Hi, I got into American cars in 1977 with my first car, a 1968 Dodge Charger 318 auto, thought that was real fast, lasted 6mnths, I swapped it with some guy for a 1965 K code Muzzy, thats where it really all started, cruising the meets, and Street Racing, but I thought it was a bit dangerous tbh, I was 27yrs old then, and when I nearly didnt stop at a set of lights one day, that was it and Santa Pod Raceway became a reality in 1981 with my first quick car for then, a 1971 340 Cuda. That all lasted till 1990 when I retired. Then life/kids happened and I only recently got back into Racing in 2012 as a spectator.
After attending several meets at the Pod, I gotta say that apart from getting to know a few people, some old racers it was good fun talking over old times etc., but watching the racing we have over here was totally boring, apart from Pro-Mod, TF FC and the other Heads Up classes of which there isnt much of. Bracket/index is an absolute bore (my opinion only), cars that can run 8s on stops running S/G and the brackets where you got the faster car leaving 2 seconds after the other etc., and the car that puts the win light on losing, I wonder what the spectators think of that, that aint Drag Racing in my book anymore, its not how it all started out is it?...its heads up, first to cut the beams is what it was all about. Anyhow the whole point of my rather long post(sorry) is that I got into the street outlaws, being a doorslammer guy, and I gotta say, its exciting, its pure race cars racing on the street in a quiet place, dangerous, yes, but they ALL know the risks, look at the Chiefs reaction to the crash, theres no public about you can mow down, no other cars involved but the racers. These guys know their s*it, getting 1500+hp down onto that surface takes some doing, and yes why not make money at it, it used to be pink slips...I remember once winning a special one off heads up competition we had at the Pod, taking a massive £250, that was exciting, so I took all the racers down the pub on my winnings, what a crack. So Ive come full circle, back to my roots where it all started I guess.
Anyhow, like it or not, 1/8 or a ¼, its where it at for me whatever your own opinions on it, we are not all the same, its gotta be better than watching brackets/index racing. Its a shame that pro-mod type cars are creeping into the scene as people cannot relate to them so much, but there are still plenty of cars left for now that they can, so enjoy it while it lasts.
I see the Chief finally lost to Murder Nova last week, but thats old news to you guys........