| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Travis Sorokie |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 12:35:49
OK---before you all go bashing me, I'm just trying to get everyone's personal opinion on the Jr. Dragster program...Jr drivers included. When I was growing up around the sport, we never had Jr's...you waited until you were 16 or older and drove a regular car. I myself started racing when I was 19 with a 12sec Nova in Bracket II (I'm now 35).
I've never pulled any punches when it comes to my opinion on the Jr. program. NHRA claims they prepare you for the 'future'...and I've watched enough Jr. Dragsters to know that they don't act anywhere near what a race car does. The parents usually stage the car...if they roll too far forward---they re-stage it (makes no sense to me).
If you take a look at when racers started complaining about events not being completed on time, no gambler's races, etc----seems to me it was about the start of the Jr. Dragster program.
Anyone else care to drop their $.02 on this???
See ya in Staging!!!
2008 Lucas Oil Division 5 Super Stock Champion--BIR
General Trouble Maker
Internet Forum Racer Rehab Room #101 |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| 70 Boys |
Posted - 09/13/2008 : 09:17:11
I will be the first to admit that i didn't particularly care for the Jr dragster programs in the beginning. Once I started watching them and bought my son one I realized I couldn't have been more wrong.
First and far most it's about having great family fun together and enjoying the sport of drag racing. The mental focus and ability to overcome situations under pressure is what these kids experience and learning to respect one another win or lose. Great preparation for any of the aspects in life. Keeping the kids focused on something positive and family oriented is what I found the most rewarding.
I love being a proud papa junkie and so does my son. 
Dave Engler - Jr Dragster Dad. |
| Lenny5160 |
Posted - 09/11/2008 : 10:24:24
I would hate to eliminate any part of the program that is a draw for "new blood."
As was noted earlier, it does seem that most Jr drivers moving up to "big cars" are those whose parents have a car and would have started racing at 16 anyway but it is tough to argue with the racing experience the kids are getting.
Tony Leonard |
| KandJ |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 18:42:49
Don't you just hate to lose to those darn street cars with DOT tires? |
| Travis Sorokie |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 11:32:37
Brian...this topic doesn't stem from last weekend at Tri-State. I hardly noticed the Jr's there at all. In fact, I believe this was the 1st Divisional that had Jr's---I could be wrong. I'm just looking to understand the Jr. program better and to see if it can be made more efficient and lead to less down time at the tracks.
I couldn't agree more about Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. I've run 4 D5 events this season and the "Top" cars have had the most clean up---even more than Alcohol cars. Some pretty serious accidents, esp. Jim White's wreck in Cordova.
See ya in Staging!!!
2008 Lucas Oil Division 5 Super Stock Champion--BIR
General Trouble Maker
Internet Forum Racer Rehab Room #101 |
| badd65 |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 11:18:01
Yesterday i read the latest post, it was the 2nd place junior
congratulating the 1st place junior on her win.
It was the classiest thing i have ever seen in racing.
If that is what juniors are bringing to drag racing, then i am all for it.
The future of racing is in good hands.
Remember when 11 seconds was fast? |
| Brian Zenzen |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 11:11:00
the real debate from last weekend should be.....top sportsman and top dragster, why are they contested at divisionals???? |
| Travis Sorokie |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 09:05:38
Never anywhere did I say that Jr. Dragster's shouldn't be included in the program.
I'd much rather see them run than Street cars with DOT tires that butcher the starting line. Again, a WHOLE nother topic.
As the popularity of the Jr. class has grown tracks need to look at ways to speed up the program so ALL classes can be run on time.
Any parents out there that run these machines feel that 8yrs old is TOO YOUNG to start?
See ya in Staging!!!
2008 Lucas Oil Division 5 Super Stock Champion--BIR
General Trouble Maker
Internet Forum Racer Rehab Room #101 |
| TIN INDIAN |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 23:11:17
quote:
Originally posted by andyschmall
Alright... I'm not really sure why this came up but there is absolutely no reason not to have Jr. Dragsters. What could be better than bringing new, young kids into the sport?
Obviously, when an 8 year old child starts racing they're going to make staging mistakes, it's because they're EIGHT years old. These are second graders that are just learning how to multiply and they're driving a racecar. Personally, I think that's amazing. It's even cooler when you're standing at the finish line and a 9 year old is turning his head and lifting on a car that's 15 MPH faster than him. There are many adult bracket racers that can't do that.
Driving Jr. Dragsters teaches you about pressure. There are many racers that can go .00x in time trials all day long but when eliminations come they choke. Jr. Dragster racers get to be under that same pressure for up to 9 years; so they have 9 years of racing experience before they even sit in a big car.
Before I'm done here, I'm going to list some of the former Jr. Dragster racers that people might know....
Alex Barmettler- 2007 Division 5 Motorcycle Champion
J.R Lobner- 2007 Division 5 Super Pro Champion
Mike Mans- 2007 Lucas Oil Sportsman Driver of the Year
Brina Splingaire- 2008 Lucas Oil Nationals S/G Winner and S/C Runner-Up
This is just a few of the people (I know there are lots more... I just can't think now) that I know of who most likely wouldn't have been where there are today without Jr. Dragsters. I know for a fact that I wouldn't have accomplished as much as I have without all of my experience behind the wheel of a Jr. Dragster.
To end all of this... Travis I think you are totally right that we shouldn't have Jr. Dragsters. Young kids shouldn't be able to win races!!
Andy, don't be modest. you forgot Andy Schmall 2007 PRO ET Champoin
Davey |
| ZenzenRacing |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 21:51:10
After four Junior Dragsters, 10 years of running them, would I do it over again? IN A HEARTBEAT !! Juniors are a steping stone in our sport. I only wish they were around in 1970 !! Parents stage the car? NO!! To far foward, They are out on that run. To say they should not be in the program is just STUPID !! The only people I see Talking bad about them are the ones that see racing through a pipe.ONLY WHAT MATTERS TO THEM !! Myself, Becky & Brian are better racers because of the Jr program. Anyone feel free to reply !! |
| brandonschmall |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 21:21:07
Travis... You can still make a name for yourself just fine even if you didnt start out with juniors, but it takes quite some time and practice, how long did it take them to become a great racer? Now if you race a jr. for 8 years you allready have 8 more years of experience drag racing than an adult who has never raced in their lifetime and just starting.
For example go to Byron, look at how many kids are below the age of 20 or raced a jr. as a starter car, and see how well they do, i would say that they do pretty well compared to the other people! I think one was in the final for the 5k race down there and went .00x in the final to a box car. |
| brandonschmall |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 20:51:18
The juniors only run 1/8 mile, and that would be at any track, im 99% sure that everytrack that I raced at has a special turn off spot for the juniors. And by that I mean more than one turnoff at that track. If the track runs the program "efficiently" they will be done quicker. WOW!! Check out this deal I found on some jr.!! http://mdra.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=192 |
| soulfisher |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 20:33:34
I've only been around this for two years, but I don't have a problem with the Jr program. I'm pretty impressed with some of the lights I see. I would have loved to participate in something like this when I was younger.
However, from the humorous side, I find the fathers scrubbing down the tires after burn out as if it was top fuel a riot. I know, it probably serves a purpose, but it still looks funny.
I would also add to all the racing skills that a jr may learn, there also is the opportunity to learn to swear a blue streak from Dad. I've seen more than one father lose it in staging when something breaks or the car won't start.
Overall, anything to help expand the enthusiasm for a sport that is going to face more and more challenges due to economic and environmental issues, the better.
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| Travis Sorokie |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 20:01:25
I'm just asking a simple question folks..."spice" this site up a bit and see if we can get some intelligent discussion going. It's good so far---keep it up.
Absolutely there are some positive benefits to running a Jr. as you mentioned Andy. I myself learned sportsmanship, "game situation" pressure from Coaches in sports through college. And I had a fantastic mentor in Al Dancer show me the ropes in drag racing.
Steve---in my opinion, more people are quiting because the cost/payout ratio hasn't changed much. Parts cost more, travel costs more, cost of living is more, payout hasn't changed. But that is a WHOLE nother subject.
The "issue" I do have is the TIME it takes from the program when they are mixed in. They have to run the full 1/4 mile, make the turn off just like the 'big' cars...only they don't go near as fast. It would be nice if the tracks that run Jr. Dragsters would have much shorter turn offs for these cars to help speed things up---anyone disagree with that?!?!
I'm amazed at the cost of these Jr's as well. My god, I don't know how some of the parents can afford it. I've heard these little buggers can cost upwards of $15,000 turn-key...can that be correct? The first race car I bought in 1994 was a 1969 Chevy Nova with a 355ci SBC, P/G, complete interior and I paid $6,500...sold it 2 yrs later for $9,000 all freshened and ready to go.
Non-Jr Driver's you might know----Peter Biondo, Dan Fletcher, David Rampy, Terry Edwards, Ron Erks, Jimmy DeFrank, Gary Stinnentt, Anthony Bertozzi, Mike Iacono, Jeg, Force, WJ, the "Snake"....they all seemed to make a name for themselves just fine.
See ya in Staging!!!
2008 Lucas Oil Division 5 Super Stock Champion--BIR
General Trouble Maker
Internet Forum Racer Rehab Room #101 |
| steve stockton |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 18:50:41
I think it's pretty obvious that Jr. Dragsters help develop a young drivers skill. I feel that anything that helps bring in new blood to the sport HAS to happen.
How many people the Jr. series has brought into the sport is a good question though. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems that the large majority of Jr. racers that make the step up to a "real" car are people that grew up in the sport and would have gotten into a "real" car at 16 anyway.
Travis, do you want to have someone to race against in 20 years? I know I would. I think it's pretty easy to see that there are a lot more people getting older and quitting the sport than there is new blood coming in.
In 10 years I'll be 35, and hopefully there will be more than 5 people younger than me out here to race against! Maybe we should be promoting Jr's more, instead of pushing them off to the side. |
| andyschmall |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 16:31:05
Alright... I'm not really sure why this came up but there is absolutely no reason not to have Jr. Dragsters. What could be better than bringing new, young kids into the sport?
Obviously, when an 8 year old child starts racing they're going to make staging mistakes, it's because they're EIGHT years old. These are second graders that are just learning how to multiply and they're driving a racecar. Personally, I think that's amazing. It's even cooler when you're standing at the finish line and a 9 year old is turning his head and lifting on a car that's 15 MPH faster than him. There are many adult bracket racers that can't do that.
Driving Jr. Dragsters teaches you about pressure. There are many racers that can go .00x in time trials all day long but when eliminations come they choke. Jr. Dragster racers get to be under that same pressure for up to 9 years; so they have 9 years of racing experience before they even sit in a big car.
Before I'm done here, I'm going to list some of the former Jr. Dragster racers that people might know....
Alex Barmettler- 2007 Division 5 Motorcycle Champion
J.R Lobner- 2007 Division 5 Super Pro Champion
Mike Mans- 2007 Lucas Oil Sportsman Driver of the Year
Brina Splingaire- 2008 Lucas Oil Nationals S/G Winner and S/C Runner-Up
This is just a few of the people (I know there are lots more... I just can't think now) that I know of who most likely wouldn't have been where there are today without Jr. Dragsters. I know for a fact that I wouldn't have accomplished as much as I have without all of my experience behind the wheel of a Jr. Dragster.
To end all of this... Travis I think you are totally right that we shouldn't have Jr. Dragsters. Young kids shouldn't be able to win races!!
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