Well, from three of the posts that I read, some of the guys still have no idea what an HA/GR is. We do not need to level the playing field as it is already as level as it needs to be. KIRK, if I ever retire, I could possibly make more of these races if you can get them set up. Probably another reason you have not got anymore response, is that a lot of the guys interested in the HA/Gr's, stay on that forum and do not get over here very often.
The new GG's event in Bowling Green, KY would be a natural since the Hot Rod Reunion left. If it end in KY, it's got to be good.
I too , am surprised at the lack of response. I 'm actually a roundy round fan, and have been involved with sprint cars and midgets for many years,but i would go drag racing if this really materialized.Its a great idea, and if you and Ryan were behind it, it would be a success. The only thing is, with ALL forms of racing,soon the crowds and promoters want faster times,they want more fire, and more danger.Then v8s are allowed,and before you know it, an entry level cl*** is suddenly more expensive than it should be. Im not knocking it, dont get me wrong,I love the idea and will support it 100%.
I love to watch this stuff but don't dilute the existing shows by making us choose going to Indy, Norwalk, Columbus or Bowling Green. Most of us can't budget enough time if not capital to hit all shows. I'd rather be blown away and not be able to see all at one show. That way I can come back the following year to pick up on what I missed previously. My 2 cents.
Kirk. Your concept has real promise. I would hope that the safety aspect(s) are written in stone, and bulletproof! Old re-incarnations have a way of showing up, and that's grand, but everyone needs to know if their chro-mo ch***is and welds are sound. It becomes too late, to raise the safety bar later, after mis-fortune has played out.
All well and good, but lets remember that these are low tech, vintage style cars and not AA/FDs like some people want to treat them as. When you are building from an old set of A or T frame rails, and using early technology, it takes a lot away from the budget for the build when people start wanting the ch***is certified along the lines of a high dollar pro car. A safe car can still be built using 1960s technology, and at the speeds and ETs we are looking at we do not need to build a ch***is to the same standards of the cars running in the 7 second, 200+ mph range.
That would be nice, we're working (and hoping) for it as well. November'll be our fourth show & tell, to fill out this year's appearance promises. We have all the upgrades we've been advised done (except the second hoop, not just yet) and will be available for whatever Butch wishes.
I'm not exactly sure what the HA/GR cl*** is, but no matter. And it doesnt change my opinion based on my distant geography, but I have one question: Are the Goodguys shows mentioned existing car shows with the racing attached? Or are these seperate venues? Reason I ask, how much can a family (or one guy) see in one day with 2000 plus cars to look at, and the drags as well. Personally, I would be at the drags, which would take away my "look at cars" time.
If you want to find out about the HA/GR cl***, check out this forum. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=38
More than a rumor, but I can't say any more until next week. Now we have some conversations going and good points being made. Keep it up!
I personally think the whole SDRA vs. HA/GR thing ****s. The HA/GR rules were laid out and a cl*** was born. Then a group of fella's took their ball, went home and made their own thing up essentially abandoning and leaving behind a group of confused HA/GR car builders to be wondering which way to go. We have a car at home now that we're not sure whether to put a glide in it or a 4spd. Some guys probably don't have that luxury, nor the money to keep up with some of the SDRA cars. Hell, the Red Barron car has more money in the motor and drivetrain as 2 or 3 HA/GR cars. Now the bright side is that they have a great series out there and some incentive to race and compete well and that I applaud. I just wish instead of 6-8 cars in each group, we could have 12-16 cars built to the same blue print and rule book. That's my 2 cents as a wrench turner on a HA/GR car. It would be just so easy to write a big check on a new performance glide and some modern equipment to add a couple seconds to our car but that isn't what the cl*** was intended to be, or at least that's not my interpretation of Ryans rules.
Amen Lindross. We are just keepin the HA/GR faith and racing with both groups. It is fun even when you are the big underdog- makes it even better to win a round or two. I heard the SDRA champion car (Flathead/glide 11.70 ets) is for sale........... $18,000. Brad
I know this really has nothing to do with the thread, but if you were to build one with the proper cage and safety restraints and all, would it be able to run at local tracks? Or, is that what you are trying to fix by making this thread?
Yeah, that's pretty much what happened. So? My take runs this way ........ Outside view; More and more drag racing spectators are alienated from today's racing. The cost and complexity of what they see at the tracks obliterates any connection they might have with anything they could hope to actually identify with. The old "Hell, I could do that ...." that is (and will always need to be) a gut level part of drag racing's appeal just isn't there any more. "Waitaminit, whatsis? Hey, lookit these cars. Hell, I bet I could do THAT if I really wanted to. I could just move the washer & drier over a couple feet ....... hmmm." HA/GR & SDRA are an instant connection. Even if they never do it, at least it'd be possible. That pro stocker sure as hell ain't (without a wad and a "facility"). Gentlemen, if you don't think this is the crux of our appeal then you have your eyes closed. Inside view; Some folks who liked the idea but wanted to make it a bit easier build & drive decided to spin off a cl*** rather than try to bend this one. These folks wouldn't have built a HAMBster anyway (it's not quite their cup of tea), so they accepted that and developed the concept as they see it, leaving the original well enough alone. That gives us two versions of a great idea, neither builders of which would've built in the other's vein. Thus we have more of this style of car than we'd have had with only one version, hardly a detriment to furthering the idea. Gentlemen, it ain't splitting our appeal. It's doubling it. I guess I'm just not a "zero sum game" proponent. In the vacancy left by the existing state of the sport I do believe we can have it all ........ Fire away then.
In the safety question(s) posed earlier, my uncle Dave Sanderson won an event in Kansas (National meet) in '57. He drove a home built rail w/a Caddy and six 97's if I remember correctly. He also drove barefoot...at least until the officials said "find some footwear!" The car had a corrugated aluminum cowl, bias plies and a solid mounted rear axle. We have learned a great deal since those days, about which features and levels of inspection provide "adequate" safety. The recent "burnout" thread where the car went into the crowd that was standing close to the unfenced roadway, reminded me that you can't afford to shortchange the necessary layout, protocol, and level of inspection. It should be appropriate, no more, and certainly for the success of the event, not less. There are enough well-experienced people here, to know which features and to what extent the organizers should go.
go ahead and put the 4 speed in you can still come and race in SDRA like 2b and cowboy bob are going to do this weekend we are shut out of hamb but so be it. by the way will have raced 7 events this year . Indy the 5races sdra put on and old time drags this sat Mudflap one of the Hornets
Nail on the head! That's why I, and most others, dig them so much. Drag racing has become one of amazement (impossible speeds and E.T.s) for spectators and not one of potential participation, which is the true root of drag racing's appeal.
Kirk, Adter reading up on the HA/GR opportunity (as I think I understand it), I would be interested in building a car with my sons (with help from my buddies) and make a few weekend "family" events if there were 2-3 in the Midwest. I am totally for affordable fun which is a common denominator with my boys and buddies. Been in racing all of my life and I am ready to do it again if I can find this kind of alternative. We might be slow, but we would kick *** in the fun category. Ebert.
Down here, QQmoon and I chuckle at the thought that we're 'setting back' drag racing 50 years.... And to a certain degree, that's the 'appeal' that the spectators admire. Having said that, the 'appeal' varies a little, as a 'builder' it's different, as a 'racer' it's different, as a 'promoter' it changes again. Where I'm pushing this, is that at the moment we have two primary distinct perspectives, that as a 'spectator', and another as a 'builder/racer'. As a 'builder/racer', I don't care if the stands are empty, I just wanna race, draw a line in the sand and it's 'on'. as a 'spectator/promoter', I want entertainment, something that will 'tickle the fancy', offer a element of entertainment, and package to suit. Long and short of the above dribble, the 'intent' of the HA/GR or SDRA cl***es is with a bias towards the 'builder/racer', and not so much as a form of entertainment, although the fact that people find them entertaining is a 'bi-product', to which, this thread is interesting, as it's like, where the 'little river and the sea join', the 'country meets city'................. Not really sure how you guys (Kirk & Ryan) can make the 'join' work, but whilst ever the intent is 'pure', and the cl*** is appreciated for what it endeavours to represent, then behind ya 100%. K.I.S.S. Cheers, Drewfus
Well, I would like to see something like that happen for the same reason that I like the traditional cars on the HAMB. My T Bucket is no way traditional, but I really like the cars you guys build and I dig that you are holding on to traditional values. I think people are getting tired of seeing big corporate speed machines that they really can't relate to. Seeing cars race, like the ones in the start of this thread, would bring back hope to the regular guy who always wanted to race, but thought it was too expensive. I say do it. Bring along the cl*** and love of tradional cars you guys show here and it should go over very well.
This thread is why something like this could work. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216670 There are a lot of people who would really dig seeing more traditional style drags.
Ebert, If you need any help in the wrench bending, beer drinking, and fun categories, keep me in mind for your "buddy" list. JR
That's a question I was wondering about also. I would build one of these but i'd hate to have it sit in the garage all year only to be run at two races. I could take it to local shows and cruise-ins but would people outside the hobby really understand what they are and how can you feed the need for speed sitting in a bag chair beside the car? I say LET'S RACE!!!!
The missing piece is between what the Good Guys run and the Hamb Group runs. What I'm saying is a real Nostalgia dragster, one that looks like a late 50's early 60's piece. Push started, under 135" wheelbase with pre 66 OEM iron block & heads. Rails that are powered by Olds, Nailheads, 354 - 392 Hemi's, Packards, Belly ****ons, Ponchos, Desoto's etc. The major hurdle is finding a natural track, not one on steroids. Find a natural track and the costs to build and maintain a dragster will be low. We, at the Standard 1320 have been trying to do that but it's a tough problem to solve. Doug Peterson's Ol' #2 is a great example Mr Nailhead
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