Scrappers Parked

[T.Smith]

I agree but on the other hand, the Texas Motorplex seats 41,000. For years, on Friday night and Sunday you couldn't drive a 10-penny nail inbetween the fans it was so jam-packed. The 1986 premiere, which I attended, was absolute bedlam. They still draw a good crowd but it's nothing like it was back then.

Times have changed and interests have changed along with it. The interest in performance cars and auto racing in general among millennials is but a fraction of what it was in the 80s and 90s, before the advent of the internet and the cellphone which today take precedence over everything, and I mean everything. I have quite a few grandkids I've taken to national events at the 'Plex and while they enjoyed the day it was obvious they couldn't wait to get back to their phones and none of them have ever expressed interest in attending a drag race since. Most of them were either facetiming or watching Tik-Tok as the nitro cars were making passes....sheeesh...after all, a wiggling, jiggling little teenage TT influencer cutie with 5 million horny followers is a lot more important than Austin Prock at 340, right?

Even kids at school nowadays don't give a crap what kind of car you drive. Don't show me your car; show me your new I-phone. I wouldn't know how to change that and it's not really worth trying or even possible. Trends change; drag racing has now settled into the niche sport it will likely remain for the foreseeable future. So we roll with what we have and do our best to see that what remains stays alive for enthusiasts who still love the smells and sounds of 11,000 horsepower.

Yeah, kids are different in their interests nowadays. My kids have been to the races, and they get it. They have a good time, but it isn't priority whenever the races come to town. They have their own interests and hobbies and as a Father I'm ok with that.

I have a torch red C6 Corvette ZR1, it does generate a fair amount of attention from young people in just everyday driving and at car meets. What I will say when getting on the conversation of nitro racing with them, it's a total disconnect. we may as well be talking about monster trucks.

The latest trend I'm told is how teenagers have less personal value in car ownership and the freedom that it provides. Hell, my youngest daughter would be embarrassed when I would pick her up in the Corvette at high school. It's all some wacky sh*t.

 

[T.Smith]

I would like to see a TF and FC engine combination that puts the cars right at 300 at the 1/4 mile and capable to be serviced by 2-3 people or less at a manageable cost that would promote so much interest that we need regional and national championships. We already have 90% of that combination with the Afuel classes. Priorities would be 1/4 mile, 300mph and massive participation.

You do have that now. It's called Funny Car and Nitro Chaos.

 

[Nick Rienstra]

You do have that now. It's called Funny Car and Nitro Chaos.

I’m aware. But many of the blown Chaos cars both alcohol and nitro powered still cost more per run than an AFuel combo. NHRA should have representatives at the Chaos events asking every question they can and taking notes (maybe they do).

As far as cost and carnage are concerned removing the blowers would be the best option in my opinion.

 

[Marchboom]

The status symbol for the kids these day is not their car (like it used to be), it's their phone. Don't have the latest phone and you're not one of the "cool kids". As for me, I just got a new flip phone. That's all I need.

 

[SoCal Racer]

The status symbol for the kids these day is not their car (like it used to be), it's their phone. Don't have the latest phone and you're not one of the "cool kids". As for me, I just got a new flip phone. That's all I need.

For what it's worth, each of my first several cars cost less than an iPhone. They looked great from far, but they were far from great. Still, even as rough as they were, they were cool

So one day I'm chatting with my CEO - about my same age - as we're walking to a meeting. The conversation had something to do with the progress of society and engineering and I commented, "I'm still waiting for flying cars." His response was, "Yeah, but who needs flying cars - we have the iPhone!" I was incredulous.

More recently I was assigned a fresh out of college engineer as a protege. As we were getting to know each other I mentioned that I drag race cars and it was kind of crickets. We went to visit a vendor and he was driving and said something like, "driving is as close to death as you can be," although it sounded more like the regurgitated words of some flighty professor. (I'm thinking to myself, "well yeah if you keep trying to merge on a California freeway at 35 mph.") But it was a real holy crap moment for me to think that my generation was obsessed with speed and racing, and this 20-something had no interest and would not have known what to do with a 12 second street car like I had at his age - much less my 9 second race car!

But the younger generation is not completely hopeless.... my street driver is a Challenger SRT8 that gets looks and compliments from 20-somethings; and to my amazement even chics dig it!

Okay, my 'everything that's wrong with the world' tirade is so far off topic I need to redeem myself. It's unfortunate to see these teams that are personally wealthy rolling back their activity due to the high costs of racing. Some good suggestions in previous comments and I think we're going to have to swallow the bitter pill of slowing the cars down (and PLEASE back to quarter mile). Honestly, I don't think anyone is going to stay home if TF/FC is running right around 300 mph on an all out pass. No other motorsport can offer anywhere near 300 mph, and marketed properly it could attract new fans. Me? I'll keep going until I die because drag racing has been part of my life for over 50 years.

 

[vlad the impaler]

I find it funny when the older generation talks about the younger set's interest in their phones. I went to a concert last week, mostly attended by older adults and many of them were on the their phones the entire time the bands were playing. Its not just the kids, look around.

 

[Mike]

You guys all want them to spend a ton of money to slow them and isnt that what you are all talking about, saving money...

 

[twostep]

Yeah, kids are different in their interests nowadays. My kids have been to the races, and they get it. They have a good time, but it isn't priority whenever the races come to town. They have their own interests and hobbies and as a Father I'm ok with that.

I have a torch red C6 Corvette ZR1, it does generate a fair amount of attention from young people in just everyday driving and at car meets. What I will say when getting on the conversation of nitro racing with them, it's a total disconnect. we may as well be talking about monster trucks.

The latest trend I'm told is how teenagers have less personal value in car ownership and the freedom that it provides. Hell, my youngest daughter would be embarrassed when I would pick her up in the Corvette at high school. It's all some wacky sh*t.

I could not wait to get my full DL (in Texas it was age 14 at the time) - not because of the car (hand-me-down, worn out 56 Chevy wagon) but because of the freedom it provided. We had plenty of other things we could be doing but there were cars to drive, Hot Rod magazines to read, local drag races to attend on Sunday and nights tinkering with the old 265 trying to get it to run with a Corvette fuelie. I drove to Los Angeles (1300 miles) at age 15 just to spend a week driving around stopping at all the LA speed shops I'd read about. 3 years later I went back, spent the summer with my grandmother who had a SoCal drag racing nut for a neighbor and I got to see all the famous tracks and all the heavy hitters I'd dreamed about. A 7 second ET was just about more than my mind could handle....nowadays people drive 7 second cars with one hand and eat a ham sandwich with the other.

I agree when you say there's lots of things we don't want to go back to regarding drag racing but I'm here to tell ya, there's a lot of things I miss dearly. Life was just a lot more simple 50 years ago.

 

[PDQ]

You need to update your spell check. I'm Alan

You would have to ask someone at NHRA. I know how I would do it, and how I will do it. First I need to get my series established.

Stay Tuned.

Alan

you don't know how many sportsman miss super street to the lanes

 

[robinjackson]

Slow the cars down... slow the cars down...

Then Brittany runs 341 and wow! that grabs my attention.

 

[sutton]

Slow the cars down... slow the cars down...

Then Brittany runs 341 and wow! that grabs my attention.

Robin
It's not slow the cars down, It's how to cut cost of the racing. Robin that is the way we do it here in the STATES, if it any BROKE keep fixing it until it is. LOL
Larry Sutton---Lions Starter and racer (RET.)

 

[robinjackson]

Indeed.

I've been conscious of the desire to reduce racing costs throughout the almost 60 years that I've been following the drags, and I have no idea what the answer is.

But I'm sure impressed by 341mph.

 

[mick]

you don't know how many sportsman miss stockers to the lanes

fixed

 

[twostep]

fixed

Yep....back in the day I ran J/SA in a 1965 Impala and took home a few trophies at Ft. Worth's old Green Valley Raceway. How many of you young un's can say that?

 

[mick]

regarding slowing them down ...... numbers are approx., but close
the TF car is .50 seconds faster to 660', and .20 seconds faster to 1000'
we all know what 3.90 vs 3.70 looks like. it's close, but not that close.
not sure if the brain can really decipher a .20 second difference in 340'.

AFD: 5.180 e.t. ...... .93 seconds to cover 340' from 660' - 1000'
660' @ 230mph in 3.47 seconds
1000' @ 280mph in 4.40 seconds

TF: 3.70 e.t. ...... .73 seconds to cover 340' from 660' - 1000'
660' @ 295mph in 2.97 seconds
1000' @ 330mph in 3.70 seconds

not suggesting anything. merely some numbers for comparison.

 

[mike]

I’m aware. But many of the blown Chaos cars both alcohol and nitro powered still cost more per run than an AFuel combo. NHRA should have representatives at the Chaos events asking every question they can and taking notes (maybe they do).

As far as cost and carnage are concerned removing the blowers would be the best option in my opinion.

There is no proof that AFd is cheaper to Run - nitro is expensive what makes you all think its more expensive than Blown - clutch disks are very expensive - try the price of the tire difference -this the A-fuel story that its cheaper-not much difference to run- this story is from -afd side and yes valve last longer than crankshafts in A-fd

 

[Nick Rienstra]

There is no proof that AFd is cheaper to Run - nitro is expensive what makes you all think its more expensive than Blown - clutch disks are very expensive - try the price of the tire difference -this the A-fuel story that its cheaper-not much difference to run- this story is from -afd side and yes valve last longer than crankshafts in A-fd

Ask the killer B’s. I believe it was talked about on NHRA.TV during one of the qualifying runs this weekend. They said as much as 25% less than blown alcohol, but that seems like a bit much.

I’m simply suggesting that a slightly modified A/FD and A/FC replace TF and FC as the premier classes and the significant cost savings that would bring. Just my opinion.

 

[Nick Rienstra]

You guys all want them to spend a ton of money to slow them and isnt that what you are all talking about, saving money...

I think removing the supercharger and 2-3 clutch disks as well as the crew needed to service those parts is a significant savings. Would you agree?

 

[John Farce Racing]

Limit to what? I know of a Funny Car Chaos car that doesn't have a big pump on it and I wouldn't be surprised if that car runs in the 4's @ 320mph this year. Nothing against them, but they're just hobby racers having some fun. What happens with that combo with a max effort budget?

We ran 4.60 @ 324mph in 2004 with a 75 gallon pump and we qualified in the bottom half of the field.

were the big money teams running a bigger pump?

 

[ironpony]

My understanding is one of the biggest costs is travel. Layout the season so they do not have to cross the country back and fourth 4-5 times
And electric semis..............sarcasm.....................