I feel as though I lit the fuse on this topic. Fact is, I'm uncertain about the big show anymore. I'll admit that it must be hard to overlook the prestige that comes with being a pro in the big show, but something is missing, and Alan, I'd really want your point of view in return. Feel free to disagree, as that may give pause and cause one to think, but hear me out first.
I grew up with dragracing in So Cal. Born in 64, lived in Long Beach till 79 when we moved back east. I was very fortunate to experience Lions, Irwindale, OCIR. I remember going to OCIR the Wed before the Winternats would kick off, and there would be a huge gathering of pros, many prostockers would be there getting in some last min shakedowns before heading over the hill to Pomona. When you would arrive at the Fairgrounds, it didn't look any more packed than it does now, but bear in mind, the rigs back then were smaller, taking up less space, so there were more cars jammed in the place. Funny Car and Top Fuel was like sensory overload. You had all the touring pros there, but the number of regional,, heck just the number of those in So Cal that would make it to the event, 30 plus cars in each fuel class was typical. Throw in Pro Stock (which was way *****en back then), add to it Pro Comp (still miss that class), Comp, Modified, S/S, and Stock. Fact is, it was just so different back then. The vibe was different, the type of effort (not less/more, just different), the sport was just way different.
Now it is amazing to see what the sport has become now. I may be selfish, but always felt that drag racing was a racers sport, and then some. We had great leadership with Wally keeping us organized, and I do believe he helped keep the sport realistic in what it is. Now it seems that the sport is a comodity to be sold, marketed, and pushed onto a 'target demographic' that frankly doesn't get what drag racing really is down in it's soul. In fact, the big show, as impressive as it has become, it seems that it had to sell it's soul to make it to where it is now, and if that seems to fit, then perhaps that soul isn't there anymore for the "new fans" to experience.
Does this mean I won't take in a Nat event? not hardly, but that excitement I used to have when making the trek to the race just isn't there like it used to be. But that is just the way I feel, and I do not expect many in the bleachers to see it as I do.
My own experience on how it changed probably jaded me more than the average person. When I finished my tour in the Air Force, I had it in my head that I wanted to chase the dream and drive in the sport I loved. I didn't have a sugar daddy to back me, so I looked towards guys like Whit and Hoffman as inspiration on how to do it on guts and grit. I got involved with a TAFC team here in Fla, ended up buying the car (rolling) when a new car arrived. I learned the ropes while scrimping and saving to peice together a decent alky flopper, hoping to race a few divisionals, maybe hit the Gators and Atlanta. That didn't happen when new technology came in, forcing your hand to either step up or step out; I had to step out and re-think how I was going to get out there.
As luck would have it, a couple of guys down here in the South East formed a partnership to go top fuel racing in the big show. A third party partial to my dream pitched the idea of me driving for them. After a few phone calls, I head up to their location, check out the operation, get checked out in the car, and start moving in a direction that I thought would never happen. To help the process, I upgraded my S/C license to TAD, and proceed to work on the marketing for sponsors. I managed to get the interest of a company who is a subcontractor to Boeing, and also a military contractor as a sponsor to be, then it happened, 9/11; next you know, funding is cut off, then the partners in the team have a disagreement, leading to attorneys getting involved. Finally I said "this isn't like I thought it would be".
All the while this is happeneing, I was also spending more and more time out west with the growing nostalgia drag scene. I started to find that same soul, that same vibe that I remembered as a kid was still alive. I looked at my pile of parts that represented the unrealized dream of driving my own car, and then the notion came to me that another path is opening; switch gears and convert over to nostalgia funny. While working on this, I end up helping Brendan Murry with his AA/FD, and before you know it, the same desire that once existed is back again. The reason why we want to do this is fresh again, the effort that it takes really seems to be worth it, rather than an excersise in futility.
So I guess what I see is that drag racing as it once was, the sport and gathering of like minded people has been recaptured and repackaged into what is now the heritage series, and various independant shows. This deal isn't for sale, and I hope that nobody trys to sell it. It is only so big, kinda like a microcosm in drag racing, and so it shall remain, kind of like a place you can go home to.
