for drag racers these days. Drag racing is not dead, it's just so specialized and fractioned. If you don't like the pro classes, find something else. Simple really.

[CarCrazy2619]

It may be just me, but it seems like big time Drag Racing has lost most of it's magic and charm over the past couple of decades. (I know some may say it happened before that, but from my memories it went downhill after the mid 80s).

Sure, there's camera clown John Force, that foxy Angelle and strong contender Larry Dixon...but in my eyes, the sport has lost much of it's match-race magic!

I suppose it started when funny cars lost their names and just became loud, fast-moving corporate billboards. I remember rooting for the Chi-Town Hustler every week while my buddy pulled for the Blue Max. We knew the drivers' names...but we still refered to them by their car's identity. I was a Hawley fan and my friend was a Beadle groupie, but we taunted each other with quips like "The 'Hustler's gonna STOMP the Puke Max!" or "The Blue Max is gonna blow the Guzzler back to Chi-Town!".

We even went so far as to stage our own grudge matches...I bought a burgundy colored bike and my buddy had a blue one...we naturally squared off against each other dreaming that we were racing our favorite funny cars through my old neighborhood!

Nowadays...how much fun is it to root for the Castrol car, or any other sponsor-plastered shapeless lump? The cars don't even resemble what they're supposed to be anymore...and their individual identities are LONG gone!

In the Pro-Stock ranks, car names weren't needed so much because the focus was on driver vs driver and brand vs brand. The Camaros ran Chevy engines, and the Fords ran Fords. Rivalries sprung up within the brands, too....who would be the Top Gun in the Chevy ranks from week to week? I was a Frank Iaconnio fan, while friends pulled for Lee Shepherd. Others dug Glidden or Johnson, or cheered on the make they liked most.

The Top Fuel class was all about who was fastest. Muldowney, Amato, Hill and the rest slugged it out to topple records and set the bar higher on their way to each new event win!

There was also the age-old NHRA vs IHRA competition. I remember thinking IHRA was cool because they allowed the "Mountain Motors" with gargantuan 800+ cubic inches in doorslammers! This held my interest even though the big names ran NHRA events on TV for the most part.

Other weekly attractions were guys like Buddy Ingersol who took factory type cars such as turbo V6 Regals and transformed them into blistering 1/4 mile terrors just as the heroes of the 60s had done!

Maybe it's just natural to view a favorite sport with a nostalgic gleam as we get older, and to believe that it's less exciting in the present...but all I know is that I used to follow drag racing religiously and was eager to see the eliminations on TV or in person...whereas today I give it only a passing curious glance. I see today's generic race vehicles and forgettable personalities (minus a few obvious exceptions, of course!) and there just seems to be something missing.

Maybe it started to lose some lustre when Lee Shepherd died, and continued to drop off as sponsors replaced names and the whole sport just seemed to grow over commercialized and impersonal? Who knows, but the great rivalries that fueled fan excitment are gone, even though the media tries it's best to create them today. Who watches the races still? Anyone still follow it week-to-week...or has it lost much of it's fan base to the circus known as NASCAR and big time wrestling????

Anyone else feel this way??


I have to say it's probably you. No offense of course! It's called growing older and seeing things in a different way as you previously did when you were younger. You're right about a few things. Corporate sponsorships and the business side of it has definitely taken away from the sport.
You need to look farther back at the muscle car era. Factory cars vs independent guys, big block vs small block, chevy vs ford etc... When performance parts were being developed specifically for drag racing. Guys buying new cars off the showroom floor and a few modifications are racing (competition classes) on Sunday.
Every day there was something new happening. Everyone was talking about what new cars are rolling out of the factories. Manufacturer vs manufacturer. Car commercials and the slogans they came out with to attract the car enthusiates. The sport was young and fast growing.
Over the years the sport has changed. The fans have changed. The cars have changed. The sponsors have changed.
But there's one thing that hasn't changed. My love of the sport and living those unforgettable days when the sport was young and growing.

[CarCrazy2619]

Id rather go Golfing with the Pope...

The Pope golfs? Man, I've been missing out.

[the SCROUNGER]

It may be just me, but it seems like big time Drag Racing has lost most of it's magic and charm over the past couple of decades. (I know some may say it happened before that, but from my memories it went downhill after the mid 80s).
Anyone else feel this way??


a few things happened:

1. it got increasingly corporate and way too expensive

2. the cars all run the same engines in each pro class

3. the economy is holding a lot of people back from attending, and participating

4. the changing political climate is not good for motorsports- whenever some politician gives a speech on TV, the economy dies for another week while everyone bitches and recovers from what he said, because no one agrees with him- it takes away from "fun" sports like racing

[CarCrazy2619]

where the rules for safety in drag raceing loose me is, i can buy and run a motorcycle that will run 10's only wearing a leather suit, but my old dragster with a flathead has to have a special roll cage, you can't tell me if that motorbike jams me up against the rail that the leather suit will save me, i think people are getting paid to make the rules so the more rules means more pay. i want to open a drag strip in Cuba, F the rules.

I know how you fell Budd. But, it comes down to when you can implement safety equipment. You can build a cage in a car. You can't put a cage on a bike.

[philly the greek]

Remember the IROC races? Same car ,same engine , same tire . If this sounds familiarthen welcome to pro racing. Not just drag racing, but NASCAR and IRL also. All the pro cars are the same, and that makes for boring racing. I'm gonna call the Pope and see if he has a tee time !

[trout]

There's an ancient local stock car track near me. Its a wood bleacher, chain link fence, gravel parking lot kind of place. It hasn't changed in over 40 years. My dad helped a guy who ran a car back in the 60's. I lived in the place for a few years. I go back once in a while because its the only place you can see and feel the cars up close while they're racing. You can stand next to the fence and be ten feet away from these guys. You wear sunglasses not to keep the sun out but to keep the debris out of your eyes. You are surrounded with sound and smells. This is as up close and personal as you can get without being in the car itself.

You go to any track thats been built in the last 20 years and the cars are so far away its like watching TV. Yea, you still hear it, but its not the same as being surrounded by it. The spectator has been moved so far away from the action thats its no longer up close and personal. I stopped going to the Indy 500 for that reason. Crowd control and safety keeps the spectators away from the cars. Its like watching a football game from the nosebleed seats.

I hate to say it, but part of the appeal has always been the danger and excitement. Concern for the safety of the audience is legit, but I personally would rather risk a little safety in order to be closer. I got hooked not because I saw it on tv or in a stand a quarter mile away. I got hooked because I was ten feet away watching the drivers grinning ear to ear while they made stands shake from their open exhaust.

You can still get relatively close seats to the big events, but it costs a bundle. The average 10 year old kid isn't gonna see it the way I did. He's gonna be disconnected from the action by safety runoffs, grass areas, walls, a couple of chain link fences and a yellow shirt telling you to get away from the fence and take a seat.

[Diana The Doc]

Due to the often negative attention that motorsports receives from the mainstream media these days, it is more important than ever before that safety be given the utmost priority in drag racing... We're already under severe attack from the growing "go green" movement that has taken the nation by storm, a movement that would love nothing more than to shut down every drag strip in the nation and silence the combustion engine for all eternity (let's be real, we are in great danger from the "go green" movement, there's absolutely no denying it)... That's why it is imperative that we be vigilant in making the sport as safe as it can possibly be... When something catastrophic and horrific happens at the drag strip, and it becomes a "news item", that gives the people who want to shut us down even more ammunition in their fight to do so... Yes, I will admit that drag racing (and all motorsports) possess a certain degree of "danger" and "risk" that many fans find tantalizing, I am aware of that, however, we have to make our drag strips and the cars that race on them as safe as we can, negative publicity for the sport is something that we simply can't afford in the current "go green" political and social environment in which we now live... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

[1941ihkb5]

Remember the IROC races? Same car ,same engine , same tire . If this sounds familiarthen welcome to pro racing. Not just drag racing, but NASCAR and IRL also. All the pro cars are the same, and that makes for boring racing. I'm gonna call the Pope and see if he has a tee time !
Think its more on the lines of NAPCAR! The innovation is definatly gone because you dont conform to any group. Just imagine what todays tech inspector would think of E.J. Potter's first v8 powered bike, or his 57 Plymouth with an Allison v12! Try and pull something like that today,

[RichFox]

One thing that happened to remove the excitement of discovery from building drag cars. It wasn't anyones fault. It was just that progress was so fast with so many really talanted people fooling around that after 40 or 50 years the ideal dragster was a commonly known design. The engines became more and more the same because it became apparent that for T/F a big Hemi was the answer. The guys that had been using Olds, Cad, Buick or even DeSotos went to Chryslers or got out. Then KBs and what not for reliability. It became apparent that a really long rear engine unsunpended car with a slipper clutch was the answer. So that's what everbody has And all the cars look alike. Nothing to root for. Normal progression. Form follows function.

[the SCROUNGER]

Remember the IROC races? Same car ,same engine , same tire . If this sounds familiarthen welcome to pro racing. Not just drag racing, but NASCAR and IRL also. All the pro cars are the same, and that makes for boring racing. I'm gonna call the Pope and see if he has a tee time !


"remember" is the key word there...it's a thing of the past, it gets boring fast

what made NASCAR and NHRA so colorful during the boom years of the 1950-60's was, each brand ran its own V-8 design

proof of the pudding- the most successful NASCAR engine of the 1950's, was OLDSMOBILE ROCKET V8- with Chrysler a close 2nd in total wins, 1950-59 era

during the 60's, it was a Ford-Chrysler-Chevy-Pontiac shootout, Pontiac dominated until 1962, then Mopar and Ford slugged it out from 1963-69, with a few Chevy wins here and there

at the drag strips, all makes were present- even brand X stuff like AMC and Buick

those days are gone, and with it goes the audience and fans

[Little Wing]

One thing that happened to remove the excitement of discovery from building drag cars. It wasn't anyones fault. It was just that progress was so fast with so many really talanted people fooling around that after 40 or 50 years the ideal dragster was a commonly known design. The engines became more and more the same because it became apparent that for T/F a big Hemi was the answer. The guys that had been using Olds, Cad, Buick or even DeSotos went to Chryslers or got out. Then KBs and what not for reliability. It became apparent that a really long rear engine unsunpended car with a slipper clutch was the answer. So that's what everbody has And all the cars look alike. Nothing to root for. Normal progression. Form follows function.

I agree,,kinda like I was saying have we just gone to fast,,That had to be part of the draw back then all different set ups new things being created etc,,everyone looking for that small thing to be faster,,and if the formula has be found,,then whats next ?

[Customline Vicky]

Yeah, bracket racing did me in too. I'm just not into that, it may be fine for some, just not me. I went to a race at Cecil in GA awhile back and,to me, it was just nuts. They would go through the burn out stuff, line up and launch only to go about 50 feet, let off for a second or two and then get back on it, or they'd go like hell until almost to the end and then brake before they got to the lights. That may be fun for some but not my idea of drag racing. In the pros it seem like the driver has no control of of the clutches or fuel input on "Nitro's". It seems to be either "ON" or "OFF" .. Nope, may be fun for some but not this old cantankerous coot .....

[Diana The Doc]

There's little denying that while all the progress that's been made over the years, progress in the building, fabricating, and design of the cars has resulted in having safer and more reliable vehicles storming down the drag strip at warp speed, we've definitely paid a price "aesthetically" speaking, I believe that's one of the main reasons why nostalgia drag racing has become increasingly popular over the last several years-- Folks love the way that the "old school" front engine diggers, and the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's genre (non cookie cutter) floppers, gassers, altereds, and stockers appear-- They are a form of eye candy that is a pleasure to see on the drag strip... Every year when I work E'Town's Nostalgia Summernationals/Funny Car Reunion, I hear lots of fans telling me how much joy they get from seeing cars that don't all look the same, they love the character and uniqueness of the cars that come out for the nostalgia themed event... Yes, there is a bit of uniformity in modern motorsports that makes it a little less aesthetically attractive, I guess that's part of the price we all have to pay for "progress"... That's just the way it is... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

[modelacitizen]

I didn't read through this in it's entirety but I know that drag racing is not dead. It has changed dramatically but it is far from dead. I'm a fan of imports as well as domestic cars. I've got an Evo VIII and I've owned two turbo charged Nissan 240's. (don't worry I'm building a Model A coupe.) As an active member in the import community, I'd say that those guys are having all the fun now. And drag racing is very much alive in the Honda, Toyota, Nissan etc world. Those guys are still doing tons of experimenting with forced induction. Seeing how far they can push a 2 liter engine. And to me that is the charm of drag racing. All the crazy trial and error stuff that went on back in the 50's and 60's is part of what made it all so exciting. If you want to see that kind of stuff again you've gotta get to an import drag competition. Several of my friends run the 8.5 index with their muscle cars and those guys always seem to have fun. So I'd say that professional drag racing i.e. nitro dragsters and funny cars has been pushed to it's limits and is no longer interesting for many people. The fun is on the other side of the fence now. LOL

[lostforawhile]

I didn't read through this in it's entirety but I know that drag racing is not dead. It has changed dramatically but it is far from dead. I'm a fan of imports as well as domestic cars. I've got an Evo VIII and I've owned two turbo charged Nissan 240's. (don't worry I'm building a Model A coupe.) As an active member in the import community, I'd say that those guys are having all the fun now. And drag racing is very much alive in the Honda, Toyota, Nissan etc world. Those guys are still doing tons of experimenting with forced induction. Seeing how far they can push a 2 liter engine. And to me that is the charm of drag racing. All the crazy trial and error stuff that went on back in the 50's and 60's is part of what made it all so exciting. If you want to see that kind of stuff again you've gotta get to an import drag competition. Several of my friends run the 8.5 index with their muscle cars and those guys always seem to have fun. So I'd say that professional drag racing i.e. nitro dragsters and funny cars has been pushed to it's limits and is no longer interesting for many people. The fun is on the other side of the fence now. LOLexactly I would rather see a guy who built a car in his garage or a small shop running then the multi million dollar teams anyday. I don't care if it's import or domestic if someone built it themselves or with their buddies, thats what it's all about. The big thing that is missing in modern drag racing is the community and the behind the scenes with the drivers and crews. A drag race used to be something you enjoyed coming to, not where you had to pay for a gold plated seat and were isolated from the drivers.

[RichFox]

I think this is the reason that Land Speed trials have become popular recently. You and I have the chance to recognize and solve problums in our own way. At one time that was what drag racing was. But most everything that I was smart enough to understand has been solved a long time ago. Now most of the thinking is done looking at a computer screen ploting fuel curves and clutch engagement. Not to exciting for the spectator. Top speed is a simpeler tuning challange. You can go to Bonneville or one of the newer mile meets and be a very serious back yard racer with a '26 Dodge bros engine. Or a flathead Ford. You get to try some idea you have thought about for the last twenty years in heads up competition. Make your own injection from junkyard EFI parts. Build your own frame. Have fun. Like the drags used to be.

[spiderdeville]

LSR ain't racing - it's qualifying
to race , you need another car to race against :)

[sixpac]

Cost of going is crazy. Its the same at all the public venues . Sports of all kinds.
Just way too much for the family

[RichFox]

LSR ain't racing - it's qualifying
to race , you need another car to race against :)
Who said it was. Or are you answering your own question? My thoughts are assuming that the HAMB is geared more toward the people who want to particapate and less to those interested in Spectator Sports. The two groups have very different interests.

[lolife]

Back when drag racing was big, I really only liked the funny cars. My brother and I would go down by the fence at the 1/8th mile mark. That's where they usually blew-up. If they didn't blow-up, we really enjoyed the 30% overdive blower noise and the flames shooting out of the headers.

I saw some funny cars at Bakersfield a couple years ago, and while they might look nostalgic (if you don't raise the body), the sound is nothing like the 70's, where the blowers were almost louder than the nitro.

Alas, I was into English cars in the 70's, and road ralleys every weekend, where you could win two free tickets to the movies. I saw Blazing Saddles, and Last Tango in Paris with tickets we won :p

[Jersey Meathook]

I agree to just about all sides and posts.... There is an answer... just go out there in the car/s that you built.... and make passes as fast as your shit will go.... I've done heads up class racing, "heads up" index racing, "no other choice" bracket racing,.. and now I just go out there in my FED or other cars, and go as fast as I can. If it's Test and Tune or Nostalgia Days or whatever day it is... BUILD SOMETHING AND WRING IT'S FU*KING NECK, AND TO HELL WITH WHAT'S ON TV. Support your local track on "regular" days and nights.

[lostforawhile]

I agree to just about all sides and posts.... There is an answer... just go out there in the car/s that you built.... and make passes as fast as your shit will go.... I've done heads up class racing, "heads up" index racing, "no other choice" bracket racing,.. and now I just go out there in my FED or other cars, and go as fast as I can. If it's Test and Tune or Nostalgia Days or whatever day it is... BUILD SOMETHING AND WRING IT'S FU*KING NECK, AND TO HELL WITH WHAT'S ON TV. Support your local track on "regular" days and nights.yep and if you don't win enjoy the other cars and hanging out with everyone after and before the race.

[power58]

Drag Racing lost me when it shifted from the spectaor in the pits to the fast turn around TV watchin group. You could wander the pits and have a good time. Now its all Business Go Go Go. Keep the spectator at bay. Run a Run rebuild go agaqin. Must keep the suits happy. The Fans are a part of the deal that must be tolerated, but in the long run don't matter to the big guys. Land Speed Racing is the last form of racing where you can be a part of the action.

[lostforawhile]

Drag Racing lost me when it shifted from the spectaor in the pits to the fast turn around TV watchin group. You could wander the pits and have a good time. Now its all Business Go Go Go. Keep the spectator at bay. Run a Run rebuild go agaqin. Must keep the suits happy. The Fans are a part of the deal that must be tolerated, but in the long run don't matter to the big guys. Land Speed Racing is the last form of racing where you can be a part of the action.or your local tracks

[NITROFC]

A 6 yr thread back up . WTF !! ...

[lostforawhile]

A 6 yr thread back up . WTF !! ...it's been back up, it's even more relevant today then six years ago.

[philly the greek]

For all those that went to the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield this weekend , congratulations,,you just saw the best drag race of the year !

[Little Wing]

LSR ain't racing - it's qualifying
to race , you need another car to race against :)

in a way it is,,as your trying to beat something,,someone else's time

[Big Block Bill]

I'm afraid....just as in NASCAR....... the sponsors have helped ruin the "SPORT". The major sponsors were certainly needed, they were happy with their exposure, then they got greedy, they wanted to call the shots...... When a sport becomes "BIG BUSINESS" it only has one way to go.....down.

The costs at the gate have put a national event out of quite a few families. The costs of racing are out of control, I'll bet the cost to campaign a top NHRA Stock Eliminator car from original build and a full season of racing and R&D must knock on the $500K door. These guys race for bragging rights, certainly not for the money, they get no exposure on TV, very little in a magazine...... the "Sportsman" racer.... seems like a pro racer to me.

Drag racing always gets shuffled around on TV. I catch it by accident every now and again. The demise of modified eliminator hurt I'm sure. I think the Pro Stock trucks were cool, a bunch of teams lost a ton of money due to the stroke of a pen, I heard they were in court over that, I never heard any results. The welcoming of a foreign car to compete might have pissed the purests off. Match racing was cool in its day, but try and book them, the cost is too much, local tracks can't handle it nor can the spectators. It's far from the good old days.

I think it boils down to a bit of each, but the money issue I believe is the top problem today.

[Big Block Bill]

I understand your frustration with bracket racing......... the super classes have that fall on your face then run 300 MPH. The regular bracket classes are better to watch. You just have to learn to understand that kind of racing.

The funny thing......bracket racing was pretty much a form of racing the guys that couldn't cut it in a heads up class. They are usually the biggest complainers too. Some people, you just can't make happy..............

[kurtis]

The costs at the gate have put a national event out of quite a few families. The costs of racing are out of control, I'll bet the cost to campaign a top NHRA Stock Eliminator car from original build and a full season of racing and R&D must knock on the $500K door. These guys race for bragging rights, certainly not for the money, they get no exposure on TV, very little in a magazine...... the "Sportsman" racer.... seems like a pro racer to me.

I hope you're not a betting man.

Bill, I suggest you go and do some homework. I can't think of anyone who would or has spent half a million on a Stock Elim. car for a full season.
The only way to spend that much would be in a truck/trailer with a matching motorhome.
The upcoming Las Vegas race has close to 170 cars entered which means it's still relatively affordable for many.
Finally, do you know that you can buy a new factory Challenger or a Mustang almost race ready for alot less than your original figure.
Having said that it's good that you brought up the subject. You're right when you mentioned the sportsman racer is more like a professional. Some of the pro guys would be in total awe if they knew what these guys can do to a 40 year old cylinder head. Most of those who have submitted their comments seem to have forgotten about this class. It's still the purest form of drag racing where 2 or 3 friends get together and build a car.

[slepe67]

Bracket racing has killed the sport. Who wants to watch a guy run 60 ft and then the stutterbox kicks in and the car basically dies for a second or two....

People want heads up racing and that leaves about 4 classes in NHRA.

+1

I went to the drags last summer in Seattle (Kent). It was cool, but, I think I would rather go watch cars like mine scrap it out.

Plus, the crowds....yuch

[blackrat40]

When the 18 wheelers, computers and gold chains showed up, I loaded up my
old Chassis Research dragster and have never been back.
It was real fun when it was a man to man challenge.
I'm just happy to have had the early 60's experience and survived it.
Now days it seems to be more dueling checkbooks. Ugh!

[rallisracing]

Drag racing started to get the Kids off the streets and to satisfy a need for competion that did not include driving a circle track car. That was still pretty much true until, like EVERY other sport, big sponser money came in. This is when NHRA got greedy and that is what ruined the sport. NHRA gets 10% of every sponser deal with NO help to get that sponser. Thus, if Castrol gives JFR 10 million $, they get a million...for doing nothing. This shifted the sanctioning bodies purpose from racing, to making money. It was the death of what used to be what we all wanted to do...Now, see the shrinking fields and the empty stands at the latest events...it has caught up with them...and don't you know the success of PINKS heads up is killing them.

[rick goetz]

I haven't been to a national event in about 15 years and I knew the attendance would be down compared to years ago but I was shocked at the empty stands last year at Route 66 dragway SW of Chi-town.

[mark62]

I think big money is alot of the problem.

[M.Edell]

Give me more Nostalgia Events, WAY MORE Super Stock Door Slammers and I'm Happy.I won't waste my money on modern NHRA Events personally....just not my thing.

[racer756]

Top Alcohol Funny cars and Dragsters provide some of the fastest most entertaining racing at NHRA events. You dont have to worry about seeing the same 12 guys race each other at every event. dragracing NEEDS a shakeup right now, ADRL, Nostalgia FC & Dragsters, Pro-Mod, are all great to watch. This thread is 7 years old and the topic is more timely than ever.

I also have a "dog" in this fight.

Don Hudson TA/FC 756

[bigolds]

If I'm not mistaken...corporate money brought us Super Stock, A/FX and some of the other competitive classes. I love going to the nostalgia events, ya get to see all of the cool old shit. They run as brackets or index races though, to make the finish line drama a little more exciting. Yeah sure, you may see a 6cyl. digger up against a 71 big block something, but it's still drag racing. The big boys(NHRA) need the corporate money to go as fast as they do. Goes with the territory. Big time drag racing is still exciting and the sites and sounds are still the same. Big noise, yellow/green tinged clouds in the pits when the nitro cars are warming, hot chicks and personalities that are bigger than Rhode Island. Things change and evolve. For my money, and I don't have alot of it to throw around, drag racing either pro or sportsman is the best motorsports bang for my buck!!!!!



You said it good crackerass.

Corporate money ruins everything. Always has, always will.

[bigolds]

Bet my golf cart's faster than his.....where's the closest track????!!!


The Pope golfs? Man, I've been missing out.

[Snake9t9]

There is a cure for the "cubic dollars" wins races problem in drag racing, but to find it we would have to look to the NASCAR sportsman classes. If you have ever been to the local short track and watched the close competition lap after lap in street stock, sportsman or the like, you have seen the answer in person to limiting the costs of heads up racing. Claimer motors!!! I tried floating the idea in my area for a class for 2800 lb door slammer cars, 410 c.i. limit, 10.5 inch slick, any chassis combo, no n2o, no blowers, single 850 carb on gas, but the key was a $2500 claimer motor. It works great for the roundy round guys. I've never heard a good reason it wouldn't work for drag racing. Hell, you could do something similar in a F.E.D. just as easy.

[La Santisima Muerte]

IHRA is revamping their race format for next year as well as some class changes.
I read an interesting article the Drag Racing list put out on it. Hopefully that will help address some of the fan concerns.

[Duration]

There is a cure for the "cubic dollars" wins races problem in drag racing, but to find it we would have to look to the NASCAR sportsman classes. If you have ever been to the local short track and watched the close competition lap after lap in street stock, sportsman or the like, you have seen the answer in person to limiting the costs of heads up racing. Claimer motors!!! I tried floating the idea in my area for a class for 2800 lb door slammer cars, 410 c.i. limit, 10.5 inch slick, any chassis combo, no n2o, no blowers, single 850 carb on gas, but the key was a $2500 claimer motor. It works great for the roundy round guys. I've never heard a good reason it wouldn't work for drag racing. Hell, you could do something similar in a F.E.D. just as easy.

claimer motors in a grass roots drag class would be cool! it wont fly in the pros, but it could make local drags interesting & competitive again.

[CrkInsp]

If you r e a l l y want to have some fun dragraceing look into the HA/GR or SDRA groups. These are cars of the Late 40's, early 50's. There is nothing high dollar about them. It is heads up, side by side fun. The HA/GR rules are posted on the HA/GR forum here, and the SDRA rules are on the tulsaracewaypark.com/nostalgia forum. Take alook, both will take you back in time when raceing was FUN and it was "man and machine against man and machine".

[Zookeeper]

I didn't read all the posts here, so I apologize if this is a re-post, but as anyone who's been to a "Pinks All-Out" race will tell you, THAT is what pro drag racing needs to be. I went to Sears Point last year and it was amazing! Cars ran from about 9:00 am to about 10:00 pm with a few exhibition cars thrown in and the crowd was full-on into it. NAPA even sponsored an "arm-drop" race here at our local track and it was the biggest race I have ever been to there and I've been going for 30+ years! Heads up, balls out, no break out and no delay boxes, just run whatcha brung racing, the way it oughta be...

[shock733]

NOT ME!
I watch it on TV. I drive 5 hrs round trip and spend a small fortune to go to englishtown. I always pull for the under dog but like em all. Could the Force girls be any hotter?? Can John Force can any crazier? Is Shoemacher UN beatable? Will Gary Densham ever win again? Will Pendergon stop crying? Who cares?
Go into the pits when they lite up a nitro car; sharer terror! I LOVE IT!!
Too corporate? You dump a million into a trailer in todays economy and try to run independent.

[buckeye_01]

I hope you're not a betting man.

Bill, I suggest you go and do some homework. I can't think of anyone who would or has spent half a million on a Stock Elim. car for a full season.
The only way to spend that much would be in a truck/trailer with a matching motorhome.
The upcoming Las Vegas race has close to 170 cars entered which means it's still relatively affordable for many.
Finally, do you know that you can buy a new factory Challenger or a Mustang almost race ready for alot less than your original figure.
Having said that it's good that you brought up the subject. You're right when you mentioned the sportsman racer is more like a professional. Some of the pro guys would be in total awe if they knew what these guys can do to a 40 year old cylinder head. Most of those who have submitted their comments seem to have forgotten about this class. It's still the purest form of drag racing where 2 or 3 friends get together and build a car.

That figure is a bit steep but from your comments you have never really been 'involved' in running a fast (index based) car. Not all of them take thousands of dollars to make fast but there are the gold chainers that will spend whatever it takes to set a record or win class at Indy. I didn't have the cubic dollars for acid porting and coating intake runners so I had to flow about 10 sets of heads to find the best. Of course this is only the tip of the iceberg in stock. There are a thousand different ways to fit inside the box with a stocker and there are PLENTY of 100k plus cars out there today.

[choke]

I would'nt drive across the street to see a current NHRA national event. But I would drive half way across the country to see a nostalgia drag race event especially a grass roots event. NHRA is a cold heartless corporate entity that only cares about the bottom line and that's $$$$$MONEY$$$$$! The only reasonI watched the races on TV last year was because I was working at Kosmans Specialties and I was involved in building Hector Arana's Pro Stock Bike. He won the championship last year. But I still didn't go to the track when the nationals were in Sonoma and I only live 15 miles from it!!!

[30 Buford]

While on vacation in Pa. two yrs ago I attended my first NHRA National Event at Maple Grove and was blown away by it .From the pits to seeing the Drivers to the experience of actually feeling tha the T.F cars run down the track.I enjoyed it so much that I planned my vac. the following yr to be in the area soo I could attend it again ,wich I did. Last winter I timed my visit to my brother in Pheonix so I could catch the NHRA at Firebird ,wich I did fri. and Sundays finals.I had a Great time and if I can work another race into this yrs.vac. I will. For us guys that don't get out enough. I highly reccomend it. The experience is incredible. I won'nt be going to every race or getting into the $$ or politics,Just enjoying the show whenever I get a chance. Just my 2 cents.

[onlychevrolets]

I still go.....

[superbinder]

I can't stand one of the announcers, PAUL PAGE. He talks out of his pig nose and says stupid things. I usually record it and fast forward thru his stupidity

[Gasser1961]

I still go twice a year. The good old days are gone, but I still enjoy the sounds and the event. I love going over to the "bucks down" fuel teams and watching them. It's all heart with thoses guys.

[KeithDyer]

I can't stand one of the announcers, PAUL PAGE. He talks out of his pig nose and says stupid things. I usually record it and fast forward thru his stupidity

Hell, Son . . . !!!

He's an Indy Car announcer from way back.

Sort of like the pop singers going over to country music to make a buck.

K

[J&JHotrods]

While I'd never turn down an opportunity to achieve sensory overload by being at a top fuel event, the NHRA has enough of my hard earned $$$. Getting a bit too pricey. Has been for a while. My cash has been going to the local nostalgia events as of late.

[D-fens]

NHRA is done. Wish the AHRA could make a comeback but I guess that's out of the question by now.

Bracket racing is kinda weird, it's fun to do but boring to watch.

[jokerjason]

I have been racing my 56 and 55 in the bracket classes since 1992. The cost has gotten to be out of hand. NHRA seems to focus on the big dollars as usual and the little guy always struggles just to make it to an event. Bracket racing is good in a way because you can run on your own time and can have fun with it but also the delay box throttle stop stuff costs you an arm and a leg and most people including me hate to see a car scream off the line and then shut down. ANRA has a good nostalgia circuit but anymore it just bugs the heck out me to see a guy in his motorhome bracket racing in the same class as everyone else. Just to get ready to race this year I had to buy new seat belts (every 2 years) a new flex plate shield and new slicks so the shitty part is that I haven't even got to the track yet and already dumped 700.00!!! COOL!!! I still love the drags but at the same time the rules and the cost has me hanging out in the garage looking at old drag mags and drinking alot of beer instead of racing!! HAPPY MOTORING!!!

[Deuce3wCpe]

As far as the fuel cars are concerned, it's a joke. The entire record book dating back to day one is based upon the 1/4 mile. The potential to witness firsthand a new world record was always part of the allure of going to Englishtown each year. I understand the safety issues behind the change, but until they go back to 1320 it really is meaningless.

Last great race for me: Mopar Parts Nationals in 1998. Perfect weather, 100% nitro back then. Force and Amato traded the m.p.h. record back and forth several times over the weekend , posting eye-popping e.t.'s and speeds. In the finals, Force ran a 4.845 with a top speed of 323.89 mph, taking the speed record back from Amato and making this the first time in NHRA history that the overall national speed record was held by a Funny Car instead of a Top Fuel dragster. The track had this magical buzz goin on through the whole event- one of those weekend you didn't want to end.......I'm afraid those days are over.

[85-percent]

I have been a fan since Garlits broke 200 and was on the cover of Hot Rod back in 1964. The appeal to me has always been the yearly ratcheting up of E.T., speed and technology. And also safety.

Now that it has reached the point where they're as fast and quick as they're ever gonna let them go, that appeal has been lost.

1000 ft. hard pill to take, but if it saves lives, then, that's just the way it's got to be. I would like to see 1000 feet remain at the short tracks and go back to 1320 at the tracks that have a long shut off.

The Countdown? It seems contrived. Comes from the same place as the prancing people tee shirt cannons during down time. It makes luck more of a factor than being a good racer with a good team. A years worth of excellent racing can be wrecked by bad luck at the last one or two races. Not so much with the old way.

Bracket Racing - all the electronics have made this appeal to the participants and their entourage ONLY. To those not steeped in all the tech, it simply comes off as downright boring and peculiar. Some of the oddball cars and trad cars like Henry J's Willys, Anglias still make it quasi-cool.

One of the things I would like to be invented is a new SYSTEM. Everybody has a dial in and leave the line heads up. The slower car gets the finish lined moved up to the distance at the track they would be at the exact time the faster car crosses the finish line.

Of course, this could be a mathematically/scientifically implausible wet dream. And I bet it could also be ruined in some way by some new electronics if it were ever enacted?

But, I like to daydream about how to fix stuff that's broken. Or just try to make stuff better.

Fortunately, I've got to meet a lot of FED and nostalgia F/C people on the net. So I can be part of their entourage at the track now and then. Drag Racing is a lot more interesting if you know some of the people doing it personally.

-90% jimmy

[Weaverville Studios]

I know this thread is seven years old but I must agree with everything 85-percent said...I'd also like to add that the pursuit of speed over the decades, the record-setting numbers defined progress, advancements and ultimate achievment. Unless the NHRA figures out a way to create rules packages that will allow for 'new' records to be made and broken, I fear that professional drag racing may die a slow death and if the NHRA loses enough viewership to a point wherein they have no TV package, then it's over. No TV-no sponsors-no national series.

[Gasser1961]

The AHRA is on it's way back, check it out.

http://ahradragracing.com

[Candy-Man]

That's why Winston Cup is thriving....heads up racing.
World of Outlaws...heads up racing.
Moto X - heads up racing.
Even the freakin monster trucks run heads up.


Exactly Toothawg..... Couldn't agree more....

Why is nostalgia drag racing appearing to be gaining in popularity? Just like hot rods, each car is different rather than just the damn stickers on the side of the car..... Nostalgic cars have a variety of mills, paint schemes, body styles, no electronics and the list goes on.... Who else pulls a wheelie like Roothawg, thats what people want to see....

Too many $$$$ in the pro ranks, its all about business rather than drag racing.... Ummmm, why has "The Snake" left?

[Candy-Man]

I am the crew cheif on a nostalgia funny car (picture below) and we run in the midwest. Most of the events we run with the NPCA (nostalgia pro comp assoc.), a really good bunch of guys that run for the fun of it and must have period correct looking cars. We run a 73 Duster body, 8-71 blower, single mag, 2 speed lenco, and NO computer, yes we still tune the car by reading the plugs, and we can run any % of nitro we desire. We also still run the entire 1/4th mile !! The group of funny cars we run with, some replicas of old cars (Chi Town Hustler, Stardust Cuda) and some just good looking cars with names as they were in the day. Most of us run in the low 6 second range with a few high 5 second runs occasionaly. We have a great time and try to put a good show for the fans, Long burnouts and dry hops, yep you heard me right DRY HOPS. We also don't rope our pit areas closed to the fan, you can accually come up and touch the car and watch between race prep unlike the current day cars. We are running in Bowling Green this weekend as are the NPCA guys, so if you want to take a trip down memory lane come and watch.
I haven't been to a current day NHRA race in years, and quite frankly I don't really miss them.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c50/crewcheif/077-1.jpg


Way to go fella's and great looking hot rod...

Some people speak about the natural progression of the sport which has introduced us to the present issues being faced with by the NHRA. However; there comes a time when the natural progression leads to the spirit or vision being lost.

For those living in the north who watch hockey, remember the red/blue puck flying across your TV screen, well that was progression of a sport and it was a terrible idea which failed, remember the players wearing long pants instead of the traditional uniform, that was progression and it failed.. What is killing hockey, the huge $$$ involved, much like the NHRA...

It is no longer about the sport it is about the $$$$'s and who has the most......

Oh well, what do I know, I'm just an average guy......

[ridin dirty]

Yes, I get more enjoyment being on the Hamb.

[Pete L.]

Bracket racing has killed the sport. Who wants to watch a guy run 60 ft and then the stutterbox kicks in and the car basically dies for a second or two....

People want heads up racing and that leaves about 4 classes in NHRA.

Hey,

Last year I went to what was once the summer nats at E-town, first time I went in years. They had these cars that launched like a bullet and then did what we once called "bogged" and then can back to life ? At first I thought it was a fluke but then it happened over and over again...wtf ?
They can keep that !

[No Cents]

I am the crew cheif on a nostalgia funny car (picture below) and we run in the midwest. Most of the events we run with the NPCA (nostalgia pro comp assoc.), a really good bunch of guys that run for the fun of it and must have period correct looking cars. We run a 73 Duster body, 8-71 blower, single mag, 2 speed lenco, and NO computer, yes we still tune the car by reading the plugs, and we can run any % of nitro we desire. We also still run the entire 1/4th mile !! The group of funny cars we run with, some replicas of old cars (Chi Town Hustler, Stardust Cuda) and some just good looking cars with names as they were in the day. Most of us run in the low 6 second range with a few high 5 second runs occasionaly. We have a great time and try to put a good show for the fans, Long burnouts and dry hops, yep you heard me right DRY HOPS. We also don't rope our pit areas closed to the fan, you can accually come up and touch the car and watch between race prep unlike the current day cars. We are running in Bowling Green this weekend as are the NPCA guys, so if you want to take a trip down memory lane come and watch.
I haven't been to a current day NHRA race in years, and quite frankly I don't really miss them.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c50/crewcheif/077-1.jpg



This is what people want to see.
I am not really a fan of NHRA any more. IMHO they peaked years ago.
Go back to the way it was in the early to mid 70's and the stands would all be full.

[rustynewyorker]

I think it has more audience than anyone knows, I see when I look through my channel guide even the gay channel has a drag racing show on... "RuPaul's Drag Race" ... have never been curious enough to see what it's about, though.

[Gasser1961]

Riiiiight!

[D-fens]

I think it has more audience than anyone knows, I see when I look through my channel guide even the gay channel has a drag racing show on... "RuPaul's Drag Race" ... have never been curious enough to see what it's about, though.

Saw some program on the satellite guide called The Cheetah Girls . Tuned in thinking it would be a reality show about the girls at the Cheetah III strip club in ATL.

Turned out it was some wildlife show for kids. Damn, what a letdown.

[mudflap261]

its pro wrestling on asphalt

[GlassThamesDoug]

Think about it.......................most bracket racers (60% or better) today do not even know what a Class Car is.......nor every earned the chance to ever win a class in their lifetime, .....What is HP/CU IN; LBS/CU IN.....when does TV talk about the backbone of racing.........the number of guys paying the fees and registrations for what? no TV, they run most of the class cars on WED, THUR, FRI morning, so barely any audience sees the guys that did not win class, it's like hiding the step child from the neighbors. NHRA is not just PRO CLASSES. Who wants to see 9 cars try and qualify for 8 spots...........is that ridiculous? How bout 25 cars for 8 spots......CHRR and NHRR nostalgia.............that is racing..........standing at the fence cause you can't sit down..............WOOO

[mtkawboy]

They lost me the first time I went to Bonneville in 1984 and the guy at the entrance said $25. I said no, I want to go for the whole week. He said that is for the whole week. Fastest cars in the world all week for $25, NHRA you can kiss my A## !

[budssuperpro]

I think it Died when the factory came in and ever vender came in.

[frank spittle]

Drag Racing like almost everything else is experiencing a loss of customers. But I believe the passion for drag racing has been on the skids for decades. Drag racing in the Fifties and Sixties was relatively new and had that certain aura about it that has been lost. I still enjoy NHRA Nationals but enjoy NHRA Hot Rod Reunions even more. I am in my 60s but talk to guys much younger that feel the same way.

[hotrod32@usfamily.net]

I dont want to step on any bodys sauage, but do ya allrember who one of the first corprate whores was............. last name jim and him starter was pam think about it boys

[davidwilson]

here's the real drag racing, guys - ADRL - American Drag Racing League - runs national tracks - nmca & pro mod rules - runs 1/8 mile - check it out - billy glidden, quain stott, charles carpenter etc. live there - best drags going

[dabirdguy]

Well, I have been to ONE NHRA event since 1973 when I walked away from the track and sold my 442.
I seriously doubt I will get to another one. EVEN if it was free.
Well, maybe if there were free hookers.

[nanos1932]

Stopped going when the prices went up at the gate to get in, stopped watching it when it went to 1000ft.

At least down here we run more nitro and still go 1/4 mile:D

[68 C10]

I feel the same way about NHRA as I do NASCAR, they're too busy kissing every corporate conglomerate's ass to even remotely care about the actual racing or sport. With that said, I still enjoy going to Talladega once a year, but it's absolutely not the same, and that's coming from a 21 year old kid. My buddies and I don't get to make it out to a track very often, but we always try to make it to some kind of grassroots venue. We find ourselves much more satisfied with the racing we see at those kinds of places.

[budssuperpro]

They lost me the first time I went to Bonneville in 1984 and the guy at the entrance said $25. I said no, I want to go for the whole week. He said that is for the whole week. Fastest cars in the world all week for $25, NHRA you can kiss my A## !

NHRA National events use to have a policy if the pros made one run they did not haft to Refun your money if there was a rain out, but if they didnt they had to give you a rain check, I don't know what they are doing now.
on the adverage to run S/C 5 Division races and say the Finals I spent about 10,000 a year with almost not breakage to speak of only to say I ran at Pomona.

[STILL OLD]

Drag racing has sucked ever since billy meyer started bracket racing! In the day we named our cars. You remember, swamp rat, tamless tiger, and so on. Now it big e-fing business finny car. Nascar ain't much better. Bonneville is our last hoorah.

[GlassThamesDoug]

If you remember back..............you had to win class or go home? So there was nothing but thrashing to get the car to run...........that was when it was fun, always trying to find a tenth of a second to make it in the show. Barely enough time to even eat...Bring back the time trials and classes..........makes a more intelligent racing environment.

[Johnny Gee]

Everyone has touched on this well. I have no interest in it either.