1/4 mile or 1000ft

[DG]

We need to have another Poll:
"How many of the people who voted for lower performance will be the first to B*I*T*C*H that NHRA has ruined the classes with slower times, speeds, noise, etc.?"

There is NO RIGHT ANSWER! Just compromises!! Get used to it, change has to come to protect racing.

 

[NHRADeuce]

I was not a fan of 1000' at first, but I would rather see that than have to spend more money to change the engine combination again. Also as a driver I would rather drive a hot rod to 1000' than a governed sled to 1320'

Makes sense to me.

 

[mick]

there is a 1996 pomona finals video on youtube.
TF final wins with 4.66 i think (amato) - commentary states amato
used same set of heads the entire day.
that's 12 years ago
so now the average e.t. is (before 1000') approx. .10 sec. faster with total engineswaps b/w rounds and we have to shorten track........
have nitro motors changed to the point of being very dangerous
in exchange for very little gain in e.t.?

i'd like to hear some nitro racer's opinions whether or not they feel 1/4 mile drag
racing was just as dangerous 10-15 years ago, or do they feel it has
become more dangerous?

 

[Muddy]

Although the ETs havn't dropped much due mostly to restrictions and tires, the horsepower has gone up a bunch. A lot more Horsepower/Torque is required to increase MPH by just a little bit. The faster speeds are what is causing the problem. Actually the problem was there 10 years ago but no one in charge was willing to face it. Look at when Dale Armstrong proposed changing the compresseion etc.

 

[mick]

Although the ETs havn't dropped much due mostly to restrictions and tires, the horsepower has gone up a bunch. A lot more Horsepower/Torque is required to increase MPH by just a little bit. The faster speeds are what is causing the problem. Actually the problem was there 10 years ago but no one in charge was willing to face it. Look at when Dale Armstrong proposed changing the compresseion etc.

thanks john, what you say makes a lot of sense.

 

[mike]

This will be quick, because I can't be assed typing on my crackberry... But those of you who think 1000ft will make the sport a little safer, please shake your head and get the rocks out of your brain!

I would vote for 1320, but like PJ, depends how slow... I'm not a speed man, I've always been about ET! So if they could just cut the speed at 320 - 315, I'd be fine with that, but 4.70 ets? I'd rather stay back home and watch 4.50s
Just remember a few of the wonderful people we've lost were killed because of the tracks facilities! Indy, Etown, Atlanta, Dallas (Nix for those that may wonder) etc!

I would rather see the tracks fixed, then performance taken away, because at the end of the day, its been proven, that it doesn't matter if you are going 100 or 300mph, this sport can sadly kill you

1000ft will not make a difference, I'm sorry! We need better shutdown areas, ones that will stop the cars! Need to look at the chutes, breaks etc! But some people on here will whine that this will cost ex amount of dollars... So I ask you this, what's the cost on someones life?

Think about it. My keys on my phone hate me now!

Michael

 

[Leebone]

I have an idea that will solve all the problems and get the dragsters and funny cars back to 1320. Hook a couple of horses to pull the race cars down the track. That's right, horses. That way the drivers will be "totally" safe and we can get back to 1320 foot racing. Even Englishtown has enough shut down area to stop a couple of horses. There might be a few road apples along the way, but I'm sure the safety safari can take care of that. That way all you "1320 people" will be happy. Not only that, it would solve the nitro shortage. Just don't use any. The price of horse feed might go up, but doubt that VP would have to go all the way to China to find it. In fact, someone told me they saw a barn and silo being built at Schumacher's race shop. Hopefully they aren't storing non-NHRA approved horse feed in that silo. The MOST IMPORTANT thing is, we get back to 1320 racing, no matter what it takes.

Leebone

 

[yoda]

Maybe what has been missed here is the obvious- and it was briefly touched upon near the end of last season.

Is it possibly the time for a completely new concept in what we describe as our Professional Nitro classes? A ground up chassis/aerodynamics package that puts driver safety first? Looking at the advancements that race boats, Indy cars and NASCAR have put into place (that involved all their professional participants to change to), maybe its time for a complete, ground-up new style of fuel car, if it is truly about the safety of the racers.

When floppers went from the Logghe-style chassis to the Gilmore- style chassis, it increased safety and performance. Obviously when Big redesigned the digger into what is the standard of the sport (almost 40 years old now), it was based on safety and not how much it would cost teams to convert.

It seems that the running gear has now surpassed the vehicles that they are in, and adding a few bars, pipes or padding isn't the fix. If the major expense in our sport is the drivetrain, then leave that alone- with AJ's 3.77 today, I think the system they have is working.
A ground-up chassis, incorporating a driver safety system that will move the sport and safety to the next level, no longer relying on what the cars currently look like and encorporating engineering that will allow the sport to safely and sucessfully prosper for another 50 years, as well as being designed to work with the engines that produce power unforseen 30, 20 or even 10 years ago.

Time to throw out the rulebook again folks and do what drag racers do best- create something that works for what we need. Longer wheelbase, shorter wheelbase, wider cars, narrower cars, heavier cars, lighter cars, full cages, impact inflatables- SOMETHING has to be in the minds of our best and brightest that is only being hindered by a rulebook that seems based in the 80's.

 

[Muddy]

A better idea from Martin! DING DING......I think we have a winner! Combine the best of the dragster with the best from the floppers. Then make it safe. One class for nitro.

 

[FC138fan]

Is it possibly the time for a completely new concept in what we describe as our Professional Nitro classes? A ground up chassis/aerodynamics package that puts driver safety first?

Great idea. Maybe run them as an exibition class like the pro stock trucks until popularity grows. Run them to 1/4 mile and they would probably gain popularity over the 1000' counterparts. Then over time phase out the older cars.

The tuners complain now about the proposed changes. They'd revolt if they did the switch outright.

 

[Super Mod]

Read Will Hanna's commentary to the end ::: Drag Racing Online ::: On the Tire - It’s time for 1,000-foot divisionals - 10/10/2008

 

[twok4hd]

Ho...Hummmmmmmmm.....

 

[yoda]

Great idea. Maybe run them as an exibition class like the pro stock trucks until popularity grows. Run them to 1/4 mile and they would probably gain popularity over the 1000' counterparts. Then over time phase out the older cars.

The tuners complain now about the proposed changes. They'd revolt if they did the switch outright.

The only tuners that would be pissed are are a couple that DIDN'T get a chance to get hooked up on the new class from the outset, and would be playing catch-up...

At least the drive train package would continue to be the common thread..

A minor weight break for flopper-styled cars over the digger (front OR rear engined) rails.. Kinda like a PRO Pro Comp.. Hmmmm

 

[SAS]

glad to see common sense is ahead 8 - 1 at this point.

And if they stay with 1000 ft. We can look forward to Lance returning to the Tour.

 

[Tim5636sc]

This will be quick, because I can't be assed typing on my crackberry... But those of you who think 1000ft will make the sport a little safer, please shake your head and get the rocks out of your brain!

I would vote for 1320, but like PJ, depends how slow... I'm not a speed man, I've always been about ET! So if they could just cut the speed at 320 - 315, I'd be fine with that, but 4.70 ets? I'd rather stay back home and watch 4.50s
Just remember a few of the wonderful people we've lost were killed because of the tracks facilities! Indy, Etown, Atlanta, Dallas (Nix for those that may wonder) etc!

I would rather see the tracks fixed, then performance taken away, because at the end of the day, its been proven, that it doesn't matter if you are going 100 or 300mph, this sport can sadly kill you

1000ft will not make a difference, I'm sorry! We need better shutdown areas, ones that will stop the cars! Need to look at the chutes, breaks etc! But some people on here will whine that this will cost ex amount of dollars... So I ask you this, what's the cost on someones life?

Think about it. My keys on my phone hate me now!

Michael

Michael...

So, lets say that we slow the cars down to 4.80's @ 310 for dragsters and 4.90's @ 300 for Funny Cars, with a rules package that is not too cost effective, say... Lower blower overdrive, change in clutch management, and single mag/smaller fuel pump......and NHRA changes the sandtraps at all National Event tracks to the standards like at Indy, Charlotte and soon to be Vegas and Pomona. How long will it be until the tuners improve the performance to 4.70's....then 4.60's...then...on and on and on.... Slowing these cars down after crossing the finish line is the problem... WHEN S#IT Happens, ie..chute failures, Engine explosions, tires going down, ect...

This is why shorting the distance of the race track for the quickest cars is the right thing to do. It's...on the average... less parts breakage, better and closer racing, and still very entertaining! What are we really LOSING by going from 1320' to 1000'??? TRADITION??

Well, I would believe that if Wally Parks were alive today, still running things at NHRA we would be racing 1000'. The cars are going too fast to safely slow down after acceleration up to 1320'. These tracks were built to handle cars going 260 MPH at 1320 not 330!!! Yes, improvements have been made, but most of these tracks can not extend the shut down area. Can't do it at pomona, englishtown or some other nhra national event tracks because of public roads behind them. Understand this, that most of the fuel and alcohol cars don't get the chutes out until atleast 300' after crossing the finishline.

As a driver, wouldn't you rather have the assurance that by the time you cross that 1320' line, your chutes are already deployed and slowing you down? As an owner, wouldn't you feel more comfortable knowing that you can save up to 2 gallons of Nitro per run, save on parts breakage, and thus providing a better SHOW to the fans? As a potential owner, wouldn't it be more economically possible to bring your car out to the track, thus increasing car count? As a potential sponsor, wouldn't you feel more inclined to provide marketing budgets to a sport and teams that still provides the same ROI, for less money???

I understand the need to support our traditions in this sport. However the biggest TRADITION of the NHRA is "DEDICATED TO SAFETY". This is an issue that is 10 years too late in my opinion. It is time to go to 1000' for the pro cars, and perhaps for any cars going over 250. Those of you who are die hard fans of the sport will still get your FIX at the track. Those who are new to our sport, will get a better show, and more teams will be out there competing....and yes Michael, drivers will be safer!

Those who dissagree, please tell me what are we "LOSING" by going from 1320' to 1000'???

 

[rollingthunder]

What you are losing is 320 ft to drive around your opponent. I believe it was steve torrence would have taken the army team out in sonoma if he had 320 ft more. I have been to 2 races at 1000 ft. If you made all the class like pro stock and the fuel cars it will only be a drivers race. Since alan and coil both say there is nothing more to do on a tune up !!!! How many of the races that have been run this year would have turned out different if a team would have had 320 ft more to drive around. I am all for safety but this didn't become unsafe overnight.

 

[nick name]

I think sometimes we lose sight of the fact that the NHRA came into existence based on a simple principle: using clever minds to invent technology that made for better acceleration. As far as I can see, that's still the case in every class we race.

I haven't seen a corresponding gain on the facilities side. I understand how difficult it is for a track owner to make money, but with the exception of the elimination of Armco and wall openings I'm hard pressed to think of ANY serious innovation in track safety in the last 20 years or more. VIP suites don't do much for racer safety.

I agree we have to do something, but I like using the traits that have made drag racing what it is today. The catch net/wall at Indy is a very good start but should not be considered the final answer. We haven't even looked into safer walls that might have helped in some accidents where the car went heavily into the wall first.

I was at Indy that terrible year when Blaine and Elmer died. I came very close to getting in my car and going home as I was having a hard time with the fact that the sport I loved had killed people.

I mentioned to a number of people in the media center and the Pro pits about how the driver capsules were being used in boats. The kindest people told me the idea was nice but unworkable. Others called it ridiculous. How long would we have had to fine tune the technology by now?

We're all hurting right now because of the horrible events that have taken place this year. Understandably, people are demanding action. I'd just wish that we don't rush into "fixes" that don't really address the problem. Performance limitations aren't the answer. We're not blowing up engines as regularly as we once did but we will be in the very near future.

As long as people race there will be risk. And as long as there is risk there are going to be situations where accidents are not survivable under the technology being used.

So let's put out a major, well funded, top priority program to design/modify our racetracks and cars to be the safest that smart people can design. It's the only answer that will have a lasting effect.

 

[yoda]

I think sometimes we lose sight of the fact that the NHRA came into existence based on a simple principle: using clever minds to invent technology that made for better acceleration. As far as I can see, that's still the case in every class we race...

.....So let's put out a major, well funded, top priority program to design/modify our racetracks and cars to be the safest that smart people can design. It's the only answer that will have a lasting effect.

Absolutly agree. Millions are being spent annually in search of an elusive trophy or a better view for the privilaged few. When will it come about that its time for another aspect to reap the rewards of the additional funding that has come about in just the past decade?

Better RACING facilities are not necessarly describing the seating arrangements... And if safety is continued to be on the back burner in regards to car and track design, there might not be anyone to put in those comfortable stands because the tracks will have been legislated out of existance.

Safer cars. Safer tracks. Maybe from the ground up....

 

[Tbone]

I sat at Indy and watched the final eliminations on Monday...I don't believe I saw very many of the Nitro cars shut off at 1000'...I know for a fact (I am not mentioning names)that one T/F dragster in particular was on it to 1320' almost every pass. Did anybody else that attended notice this? If the track can't handle a ROCKET then maybe you should stick to pedal cars!!!


Just my 2 cents

 

[RAPID]

.... Slowing these cars down after crossing the finish line is the problem...

Bingo Tim, sorry for cutting your quote down. You have said it all right there.

This ^^^ is the problem so why are we dicking around with anything that isn't productive to fixing the things that happen when the race is over???

It isn't the length of the track, it is stopping the out of control cars that should be addressed. JMO

Rapid