Post by johnbalich on Nov 22, 2008 19:50:31 GMT -7
What a great year it’s been ! I think it was about a year ago I found Psychoslots. I have long hoped for a site or group dedicated to HO drag racing. Psychoslots has turned out to be exactly what I hoped for.
What first began as a ‘Grudge match’ between two guys here, led to a ‘wouldn’t it be cool if we had a' GASSER meet. Who first suggested it, I can’t remember, but the gauntlet was thrown and guys in large numbers jumped in.
After much discussion among a group of Psychoslots writers and moderators, it was decided that a ‘Governing’ body should be formed to promote cost effective, as well as entry level, racing. The wrinkle was, that the body would be chiefly and foremost a PROXY racing group.
The popularity of this fledgling groups’ events has spoken for itself in the first 8-9 months of its existence. Turnout to the Gasser Nats and the Superstock Nats was greater than expected, and impressive by any measure.
The thing I find most encouraging, and it’s a view shared by the Psychoslots Group as well as the NTRA race directors, is the type of group and individuals that have been attracted to and associate themselves with Psychoslots and NTRA. There are competitive juices flowing, but the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie has been an obvious and overriding factor in the enjoyment by so many in this obscure but satisfying ‘sport.’
You may believe us when we say we really try to put the racer (you guys) first.
We weren’t even sure it was wise to form a ‘body’ (NTRA) at the outset. We have seen groups come and go, and did not want to merely repeat patterns that we found to be less to our liking. We are not declaring ourselves wiser or superior to any group, but we do promise to observe and learn from their successes and their failures, just as we do the same for NTRA’s successes and failures. Our aim is to provide a platform for fun. Numbers tell us we are on to something, but the real success story is YOU guys. (and Gals) Guys who share ideas, techniques, parts………..this is typical of true Hot Rodding at its heart. We have seen this at full size drag race events for years. A competitor agrees to wait an extra fifteen minutes so his rival can make the starting grid rather than take a “bye’ win; or loans a rival a transmission so he can continue in the next round; or after losing in round one, helps his foe rebuild his engine between rounds in preparation for the next match.
We are so encouraged to see and hear so little grousing, bad-mouthing and virtually no whining about conduct, rules, and outcomes. Guys have really stepped up to the idea that more competitors and yes better competition, ends up being more fun. I’d rather help you find the parts you need, and so have more guys at the party, than race against myself! I was kinda’ proud to see my Gassers Lined up with four dozen others at the start line of the Gasser Nats. Pretty cool stuff. If you are new here, and maybe reading this for the first time……….believe me when I say we have a great group of guys here that appreciate a low-key no-bull environment. Of course we smack talk some, but it’s been good natured and fun thus far.
We won’t be perfect in 2009, but we will strive and expect to be better! Thanks for growing with us, supporting us in 2008. As for 2009, resolve to keep making suggestions, learn some new stuff, and don’t be shy about expressing opinions.
As soon as we can finalize plans, we will pass on the info about future events. In the meantime, ISRA ( a sister group of pretty much the same guys) is holding a ProStock Smackdown in December (test and tune) and January (finals). The cars are reasonable in cost, not overly complex to make competive, and we are nearing 30 entries. Past practice has been to divide the fields into classes of around 16 cars based on qualifying times. Because these are “proxy” driven events, there is no incentive to ‘sandbag’ and qualifying becomes an excellent way to divide fields and double (or triple) your chances of winning.
If you are ‘on the fence’ about entering this event, or maybe just toying with the idea, why not take the jump and enter a car? I think the vote of past entrants is heavily on the ‘thumbs up’ side. You get a chance to compete at a “National’ level, with the expense of traveling, and thanks to our very own ‘typist of drag racing’ Chima; you can expect live reporting seconds after it happens.
What first began as a ‘Grudge match’ between two guys here, led to a ‘wouldn’t it be cool if we had a' GASSER meet. Who first suggested it, I can’t remember, but the gauntlet was thrown and guys in large numbers jumped in.
After much discussion among a group of Psychoslots writers and moderators, it was decided that a ‘Governing’ body should be formed to promote cost effective, as well as entry level, racing. The wrinkle was, that the body would be chiefly and foremost a PROXY racing group.
The popularity of this fledgling groups’ events has spoken for itself in the first 8-9 months of its existence. Turnout to the Gasser Nats and the Superstock Nats was greater than expected, and impressive by any measure.
The thing I find most encouraging, and it’s a view shared by the Psychoslots Group as well as the NTRA race directors, is the type of group and individuals that have been attracted to and associate themselves with Psychoslots and NTRA. There are competitive juices flowing, but the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie has been an obvious and overriding factor in the enjoyment by so many in this obscure but satisfying ‘sport.’
You may believe us when we say we really try to put the racer (you guys) first.
We weren’t even sure it was wise to form a ‘body’ (NTRA) at the outset. We have seen groups come and go, and did not want to merely repeat patterns that we found to be less to our liking. We are not declaring ourselves wiser or superior to any group, but we do promise to observe and learn from their successes and their failures, just as we do the same for NTRA’s successes and failures. Our aim is to provide a platform for fun. Numbers tell us we are on to something, but the real success story is YOU guys. (and Gals) Guys who share ideas, techniques, parts………..this is typical of true Hot Rodding at its heart. We have seen this at full size drag race events for years. A competitor agrees to wait an extra fifteen minutes so his rival can make the starting grid rather than take a “bye’ win; or loans a rival a transmission so he can continue in the next round; or after losing in round one, helps his foe rebuild his engine between rounds in preparation for the next match.
We are so encouraged to see and hear so little grousing, bad-mouthing and virtually no whining about conduct, rules, and outcomes. Guys have really stepped up to the idea that more competitors and yes better competition, ends up being more fun. I’d rather help you find the parts you need, and so have more guys at the party, than race against myself! I was kinda’ proud to see my Gassers Lined up with four dozen others at the start line of the Gasser Nats. Pretty cool stuff. If you are new here, and maybe reading this for the first time……….believe me when I say we have a great group of guys here that appreciate a low-key no-bull environment. Of course we smack talk some, but it’s been good natured and fun thus far.
We won’t be perfect in 2009, but we will strive and expect to be better! Thanks for growing with us, supporting us in 2008. As for 2009, resolve to keep making suggestions, learn some new stuff, and don’t be shy about expressing opinions.
As soon as we can finalize plans, we will pass on the info about future events. In the meantime, ISRA ( a sister group of pretty much the same guys) is holding a ProStock Smackdown in December (test and tune) and January (finals). The cars are reasonable in cost, not overly complex to make competive, and we are nearing 30 entries. Past practice has been to divide the fields into classes of around 16 cars based on qualifying times. Because these are “proxy” driven events, there is no incentive to ‘sandbag’ and qualifying becomes an excellent way to divide fields and double (or triple) your chances of winning.
If you are ‘on the fence’ about entering this event, or maybe just toying with the idea, why not take the jump and enter a car? I think the vote of past entrants is heavily on the ‘thumbs up’ side. You get a chance to compete at a “National’ level, with the expense of traveling, and thanks to our very own ‘typist of drag racing’ Chima; you can expect live reporting seconds after it happens.
yeah well said john aka mary kay hey you know i can't remember when i joined i guess i can look it up but that's not a big deal what is is that i have had so much fun word's can't tell the whole story . yeah this great and 09 will even be better . now about ntra when are we going to let's say have shirts or even a jacket avail. ? oh wait am i going to fast let me know . any way thanks and let the drag racing begin ...... baby !!!!!!!! 
If NTRA goes to Top Fuel Dragsters turn the boys loose and let them build a thunder jet as hot as they can, would be fun to see what some of the weird minds come up with. A stock class should be that,run stock rims, the rubber tires,stock pick up shoes,allow gear lapping,magnet shimming, weight to front of car.any body style and manufacture from 1950 - 1980 after that everything looks alike to me 