Getting the word out....

Any ideas on ohow ot better spread the word about HA/GR?

I've been to 3 different gatherings of HAMB'ers here in St. Louis.
Nobody knew what an HA/GR car was. They all liked the concept once I expalined it to them. If HAMB'ers don't know about us, how are we gonna grow the cl***?

Glenn

 

Any HAMBer interested in drag racing (almost, if not all) should have seen the HAMB drags forum on the home page. This forum has rules and all. Also HA/GR is running at our nostalgia meets here in Oz, if not in the U.S.A. too, guys will surely see them there.

 

1. Actions speak louder than words..
2. Get involved, and do (ie see step 1)
3. build it, and they will come
4. Talk to tracks, and try to get the cars involved, this is where people will either like what they see, or they won't.

'Grow the cl***...?' - this part is a personal thorn, one which I often can see both merit and conflict.

Merit - we believe in the cl***, as we feel it embraces alot of elements that represent hot rodding heritage.
- It allows people to get involved, at a realistic entry level, both financially, technically, and practically.
- It's great from a personal perspective, as well as creating a opportunity for people to 'unite', and so******e, effectively embracing one method of 'Spreading the hot rodding Gospel'.

Conflict - Is the extra promotion going to enhance the elements that we believe the cl*** represents? Will the extra attention effectively conflict with the 'purity' of being a 'racers' cl***? will the compe***iveness that is garrenteed conflict with the goal of what we originally wanted to achieve when we created the animal?

Now, to be clear, I'm a believer, and support the cl*** with open arms, but by the same token, I am a little hesitent to 'over promote' the cl***, purely because I sometimes hear interested parties talking about the cl*** with the same overzelous at***ude which I believe overrun most other cl***es. Compe***iveness overpowered the elements which made this cl*** enjoyable and achieveable to the 'little guy'.

Here in Oz, we've 'ticked the boxes' so that we can go racing, found a 'niche' that allows us to 'do our thing', and whilst we want to welcome all to the party, we also realise that there will be may who want to 'overthink' the cl***, to which we encourage them to find an existing cl*** that caters for their needs, as we do have limitations, we do have responsibilities, and we don't pretend to be everything to everyone, just a group of people trying to have affordible fun, remembering our hotrodding pioneers, and celebrating racing.

Sure, we're compe***ive a****st ourselves, but by the same token, embrace the camaraderie, after all, we dig the fact we can race our mates, then switch cars a****st ourselves, and still have a party after the day's end.

Cheers,

Drewfus

 

Old6rodder has printed up information sheets and copies of the rules for the cl*** that he hands out to interested people at the meets he's gone to out here on the left coast.
Shoot him a PM and I'm sure he will be glad to send you a sample. He is probably responsible for most of us builders out here getting started.

 

I see the same merits and concerns as Drewfus. Couldn't have said it better.

 

Agreed that there are issues in haveing TOO many, but there are NONE here in St. Louis, and till I got here no one had heard of them.
Its hard to get motivated and spend the money needed to continue the build on a car to run once a year at the HAMB Drags.

 

Glenn,

The same situation holds true here in Kansas City. To the best of my knowledge our car is the only one being built in the KC area. The local drag strip (KCIR) wanted several cars at the recent nostalgia event but ours was the only one there.

I can see both sides of this issue; get too big and lose the "spirit" of these cars, don't get enough cars to make a showing and everyone loses interest. I think it's a situation where your damned if you do, and damned if you don't. I hope someone has a solution.

Ron

 

I'm not ready to worry about "too many cars". We have to have enough to put on our own show within all the other cl***es and not be relegated to running in someones bracket cl***. Otherwise we don't have a cl*** at all and we are just a bunch of "also-rans".

When we start having to worry about who won't make the 16 car field, then start worrying, but I think that is quite far down the road. Just my $0.02.

 

I really don't think you ever have to worry about TOO MANY.. But the way the cost of running a full blown race car has escalated.Guys like myself have parked their cars untill??? I'm sure you will see more of these cars being built in the not to distant future. I hope to have mine finished soon.. These are cars that people can afford, and don't need some exotic fuel to make them run. So they will build. believe me.....

 

Ron.. I have a friend in Rush Center Kansas that is thinking about putting one together now.

 

Agree with your sentiments, and please don't think I'm trying to put a hand break on the cl***, far from it, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it...

Having said that, sure, "spread the gospel" a****st those around you...that's basically what we did, we talked to people we knew, got them, their families and friends involved, originally building 6 cars a****st ourselves, and now we have 14 finished cars, with more on the way.....

Cheers,

Drewfus

 

Wow!! this sounds like start of IMCA mod.s all over. I started drag racing in the sixty's got hooked on circle track when bracket racing started and couldn't afford to move up. I quit racing after 34 yrs. , I saw the start of the imca mod. when you put together a car from junk and had fun, you know junkyard engines (claimer engines) You took engines that nobody would claim and built from there. We used small hard tires so you would not overpower(hook-up)had lots of fun. Now you spend 20,000 to 35,000 on a car. I got excited when reading about ha/gr cars I have started on 2 cars and got several freinds interested(old racers who parked their drag cars because it's no fun anymore) . I just hope we dont go down the same path. CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE THE 1ST. P***. Let's keep it simple and fun. I would love to see a full field of ha/gr's and possible have own meet!! IT AIN'T COOL IF IT AIN'T LOUVERED

 

Hey Louvered ,where you located in Indiana ? I have alot of parts rounded up to start my build .I'm going over to Jim's aka. GMC Bubba) this weekend to check his HA/GR for some measurements and ect... I really want to see this cl*** grow ! Maybe next year at Good Guys we can all put on a good show !!! Our Land speed car can only be ran a couple times a year , so I need something else to play with !!!!

 

Hey Drew,

How long have the guys in your area been at it now? I believe some areas here have been in for several years to date.

Here in Kalifornia we had exactly one running car last year (an orphan poster child we took to four races just to show & tell), two so far this year, and likely two more before Christmas for four this year.
That's cars: 1 > 4 @ 2 yrs.

We had zero races last year (and a car without a purpose ), two so far this year, and likely three more to come for five this year (six next year).
That's races: 0 > 5 @ 2 yrs.

Hell, we're getting races here faster than we are cars.
Wanna bet against us next year? Well, do ya ...... punk?

For you guys working on plans and builds, or with the only car in your area, hang in there, the "ice" is broken with the first running car. Just get it out there and show it.
Let's face it, most folks don't initiate things, they follow (and further) existing ideas. So don't be afraid to be the first one locally, trust me, a bit of patience will pay off. Once they see it in the flesh they'll get in on it and it'll snowball.

If we're dedicated enough to start something brand new in town, we'll deal with any "overgrowth" if and when it comes to the door.

If we must add another rule at some future point, perhaps it should be; "HA/GR cl*** restricted exclusively to folks who know how to kick back and enjoy their hobbies."
OK, I apologize for that last one .......... mostly.

 

Works for me.......It seems like too many people take this whole thing too seriously. As my flight instructor used to say, "if ya ain't having fun, what the hell are ya doing here?"

 

I'm ***uming you're talking to me, we started back in early 06, and was racing that Summer.....

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146654

We needed a minimum of 6 cars to create a bracket at our track, hence, one each, working together, to make it happen, this is the part that I feel makes the whole package work, both as individuals and for the cl***, united we stand, devided we fall.

As per the link onto the main board, I feel that if we want exposure, then the best way to keep peoples attention is to do a 'build-up' of your car there, or at least promoting recent photo's of your build there, linking back to this seperate forum, effectively reminding them that these cars exist, and why we're here.

Afterall, its relatively easy 'spreading the gospel' to the converted, hence the first step in promoting/explaining the cl*** is to our bretheren, then worry about the rest of the world.

Mooving on, get building, talk to your friends, and get them involved, each little step is one closer to racing ya mates.

Cheers,

Drewfus

 

I will have to say that at the recent nostalgia event at KCIR there was a crowd around our car all the time. I watched people walk past a line of beautiful street rods to stand and look at our car.

I finally got my pistons so the engine is going together this week. I'll take it back to KCIR as soon as it's running and make a couple of p***es. I think I'll do a cover letter explaining the HA/GR concept and p*** out copies of the HA/GR rules.

Ron

 

this is only a thought of a fan , yall are doin great things and im am enjoying the threads ....... how bout putting a HA/GR link on your signiture , might become fashionable.. just my 2cts..

 

"Series"? Oh for Christ's sake.
Man, I hadn't realized ANYONE was looking at it that commercially. Points, payouts, sponsers, national tours .......... what else?
OK, you've spooked me, thanks for the heads up. And no thanks.

You may be right. That sort of thinking's not really our team's goal, and certainly not mine. If that frame of mind's already out there then I'm for avoiding it.
Local and friendly is still the basic thing for us. We only want to crack NHRA enough to get on the tracks out here, not to lose it to "yuppie racers" (not meant derogatorially ........ mostly ). Hell, I no longer putt (well, damn little), mostly because of so many yuppie putters on the roads now. Just don't have much in common with'em.

And to be honest, a couple of the high rollers at the strips so far have voiced a yearning for the way we're doing it now. I think they're right, too.

All in all, it might be better to let it grow on its own rather than try to force feed it.

"Series"?

ps. Just caught your close-out on the other thread. Looks like we said much the same thing, though I think your points're better defined.

 

I like reading and watching what you guys that actually have cars are doing. Up until this winter I did not have an engine that would fit in the cl*** even. Plans are not on the table right now for a car, but I can kinda see one off in the distance with so many fellow Vagabond club members building them. I have always gravitated towards smaller groups that werent so popular anyway. There is a lot to be said for doing things in smaller scale.

 

GREAT IDEA!

 

This post has been altered by me from its original content because at the time it was written I was confused and frustrated with Ryan with what I percieved to be a lack of willingness to help this series grow.

I have since been enlightened with a behind the curtain look at the reasoning, thanks to Tman (appreciated) which made me go back and reread Ryans post on the main board. It's all clear now why this series needs to stay the way it is. I will continue to champion the little cars, but the pom poms have been retired. Wally Parks would be proud of Ryan...

 

Come on guys get a handle on it the word is out we just need to keep the ball rolling without any negativity.
When we started out here it was just a bunch of mates doing something with a great idea we didnt know if it would work or not with such a small population and a huge distance between tracks but it did work Australia wide because we made sure they were ANDRA or NHRA legal we also promoted them at the tracks with flyers that i must have printed maybe 1000 or more of to date with the history and the rules .
We may only have a dozen or so racing at the moment but i do know through hambster_garage@hotmail.com there are at least double that to which myself and Drewfus are very proud of .
I guess what i am trying to say is build the cars get out there and race promote the cars with a handout type flyer to anyone who is interested and the cl*** will grow we have proved it.
A link on the main page will help people locate the HA/GR forum but hey we already do that on our flyer.
We are nationally accepted now and can race at almost any meeting we wish to participate in.

Thanks to the HAMB and the inspiration of all those who
created the dream

QQ

 

One more thing it aint about winning its about being part of a TEAM yes a team Together Everybody Achieves More

QQ

 

point taken Ryan...gr***roots it is...

 

I am all for NOT having to "compete" with the gold chaniers that have unlimited wallets.
As you can see from the choices made on my car I'm in this for the fun.
All I was asking for was a concise way to get anyone of our ilk that was interested in building a car into our forums to keep that ball rolling. Now that I can direct them thru the HAMB Drags into the forum, I am content.

Please, Ryan, don't take that as a rant. I was discouraged after my move here, and the blank stares I got whan I said HA/GR. The HAMB is a great place and you are responsible for that.

THANK YOU.

Glenn

 

yes, matter of fact i DID, and i told ya i was both stunned and proud to know you didn't if ya recall. it took a lot of stones to turn that kinda cake down bro.

yes, its a gr*** roots thing. yes, it belongs to the guys who are doing it, but i see NOTHING wrong with giving the thing a lil push or pull here and there where its needed. do i want to see someone standing on top of overp***es across the nation waving HA/GR banners and full page ads in the back of street rodder? no. but remember this... some things are like your teeth... ignore them and they WILL go away

 

Fiddy,

Well said and reflects my personal point of view. At present it reminds me of the Panda bear situation; too few and far between to reproduce. Not that I want to reproduce with any of you guys, but I think you get my point.

I'd like to have a few cars to race without having to drive hundreds of miles.

Ron