Let The Pidgeons Loose

Today could be the start of a new era in Street Rodding or the end of the hobby as we know it.

It was announced to a select few in the NSRA and trickled down to me through sources who you will only guess at, that beginning in 2010 the All NSRA events will be open to vehicles 30 years old and older. ALL NSRA EVENTS including Louisville, home of the Nationals.

It's not like we haven't seen this coming for a few years but a few of us have hoped that the trend would hold off a couple of more years or stop altogether.

From the beginning the NSRA has had issues with some of the newer (49-up) vehicles thus the start of Goodguys and Right Coast and other organizations that cater to the new car crowd. The NSRA has always been Pre-49 at its event until recent years with the advent of Milwaukee and Richmond which were started with the 30year rule in place. Well Milwaukee fell out of Grace with the powers that be and was given the Boot last year. Richmond could be next if the Numbers don't get to where they need to be.

Since these events were started the call for opening the gates to the 30year car at other smaller events came and some of the smaller NSRA events also began the 30year old vehicle trend. But lets face it it all gets to one point on the map, Money.

It all comes down to this equation; bodies + gate = sponsors or cars on the grounds + Sponsors = Cha Ching. That’s all that matters is numbers, bodies equal money equals continuation of the NSRA events, Period.

With the Goodguys, Right Coast, Billetproof, NSRA and a host of other organization vying for the same crowd it ain’t hard to see why it was done. Remember it’s a business not a club.

After sitting at an event with several of the local clubs on hand, and realizing that at the age of 50+, I was one of the younger ones in the room, it might be time to start looking at the aspects of the hobby as an old guy thing. Or do we start recruiting some of the younger guys to keep it going. The policy of Pre-49 may be what is keeping the younger crowd away, due to the availability and pricing of the needed vehicles to allow participation. I think the NSRA has seen the light and had taken the first step of many, at these smaller regional events in order to continue our hobby as we know it.

Could this be the end of the Street Rod hobby as we have come to know it. Not likely, but the economic times dictate what will happen in the future. The Environmentalists are loving every minute of this shit and we either need to embrace this new order in the NSRA or tell the NSRA to shove it.

I personally have a feeling this may be what the hobby needs, but then again, I am watching the door to see what other 400lb. Gorillas come in.