Hot Rods Arizona nostalgia drags what the hell happened???

Oh hell no, I'm not that smart!
After I typed that I pondered all the possible ways it could be misconstrued.
Peace

 

OK, But your right this place is not for everyone in many ways.

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Yep....the strip parallels the road course's straight stretch...

 

Okay, so now the question becomes ..What came first, the chicken or the egg?
Yes , Gassers in the 60's, started out as street and strip cars too. But some guys got tired of losing , so they spent a bunch of money and time, until they got competitive. It's the same scenario with any type of flat out drag racing.
The SEGA cars are about as close you can get to the latter, scienced out cars of about 1967. Automatics and high stall converters were not in the picture for the small block gassers back then.
Don't forget , Sunoco 260 was available at the pump back then. Now it's not, so high octane racing fuel is a necessity . Pump gas, 9.5 to 1 292s and 301s just wouldn't have the same appeal.
Anyway, I could go on, but, at this point, I'm not even sure what kind of nostalgia racing you're looking for.
How about giving us your vision for this deal, and I will give you my opinion on whether it's workable or not.

 

Well let's see all I'm asking for is a nostalgia drags not too many rules just reasonable ones. I think the best way is to include more cars rather than ban them , pre 80's crap of course . Should be pretty easy.

but what do I know, I spend more time working on cars than and I do sitting on the internet talking about cars. Probably why I only sign onto this place every few years or so. Lately it's just easier to do so since getting a smartphone for the first time.

Maybe this thread is just a waste of time. I figured I'd have more people from Arizona speaking up and wanting to turn this around and get involved. Guess not.

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You've still got the floor..Go for it.

(Please don't use the word Nazi in a descriptive phrase. Some of us here still understand the true meaning. Thanks)

 

your right I fixed it. I'm not trying to offend anyone.

 

I'm putting together another front engine dragster. The car is 158" long with a powerglide and will sport a small block Mopar with single dominator. Should be ready to run by spring.

 

I am feeling your pain. We've done this drag racing for a long time. old school is the way we like it. I have been to every nostalgia race in Arizona for years. Steve does a great job to put on these drags. But when you cram diesel drags and rice burner drags at the same time, its hard to get back into the fun of nostalgia. I still live in the 60's, and I will race to the death. I am going to every nostalgia drag I can go to and maybe we can get more advertising to get fans out there. Not just racers. I hope I didn't piss off the H.A.M.B. by going out of tradition, but my tradition is old school racing like it use to be. That is tradition.

 

Hell, There is enough of us here in the Arizona to have a show like Bakersfield. (just an example) The
Good guys are OK !! But I want to see and smell rubber burning.

 

Must be a Gilbert thing, we have a blast with our old cars in Tucson. Lawn chairs my ass.

 

Just a thought maybe contact Chuck Sundstrom from Go Fast (he puts on the drift and drag events at Wildhorse) Try talking to him and see if he would be willing to try and have a Nostalgia night sometime with their Shutdown Showdown event. 1/8th mile flashlight start no clocks just who ever gets there first .They Normaly have a time set a side for those wanting to try that type of racing before the actual class racing starts. Also FYI Kingman is doing their Street drags again this year.1/8th mile on Route 66.This usually draws out some of the older vehicles around the state.

 

Kingman's street drags has been limited to 250 vehicles this year. So if anyone is thinking about racing a car with them you better get your entry in early because it is filling fast.

 

Mopactltd,
I think it is 300.Are you planning on coming up there? Me and Jose will be doing tech for the weekend up there.

 

I think you are right, Rich. 300 is the correct number I was informed earlier today. The Colt just may take a road trip north.

 

Chuck O we missed you guys at the Speedworld staff get together and hope to see ya in Kingman.

 

No one told me there was a Speedworld get together. When was it?

 

As a former Az. resident I feel your pain. I live in Tn. and am blessed by at least 3 organizations that I can run with. I chose the SEGA because the other guys run a bracket style deal and I went one of their events more cars than spectators.
Go to a SEGA event if not for some rainy weekends they pack the house. Yes the high dollar engine builders have taken over, but the low buck guys support the events. I may get my ass handed to me when I get my Morris done at first, but I can work harder and work smarter to get better.
I am already working on new motor plan for next year that should make my as competitive as my ability will make me.

 

The racing at WHPMSP (what a stupid name!) is not handled as well as just about any other track I've visited as a racer or crew member.

Track prep is slower than Barona, ABQ, Denver, LV and especially Bakersfield, for example.
Clean up is also slower.

The call to staging is hurry up and wait (2 hours is not uncommon!) or last second.

Scheduling is poor and always runs late. This happens in racing, but they seem to be consistently worse there. The guys in staging have to keep reminding the tower of what is in the lanes! There have been many times the lanes are empty and nothing going down the track for a half hour (before eliminations) when some racers would like to run and anyone who is in the stands are starving for something. This isn't the lunch break or track prep, which follows these empty spots.

We have almost always been able to make extra time only runs if needed at any other track (except Bakersfield, which is a big meet). We have always been held to one or maybe two total runs before eliminations at PHX and have had to fight for them sometimes.

I have really grown to hate the jr dragsters. They seem to infect every meet we attended there, and the combo of slow loud cars, excessive staging, prep and clearing the track time, little league parents and the support crews that are annoying make it a relief to tow to a further track without them. The kids are mostly pretty well behaved, but the rest of the circus is another matter.

The track people I've met seem nice, but there is a feeling that no one is in charge or leadership doesn't have the whole picture. Like a squad without a sgt.
The track itself is good when prepped well (avoid Friday nights if you have power and slicks!), and the pits are paved and nice, but for being a NHRA event track, the restrooms and PA system are 25 years out of date.

This will stub some toes, but that's why I'd rather sit at home than go there. I literally polished every single piece of trim on a 60s car one morning waiting for our turn to be called up to run. The car had been thrown together from a shell and had dirt, tarnish and overspray all over. It would have been nicer to do it in a garage at home, and we got 3 passes that whole day (2 time trials, one elimination). As you can imagine, that was not enough to get the car dialed in fully but we did have a safe, consistent car. So, 12 hours plus for less than a minute of testing/racing. The local bracket guys were able to do that by noon.

As for rules, you are never going to get 8-16 guys that can build, buy, field and maintain a team to agree on a set of rules and abide by them over a few seasons. You will always have the 2-3 guys that want something that fits the car they already have (and aren't exactly the same), the rich guy that wants to keep making improvements and go faster, the slick guy that has to bend the rules, and the other guys who already have something that is just outside the rules and don't want to change or build new. The group will want to keep having a full field and attrition will always thin the numbers over time. No one racing wants to consistently be first round fodder.

 

Well written, well thought out. If some people get their feelings hurt over your post have way too thin skin. RodSTRace

 

Chuck O it was June 23rd. Jeff Stout put it together.In attendance was myself, Jack and Diane, Victoria and Brian, Chris, Mikey, Scott and Becky along with Bev Barter.

 

I saw Victoria at Billy Gebhardt's Celebration of Life and she said see would call to let me know a date. NinaBill and I would have liked to have attended.

 

"I have really grown to hate the jr dragsters. They seem to infect every meet we attended there, and the combo of slow loud cars, excessive staging, prep and clearing the track time, little league parents and the support crews that are annoying make it a relief to tow to a further track without them. The kids are mostly pretty well behaved, but the rest of the circus is another matter."

Like them or not they are future drag racers, I have only seen a couple of places that do it right.
When Texas Raceway was open they always ran the Juinor's in the morning before the big cars were scheduled to run.

 

I had a big reply all typed out. Let's just agree that the track isn't doing it right.

I will question what a 3500 dollar engine promotes in teaching a pre-teen to teenager about driving a race car? It may get boring to run similar speeds for years, but that's when you learn staging, launch, working the stripe and above all, sportsmanship, not the depth of the family's pocketbook.
https://www.jegs.com/i/JR-Race-Car/574/ZRE-4000/10002/-1

The same track promotes Teen racing in regular cars. I fully support that.

 

As a well known former national event winner (who's name is mentioned often on the Jr.Stock thread) once said "Just what we need. A training ground for MORE g.d. Super /Comp dragsters! "

 

Lot of those SC racers in stock eliminator.

 

Yes. Some of them did move up .

 

As a well known former national event winner (who's name is mentioned often on the Jr.Stock thread) once said "Just what we need. A training ground for MORE g.d. Super /Comp dragsters! "

MARK YAC, WEDNESDAY AT 10:23 PM
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" Quote of the year. "

 

I just thought I would put a little life and wake up this thread.
The 6th annual Phoenix Drag Reunion is coming up in a few weeks.
Last year, I expanded the event to 2 days to help attract more nostalgia racers-
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1- gates open 9am for pit parking, swap meet set up
Qualifying round 1 and 2 will be Friday afternoon starting at 2pm. When our car count goes up, I can rent the track for the Reunion for 2 full days of track time if needed.
After me secure from the afternoon qualifying rounds, there will be a meet and greet/burger burn for those who preregister. You much be preregistered to be at the burger burn. I need to know how much food to buy and prep.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 is the main day, gates open 8am.
3 round of qualfying and go into eliminations around lunch time.
day 2 of swap meet- Swap spaces are free with gen admission ( $15 ).
If you are entering the show or race and only have a few parts to sell, bring them! you can display them in your show or pic space. My events are always 'parts friendly'
If you have new parts to sell, a vending space is avail.
Classic car show, 1981/older with 25 classes, live band on the grass overlooking Firebird lake. Plenty of shade and seating and food nearby!
See the recreation of the original Beeline Tower! we set it up each year and use it in a very similar way as it was used back in the day!
Vintage race car display, nitro cackle, push starts, etc.
The original 1962 Dean Turk Fueler that was at the ground breaking of Beeline Dragway in 1963 will be there! ( it is in my collection ).
You can see a one of a kind blown and injected M/T HEMI Pontiac engine. The only one known to have survived from 1962!

Some of our classes are mainly based on existing classes used to be run by Good guys and now run by ANRA and NHRA ( it is ain't broke, don't fix it ).
This includes-
NE1, 2, 3. Index classes ( 7.60, 8.60, 9.60) for center steered cars- slingshots,altereds, etc
GAS classes for 1981/older door cars. Index A-D 7.60-10.60
Thanks to Arizona Differential for sponsoring the event and the index classes!
.4 pro tree. NO electronics. This includes, but is not limited to- delay boxes, etc. Cross talk not used. Trans brakes OK. This is a nostalgia race

Then we offer-
A/FX sponsored by Premier Performance in Apache Junction-
1961-9 door cars, Straight axles, blowers, injectors, altered wheelbase, scoops, etc ALL Allowed and encouraged. ¼ second interval dial in. .4 Pro tree. Engine brand MUST be the same brand as the body ( our discretion. No corporate engines, etc ). No tube chassis. No electronics, no delay boxes, etc. Trans brake OK.

Nostalgia Stock/Super Stock sponsored by Frederick & Sons plumbing and A/C Chandler and east valley
-
1981/older door cars with stock looking appearance ( custom paint, decals, mags OK ). No straight axles, no custom wheel flares, etc. All engine parts must be under hood, stock wheelbase, stock type hoods (modest cowl type OK). No pro street. Engine brand Must match body ( no corporate engines our discretion ). .5 sportsman tree dial in. Up to 16 cars qualify on reaction time. No electronics, no delay boxes, etc. Trans brakes OK.

Our quickest class is Nostalgia /Quick 8
For slingshots ( FEDs), altereds, door and funny cars with '81/older bodies.
Any fuel, trans, eng, blower, injectors. .4 pro tree, dial in. Quickest 8 qualifiers run

Racers can enter more than 1 class and many already are signed up.
Our 'catch all ' class is HOT ROD- 1981/older door cars, .5 sportsman tree, dial in.,

I need to be supported. This is very expensive for me to do this. If it was not for a passion for nostalgia drag racing, would not do it. Phoenix deserves a nostalgia, fun event. Many already support me and I ask for your support too. You may not agree with me 100% ( who does ) but, most do not understand how much work and time and takes to do these. I love it and want others to support and enjoy it too. Phoenix Drag Reunion is on FB and you can follow there as well.
thank you so much!!!
Hope to see you there, SB

 

We all know the Ca nostalgia drag scene is very strong with hundreds of cars in many classes. I am targeting those nostalgia racers and fans to come and visit Phoenix. Phoenix???!! YES, Phoenix! In early November, the weather is normally nice here. Plus the area is geared to tourism with a super nice casino, many places to dine for all budgets, Rawhide 1880s town, shopping, gold, horseback riding and more. Plus, it is right on I-10 at exit 162! We have a nice host hotel, you can camp at the track for a modest fee, there is a LOVE's nearby with showers, etc. They even sell high octane gas right at the pump! Phoenix deserves a nice nostalgia event, let's get together and support it and have fun! Bring parts to sell, bring your ride to show it, and lets go drag racing!