The State Of Drag Racing!

[DuckusCrapus]

So you guys all know when a drag strip becomes defunct I get all teary eyed. :(


So what do you think drag racing is becoming these days? Think it is on it's slow way out? With emissions laws changing, lame asses complaining about noise, and track owners just not cutting it, will we have drag strips in a a couple of decades?


Just in this area alone we have had so many things happen to local strips.

Tulsa's track went thought a rough spot and everyone was wondering if it would be bulldozed a few years back. LA Dragway closed up after many years of racing. Texoma Motorplex was built and closed down all within 2 years due to stupid people. Ardmore drag strip has been going since 1954 and the owner wanted out, just recently talks of new owners might save the place. Mid America Dragway in Arkansas City closed down for almost 4 years and was brough back from the dead (but for how long? That place is rough). Pier7 strip in Salisaw ran for a few years and was revamped into Hot Rod City and now changed owners again to Woods Bros. Raceway. Sooner MotorPlex was built less than two years ago and is up for sale.

And I can go on and on the further out tracks are from me. Seems liek the tracks that did get saved from extinction were saved at the last minute. Barely.

What's the deal? Is drag racing just not what it used to be? Seems like the people in the stands at drag races today look like professional wrestling fans. Bunch of mouth breathers that are the scurdge of society.



So yap at me.....tell me what is going on in your part of the world. Are you infested with ricers? Track too far away? Government taking your track away???




DuckusCrapus

[FastChevy]

personally i think they are on their way out, slowly but surely. with todays generation and attitude , every thing we knew and did will be history. its called modern technology....stoopid video playin lazy assed look it up on the computer jerks will be runnin the country in the next 20/30 years

[EdwardTeach]

Musclecars are sort of a bygone era now...so I think the money is just not there anymore...the result a handful of 'supertracks' where the big boys play and the demise of smaller raceways...

I was looking at a thread the other night on the supercar forum where some guy scanned and posted a whole slew of pics circa 1970 of a local track in New York I think...literally almost every car racing and in the parking lot are musclecars of every stripe imaginable and there are a buttload of them...

The ricer boys just don't have it like the old musclecar people and there is just not a whole lot of musclecars left (my high school parking lot had about 2 dozen musclecars in 88...go look at that same parking lot today and you will puke cause there may be one 66 Stang or something like that))...hence the demise of the local drag strip...

Now if I ever win the lottery we will have a drag strip where only certain groups of people will be able to race...;)

[Big Daddy 73]

ok...here we go...beware of novel...

what is is that kids nowadays watch movies...in the movies, the people drive modern cars. movies get them into cars because they like the thrill of going fast. u dont see many drag racing videos anymore...what u do see is street racing...and quite often its circle type tracks. they see those movies and like what they see. fast and the furious got the blame for that one which indeed that movie did help the craze for newer cars racing with the fart cans...but what they dont see in the movie is it takes more than a wing (never understood that on a front wheel drive car) and a fart can to go fast. oh and NAUZZZZZZZZZ. had to do that for ya duck. :D unless built that way...musclecars arent meant to handle like the newer ones as well. the track owners dont make as much money because drag racing isnt the craze anymore. cops took notice and cracked the whip on street racing...when i went to Owasso High, they put up flyers and people came to talk to us about not street racing and to take it to the track...about 2 days later u would hear about 2 guys racing and one crashing. i think the older guys will still be at the track but sooner or later everyone will be doing stuff like Hallet. (sp?) i like the track...i will proly be racing at the track til i get very old. then my son will race as well. i really hope that TRP stays. its a really nice track and will be even better when they get the circle track there too...at least they will stay in business.

sorry for the long post. :(

[dragrcr50]

I have been continuously racing since 1966 in okc , the tracks now are better, parts are better, the drivers are better. the cars are by far safer and faster with todays advancments. the deal is the OLD DAYS ARE gone and so are the old cars and the young guys, cant get em back, no sir , it aint gonna happen, so I race nowadays in an old car and prolly have more fun that i didi then. ran heads up for many years and got beat un mercifully most of the time. bracket racing at least makes me and the other car meet at the finsih line at the same time. i see more and more cars being built, tracks will live that take care of the racers in the area they are in, if not the racers move on and they close. i do believe the old days were really kool but they are gone and no amount of bitching is gonna bring them back. but you can enjoy drag racing or not , it is up to the people. I choose to. I can't just sit at a friggen car show and talk shit and look at shiney shit, cant do it ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :cool:

[DuckusCrapus]

I have no beef with tracks being better and saftey at an all time high. Just seems like more tracks are gowing away than being built. As much as I hate bracket racing, I would rather see that flurish than drag racing going away.


I alos agree that we, in this time have the best of all worlds. More parts and car model to choose from. It just all caost money. You would think with all the huge companies manufacturing speed parts that tracks would be busier than ever. But I keep hearing how many people are not showin up these days.


I too am going to live in the moment. I am going to drive my straight axled car on the street and race at the track. I will hit as many tracks this year as possible. Kinda getting a notch in my belt for each track I rail down. George Rays is at the top of the list. Ardmore is second. Just want to be able to see some of the places that have been around forever doing the same old thing that not many seem to like.

Funny thing is at the local strip the few big crowds in the bleachers are the super fast pro cars or exhibition stuff. yawn.....I can only take so much of that. I am the low life that digs the poor guys runing TNT. The stuff that they had to build on a budget. Not junk that was out of the box bolted on. The read deal.....that seems to be slipping away as well.

Again....I was born in the wrong generation. I am going to try and make up for what I never got to see. BUt my worry is how long will we be able to do this.

I think Fast's post was right on.



DuckusCrapus

[Observer]

Bottom line is "money". It costs a hundred times more today for both the racer and the track owner to operate than it did in the old days. Heck, it even costs a lot for a 16 year old to take mom and dad's car out on a Saturday night.

The only way a track can get big crowds and pay the bills is to have Pro classes. That takes a hell of a lot of money just to put the event on. It also costs the racers a hell of a lot of money to show up and race.

With today's economy woes, it's getting tough on everyone as far as being "affordable" to race. Even the spectators have more priorities to spend their hard earned bucks on than having to pay $20 bucks just to see high school kids play around at a drag strip.

I don't think drag racing will disappear, but I do think it will continue to diminish greatly over the next 10 to 15 years. Different parts of the country draw more people than others to the specific sport, so I imagine it depends on the location.

The "built on a budget" car is even in trouble, cause that budget is being whittled on more everyday. It's a shame indeed.

We're spending a small, well, medium fortune building the new car, and even though it's going to be a pro caliber car, it's going to be for fun, not for serious competition. I couldn't afford to build a car like this when I was a young buck, so I'm gonna do it while I still have time left to play. I too hope the local tracks will stay open or a hell of a lot of money is going to go to waste.

All I can say is support your local tracks every chance you get, whether you're a high schooler or a top fuel driver, and it just might make a difference on how long this sport will be around.

One last thought.......we could always go to the library and learn to build 1500 hp permanent magnet electric motors if gas goes away!

[hyghspeedpony302]

i agree with observer i think money is th biggest factor, u hav to hav money to build a car to race, and be a lil competv, no one wants to go get beat every time up by someone who has more money to put into there car, plus its harder today to have a daily driver keep it running , and insurance gas, ect, and also have a drag car,,,plus if u wanna try and still stay in th scene and just go watch its becoming more expensive,,,, look at starbird show,, $35 to enter ur car they said there was about 1000 cars there=$35000, ok $20 to get in th door to look,, how many people u think was there say 2000 =$40,000 which total is $75,000 some profit there,,,,show promotors, track owners are getting greedy .... and the money is what is causing a big deminsh in the hot rod world.....just my .02

[dragrcr50]

i agree with observer i think money is th biggest factor, u hav to hav money to build a car to race, and be a lil competv, no one wants to go get beat every time up by someone who has more money to put into there car, plus its harder today to have a daily driver keep it running , and insurance gas, ect, and also have a drag car,,,plus if u wanna try and still stay in th scene and just go watch its becoming more expensive,,,, look at starbird show,, $35 to enter ur car they said there was about 1000 cars there=$35000, ok $20 to get in th door to look,, how many people u think was there say 2000 =$40,000 which total is $75,000 some profit there,,,,show promotors, track owners are getting greedy .... and the money is what is causing a big deminsh in the hot rod world.....just my .02

I think starbird has three shows a year, that is there income period, several people in his family depend on it. the oil center sure as hell isn't cheap , power, gate people insurance etc. and it is an entertainment venue, not a must do as far as your budge goes , it costs more to go to a pro ball game anywhere i think... same at the race track , they barely make a living if not for the special shows they are able to get... business is business. I know what your saying its a bitch, but it is 2008. the prices haven't gone up that much in 20 yrs like some entertainment has, my 2 cents..........

[Big Daddy 73]

last year we went to missouri in like july or something and DS was there. :D

[HAFROD]

It seems like drag racing is not as popular but, when you watch PINKS all out, the stands are full!!! Alot of people watching drag racing!!!!! Heck, they are selling out at the events!

[Salli66]

I teach High School out here in Western OK, so I get a first hand look at what is coming through--and let me just say: "I weep for the future"...It's pitiful. However, I had a bit of a renewal in my faith a while back when we only had a few kids in class taking semester tests--after they finished we got some time to talk. Anyways, it was a group of Freshmen boys and I showed them some pictures from the HAMBs and we got to talking about cars. Well, to my shock these kids knew what rat rods were and knew about good classic cars! They were telling me about their dad's cars or their grandpa's projects and where some great cars were that people wouldn't part with! I was shocked. They like drag racing and absolutely despised "stupid lookin' wuss foreign cars"! There may be some hope still yet...maybe.

[DuckusCrapus]

I teach High School out here in Western OK, so I get a first hand look at what is coming through--and let me just say: "I weep for the future"...It's pitiful. However, I had a bit of a renewal in my faith a while back when we only had a few kids in class taking semester tests--after they finished we got some time to talk. Anyways, it was a group of Freshmen boys and I showed them some pictures from the HAMBs and we got to talking about cars. Well, to my shock these kids knew what rat rods were and knew about good classic cars! They were telling me about their dad's cars or their grandpa's projects and where some great cars were that people wouldn't part with! I was shocked. They like drag racing and absolutely despised "stupid lookin' wuss foreign cars"! There may be some hope still yet...maybe.


That does shed some hope on the situation. Nice to hear stuff like that. Thanks for posting.



DuckusCrapus

[Observer]

Thought I might add another tidbit from talkin to our buds up the road.

The pop has a super comp dragster and the son has a super gas Cavalier. The son has had his car for about two years and was thinkin about sellin it and get a new car built. His Cavalier came from RJ's which builds Pro Stock cars for Greg Anderson, Jason Line, and some of those guys. They pretty much build only full tube carbon/glass doorslammers for several different classes in NHRA and IHRA.

Anyway, he called them up and talked to them about sellin the Cavalier and building a new one. RJ's told him that if he sold his car, it would be close to 16 months before they could deliver a new one. It seems that they are really that far stacked with orders. They say once the money is received, it takes about 8 to 9 weeks to build a car, and they turn out almost one car a day (just a roller, no motor, tranny, or paint). That sounds almost beyond belief, but I guess it's true from what they're sayin.

I don't know if this is a good indicator, especially for anything to do with this local area being concerned, but going by the conversations, and if today's economy doesn't nose dive into a huge puddle of shit, it tells me that drag racing is alive and well for a good long time. Mind you, these cars discussed are for Sportsman and Pro classes, not the average streeter type bracket stuff, but it still sheds a lot of light that people are staying interested, spending the big bucks, and drag racing is in no means being sluffed off around the country. I'd like to hope that's what it says anyway.

[Observer]

75 teams and over 41,000 spectators were at Houston last weekend for the ADRL Pro Mods. They had to start turning people away cause they had no more room.

Sounds to me like drag racing is VERY alive and well!

BTW: The ADRL is coming to Tulsa this year.

[G-Man]

I attend local drags as much as possible and find that the average age of the drivers is around 50. I believe that when this group fades away, drag strips and racing as we know it will be gone. That's a sad though but is a matter of fact.
When I ran drag cars back in the 60'-70's, the crowd attending was mostly in their teens, 20' 30's. Most drivers were of the same age. I ran when Sox and Martin were the ones to beat and Anglia's, 6-bangers and small blocks were the going thing. The crowds attending were in the hundreds compared to today...you're lucky to see 50 spectators (I'm speaking of where I live).
IMO, there is no excitement in watching the factory sponsored funny cars and such because everything looks and goes the same.
Real drag racing is 2 guy's with cars they built; usually on a budget and scrap parts (sometimes driven off the street), no nitrous or add-ons (just pure muscle) driving their cars flat out through the quarter and the best man wins.
Currently, I'm building a gasser that I hope will allow me to feel and relive those days (if just for awhile) and allow the younger generation to see real drag racing as it was. Just a car with raw, unmolested power, looking rough and going as fast as it can in a short distance. Crap on trailer queens!

[CamaroMark]

I think you are all blaming the wrong things here. it is not the younger guys who are just not into it. the younger crowd IS into it. although it sucks that they all like to make there 4 bangers go faster. My friends in this city where i live now are all mostly into 4 bangers, and most of em run faster than my camaro, which sucks, but hey i cant buy a new chip or put a stage 2 turbo on my car, its just not feasable. but these guys do enjoy racing and are always striving to make there cars go fast, even tho they are crap fwd cars.

But anyways back to the topic, drag racing is alive and well up here although there are no premanent tracks with 5 hours of here. so we resort to one weekend deal airstrips converted into 1/8 bracket racing strips for the weekend. In Fasts city of north bay, there is a race coming up, Well over 250 cars and ALOT of people attend this and its only for 3 days!

I mainly think whats causing all these drag strips to close down is the high insurance rates now. it costs too much for anyone to keep a drag strip going when it costs an obscene amount for insurance coverage.

im young and i like old cars, my first car was a 79 camaro, second is a 68, and i also own a 55 chev. I feel like duckus does, i was born in the wrong generation so im surrounded by fart pipes and four bangers, but im surviving and will never stray from the old car ways!

Mark

[DuckusCrapus]

It is so hard to pinpoint what has changed. I think we all agree that it has changed. Look at any set of bleachers from the '60's to today. Regular weekend races back then were like special events of today.

Money is such an issue. Greed is part of it, but not all. Mots of the big boys all have sponsors and compete on masive levels. I guess the thing that is missing is the competition of the small guy. Back in the '60's the small guy had a shot at beating the early pros.

There has been a local debate about the Tulsa track and how things have changed for the Midnight Drags ( sort of a street race type of thing that has run for decades!). Funny how people are talking about how much better it was back in the '90's. Yet I remember back in the '90's people were talking about how cool it was back in the '80's.

Honestly....we have the ability to have the same good times today, but time makes memories into legends sometimes.

I am in the same boat. I will be hanging with bracket racing tube chasis cars in my beat up ole' '55 Chevy this year. Oh well. I think I will be having more fun than some of those guys.

Who knows.......Life aint easy and change is gonna happen whether we dig it or not.



DuckusCrapus

[dragrcr50]

simply put, drag racing is what you make of it... if you race i gaurantee you will enjoy it , If you dont you should try it and not degrade it. Tulsa is one hell of a nice track, If i were closer id be there every week, at the Jam there were ten thousand spectators, the gassers got standing yelling applause every burnout or wheel stand. we had a great time , and kids who had no idea what we were about loved it. to put it in perspective, a young man hat on sideways baggy drawers asked fred what kind of car he had there... he told him it was a 37 chevy and it ran 10.60s at 125 mph, the answer from the kid was, I dont know what that means sir. but he was there paid 20 to see em and didnt know what he was watching. but he was interested.... get off your ass and go out and race your car be it a street sleeper or a slug, stay out of the car show chairs and enjoy a litle reality with the old car , not the who was fast back when, but the one that is doing it now and enjoy it.........:cool: .

[DuckusCrapus]

Tulsa is a nice facility. Nicer than it ever has been. Can't wait to go down it. The people deabting about the era's of the midnights are kind of confusing. Back then it was dangerous! Even if you were just a spectator. Much more easy going now. But it isn't a "do whatever the hell you want" type of place anymore.


I personally only like to run me against the clock type of racing. I could care les what is in the other lane.....although I would prefer it to be a gasser. :D


It is what you make of it. At least I am hoping that to be true.



DuckusCrapus

[G-Man]

I guess it also has to do with location? In this area, we have a lot of mom and pop strips with mostly neighborhood or area cars participating. But even when the announcement of special cars, such as old gassers coming to the track to put on a show, you still pretty much see a mostly "vintage" crowd. I suppose further west, the situation may be different? They have proposed a new strip that is being added to the Lowes Motor Speedway, but that will most likely be "owned" by the big boys (money cars). We can't live in the past (I agree) but it would be nice to see a little "mingled in with" the new once in a while. I really enjoy the nostalgia cars but most are out west or up north from this area and are a collected group, so we just have to create our own nostalgia. Really like your gasser Duck!

[DuckusCrapus]

Thanks.....glad you like it. I know how you feel on the drag thing. But isn't it funny....look where the crowds always go in the pits. It is usually the older style digs. That makes me feel good.



DuckusCrapus

[EzRiderGasser]

Before our local track closed every Friday night he ran an OPS class most weeks he had 10 to 12 cars. $500.00 pay out and filled the track with spectators. And when I say filled I mean filled. These cars only ran 1/8 mile low 5's high 4's on a 10" tire. Have to admit they were a blast to watch. After the track closed the next closest track could care less about them. He pulls in a small crowd on the weekend of spectators but lots of racers. I know the OPS car draw the crowd but he could care less.
EZ

[oldskoolgasr]

I'm sorry I mist this talk but I'm going to give my two cents anyway.If we do not get off our butts get out to the tracks be it TAT or brackit racing and even to the car shows and the cruises and get the gasser and muscle cars,rat rods or what ever you have out there.How is any young people going to now about?Them so we as car owner of the of the past have to keep them out there for all to see and ask question about.Then with more people being part of theyes events then there will be more places for saturday night cruises and drag strips will stay open because there would be more people whating to race there cars not just talk about it and that's what keep them open and out there.

[dragrcr50]

I'm sorry I mist this talk but I'm going to give my two cents anyway.If we do not get off our butts get out to the tracks be it TAT or brackit racing and even to the car shows and the cruises and get the gasser and muscle cars,rat rods or what ever you have out there.How is any young people going to now about?Them so we as car owner of the of the past have to keep them out there for all to see and ask question about.Then with more people being part of theyes events then there will be more places for saturday night cruises and drag strips will stay open because there would be more people whating to race there cars not just talk about it and that's what keep them open and out there.


Ie. support you local track . yep gas is high yep track burgers are over priced but if you dont go it will close nd then you will be here sittin on your butts talkin about your local strip... we as an association have worked prety hard, I know I have to get the word out that we exist and have started getting a pretty good following and inquires as to car builds to race with us, and from strip owners that are wanting us to show up at the track where they are at. So it takes doin like oldschool said. not just talkin, go out and race your hot rod at least one time this summer youll love it... makes car shows seem mundane...........