Age check for racers, please...

How old are you guys that are still actively going to the track? I'm turning 60 "really soon" and it's been 10 years now since my car has been to the track, so I'm feeling really OLD and out of touch w/ it all.

I'm in a time warp: my oldest son is 18 and will be going to college in 5 months; my younger son is 15 and a freshman in High School; my daughter is 11 and will be entering middle school next fall.

Thanks - Brad

Does seriously thinking about racing count? Or a hope of racing again one day?

Brad life is full of choices, I chose to go racing.

I just turned 60 and my energy level is not as high as it was in my 40s, but I am trying to work less and play more.

I just go once in a while now days but nothing like I use too.. when the
NHRA wouldnt issue my last license I pretty much dropped out of
racing but I do go out once in a while.. in my street rod.. I do miss
the all out racing
I'm 68 now.. soon to be 69 with health issues

63 here and set my car up so I can do it 100% by myself. I will admit that the 3 day race weekends now take me a day plus to recover.

I voted 50-59, I will be 57 this year, BUT what I am able to do is really not racing, I make a few passes in a year, due to my health issues I cant deal with much heat & down here in the Southeast the heat is bad, cant run the a/c in the staging lanes so my window of opportunity to race is VERY slim, so far my local track Lone Star Motorsports Park has been rained out 4 times since January & they only run once a month, SO, this Friday night the weather is supposed to be cool & dry in Baytown, [ Houston Raceway Park] so I am going to drive the 130 mile round trip in my street car & see if I can get a PB in this heavy pig, the name of my car is [Brain Damage] in honor of Multiple Sclerosis. will keep Y'all posted.
Charlie

I'm still a wet behind the ears 32...Been going to the track every weekend for a long time, but I started racing jrs in 95. This will be my 25th year of driving. I can count on 1 hand how many pt races I have missed in the last 24 years, but this year I'm taking a much difference approach. With all the hectic of keeping 2 cars up and running and dedicating yourself every week I need a break. Plus not seeing eye to eye with some of the track management ideas and doings for how they really feel about racers. I'm taking a step back this year and only going to race once and awhile. Maybe if they would actually listen to the racers their car count wouldn't keep decreasing, but hey as I've been told its not my track. But the big thing is wife and I have a pretty big home improvement project planned so going to spend my time on that and race when I have time and feel like it.

38 here.

Gonna be 65 next Monday, trying to get away from the weekly bracket points and do more 11.50 index racing of course I say that every year and end up running points anyhow. Still have some highlight races I go to every year , always look forward to them. 11.50 index at Atco/ NHRA National open in two weeks, at the big index race at Numidia Labor Day weekend, the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove in September and the Halloween race at Atco around Halloween and last but not least racing my truck at South Mountain the Friday of Chryslers at Carlisle, guess you could say I am still going strong!

Thats me too..

I'm 50 with 2 HS boys (14 and 16) and both very active in sports, so I don't have many chances to get lost at the track for a day (or two). But the thought of racing is still with me. And still preparing my car as if every hp matters (for the cruise to the local ice cream shop of course)

btw Brad, you're really getting up there buddy

34 here.

I'm not good enough to be a bracket racer, not rich enough to race heads up, but I was lucky enough to land a job where I get paid to go to the track...

What about Drag Week??? You still thinking about doing it??????

No.. for one thing.. the cost.. but I still do the Mich Drag Week but its
only 3 days

Brad I'm 58. Started racing in 1984. Took time off from 2006- 2014. Kids were in sports (which was more important than my need to be at the track) and due to a loss in the family.

I retire next spring. Decided life is short. Financially I'm able and it will let me race more and gives me time to finish some projects. The main one being my youngest sons car. We lost him in 2011 and I'm doing his car exactly how we talked about.

Sorry to hear about your Son, but that is a cool tribute to him.


I am 40, chronic test and tuner and have done 6 of the last 7 drag weeks with my Dad. I am a decent bracket racer but I don't go as often as I would like.

I'm 62 but voted in the 50-59 category because that is where I stopped. I raced from 1975-2012. Took a few years off here and there but was pretty consistently active even driving other people's cars while I was building another. It takes a toll to race every weekend and we do down here. I just got burnt out, hadn't even made an attempt to take the car out in 5 years so I sold it. I might go to the track and help one of buddies but that's about the extent I would want to be involved anymore.

I'll be 65 in October. Current car being raced for 6 years. 87 events, 25 rds have made it to the semis. Out of those 25 rds, 16 rds have been finals. Out of those 16 rds , 14 rds have been wins. Last year R/T avg; left lane .023, right lane .029. Yup, I'm old
Doug

youngsters.

Turn 66 in May. The last 10 years have simply about the lack of funds. I keep saying "This is the year ". Motor is at Tesars as I type, so I'm hoping this really is the year! Racing since 1978.

Turned 60 in January. Haven't raced in 15 years. My oldest son (28) decided he wants to learn to drag race, so I picked up a (Not a Mopar, but still a big block) drag car for him. Should be ready to race in another month. We will be racing it together at the local tracks.

I am 55. Been racing since about 1986. Raced from 1986 until 1996. Our house burned in February 1996, my son was born April 1996, and daughter was born October of 1997. So we quit racing 1996 until 2004. Been racing current car every weekend since 2005. All bracket racing, and some money races the last 2 years.

You guys are a bunch of kids. I'm 73 going on 74 this year. I still have the need for speed. Plus, my Roadrunner is a 4 speed that I drive and shift at the track and on the street.I get a half a woody every time I get behind the wheel. ( too old to get a full woody) Don't even think of quitting racing because of age. You're as old as you feel. Enjoy it as long as you can. I will. See you at the track.

I also voted for when I quit. First pas was around 1991 and raced up until 2008. I'm 52 now and in the last few years it's been mid to high8's@ 79mph (1/8) in my Jeep. I was an ET chaser, not many runs a year and never won any money. It was fun while it lasted and I learned a lot over 20-30 years with the same project, priorities change. For fast stuff I just live vicariously though the people with deeper pockets than me.

It's sad to see that the majority is 50-69 yrs old. Drag racing is a lot of sitting around and wait for your less than 20 seconds of fun. I don't think the "I want it now" generation enjoys the pace. I went to local bracket race last Saturday, got there before 10am (gates opened at 9am), ran 3rd round at 6:30pm ( got beat) they probably finished around 10pm. 12 plus hours for a weekly bracket race.

I'll be 47 in June I have raced at least once a year since 1988 when I turned 16. Not always in my car but in something. I won a championship with the NMCA in 2006 won a lot of local bracket races. I raced heads up NA stuff but when my son turned 8 in 2008 and wanted to play Pop Warner I really stepped it back then he wanted to race JR dragsters...……..how people race a JR and a full size car I'll never know! He plays college football now so no racing at all for me Sept on but I still get a few passes in every year.

It's ingrained in my DNA; I love it, can't get enough of it. I turn 35 in a couple of days.

I don't race that much but, I've been a long time spectator.

I did take my Road Runner to Monster Mopar last year but, didn't do that well. Still had a blast. I normally run about once a year; more of a test and tuner. I have 3 toys I race, show and cruise.

My fiancé and I want to buy a race car for her to run; just haven't been positioned yet to make it happen.

I pretty much plan my year around racing and car events; most of my vacation time taken from work each year is taken to go to events to spectate.

The fiancé, her Dad and I have been going together to events all weekend for the past 6-8 years. Her Dad has motor home. We set up, walk around all day, watch racing, cook out at night and have some adult beverages.

55 here in August.
Started drag racing 6 or so years ago. Had to try it. Will do it as long as money and health permits.
I’m low budget but My junk has run 9.60s without trying real hard.

52 here, don't race as much as I like but its fun to teach my daughters how to race 19 and 17.
Father in law is 76 and still races all the time super comp

Jim, when reading your post, I started to giggle as the first thing that popped into my head was all the sayings regarding old age and breaking hips. I apologize but, again, it's the first thing that popped into my head.

Glad to hear you're doing better.

I swore to myself several times when I was much younger that I didn't want to still be drag racing when I was in my Forty and again 20 yrs later to not be racing in my 60 and I'm thinking I now need to get a driver due to cataracts affecting my vision, never mind my mind and reaction times being 74 yrs old
Do you want to race me
When your hooked, there is no relief

I'm approaching mandatory SS, I'm a road racer, its not very forgiving running laps with high g's in the heat of day in cars that require a bit effort to throw around. I'm expecting soon my job description will be promoted to financial backer and crew chief for my sons driving the cars, and that ain't that bad. Everyone should know this day was coming. I have no regrets.

52 here... started street racing the Mirada in 87. Took it to the track in 91. Been racing to some extent since. Chased points in maybe only four of those years, the most recent 3rd in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series 3yrs ago. Like many I took a break when my daughter hit the fast pitch softball era. That required a ton of time I was glad to share. What I’ve found over the years is it’s not the wins I remember, but the moments with some of the most whacked out people you’ll ever meet and they become family! Cookouts, beer drinking, repairing the seemingly impossible with the minimal, all made for great memories! In 2012 my dad hung up his helmet after our W5 mill expired. I sold the Mirada($7500.... not a bad price for a running bracket car with some 9sec slips) after 27 years and kept the Duster in the family. While I’ve had dreams and aspirations of racing more, I seem to spend more time and $ working on it.... but I got a 5.7 out of it carrying the fronts to 1/2 track!

I just turned 66. Bought another car 5 years ago, 71 Dart turnkey. Went 4 rounds at the div 5 bracket finals last Oct footbraking in pro.

It is way harder than it used to be, but my wife helps bunches.

Mike

69 hear, first run down a track was 1971. My goal is to run the car a couple of times or more a year as long as i can.

I turn 61 next month. Sometimes I wonder why I was dumb enough to buy another car. But, I still have fun with it so there is that.

Wow, we're a bunch of old mofos...

67 years of experience here, still racing but less every year it seems, most of the races I wanted to go to the last couple of years I didnt go because of my mothers health issues. Didnt have anyone else to help out. Will race a few times this year, running a few Nostalgia SS races, and a couple of bracket races. Going to miss a few since Im having at least one surgery, maybe 2. Still like racing, dont win many races, but almost always go several rounds. Used to live in Wyoming and bracket raced regularly at Salt Lake, Boise Id, and Vegas. Raced a lot more back then.

Indeed! Thanks for starting this thread Brad. I used to think I was one of the oldest guys around here and now I see that I'm on the young end, YAAH! Just turned 55 two days ago and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

I'm 55. This is my second year of hiatus although I flew and crewed for some guys in 2018. My car needs a bunch of love and no dollars to spend there right now.

Some of us are younger than our age and some are older I'm almost 63 with the mind of a 19 YO and the body of an 87 YO.
My years have not been kind to the body! I feel it slipping away,just can't do what I used to.SO,,,,I get my high with a coupla friends that take of the car for me and come to the track with their own cars and still help me out,real hard to do it myself like the ole daze!
Always been a street car with stock type suspension that has faster every year.My limit is 8.5 as that is what I'm legal to.

Picture from the cruise tonight.

57 a month ago raced some in the early 80s then we know the rest of the story, she caught my eye we raised 2 boys built a house, race car went to the back of the garage. Boys are out and gone now it is time to start again, Oh and she has kept me around for 35 years kind of like an old race car you keep it around cause you know all the rattles and noises they make.

hot rods are worse than drugs, ...or so it seems.

44 here. Probably be 64 before the new car is finished...

At least we will get to see yours get finished Jeff! As for age I will be 63 and due to health issues,it doesn't look like I will get to drive again. We are going to keep the car as long as we can but the wifes upcoming kidney transplant will probably put that to an end.

When my boys were young (10-18) they both played Hockey. During that time I built and raced a car for Championship points (NMCA/NSCA) all over east of the Missisippi. Coached Hockey at that time as well. Back then my job was a flat rate dealer tech. Now I have an easy job and grandkids. Much easier to race now. Don't know how I did it back then. But it is possible.
Doug

I have been racing since I was 15 - I am 55 now and have had 8 different cars - broke a ton of parts - spent a bunch of money - quit racing twice - but never lost the passion. I think running the index classes in NSS is the most fun I have had in racing - it’s a good group of racers and chasing an index and weather with no electronics is the challenge! I now only race when I want to, and I can say I am not as serious about racing as I once was - if I am not having fun I can just park the car until my mood changes! One thing I will never do again is bracket racing or run the 9.90 or 10.90 index classes – the electronics have ruined that form of racing.

Wow, awesome to see how many old guys are out there still building and racing.I havent been down the track since 1980! Family ,health, and finances comes first.Am 65yrs old and currently rehabbing from hand/wrist surgery.Lost a kidney and gall bladder last year,but the rest of the remaining parts hope to be in the drivers seat next season.Didn't see all this in the retirement brochure!LUCKILY still pretty flexible and a lightweight, so I still get around well.Last race car was a 9sec Nova in the 70's, which is why the Lancer has that old gasser look on the surface.Hoping it can run 5.50 heads-up class,but if I cant get there, 6.0 or 6.5 it is! It's still drag racing.Am very impressed with what you all have contributed in this thread.
Very inspiring,and like all those t-shirts say 'OLD GUYS RULE'. Bill

I'll be 67 next time around. Yep. Still doing it!

Were you Quaker City? I can remember when they ran on Sundays and not getting out till 1-2am Monday morning

Well, you guys make me feel really old. Be turning 76 in June. Just finished rebuilding my car a couple months ago. Went to license a couple weeks ago, only made 3 passes. Track just never came around. Had a lot of hot street tire cars and a couple track oil downs. Very happy with the car, more power than I anticipated. Last pass the car hooked hard. Then catastrophic failure, driver foot slipped off the go fast peddle. So I made a much larger peddle. And plan to finish license passes the 27th.
I have been blessed with extremely good health. But after reading some of your post's, maybe I should start thinking about retireing. Maybe selling the Merpar? What do ya'll think?

I was at Kilkare trying to get a little practice in for the upcoming Buckeye S/SS race and the Chrysler Classic. I didn't mean to sound so negative but as you can see by the poll we need more young people to come into the sport. I am a young 61. lol

I am 63, been racing since 1974, my first race car was a 1970 340 dart 4 speed, it won a lot of street races, thought I was hot until I took it to the drag strip and got spanked. Run a 64 dodge NSS car now, planning to file for social security this fall. I plan to keep racing something, not sure if I can afford the NSS car on fixed income, car doesn't break much but travel is expensive. Got a fiberglass coupe, I am making into a 1933 dodge, with a mild cross ram 440, I think it might be cheaper to hit a few nostalgia races with, I keep telling people it is my retirement project.

Turned 65 in January!
Have been racing off and on since I was 17 but steady since 1997.
MJ

I think i'm tied for youngest at 32... that's scary.

Man, where is the 35 and under crowd? This post is proof that it is a dying breed, us car guys and racrers.

43.

They ain't into muscle cars are they DANG IT anyways, no new meat to pick on

You're not the youngest.

Ripe old age of 29 here... Been at it for 14 years now.

I do think of myself as an old soul haha, as my passion is old Mopars (really any car out of the 60's). Don't see many "kids" my age into these type of cars. I run in Nostalgia Super Stock and typically I am the youngest in the class (unless the Powell boys are running). I get my azz kicked quite a bit by these old guys haha, but I've learned a lot from them over the years! I don't race as much as most throughout the summer as some (or as much as I'd like), but have a blast when I am out there. Spending time with the old man and good friends is what it is all about. I don't have kids yet, but I work a pretty intense job for the gas company while helping my wife with her Lacrosse shenanigans. My dad and I pick and choose the races because of this, but typically hit the big NSS type races!

Us youngins are out there!

Casey FJ

Well I'm 56 and I still like to row the gears on the old Savoy once in a while. I raced the most in my 40's and won a few final rounds even with an old "row boat" Plan on making a few passes this summer and getting that 10.50 time slip if I can get it put back together. After working flat rate all day at 56 years old I find it very hard to find motivation after dinner while resting my aching joints in my recliner
Hope to see a few of you old timers at the track this year

Gus

Gus,you forgot to put your helmet on

Ahhh.... that was just a parade lap on street tires didn't even hit 114 MPH on that pass against a Z06 street car I did catch his bumper at the stripe but man those things are fast box stock cars.

Gus

Another thread where I may be the oldest. I will be 80 in Nov. Just finished three year upgrade on my car including a blown smallblock. Anxious to get it to the track. Unfortunately my family got me to agree to quit racing when I turn 80 so I have only a few months left. Hope I can get the bugs out of the car to see what it will really do. I started this game when I was 15 driving a 48 Ford coupe with stock flathead. I think it took all afternoon to get down the quarter. I even remember the first time my 32 Ford 3-window went over 100 in the 1/4, August '58 in Houston. I certainly hope to keep going by restoring a 68 Notch (same as racecar) as a street car and selecting one of my sons or a grandchild to continue driving the racecar. BTW, the poll results surprised me also!!!

I saw the same thing in privately own small airplanes and private airports, no young pilots and plane owners out there
Small airports and airfields closing up like drag strips

Well I'm going to be 67 in June. Started racing when I was 16 and my Brother in law and I went into a partnership on a race car when I was 17. When I was 19 we bought the 63 Dodge that I am running today! My Brother in law got out of it in 1974 and I raced it by myself until 1976. I then got married and had a couple of kids - then got divorced and got married again and had another kid then got divorced and got married again and here I am today. Got back into racing in 2003 with a 64 Dodge I bought at the Mopar Nats in 2002. Got into the NSS Racing and loved it. So after all this time I sill had the 63 Dodge from way back in the early 70's so I decided to take it out of the old barn and give it another go. Today the car will run very low 9's and if possible I want to continue to race for at the least another 10 years. We will see how the body holds out. I sure wish more of the younger generation would get involved but honestly I do not see that happening. You do see a few but my bet is that in the next 10/15 years you may as well put a fork into Drag racing.

I’m 37. One of the younger ones. Had my first race at 17 in the high school division.

Is the "Greek" Chris Karamesines still driving in top fuel? I think he is like 86 years old.

I think the issue is that Chrysler didn't really make to many "muscle cars" after the mid 70's like Ford did with the Mustang and Chevy with the Camaro. So for someone to be a in a mopar they have to find a older car which takes more time and money due to its age. It's way easier to just go buy the other brand. My dad has always been a Chrysler guy and thus the reasoning I'm one as well. His lifetime stash of parts has definitely come in handy thru the years. The only "younger" racers that I see locally in a mopar are typically the one's who's parents are into mopar and have maybe helped or steered their kids in the right direction.

Growing up my Dad didnt have any brand loyalty but when I got out
of the Army I went to work for Chrysler.. I worked at Chrysler Engineering
for 35 years and my wife worked there (same building) for 30 years
and brother worked there for 30 years so yes we do have brand
loyalty and all we have ever bought is Chrysler.. the last 20 years
have been Jeeps

I will be 52 next month. I have raced something since I was 18. I have never raced a full season. In retirement I would like to try racing a whole season. I just hope there are tracks still open around here.

I'm 70 and sold my car last fall. I broke the motor bad. As knew if I would have to quit when I couldn't afford to fix it. That day came last summer.

i'll be 70 in a few years, and i haven't been to the track in ages, so i didn't vote. i'm hoping to get my charger out of mothballs and my humpback project finished before i croak, so i can at least have a few years of fun. it all depends on how my health problems progress.

I just turned 53, been racing sporadically since 1984.

They are out there, just not on Moparts. I see younger people at the track yet. Drag Racing isn't going to die out completely anytime soon.

Many of the younger crowd I see at the track are running modern muscle cars or imports.

As I said in my previous response, going tonight for the Street legal drags at HRP Baytown,1st time for this year, The air [DA] is looking to be very good, 200ish, hope they let me make more than one pass.

I see plenty of younger ones at the track. They’re just not on Moparts, they post on FB and IG.

Dennis

im 59

He carried this debate over to Facebook and as always I had to show that the youth supports the big money events VERY well. These kids travel from race to race and "double enter" three to 4 races each weekend. back years ago out local track (Keystone) raced every Friday night and Sunday. Now many weekends are one race and head home. Diehard racers don't want to race once so you load up and head out to the big money races were sometimes not only do you race friday, saturday, and sunday but also possibly thursday too. There might even be a second race on some days. Here's a sample of the young hitters supporting these races.


https://www.facebook.com/pg/LooseRocker/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1078374855529764

Glad to see the younger generation racing, we need them to carry the sport into the next decade. I try and enter multiple classes and double enter when possible.

That leads to my next question: Is this basically a Moparts demographic, or also typical of what people see at the track in general?

Plenty of youngsters at the fling. All of which are second or third generation racers. From what I see 'NEW BLOOD' out there is a far and few between. This week they started on Tuesday for at least $30K a day and today the big race will be at least $350K!!

What I have seen is that many Mopar guys go to mostly "Mopar only" events. Monster Mopar is always big and from what I hear Columbus is dropping in numbers. Our Mopar event at Keystone pays out around 1000.00 which is lower than our weekly events and is also open to all makes to survive so it won't drawl many out of towners. If I only raced my car at three Mopar events each year honestly i would sell it all and go bass fishing.

LOL! I sold all my race car crap but I damn sure didn't go fishing!!!! I rather watch paint dry, cheese mold, grass grow or any such other activity. Unless I was still a drinker. Then I'd sit on the boat and drink beer and whiskey.

Talked to a buddy of mine yesterday who is a year older than me. Told me he's selling his Swinger 340 he's had for 40 years bdcause he just can't drive it anymore. He's also selling the big block Duster he and his son built because Junior has no interest in racing, he was planning on Pop driving.

This getting old ain't for kids.

Mopar race here this coming weekend. Pays $10K on Saturday and Q32 pays another $5K on Sunday on top of the regular $1250 for Pro $2500 for S/Pro and $500for footbrake. Yet the numbers keep falling.

IMO, it’s a Moparts demographic.

Dennis

Yeah, I am not ready to go fishing

I enjoy hanging out with all the rock stars of drag racing

Cool car... but is that thing really bent in the middle, or is it the picture?

Yeah, what you think?

Not. Lol

I was going to ask if it springs back

Another oldster here at 69. I've been racing my Belvedere about 15 years now. I only take her out 6-8 times a year, mainly NMCA NSS. Since retiring and moving to Florida in an RV community, my shop is now my trailer. The good part of this is there are plenty of retirees willing to help.

No plans to quit anytime soon and in fact recently acquired another car to run NHRA stock eliminator.

Local track has quite a few young guys racing, most started in Juniors, and have progressed to brackets. Most of them are really good, and they do travel to the big money races, not very many mopars in that bunch, even if a few of their parents were Mopar guys. Mostly Mustangs, Camaros,V8 Vega's, Pickups, and dragsters. They are young racers though

these were the good old days eh Glenn! Just turned the rip ol age of 58. I don't race as much as I did. Keeping two rigs "wife's included" running isn't as much fun as it was. Do play on the street with them, mostly run our club challenge series and a few others. Not like when I was younger. Son and daughter like to play.......at worse, I'll have pilots!

OK, so it wasn't just me thinking it didn't look quite right.

I'm 26 my brother is 29. No signs of stopping, bought my dart when I was 14 lucky enough to have a good job that allows the expansion of our "program" currently building a new heads up no time car procharged w8 motor. There is definitely a younger crowd even with mopars, honestly the ones I know are some of the fastest and most serious Mopar racers out there. The heads up stuff puts a monkey on your back when you do it with a Mopar and it really takes alot of dedication, planning and spending. The nss and bracket racing doesn't really grab much of us younger fellas, not right or wrong. also seems to be a fair amount of younger guys that run the newer gen3 hemi platform rides and don't necessarily come to forums.

Brad, have you considered that some people that might have come here are on Facebook, etc? That might mess with the age groups some.

Iron headed big block and a pinion snubber will bend those old cars like that. (Insert )

Wife's Cuda with 446 BBM and pinion snubber went 10.07 @ 132 regularly and never bent anything

Same here will be 64 this coming October and did primarily the same thing with my car, the older I got the harder it is to do it by myself.

Worlds oldest teenager right here. Still have a lot of energy but just not enough time with my own career, children in sports, high tuition schools and house repairs and spending time on here. LOL.
Complicated car I have and it goes into maintenance and or modifications at a slow pace to stay fast.
Sometimes all I have is an hour and by the time I get to the grotto to twist a wrench, it's time to go.

Time is a luxury more than anything else.

Yep Jim I guess those were the good old says as far as racing goes, I think one difference now is back then I raced regularly with 7 or 8 other guys and we all used to show up, wives, kids some friends also, it was a heck of a social event. And seemed there was a good chance one of our group would win. Havent had that since I left the Rocky Mountain area.

it being more of a social thing is really a big part of it. I think that's why we have such a good time running the club race's. Everyone brings snacks, drinks and lots of lies! As said above, seems like there's not enuff hours in the day anymore too. Between motor building, hauler building and putting together mine, plus odd jobs coming into the shop it's no wonder this year is about half over!

I am 62 and will be 63 in July. I used to bracket race a 340 four speed Dart back in the late 70's and early 80's. I had a bad crash as I rolled it 6 times in 1982 and got banged up pretty good as I got a helicopter ride to shock trauma and all and it shook me up some. But I still race my 63 once or twice a year and drive it on the street most weekends from April to November. I have some health problems that slow me down a lot also. But I do love to go racing as its a great feeling when you can put the pedal to the floor and let her fly. I wish I could afford to race a bit more but I have to live within my budget. Ron

Been racing a few years,don't recall how many,just can't seem to remember

I am 68. My first time racing was in 1967. I started racing this car in 1979 and on thru 81. It has been off an on since, as life's changes keep coming. I am planning on doing some T&T this spring , and maybe some heads up racing for street legal cars at the local track. It is getting harder to work on the car these days, and there is no one close by to lend a hand.
Mark

38 here. Small kids put a damper on everything

43 as of yesterday. I made my first pass in about '95 and have raced infrequently ever since. It's been a couple years since I've run down the track in my Challenger. I'd like to make a few passes in my Scatpack this summer, and the urge to put a 727 in my Super Bee with a steeper gear and do more than the occasional test and tune since my youngest is graduating in May and I will have a little more time/money to play. With my work schedule and our plant shutdown being most of June, it still limits how much time I can spend on chasing points and such. So it will probably be me sticking to Mopar only races, the local Pacemaker's test and tune nights, and lots of street fun.

Started racing in 1963 (Detroit Dragway on Saturday night and Motor City Dragway on Sunday) always a Mopar except for two years with a '66 2+2 fastback Mustang (289 - 271 HP). When I got back from Vietnam I bought this cash money and the rest is history When your done with the video click the link
Racing @ 70

That's really where I fit right now. In my life, it's not "Sh!t happens", it's more like "Sh!t ALWAYS happens."

Regardless, it's been an interesting thread.

It also means the odds are pretty good I'll be able to find other people at the track with Tylenol, ibuprofen, and Geritol when the aches & pains of leaning into the engine compartment get to me.

Just make sure you check the bottles for expiration dates. My Sons girlfriend asked if I had suntan lotion in my car trailer to put on her young kids on a hot sunny day at Keystone and I said, yes I do. Well I did but I guess the expiration date on the bottle was 13 years ago. Oh well I tried.

KIDS!!! Ha, I turned 70 in January, and am very blessed to still have the energy level of a 40 yo! Trust me, I ain't a braggin' here as we ALL know how that can change in a (literal) heartbeat! I've been playing drums and gigging when I have the opportunities, in-the-process of building a '64 Belvedere and just started 'dating' again (after all the years of NOT). The old adage of 'life is what you make it' is partially true, partially what's been dealt to you but by-all-means, make every day count...do your very best and appreciate every minute or even second you've got, it doesn't last forever, not in this life. Ok, enough of the philosophical nonsense.

Another oldster here, I will be 72 in July and retired for three years at the end of May. I took my first trip down the drag strip when I was 16. I have had a dedicated race car since around 1973. I took about seven years off when my kids were young.

I am currently chasing a dream to run NHRA Super Stock. I have got the engine to probably about the minimum horsepower level to compete in my class and that has uncovered some chassis issues. I hope that is fixed but I won't know until I get it out again.

I need to get off here and get back out in the shop and finish reinstalling the Dana for that to happen!

My son is active in the sport and I think there is a good chance my five year old grandson will be, only time will tell.

I try to visit this board every day, however I am a little discouraged about the mean spirit that shows up more often than it should.

A LOT of OLD guys here. 74% above 50..Sheesh we all used to be so much youmger

58 here, I'll run some heads up street car stuff this summer like I have for the last few years. The way I work I can't justify a dedicated race car, plus I like to be able to cruise around a hot rod too.

66 and heading in the wrong direction.

I like that car!!!!!!!!!!

Just turned 63 here, made my first pass down a legal drag strip in Gainesville Florida while I was in the Navy...in the 68 GTX that pulled my UHaul trailer from Graham, Texas to NAS Jacksonville, I was 19. Still own that GTX, since then I've owned many door cars and dragsters, in Feb of 2002 I flunked a stress test required of my doctor before he would sign my NHRA SC/SP license, 5 bypasses and 2 months later I was back in the dragster and won the S/P points championship that year as well as runnering up in Q32 points that year. Fast forward to 2008, rolled my hard tail dragster at a very rough shut down track I had no business being at, bought a 4 link dragster a few months later after counting pennies and licking my wounds, one year later scattered a brand spanking new 499" at half track, locked everything up in the trailer and sold it all lock stock and barrel in 2010. Since then I have restored a couple of cars, built a few "fun" semi- race cars and now...at the ripe young age of 63... I'm building another bracket/6.50 heads up car, who knows...may retire in a couple of years...lol...you're only as young as you feel right....lol?????

47 years young here.

I Friday night grudge race at the track a few times a year and there are LOTS of guys show up to those. Lots of fun to e.t. chase and run against late model stuff.

I really prefer the nostalgia events like The HAMB, The HotRod Reunions (Mo-Kan) and The Rumble at Bethany, MO. I try to get to the Mopar events at Tulsa and Mo-Kan but hard to make it every year with kids and other commitments.

Bracket racing is something I would like to do but just can't commit to that many weekends at one track in a year.

I turned 53 last week. My story is pretty typical, I suppose. Hot Rodded and raced a little when I was younger. Couldn’t afford to really race, but I played around in it. At the time I met my wife I had a street musclecar and was building a 440 Duster that probably never would have gotten done. Sold all the car stuff, got married and bought a house. Had kids, two girls (raising girls will make a man of you!). They were both athletes and we spent every bit of time and money we had chasing volleyball and softball tournaments for a decade. Both ended up playing sports in college at the D1 level, so it was a lot of fun, I wouldn’t trade a moment for anything. Once they were getting older I convinced the wife to let me play with cars again. I bought my Satellite about 10 years ago, and thought at the time I would just like to have a mild streetcar. Shoulda known better. Now it’s on the verge of being a racecar, and I’m having a blast with no intention of stopping anytime soon. Only question I can’t seem to answer myself is whether to keep going with the Satellite, or cash it in and buy a Early B dedicated racecar. For right now it’s keep the current car...... ask me in an hour, answer may change.

I"m 73. No tracks close to me but I have completed Drag Week for the last 13 years and will be there this year as well.

I agree...I think the Purple shaft crowd scares them away...also, it seems forums are kind of a dying platform

I see plenty of young guys with new challengers/chargers at "street car" type events, but anytime any new technology is brought up on Moparts, people cry heresy.
You can't mention EFI or power adders without being chased off the lawn around here. Younger people are going to gravitate towards where they are accepted...

They're all on facebook and/or instagram. Forums like this are dying out. Sad b/c I much prefer them over any of the facebook groups.

Being one of the oldest posting here, and probably the oldest running a stick car, here are my thoughts. I like racing with the UMTR guys, and with some local NSS events, but being on a fixed income I now look to doing Test and Tune nights (days) to get more than two or three runs in for less money. Most of the youngsters I see at Keystone (my home track) are running new muscle cars. The kind I could not afford when I was their age? When I go to local car cruises and talk to the younger generation, I ask, Have you taken your car to the track? Most say no. For some reason, they want the look, but not the performance to back it up. As long as I can still hit the gears, I'll have fun with my Roadrunner. When my Arm/Leg co-ordination fails, then I'll think about hanging it up.

64 years young here.
Race 2 x a month at my home track with a bunch of old as well as younger guys.
If i didn't have my young (47) friend and my wife help it would be very difficult to continue.

wow! old!

I'm 58 and get out every chance I can that the weather cooperates, in the northeast that can be a challenge! No Wally since 50 though...maybe this year!

39 .., for the 2nd or 3rd time !

Was you racing at the Fling ,Al? I went a few rounds in the big race. Took out one of the younger Pennington boys. Sure are a few of them there. Good racers.

I’m 50 and have been running supercars for 10 years and will continue as long as possible. I really enjoy the adventure of it all and plan on collecting as many memories/stories as I can before I’m not able to do it any more. I have some interest in other forms of racing like TROG, but I’m no gentlemen and have no money!

I’m 61 and have been racing in one form or another since I was a teenager, plan to keep drag racing til my body says I can’t. The first pass in Vegas at The Spring Fling this year got me all fired up for the year again. I started my son drag racing in high school and am helping him get back into it now that family life has settled down. It’s the best! We have to encourage the younger crowd some, but once they do it they’ll be hooked.

Ya see DoC,wasN'T thaT sresS relEAse?? You been 39 for 40 years

Took my junk out today and hung out with a bunch of my old friends. Youngest pair were my buddy's son who had his son there too. Dad was 45 and son was 24. That brings the average age of the folks I was hanging out with down to "around" 50.

Old bracket racer here. 62 now. Haven't raced this year from local track purse not being worth the effort. Raced 4 times last year in No/box at their guaranteed purse races. Was in all 4 finals and won 3 of them.

In 2017 won their No/Box championship driving my best friends 4000lb dodge Ramcharger 360/904 3.23 gears. Shallow staging best pass was 8.47 1/8 mile. 8.60s deep staging. Dang good bracket truck. Won this new 24 ft enclosed trailer as grand prize in the 16 car shootout at the end of the year.

The desire is still in my blood.