This should bring out a ton of old drag cars!

NHRA ANNOUNCES HOT ROD HERITAGE SERIES: To help preserve NHRA's rich history and tradition while seizing on the success of nostalgic drag racing compe***ion, NHRA has announced the formation of the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series that will crown year-end points champions in 14 categories.
“This new series is an exciting step that will appeal to drag racing fans young and old,” said Peter Clifford, executive vice president and general manager, NHRA. “It's a great way to introduce the younger generation to the history of our sport and give fans young and old a glimpse of racing the way it used to be.”

The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series will kick off with the famed March Meet at Bakersfield, California March 7–9, and conclude October 10–12 at the California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California back at Bakersfield's Auto Club Famoso Raceway. For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com/content/news/25854.htm.

 

Looks good on first glance. Then think about it. There will not be a single car there that is as it was. Not one. Anything you race has to meet the rules as they are NOW, not then. They'll just be clones of old race cars. They're desperate to put ****s in the seats and will try anything to achieve it. Try lowering the price for a ticket and more will show up. Try letting the "little" guy race and more will show up. I've been to ONE NHRA race since 1970 and left early at that one. Its just a show with a bunch of high dollar sponsors. WWF for cars.

 

bradley. When's the last time you got a good whiff of nitro up your nostrils while sitting on the couch? Or felt the launch of a mighty fuel car through your remote? Saw header flames of a front engine dragster light up the night sky.....on 2 wheels.........through the lights at 250mph.............on FIRE....................with a chick behind the wheel, other than in your dreams? I have. In person. And NOTHING compares. Never will.

Do you know how many people died driving those cars "the way they were"? It's not 1970 anymore. There is a reason for making them change. Safety advancements for one. And those cost money. Yes, old cars are kick ***, but seriously dude. I applaud your conviction to stay home and not go to the drags. I hope you continue to do so. I for one, will be at the track (along with thousands of faithful fans) watching those crazy sons a *****es making lap after lap with a grin on my face.

 

I wish there were more people like dbradley. It would've been easier to get around at Famoso for the CHRR...

 

VERY well said, Road Apple !!

 

so what about the inliners and flathead cl*** sorta sounds like the old goodguys vintage drags pretty cool though

 

The safety of people should be first! The one down fall I see will be these cars will have big sponsors. It would be cool if there was a money limit on these car. So then you wont have your ringers.

 

Interesting in that they don't list the Rodder's Reunion that will be in Bowling Green,Ky again in June 2008-2013.That is a NHRA function.

I don't see how you can put a $$ limit on it. I mean you going to make people bring receipts in? What if a sponser "gave" them a new Hydro sick?.
Some of this stuff has mega bucks in i.I'm just glad to see them bring it out and put it on the line.

 

Read the ***le of the original post.......................... This will have NOTHING to do with "old drag cars". I agree on the safety, just say'in true drag racing was ruined when corporate greed and bragging rights took over. To each their own.

 

5 out of 8 are in California and don't even include their own race at Bowling Green. Makes you wonder how much nostalgia racing has caught on outside of the golden state?

 

If NHRA allows the same cars as Goodguys (VRA), then it will be a good deal. The Goodguys race at Indy each June was great. Lots of cars. It indicates good support in the Midwest. There was a group of cars called "Geezer G***ers" which were old style , straight axle Willys, Anglias, etc, many of which were g***ers in the old days. I'm sure there were consessions to current safety rules. Yeah, you can't drag your old 1959 FED and run it as is. Would you want to?

 

when has racing ever been anything BUT bragging rights? it has NEVER been cheap to go racing as a professional outfit.
you have been sitting on the sidelines for a long time i guess....??
NHRA is is only re-introducing the cl***es to its events... N.E. 1, 2 & 3, junior fuel, F/A, HotRod and Gas cl***es have been alive and well since the 70's with smaller organisations. it doesnt change a thing when it comes to old race cars.

 

2 words..........HAMB Drags

 

Even though it may seem to be the unpopular thing to do,I tend to agree with dbradley.

I hate the "newstalgia" series. Promods with wings on 40 gl*** willys. Sure they are fast but they are far from Vintage.

I hope it does bring people in. NASCAR has the marketing angle figured out, even though those things are far from the "Stock Cars" of their day.

 

NHRA favoring the west coast AGIAN. hey here's an idea try putting together a "heritage" race at a historic east coast track???
(ie- kentucky aint east coast)
...wait what am i saying, I forgot we have nothing to offer out here in the east my bad

 

I am going to be there !!! I hope .

 

That boy aint right!


NITRO WHOAAAAAAAAH!

Tim

 

i run at the anra series and nhra couldn't get me to sit in the stands, let alone drive my car at any of their events. as far as the good guys go, if you were a little guy and ever ran with them, you wouldn't want anything to do with them. i have a completely nhra legal car so don't try to tell me they have any interest in the little guy. what most people don't understand about sanctioning bodies is, they only want a certain amount of cars in the pits and usually only the fast cars. the fast cars bring in the spectators, which is where they make most of their money anyway. the little guy is used for filler between rounds and if it comes to you running or the big boys, guess who will be on their way home early?

 

Great, there go the parts prices....

 

AMEN, brother

 

I hope they allow no special aids in these cl***es. No delay boxes, no trans brakes, no shift lights or other modern aid. Use your foot brake off the line and shift by your ear..

 

dbradley prety much nails it. Yes, its true, NHRA is the monster organization; and they couldn't **** more. Yes, if youlike two mags, two pumps, and a 10 million dollar budget, its the greatest show on earth. But its appeal really is to those who "like cars" not the true gear heads who enjoy innovation and doing it yourself/differently. I have to go to NHRA events for my customers, but when I go race, its either a Chrysler meet or nostalgia or hot rod reunion type event.
I think HAMB meets would be the best thing yet. I know Carl Blanton over at Mo-Kan, although I doubt he'd remember me. I haven't spoken to him since he ran a FED with an old Chrysler in it, but I remember him well.
NHRA is very successful, but at the expense of the racers, make no mistake about it. NHRA is a not for profit organization to my understanding and its officers make millions while the racers get virtually zip. The rules choke off any innovation. The tech people I've seen in recent years could find their own ***es with both hands and a road map. NHRA ****s. I'll happily go to George Ray or Carl's track every trip of the train. Beech Bend is great too; a real throwback to the old days. My .02.

 

NHRA Half baked again. Why not put some effort and time into this. If you live anywhere EAST your F&*^%$#.

 

i don't see whats the big deal if a guy wants to run his old car down a drag strip where hes the only person taking a risk, when i ran my hillclimb bike down at port angles you were taking your life into your on hands, in a split second you can be slaped to the ground and have a 300lb bike come crashing down on the back of your neck, thats all part of the fun, an old dragster with a flathead in it is not going to be anymore unsafe, dam insurance companys and lawyers.

 

I'm kinda in agreement with dbradley as well.......
The cars need to be safe, sure......but if (when?) I build a FED, it will be authentic mid 60's....aka Zorba's Ghost....that car rules.
I've been to some "vintage" drags, but the real deal drag cars aren't allowed to make a "full" p***.....that's a shame........

Does Tardel have the Ch***is Research ch***is' yet?

 

Oh, can I get an "AMEN"?

 

Isn't that the point of drag racing?

 

Yeah, don't worry about having an event out our way... THE BIRTHPLACE OF SPEED.

 

Pretty sad when the best thing an organization can do is reissue the stuff they were doing 40 years ago.

 

Yeah, there's things that **** about the NHRA but ,if you don't like it ,you could put your money at risk and start another organization.