Thread: Things That Ruined Drag Racing!

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Clutch management units and more than 3 discs
more than one port nozzle per cylinder
dual mags and plugs
more than 3 people on crew
multi car corporate teams
larger than 8:71 blowers

Commercially made race-bred engines & driveline components (it was more interesting when you had to modify stock parts or build your own stuff )
Automatic transmissions ( I miss the gear-bangin' 4-speeds )
Tranny brakes
Stutter boxes, Delay boxes, Electronic throttle stops, anything that requires an onboard computer (why do we have a driver? )
Loss of the Gasser classes

glides and 383 strokers LOL

Nothing ruined it, it just changed....

All the good 4 speed classes are still there in Super Stock. The reason for breakouts and the resultant throttle stops, etc. was so that it isn't a case of the biggest checkbook wins!!~!!!

Most run automatics because it's a whole lot easier on driveline components then a 4 or 5 speed!!!! I love my 5 speed, but if you're going to run one in a big horse car and hard hitting suspension, make sure you carry a lot of spare parts!!!!! Even with the new Soft Lok clutch from McCleod, the driveline shock a 500 horse engine running a 10.5 slick and good suspension is gonna break stuff......

I use a two step stutter box. The launch pill helps me concentrate on the lights, and the hi pill is just cheap insurance for missed shifts or broken drivelines.....

I think I have the one word answer.


TIME

I thought I mentioned transmissions but upon review I didn't----yep I remember those days---drive to track, change tires, open exhausts, remove aircleaner--sometimes change rear gears( rear wheels off anyway, might just as well pull axles and change pumpkin)
Watch flagman---his arm bulges just before he lifts tip of flag off button
Electric starter--find radio station that pops the speaker when they activate system
Use a 1 X 2 board to hold brake pedal to keep car from moving( Pre line loc days)

Guess I prefer pushing the line loc, right foot to the floor(let the limiter do it's job), drop the clutch when it's time to go, pull the handle when the little light flashes....

One of my least fond memories of "the good old days" was the afternoon old Charlie lost a bunch of his right foot when the clutch blew up inside that aluminum bellhousing......

One thing that Killed racing is NHRa made so many rul changes that it cost to much to race . I can remember when we would go to a race and every guy off the street would bring his car to race .Then NHRA made an agreement with Sponcers to help them sell there product they forced every body to buy or go home ,most of the racers went home . Every Racer would bring friends the stands were full . now to make up for it NHRA hoses the racer to fill there pockets . To run a standard I need to buy a new scatter shield every 2 years because it costs more to ship and have my shield inspected than a new one is worth . I sent one back got hosed for the shipping & inspection then they tell me that it will not pass . They don't need a reason They rere ticed off when i told them to send it back . I sold it to a ovel racer they don't have B.S rules like NHRA.

Ok.. so we need a rich redneck to open a few strips across the country. Private strips with one rule: run what you brought.

Sounds hazardous to me! You cannot always depend on people to be responsible....even for their own safety....forget the guy in the next lane, or leaning on the fence!

I've got an old acquaitence with half a foot... (no wisecracks)... who didn't think he needed a scattershield. The pressure plate came through the floor by the gas peddle, and exited through the windshield!

THAT is called Darwin's theory of evolution.

It doesn't have to be a double strip, you can race the clock, not each other.

Put the stands to the rear and it's just the driver against the machine.

But then, I'd like to see board track racing come back too. No brakes, 100+ MPH, and BRASS BALLS.

Drag racing is not ruined...just changed with the times, same as everything else...

A one car drag race with all the fans behind the action.....Begs the question.....what fans????

If you wanna run heads up, the opportunity is there, just takes some big bucks to do it...

Board track racing went away when cars and bikes got too fast for it and too many people were getting killed...I liked single hoop sprint cars too....but they also killed a lot of people and have since been left to the nostalgia racers.

My favorite is still the Super Classes, and the no electronic brackets...I'd probably run a delay box and those brackets, just never have been worth a poop running off a box....and manual transmissions won't work with one anyhow and I really like to shift.

As for outlaw tracks with the racers governing themselves....Been there, done that. Either safety goes out the window or the biggest check book wins....sometimes both... Racers wil be racers and with few exceptions will push, pull, distort, and break every rule, safety or otherwise, that there is. Though it costs me $$$$$, I'm glad there's dedicated folks around like Richard to keep us all honest---and safe....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Drag racing is not ruined...just changed with the times, same as everything else...

A one car drag race with all the fans behind the action.....Begs the question.....what fans????

If you wanna run heads up, the opportunity is there, just takes some big bucks to do it...

Board track racing went away when cars and bikes got too fast for it and too many people were getting killed...I liked single hoop sprint cars too....but they also killed a lot of people and have since been left to the nostalgia racers.

My favorite is still the Super Classes, and the no electronic brackets...I'd probably run a delay box and those brackets, just never have been worth a poop running off a box....and manual transmissions won't work with one anyhow and I really like to shift.

As for outlaw tracks with the racers governing themselves....Been there, done that. Either safety goes out the window or the biggest check book wins....sometimes both... Racers wil be racers and with few exceptions will push, pull, distort, and break every rule, safety or otherwise, that there is. Though it costs me $$$$$, I'm glad there's dedicated folks around like Richard to keep us all honest---and safe....

Drag racing cant be ruined in my book .... To me, its always been about run what you brung, and hope you brought enough......

Actually, In the beginning of this thread, I was referring to much of the "spectator show" being lost.

In earlier years, it was cars that we could relate more to... great paint, chrome, and polish...violent launches...busted axles and driveshafts...guardrail to guardrail passes... wheelstands in every gear, 1320 feet of tire smoke!

As things have progressed, the cars make many more straight and uneventful runs. The competition is closer, and that is part of the experience, but the unpredictability was a big part of the "spectacle".

The popularity of nostalgia events would seem to indicate that many others also miss the "good ol' days" of drag racing.

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

Actually, In the beginning of this thread, I was referring to much of the "spectator show" being lost.

In earlier years, it was cars that we could relate more to... great paint, chrome, and polish...violent launches...busted axles and driveshafts...guardrail to guardrail passes... wheelstands in every gear, 1320 feet of tire smoke!

As things have progressed, the cars make many more straight and uneventful runs. The competition is closer, and that is part of the experience, but the unpredictability was a big part of the "spectacle".

The popularity of nostalgia events would seem to indicate that many others also miss the "good ol' days" of drag racing.

I miss the smoky passes, the Gasser wars, AA/FA's, Super Stock, Jr. Fuel, AA/GD, etc,etc., but times change and you either change or get left behind.
I do think NHRA will go back to 1/4 mile racing in all classes ,but I do think that mid 4 second passes at 325+ will be a thing of the past.