This weekend I opted to run in "Street ET". It costs half as much to run as "No Box" but respectively is a trophy class and had a car count of 9. With such little recognition by anyone, I'm really not surprised by the small amount of participation in the class. Is it "The Man's" way of bumping everyone into "No Box" to make the payout?

Last time I looked there isn't much in the "No Box" field for 12 seconds and slower. Seems like it really discourages the average low buck street cars to come out to the track. In this economy I would think they would want to encourage more racers to come out to the track, not discourage them by herding them into the "No Box" class to make 3 runs and go home.

Years ago, it was Street, Sportsman, and Pro. Sportsman and Street had very similar car counts and Pro was the low count field. All 3 classes had pay outs and mostly everyone was happy... except for Pro which typically did not have a full field. Something had to give to fund the big dollar guys. Wonder what they did...

3 classes with payouts and substantially better attendance by comparison... Times gone by I guess. I think the turn out in general reflects the state of the hobby and will only continue to diminish until they can encourage racers to come back to the track. I don't think dumping everyone into one class is the way to do it though.

At this point, I'm still not sure why I coughed up the funds to join "Team Street". I'm not quite sure what "Team Street" is anymore. Maybe it's documentation to see who the last man willing to throw money at a dying cause will be. What a shame...

Guess I better throw more money at admission, making my car faster and more consistent so that I can enjoy this hobby again.

Rant Off...

Just to clarify, I'm not throwing stones at the "Box" and "No Box" class. I simply think that the "Street" class has been shunned and respectively discourages a group of racers from participating. Hope that didn't come across poorly.

Our local sportsman bracket probably averages 40+ cars on a saturday. We also have a Car Club race series for street cars 10.0 and slower that brings in 50+ cars on friday nights.

Pro bracket is bigger than both by a good bit, Super pro is smaller.

You don't have to be the fastest guy out there to be competitive.

What was the car count like in general?

Every time I think of the "Street Class" - I for some reason envision a big chevy van dialed in at a 21.20 that runs 21.20 on every single pass that takes the trophy home every race.

I vote for making your car more consistent. It's fun knocking out cars that are 2-4 seconds quicker!

I think we're lucky at PRP. Our Street class (IHRA Div 3 rules) allows slicks and open headers, footbrake, 12.00 and slower. There are a lot of 12 second cars in the class. Trophy class is same, except must have DOTs and mufflers. Modified (transbrake allowed) and Top (delay box allowed) are the 2 quickest classes, most car count, and highest payouts.

I say the street class is for fun. Sure less bucks for payout, less investment in the car also. Who cares. If you in racing for the $ You're in the wrong game. I found street to have some excellent racers. Just like Pro. Just like N/SS. It's the competition not the $ that makes it fun.
Doug

Our track run Street Elim, no box, DOT, mufflers and tags..any et. They also have Real Street, but those guys are running 10's or less.

It looks like in 2013 there were 5 "Team Members" for Street, 58 for No Box, and 34 for Box here in Tucson. Seems low to me.
It would be nice to see it pick up.

What kind of numbers are you guys seeing?

I really like Street Eliminator as I have been running it for five years now, here its 11.50 to 19.99, mufflers ,no electronics , four DOT tires and Street appearing. our average car count is between 22 and 35 cars a week. I ran two different tracks last year and the year before and the average car count was the same at both tracks. I ran Pro/ Heavy for years but after slowing my car down and putting street tires on I am having a blast in Street.

Milan has a Sportsman class on Friday nights, 11.50 and slower, door cars only, no trans brakes or 2 steps. I like it because I'm usually the quick car.

I think your track was actually looking to make a class so the average joe can come out and run with cars that are somewhat equal , basic street cars that have street tires. In the pro brackets the cars are more race items such as slicks etc. Can you run in the pro bracket with your car if you choose ? If so pay the extra entry $$ and go for it. If not go out and buy the extra parts and safety equipment so you can.

Wait...you are racing now?

From someone who is snowed in, I would take whatever class I could at this point, haha

Move to Sacramento, CA and run Street with the Team Sacramento ET Series group. They seem to be having fun and there appears to be whole a lot more than 9 cars in the Class. You can run Grudge on Wednesday in Street trim with mufflers if You want as well. I'm sure what You want is out there, go find it.

Capitol used to have a huge turnout in Street. Mostly Pro Et cars that double entered and were 11.50 and slower. New owner made it 12.00 which cut out about half the class, but it gave the new guy a chance to not be first round fodder. I guess the hope is to get more new people into the sport, which is something we definitely need.

Only 9 cars in street class??? I say make it 10 and don't appologize for anything when you come home with the trophy.

I remember in the late 70's and early 80's here in Md we had 4 basic bracket classes they ran every weekend which were :

Super Pro - 10.99 and faster
Pro - 11.00 to 11.99
Heavy - 12.00 to 13.99
Street - 14.00 and slower

And that was basically it as I dont remember any electronic classes in the late 70's as you just did not see trans brakes. I dont remember what year the electronics stared getting big on the cars as I did not race from 1982 unti 1998. But in 1982 when I rolled my old Dart we still got hand written cards with no 60 ft and no reaction times.

Now I cant even tell you what street class my track has as 99% of the time I just go to Test & Tunes or special events like sometimes I get to run in an NSS race. I do agree that there should be a class for just the average guy wanting to run his street car and try it out. I mean thats how we all got started and you dont want guys racing on the street. Ron