Erica Enders

[L78racer]

The grandstands looked a little sparse too. Nascar also has the same ills- dwindling sponsors and fans. I don't know what would turn things around either..

[Dave Rifkin]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: L78racer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The grandstands looked a little sparse too. Nascar also has the same ills- dwindling sponsors and fans. I don't know what would turn things around either.. </div></div>

In my opinion both organizations need to get back to their roots and make the cars / sport something that the average guy can relate to. Remember when the cars in NASCAR looked like the cars we all could buy off the showroom floor? (Win on Sunday, sell on Monday). Today they all share the same basic shape with the only distinguishing factor being a different decal package.

The cars in the NHRA (except the sportsman classes) look nothing like the cars they are supposed to represent. While I enjoy watching the pro categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock) I think Super Stock and Stock are more affordable to run and are something that more enthusiasts can relate to.

Televise these classes and create another class that runs with manual transmissions to highlight driver skill and car set up.

[Supergas990]

Unfortunately, there's really not much about any type of racing that is &quot;affordable&quot;.

My wife and I bracket raced for 7 years, before we had kids. It was alot of fun, but we spent a small fortune during that time, compared to our relative income level.

Speed costs money and anyone that has ever driven a racecar knows that faster is always better. Every upgrade leads to breaking the next weakest part. Just thumb through a Jegs catalog - aluminum rims $300 each, camshafts $350, MSD box $500+. Racing isn't an affordable pastime! Has anyone looked at the cost of fuel and travel lately? Just getting to and from the track could set you back $200+ every event.

As for stock or superstock, or any other &quot;Super&quot; class for that matter, the parts and specifications are so specialized in many cases that they cost more than you'd ever expect. Now, to be competitive... that's a whole different story!

I hate to be the rainy face here, but everything costs more and there's little hope of turning back the clocks. Perhaps the best chance of getting back to cars like we watched in our youth is the pure stock racing, where the car would still have significant value as a restored vehicle. At least that way you'd kind of get a two-for-one investment.

Blair

[ss427copo]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Supergas990</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Unfortunately, there's really not much about any type of racing that is &quot;affordable&quot;.

My wife and I bracket raced for 7 years, before we had kids. It was alot of fun, but we spent a small fortune during that time, compared to our relative income level.

Speed costs money and anyone that has ever driven a racecar knows that faster is always better. Every upgrade leads to breaking the next weakest part. Just thumb through a Jegs catalog - aluminum rims $300 each, camshafts $350, MSD box $500+. Racing isn't an affordable pastime! Has anyone looked at the cost of fuel and travel lately? Just getting to and from the track could set you back $200+ every event.

As for stock or superstock, or any other &quot;Super&quot; class for that matter, the parts and specifications are so specialized in many cases that they cost more than you'd ever expect. Now, to be competitive... that's a whole different story!

I hate to be the rainy face here, but everything costs more and there's little hope of turning back the clocks. Perhaps the best chance of getting back to cars like we watched in our youth is the pure stock racing, where the car would still have significant value as a restored vehicle. At least that way you'd kind of get a two-for-one investment.

Blair </div></div>

I raced SuperComp. Even today, sportsman racing is outta control with costs. In 94, my car rolling from ProStart was 40k BEFORE engine, trans, 3rd member and everything else. Today, a chromoly door car bases at 60 grand. No truck, trailer plus everything else you need to compete. And, if you don't have a .005 package, you're going to get your nutz handed to you.

[sYc]

Any hobby, racing, fishing, golf, hunting, etc can get expensive, if you allow it to consume you. Even the &quot;pure stock&quot; guys.

Though purists do not care for bracket racing, it can be relative inexpensive, as for the most part, bracket racing is more about being consistent then going faster. Just as in the old days, you can drive the family sedan to the track and take home some $$$ and/or a trophy, if you are a good enough driver. I see it all of the time.

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sYc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any hobby, racing, fishing, golf, hunting, etc can get expensive, if you allow it to consume you. Even the &quot;pure stock&quot; guys.

Though purists do not care for bracket racing, it can be relative inexpensive, as for the most part, bracket racing is more about being consistent then going faster. Just as in the old days, you can drive the family sedan to the track and take home some $$$ and/or a trophy, if you are a good enough driver. I see it all of the time.


</div></div>

How true Tom. Some of my best memories (some including Red Alert when Bill S. owned it) are of when we would head up to Union Grove after working all day on a Wednesday night(about 75 miles each way), raced brackets and/or grudge for fun and then drove the same cars back home and then to work the next day. Most of us had daily driver type muscle cars that were in the 13 second to 15 second range. Don't think anyone ever broke anything bad enough to not make the trip home (lucky) and we always had a blast and even won a few trophies - for the cost of the gas up and back plus the entry fee. Low budget entry level grass roots racing at its finest.

Jake

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sYc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any hobby, racing, fishing, golf, hunting, etc can get expensive, if you allow it to consume you. Even the &quot;pure stock&quot; guys.

Though purists do not care for bracket racing, it can be relative inexpensive, as for the most part, bracket racing is more about being consistent then going faster. Just as in the old days, you can drive the family sedan to the track and take home some $$$ and/or a trophy, if you are a good enough driver. I see it all of the time.


</div></div>

Well said, we are learning this via Jr Dragsters - and still spend a lot more than we need to just to be able to run right on the 'index' regardless of track conditions, elevation and weather. But, if we wanted to, we could do it cheaper by simply being slower and a little less consistent - and still have a ton of fun!

I would love to see the Stock and Super Stock cars on TV by replacing the qualifying runs from TF dragsters and funny cars..... anyone else prefer this approach?

[Supergas990]

Marlin - Absolutely on Stock and Super Stock over fuel qualifying. Oftentimes they have a hard time just getting the car to make a good pass , because they're trying so hard to make the show.

Blair

[Smokey]

I see the NHRA widdling away. I took a break from it over the last few years as family and business got in the way of it. Went to 2 decent tracks last summer for the weekend like we did 25+ years like at Brainard. It is now a ghost town. I have to admire the Greek...he is still kicking running a small operation compared to the Force Compound. Don't know if I'm just seeing it now, but back in the 70's, 80's and early 90's, it was about who was who had the best tune and secret combo that made them the best and the little things like the monster John Force burnouts cause it was for the people in the stands. Between that, public relations, TNN having the show on tv, that's what made it and made heros out of drivers and teams. Now its about money and business. I noticed it started to slide downhill after Steve Evans passed.

[sYc]

As with most sports today, the success or failure of NHRA will depend on TV ratings, which translates into revenue. Problem I see, some sports have about the same appeal, whether on TV or at the event. Not so with Drag racing, especially the fuel cars.