S/SS @ Sonoma

[Chevy454]

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Stock, Super Stock, and Comp are really the only thing left in my opinion!

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Sam, I wish NHRA shared your opinion! I'm not near smart enough to even know where to start a class car, but class racers are my IDOLS...but from what I've seen over the past couple of seasons NHRA simply sees them as almost a "hinderance". I mean, cutting out events? That's just plain wrong. They built the NHRA, yet they're mesmerized by the mega bucks operations of the pro ranks.

NHRA better dance with the one(s) that brought them, or they're gonna become a wallflower...

[Salvatore]

We may agree on something here. NHRA is not interested in anything but money and I would say safety. If you run a class car, you have to tech it. NHRA doesn't want to do that anymore. I believe they want to just see that it is safe and that is it. Teching takes too much time and money. Just run bracket and pay me! The other stuff is not going to come back. Not enough room in the pits for Pro Stock Trucks so they eliminated them after most teams spent millions for the new season. S/G,S/C, and S/S is here for ever. Remember all the manufactures spend millions on new products for bracket racing. This is now the bread and butter. It is very hard to explain to new drag racing spectators why these 3 classes leave the line, then stop and then go! I feel Stock Eliminator is the closest thing we have to the original muscle car as we can get. I try to go to all the Stock/Superstock and DIV.1 races I can make. Usually spend time with Jerry MacNeish and his E/Stocker. Long live the stockers!!!

[Chevy454]

We DEFINITELY agree on this, Sam. I chuckled when I read that about the launch-stop-go thing...I usually try to avoid such a *bog*! Along the same lines, explaining to the casual spectator why you see brake lights in the traps in some classes is good for a laugh as well!

A lot of people don't realize just how "stock" the s/ss cars used to be back in the day...we're talking full exhaust and limited mods. Todays s/ss cars are a lot like the pioneer pro stock cars of old...all because (I think) NHRA has loosened it's reigns, for the very reasons you explained.

And todays pro stock cars are a far cry from their origins as well. You'd think that a 500 cube limit and a carb would be pretty simple, but today's pro-stock cars are all but that. I was fortunate enough to attend a pure stock & stock appearing event at Norwalk, where a few of the pro stock teams were there testing before qualifying in Columbus that night. I watched them check the data log with their laptop, and got to check out their transports...a far cry from the way it used to be, but still pretty neat to this Hillbilly!

[Mr70]

Not since President Ford agreed to put double ply Toilet paper in ALL the Whitehouse Press Bathrooms,has there been such a Mutual Understanding.

[stk758]

I love comp!! My car partner is Jeff Gillette 757 B/ED record holder. His car heeps us busy, 354 cu in 918 hp @ 9800. Not a splayed motor, still a wedge Chevy. This car will humble you in a heartbeat. I wrench his car and he does mine. We are looking for a nice rig to put both cars in and tour together instead of running back and fourth between pits! Div 1 has got to be the toughest . Lots of racing back East. California land has gone sky high and we are losing prime raceways to developers. Mufflers on Wed nights keeps me from testing like we used to. Next year we are planning to run East and see how we do.
Back to work on the car.. Barry

[Salvatore]

Stock eliminator today is like the original Pro Stock. 4 speeds and slapper bars. I realize we have to progress but come on now the Pro Stock cars are carbon fiber. In the old days Jenkins and the Vega guys had to retain the original uni-body and build around it. Then you could use fiberglass components, but maintain an original steel hood windshield posts and modify the back the quarter panels and rear hatch area. Today, come on all carbon fiber Just ain't the same. I remember when jenkins and Sox were going 9.80's almost like the A/stick cars are doing today. Like The Couger says: Thats when sport was sport and groovin was groovin! Thank God for progress though, because my one son had a heart transplant 6 years ago and is doing great. So I guess progress in some things is not all bad.

[Salvatore]

Got some fast A and B stockers out here. Tom Baird in A/S and Ed Bednaz in B/S. Also some good running Mopars in A-C Stock. Dan Fletcher in B/SA is tough to beat also. Joe Sorensen (A/SA) is out your way correct? Vinny Barone went 8 flat in A/SR last weekend in the heat and on a track that is just about 20ft. from being factored. (Numidia Raceway Div.1) You do have some good cars back here just like out West. Harry Holton is NO slouch and neither is Ray Bartons group. I heard of Jeff Gillette you guys set that record in Sonoma I think. Good air helps. Sam

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Bednaz

[stk758]

We did set the record there on a conservative run. Good air here is 500-1000 ft, averages 15-2000 ft. You have a hard time trying to hook and not shake everything off the car with killer air in a B/ED. Wind at Sonoma is also a big factor, big headwinds. Hey Rob, did you get the e- mail?
Barry

[stk758]

Ok Camaro guys, Did the 69 SS 427 holley come with the baffel aluminum plate and gasket? Looking through the books and do not see one so I figured you would know.
Barry