Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

Just to get this board in a tizzy again. I heard a rumor from a trustworthy person that if the pro-stocks did not get their act in gear, how so I dont know, then Lanny was bringing in the E-mod class. Dont shoot the messenger just what I heard.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

at first I thought I wouldn't comment on this but - at the start of the year I was critical - very critical - of the pro stocks........but I think if there is going to be so much negative talk about the pro stocks - there should be just as much about the factory stocks too. I can understand 15 pro stocks more than I can 18 factory stocks. Take a look at street stock car counts across the state. down down down. really i think within the next year or 2 we will see about 5 or 6 more pro stocks. But let me propose what I think may be a good idea......and ya'll tell me what you think.

I think the pro stocks really need to stay. The class that needs to go are the factory stocks. And I don't mean this personally towards anybody including factory stock drivers. But either scrap THAT class or take it back to a TRUE "factory" stocks class. Either way I think it will force those who are pouring so much money into their cars (and we all see every friday who they are) to run pro stocks. Thats what has killed the pro stocks....or at least one really big reason. There's about 4 or 5 factory guys who should be runnin pro stocks. BUT The factory rulebook was opened up and that class has taken off with it on the money end. Take factories back to what they were - force those drivers with all the dough in their motors to move up to pro stocks. Take factories back to what they used to be - the competition will be better and the counts will go up for both the factory and pro stocks. OR completely do away with factory stocks (a handful WILL move into pro's) and then bring in limited mods for a 5th class. OR here's an idea........we could all listen to K. Mossman and don't scrap any classes but bring mods in anyway and have 6 classes with 5 runnin any given friday. These are just my thoughts but I think they may have somthin to em. Limited mods are ok by me but I don't want to see em at OKC. If I want to see em I'll go to the best mod racing in the state at Enid. and does it really matter when he first brings in these constapated modifieds their count won't be all that high either. But c;mon! we all know there are a lot of things they could to fix the pro stock situation........but IMO the first thing they have to do is more or less admit to a problem in the factory stock.

But here is a fact - the factory stocks and pro stocks COMBINED - are really only one class. So whereas I'm still lookin forward to this friday.......to me it's only 3 classes racing. I didn;t post this to draw out negative response.......but instead to hear actual opinions.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

I think i agree with you at least 90%. Maybe more. The factory stock class is close to what a pro stock used to be. Cut em back to a real factory stock and you might get some guys back that like to race but can't afford the current class rules. The pro stocks have surprised me this year. It'appears to be doing pretty good. Just need a few more to make it a good reliable draw for the fans.

Nice post BTW.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. Take an entry level class that is highly competitive and continually pick and pick and pick at the rules until it morphs into something three levels higher than it started.

Why do racers think that if you'll just allow me to use my secret rocket fuel and traction control, I'll be the only guy using it and will gain an advantage over all the competition and then I can win that elusive $300 (or whatever paltry sum it is these days) every week and then I can make a career out of factory stock/limited modified/e-mod/fill-in-the-blank-with-any-entry-level-class racing?

I was quite happy with the $1000 engine claim rule we had in mini-sprint racing, but when the track operator's son wouldn't sell his hopped up R6 Yamaha, the rule was abolished. Everyone with a Yamaha said "you can't even buy a used one for under $1000!" My answer was, then don't run a Yamaha unless you can afford to be claimed each week. You could buy Hondas anywhere for under $1000 and put on a great show.

Leave rules alone. Everytime it would come up in an ORA meeting to lower the weight limit because "we're all adding weight to our cars to make them legal" and "this will make the cars safer without all that bolted on weight" it would floor me. I had bolted on weight too. It was called a steel steering box that never broke when I hit the wall and heavy aluminum wheels that wouldn't bend and cost me $400 everytime we banged wheels. Nobody ever realized that the problem was the ultra light components that people kept buying. The aluminum instead of steel part that cost everyone else more and would be more prone to break, but since I've got it, I'll have to add weight back into the car so it will make weight.

I know, I know, I just don't understand how it's all changed...

HM

Oh yes, we would all love to see the factory stocks go back to being "factory stock". The playing field was more even, and the only talents you really had to show, was how good of a mechanic you are and your diving skills. Driving skills still apply, but not the mechanic part. You didn't used to be able to order fancy stuff for your cars, but work with what you had-hence the term "run what you brung". Now it has turned into a "who has the bigger wallet" fiasco. Sad and crazy as it does kill out a bunch of very talented drivers, that just can't afford to keep up with the Jones'. Even if we could go back to that stage, it would be hard. Most of your cars that make very good factory stocks are getting few and far between. Not to mention you can't find the parts needed for them really easy either.

Christina
Air Max HVAC Systems

First off, the disclaimer: I'm just a fan, so what do I know. That being said.....

Lots of people knock the E Mods ... granted, they aren't as fast with their stock SBC's, but when they run, they're an evenly matched bunch of cars to watch run IMHO, and rarely is there someone taking off and blowing everyones doors off and winning by a lap. They always seem to put on a good show and usually a close race. I wonder if the same thing is going to happen with them... someone wants to go faster, rule changes to allow more stuff, then you end up with E Mods being almost as fast as Modifieds.

In the northeast the front wheel drives are taking off like crazy. Some of the tracks have a $500-1000 claim for the whole CAR. These cars can be picked up for $300 with blown air bags or whatever. They gut them, weld a cage in and go race. They've figured out how to set them up and put on decent shows with lots of cars because more people can afford them that otherwise probably would stay in the stands. I'm sure they'd get talked down here as not real race cars, etc... they get some of that even in their own area. But they're keeping the sport going by using cars that are all over the junk yards and auctions these days... front wheel drives. Metric frames are getting kind of rare... front wheel drives are all over the place. Something to think about.

Two weeks ago a fella showed up at Meeker with a front wheel drive Honda and was allowed to run with the minis, starting back o' the pack. This car had factory wheels and dot tires and probably a stock motor. He ran his heat and finished last (he couldn't keep up with the Mustangs and others) and had some kind of mechanical issue during the feature but all in all did ok and wasn't spinning out and so forth. I have to say I respect the guy for asking to run and having the nads to give it a shot with a budget FWD car.

At any rate, ya'll have forgotten more about racing than I'll ever know, but I just thought I'd throw this in. Fans perspective and all that. Apologies for getting off topic which is factory stocks but I think it's all kind of related.

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