What would it take to alternate Pro Stock and Pro Mod?? (1 Viewer)

[my friends call me Zappy]

I think part of the reason the stands empty when P/S comes IP is they have been allowed to evolve way too far from their roots. Let's face it, they couldn't be farther from stock. Short of a blower & nitro. They are really an A/ altered. And as stated above you & l can't buy one.

Start a PP/S class, pure pro stock. Or SR/PS , show room pro stock. Let the casual fan identify with. No trick trans, either shift it with a clutch & stick, or go automatic trans. No after market trans break, no handicap, no breakout, pro tree. Just thinkin out loud......

 

[Reese]

What are the car counts for that class now?
Sean D

Anywhere from 17 to 22, but not all the guys and gals run the factory stock class with their cars. Also they get a good count considering there are a lot of cars that don't travel. Trust me I believe if Jason Line, the Grays, Elite, etc get their hands on them, they could make them fly and sooner or later they would be priced out of the small guys now that are supporting the class now. But I think fans could better relate to the cars than the pro stock cars of today. The number the FSS are running now are amazing for a 9" tire.

 

[Cliff]

One thing that I remember is what happened to the Pro Stock Truck class. I don't think NHRA wants that again. Also don't think that class was too popular, cuz it was slow, compared to Pro Stock cars of that time. I would like to see NHRA run an "exhibition" series of current factory stock cars, say 8 cars w/ Mopar, Ford, GM. Maybe run 'em Chicago style so folks could get an idea of how fast they can run. Also, why not let "clone" cars run, as long as they meet specs. A wild hair would be turbo V-6 cars, maybe Toyota & Nissan & Hundai & whoever else wants to run. The Big 3 all have Dohc V-6 engines, so that might be an idea. Yeah, I know, "slow Pro Mods".... heh

 

[stitcherbob]

So, what we're really talking about, if you think about it, is hitting the pause button, and then "reset" back to 1974, and start all over.

my neighbor's ready....he's got 2 1974 Pro Stock Vegas....Ness cars I believe

 

[RM FAN]

I like to look at a car and know what it is, not have to have a decal on the windshield so the average person knows what model it it.
At the least let Dodge run their Challenger body in PS, NHRA said no

Where did NHRA say no to the Challenger body? Prove it. Anyone in there right mind would know those care are aerodynamic challenged and would not be competitive with the current cars. Please leave the 70's cars in the 70's.

 

[ironpony]

I spoke with AJ at Gainesville when they debuted the new car and I asked him why not the Challenger, his EXACT reply was

"She's a big girl we could not make her fit NHRA's template" in his southern accent...........

 

[RM FAN]

I spoke with AJ at Gainesville when they debuted the new car and I asked him why not the Challenger, his EXACT reply was

"She's a big girl we could not make her fit NHRA's template" in his southern accent...........

Sounds like AJ was trying to shrink the Challenger down to compete with Camaros.

 

[ironpony]

yes, NHRA has a very specific "template" the cars must fit within, the Challenger is bigger than their package. Mopar could not shrink it enough to fit within this template, not sure why? maybe it did not look like a Challenger any more.

 

[stitcherbob]

they could allow the bulbous Challenger....they could just throw, say, 20lbs on the Harle.....sorry ....Camaros......

 

[swervin]

I say replace Pro Stock with Factory Showdown cars because you can buy them and the car counts would be thru the roof.

Last I saw GM only made 69 Camaros a year for the Factory stock categories. I dont know what the other manufactures make. They aren't cheap and don't forget all the other stuff you have to have to go racing.

I do like the class though!

Bob

 

[RM FAN]

yes, NHRA has a very specific "template" the cars must fit within, the Challenger is bigger than their package. Mopar could not shrink it enough to fit within this template, not sure why? maybe it did not look like a Challenger any more.

You know this as fact? That makes no sense at all. AJ would want the car smaller to compete with the Camaros due to there poor aerodynamics. I think you have it backwards. He knew he could not be competitive with the larger car and NHRA template would not allow him to shrink it.

 

[ironpony]

Fact the cars have VERY stringent specs they must meet. Do you actually think the Camaros are factory spec??? not even close.
Do you think Mopar wants to run a compact 4 door Dart? when their premier muscle car is the Challenger.

 

[Sherman, Sherm, & Sherm Gun]

One thing that I remember is what happened to the Pro Stock Truck class. I don't think NHRA wants that again. Also don't think that class was too popular, cuz it was slow, compared to Pro Stock cars of that time.

The trucks had to run small blocks, I am 99% sure.

Something that has not been mentioned, and is important, I think, is the PRO side of the coin. These are National events, and a Professional eliminator. Why does it make sense to take out "PRO" Stock and replace it with "FACTORY" Stock. Leave FSS at the divisional level, and let the weekend warrior keep a truly neat class.

So, if you take out Pro Stock, which I do not care about and hope leaves, and replace it with Pro Mod, which was THE best class in IHRA for...ever, should Pro Stock Bike, which I like but do not follow closely, be replaced with Top Fuel Bikes? Probably. Have Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck, and Pro Stock Bike be the TOP sportsman classes, along with Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car. Now you have a National event "show" and a divisional "show".

I grew up with my father tuning a TA/FC. The alky cars are my first love. I crewed on a NT/F car for a while. I love those too. But, those cars appeal to different crowds. Personally, I would watch alky cars all year long, and not even care about the Big Show once. Nostalgia fuel on the other hand...

 

[RM FAN]

Fact the cars have VERY stringent specs they must meet. Do you actually think the Camaros are factory spec??? not even close.
Do you think Mopar wants to run a compact 4 door Dart? when their premier muscle car is the Challenger.

So what in your mind does the NHRA have to do to the template to allow Mopar to use the Challenger and be competitive? And by the way no PS was ever factory spec especially after FWD. Only way AJ or anyone could be competitive with the Challenger in PS is to the run the same combo as the NOS boys ran.

 

[mick]

if nhra and the pro stock racers would each give a little; it sure would be cool to change the engine rules so more
combinations were allowed, or at least make it where varying body styles could be used, but wouldn't necessarily have
to run the engine block of the body mnfg'r? for example, this toyota body could opt to run the chevy engine combination?
or v6 turbo option possibly?....finally get back to a pro doorslammer class featuring many configurations.....i don't know.
i do know camaro pro stock is super boring; and i even appreciate the unbelievable engineering behind them.
(this image was posted on comp plus from a recent race in australia)

 

[Cliff]

The car in the photo is Toyota run by Rod Harvey, in Australian Factory Extreme class. Set record at 5.909 ET (didn't give MPH). Engine is a turbo, but dunno if it is V-6 or 4 cyl. Car is running Winter Nats at Willowbank Raceway. Yuasa is a battery brand in Australia, since 1928. (Looked it up, was curious about it.)

 

[Cliff]

Did some research & found info on the YUASA car above. It has a Toyota straight 6, turbo, on alky. A straight 6....sheesh! www.dragnews.com.au is Australian Drag News