StockersRock
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I'd love to see it on a Friday. Sunday? No way.
4 Wide SUCKS (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tx_trojan
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Jim
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I would like to attend one 4-Wide race but, just to have seen it once.
Full Disclosure: I usually go to an event on FRIDAY. Part of that reason is to see EVERY Pro Car on the property run 2 rounds. It can be agreat day of enjoyment.
My impression (from TV): It's like drinking beer from a fire-hose (and it's over too quick).
Full Disclosure: I usually go to an event on FRIDAY. Part of that reason is to see EVERY Pro Car on the property run 2 rounds. It can be agreat day of enjoyment.
My impression (from TV): It's like drinking beer from a fire-hose (and it's over too quick).
daveo
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Well, most guys who have been there, enjoy the sounds, etc. So why not just do it for qualifing
.
.
vegasnitro
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Friday is my favorite day to go too ... and it REALLY p!sses me off that they don't run Friday night sessions at LVMS anymore. I guess it is more important for everyone to get off property to head to the shows and casinos. I has a sad.
daveo
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I agree! Friday night til 8pm was great in Vegas! Even Pro Stock was cool in the dark!
90-percent
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I love these comments:
Jim G. said: My impression (from TV): It's like drinking beer from a fire-hose (and it's over too quick).
Jim E. said: I can't help but think of it kinda like having 4 boxers in the ring at once.
And here’s a few brainstorming hypotheticals and comments/suggestions:
It seems the main appeal to four wide would be the sensory over load that could only be experienced at the track. My brain doesn’t have the raw speed to process the nuances of four nitro cars at once. For those of us that don’t have the biology of a hummingbird , at least half the race can’t be enjoyed at all, as I can only focus on two cars at once maximum.
Maybe if I took speed or some other time perception altering drug this sort of racing would be possible to enjoy? (You know your concept is flawed when your customers have to take illegal drugs to enjoy it!)
Oh what the hell. It’s only one race (or two?) and it is a novelty and it does have some nuances. Nice to have two winners each round, too. Everybody should be a winner.
Lane choice and last minute lane swaps must be interesting. Plus unsportsmanlike staging procedures could get three other teams mad at you instead of just one.
Once again, here’s some benefits to four wide, if you work out the details.
Cleanup – grooming could be done on two lanes while racing continues in the other two. To an extent. I would not want to be working in the down lanes when 330 mph race cars are racing 60 feet from me! I would park the equipment and get off the track and behind some thing safe during the race. Parked equipment in the dormant lanes would lead someday to another catastrophic unintended consequences type accident eventually? However, isn’t parked equipment roughly the same as the finish line sign posts in terms of massive stationary objects close to the track that would kill somebody if they went over the wall? (Jimmy Nix, Scott Kalitta and Dick Harrell are three examples of how unsafe this can be)
I think they invented some hinged jersey barriers for access – a few more of them on the outer most barriers would allow the sweepers and trucks to get farther away from the racing.
Less time for slow/boring car racing – Not going to befriend very many here with this comment, but the indexed or bracket or class cars could be run at twice the normal rate, so as to get this racing over quicker.
Even more safety – if you run the left and right sides as one lane each, that gives you a jersey barrier between the lanes. Safer, and a lot easier to spot a centerline violation. Or not – that would make the race track twice as wide for each car and allow a lot more distance to gain velocity for a head on impact into the barrier.. Or they could get a jersey barrier system like on the Tappen Zee Bridge in Westchester N.Y. It's a machine that moves the barriers to widen the high traffic lanes as required by the ebb and flow of rush hour traffic patterns.
I have to say I’m happy for Robert and Spencer – they had the best nitro cars out there and it’s real nice to see 332 mph again! I do wish Erica had won, though. I hope she does get a win this year.
-90%
Jim G. said: My impression (from TV): It's like drinking beer from a fire-hose (and it's over too quick).
Jim E. said: I can't help but think of it kinda like having 4 boxers in the ring at once.
And here’s a few brainstorming hypotheticals and comments/suggestions:
It seems the main appeal to four wide would be the sensory over load that could only be experienced at the track. My brain doesn’t have the raw speed to process the nuances of four nitro cars at once. For those of us that don’t have the biology of a hummingbird , at least half the race can’t be enjoyed at all, as I can only focus on two cars at once maximum.
Maybe if I took speed or some other time perception altering drug this sort of racing would be possible to enjoy? (You know your concept is flawed when your customers have to take illegal drugs to enjoy it!)
Oh what the hell. It’s only one race (or two?) and it is a novelty and it does have some nuances. Nice to have two winners each round, too. Everybody should be a winner.
Lane choice and last minute lane swaps must be interesting. Plus unsportsmanlike staging procedures could get three other teams mad at you instead of just one.
Once again, here’s some benefits to four wide, if you work out the details.
Cleanup – grooming could be done on two lanes while racing continues in the other two. To an extent. I would not want to be working in the down lanes when 330 mph race cars are racing 60 feet from me! I would park the equipment and get off the track and behind some thing safe during the race. Parked equipment in the dormant lanes would lead someday to another catastrophic unintended consequences type accident eventually? However, isn’t parked equipment roughly the same as the finish line sign posts in terms of massive stationary objects close to the track that would kill somebody if they went over the wall? (Jimmy Nix, Scott Kalitta and Dick Harrell are three examples of how unsafe this can be)
I think they invented some hinged jersey barriers for access – a few more of them on the outer most barriers would allow the sweepers and trucks to get farther away from the racing.
Less time for slow/boring car racing – Not going to befriend very many here with this comment, but the indexed or bracket or class cars could be run at twice the normal rate, so as to get this racing over quicker.
Even more safety – if you run the left and right sides as one lane each, that gives you a jersey barrier between the lanes. Safer, and a lot easier to spot a centerline violation. Or not – that would make the race track twice as wide for each car and allow a lot more distance to gain velocity for a head on impact into the barrier.. Or they could get a jersey barrier system like on the Tappen Zee Bridge in Westchester N.Y. It's a machine that moves the barriers to widen the high traffic lanes as required by the ebb and flow of rush hour traffic patterns.
I have to say I’m happy for Robert and Spencer – they had the best nitro cars out there and it’s real nice to see 332 mph again! I do wish Erica had won, though. I hope she does get a win this year.
-90%
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Jimbo
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Re: 4 Wide SUCKS or What happens after NHRA Management goes to Clown College...
Hmmm well as they said in the broadcast:
1. "Circus Like:" Yep VERY Unprofessional and the NHRA looked like a bunch of clowns...
2. That what its all about: Cars blowing up and people getting run over because of the confusion of a starting line process that had to be developed by people who don't have a clue...
Thanks NHRA for showing the world the true side of NHRA Racing. I can't call it drag racing at this event because it isn't...
I suggest for the next 4 wide they flood the two inside lanes and race Fuel Drag Boats against the Fuel Cars.... It would make about as much since... or maybe run a different Pro Class in each lane with a handicap start and call it Top "Chump" Eliminator... Seeing a Pro Stock bike win an overall event against the fuel cars would at least add a new flair to the program.
Maybe after a couple people get killed on the starting line or they have all 4 cars on fire with the limited fire support staff they will get a clue...
I really feel sorry for the teams... It is a shame they have to put up with this...
What a F#&KING Joke...
Hmmm well as they said in the broadcast:
1. "Circus Like:" Yep VERY Unprofessional and the NHRA looked like a bunch of clowns...
2. That what its all about: Cars blowing up and people getting run over because of the confusion of a starting line process that had to be developed by people who don't have a clue...
Thanks NHRA for showing the world the true side of NHRA Racing. I can't call it drag racing at this event because it isn't...
I suggest for the next 4 wide they flood the two inside lanes and race Fuel Drag Boats against the Fuel Cars.... It would make about as much since... or maybe run a different Pro Class in each lane with a handicap start and call it Top "Chump" Eliminator... Seeing a Pro Stock bike win an overall event against the fuel cars would at least add a new flair to the program.
Maybe after a couple people get killed on the starting line or they have all 4 cars on fire with the limited fire support staff they will get a clue...
I really feel sorry for the teams... It is a shame they have to put up with this...
What a F#&KING Joke...
stanzig44
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According to this story on CompPlus from 2010, LVMS was built with 4 lanes in mind. -
http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/13184-the-strip-at-lvms-lusts-for-4-wide
http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/13184-the-strip-at-lvms-lusts-for-4-wide
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I hate watching four wide racing on TV. It's too hard to keep up with it.
I can imagine it is tough on the drivers to keep up with four sets of staging lights.
While I would like to experience four blown fuel cars going full throttle all at once, that kind of racing is best left to once-a-year exhibition or specialty races that pay a lot of cash.
It should not be a points race.
I can imagine it is tough on the drivers to keep up with four sets of staging lights.
While I would like to experience four blown fuel cars going full throttle all at once, that kind of racing is best left to once-a-year exhibition or specialty races that pay a lot of cash.
It should not be a points race.
Professional Fan
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Bobby, I'm going to try and catch you after RFC at Topeka. I sit with V Gaines at RFC so I have shared a table with you several times. I'd like to hear more from you about sitting down track as I'd be willing to give 4 wide another try. I usually sit by the Christmas tree so maybe a different location would change my perspective.
Bobby Bennett
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Brian, I was at 800 feet and from there, the cars are together as they thunder by. You can watch all of the action closely there from start to finish. I couldn't stand 4-wide until I went down there. Pro Stock is amazing to watch.
I understand the longtime fans don't care for this. Maybe I am the exception, and I have been in this long enough to remember E/Modified Production.
Can you imagine 4-wide Doug nash, 4-speed Corvette stingrays in Modified?
Oh man.
Bobby
I understand the longtime fans don't care for this. Maybe I am the exception, and I have been in this long enough to remember E/Modified Production.
Can you imagine 4-wide Doug nash, 4-speed Corvette stingrays in Modified?
Oh man.
Bobby
Fast16Racer
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My top 5:
1. I can see how 4 wide in person at 800 feet is cool, but on TV 4 wide takes away the sense of rivalry that comes from head-to-head match ups.
2. The teams are scrambling just to get in the correct lane, get the car fired, staged and then leave somewhat on time. The finer points of competition are lost.
3. It takes effort when viewing to figure out who is in what lane so I am prepared to know whether to cheer or not when they actually finally do race.
4. As presented, it downplays the driver's contribution to the outcome via reaction time--ESPN doesn't even display RT. Watching a conventional race, that's the first thing I look for, who treed who. That adds an element of excitement before the run is even complete.
5. Downtime is NHRA's biggest problem as far as TV is concerned. Seems like 4-wide exacerbates this problem.
1. I can see how 4 wide in person at 800 feet is cool, but on TV 4 wide takes away the sense of rivalry that comes from head-to-head match ups.
2. The teams are scrambling just to get in the correct lane, get the car fired, staged and then leave somewhat on time. The finer points of competition are lost.
3. It takes effort when viewing to figure out who is in what lane so I am prepared to know whether to cheer or not when they actually finally do race.
4. As presented, it downplays the driver's contribution to the outcome via reaction time--ESPN doesn't even display RT.
Watching a conventional race, that's the first thing I look for, who treed who. That adds an element of excitement before the run is even complete.5. Downtime is NHRA's biggest problem as far as TV is concerned. Seems like 4-wide exacerbates this problem.
Rajunz
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They should finish it and make the Vegas Spring Race a 4 Wide also, that's probably the most boring race on the schedule.
I've been to all the 4 wides, seen every round (except yesterday, where I was at Rockingham, no way I was gonna miss that). I enjoy it alright, but I prefer traditional 2 wide by a pretty large degree. However I don't think it's the holocaust of drag racing that some make it out to be. It's not like they put two cars at both ends of the track and make them play chicken. My kids absolutely love it, and surprisingly they don't have any problem following what transpires as they go down the track. I would be kinda happy if they went to 2 wide for both races, though.
RacerRose
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The coverage of the 4 Wide event from ESPN is WAY TOO LONG! That show could've easily been aired for 2 hours, maybe 90 minutes.
Agree, there's way too much dang filler in there for what amounts to 21 rounds.
clutchflite
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I wish they'd build the other 2 lanes in Vegas and move this mess there, that way I'd go to the spring race here. I've been to the 4 wide, was gonna go Sunday but after I watched qualifying on TV and was reminded how it sucks I stayed home. I'll go in September, I want to experience drag racing not a "spectacle" thanks.
DrRocket
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You could tell they were doing a bit of tap dancing between rounds to stretch it to 3 hours. While I normally don't mind the 3 hour show (I record it, zip the commercials, drops it to about 2 h 15 min or so) this particular show did seem to drag.
I think for wide is something that needs to be experienced in person. It simply DOES NOT translate to TV at all, IMHO.
I think for wide is something that needs to be experienced in person. It simply DOES NOT translate to TV at all, IMHO.
Bigfishtools dot com
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4 wide SUCKS
1. Hagan has to run in that lane 2
2. What happened to Erica was the biggest crock, and I don't even like pro-stock.
3. Have to listen to the wife all day saying it sucks!
Word is Hagan laid down a great pass today testing go figure.
1. Hagan has to run in that lane 2
2. What happened to Erica was the biggest crock, and I don't even like pro-stock.
3. Have to listen to the wife all day saying it sucks!
Word is Hagan laid down a great pass today testing go figure.
