my friends call me Zappy
Nitro Member
Nitromater
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Easy Way Around Testing Ban
- Thread starter nitro-trucker
- Start date
Rumblebones
Nitro Member
Yea great for the "big teams." How about everybody else, like the ones that wanna run the IHRA or other events outside the NHRA?
Also, are you technically banned form the U.S. Nationals because you've run outside the NHRA all year and are still an NHRA member but wanna run in the "Big Go"?
What's next for the NHRA, a fuel ban, again? What's happening to this organization that I once admired?
yoda
Nitro Member
Sleep and beer are good things- it gives some of us time to think on some things that initially look idiotic...
First and formost, all the teams have 4 days during the year before they take a hit to go out and test if Chris' scenario comes to pass. IF DSR/JFR/AJR/DPR/et al (
) come out blazing and get everyone's panties in a bunch, they have 4 Mondays to get their sh!t together. More than enough time to figure it out...And if you were a Top 10 contender, you absolutly had a gun to your head to go test if ANOTHER Top 10 contender WAS testing on Monday. The idea that you would have to be sitting at the big table at the end of the season trying to explain why you saved some money and came in 4th without testing while your competition tested week in and week out and kicked your booty fairly regularly and wound up in the Top 3 would be a pretty hard pill for most sponsors to swallow.
SO, if JFR tests on Monday, bet that DSR was burnin up the Benjamins on Monday as well... Put it in baseball terms- The Yanks send their sluggers to the plate every day off. Assume that the Sox are gonna follow suit to keep up.
Now multiply by "X" amount of teams and that's lots of guys in batting cages on Monday.
Now exchange a million dollar player for a million dollar, money eating fuel car and you immediately see the problem. Those that have the cash are gonna burn it. Those that kinda have the cash are gonna struggle to keep up. And those that don't have the cash are just a$$ out.
Anyone that is considering running match races or IHRA for more than 4 races to pay the bills is only playing in the Big Show for the check and the trophy girl on Sunday, not for the big cardboard check and the Jacket in November. They'll still make their necessary cash running anywhere they want- they will undoubtedly NOT be running for the NHRA World Championship trophy. Reality check here folks. If you are a real knowlegable fan of this sport, you know that there has not been one minor league player in the hunt come November for years- are we really thinking that's gonna change soon? (Wilk was NOT minor league by any stretch of the imagination, BTW...)
Off my soapbox now... Dos XX and squishy pillows are calling again.
This rant brought to you by the broke guy....
Last edited:
vegasnitro
Nitro Member
There hasn't been anyone with a nitro car that made their money match racing in a long time. The NHRAs schedule expansion has precluded that, as well as the amount of money it takes to run one of these things. Somebody made a statement not long ago they got 5K to run their car for a booked in show 20 years ago ... and they still get 5K today. Is it worth the tow, crew, consumables and parts attrition for 5K?
My concern is not for the IHRA teams, they are not chasing NHRA points anyway, and they will still get paid commensurate to their performance at NHRA events.
The ONLY point I am trying to make as a long time observer of ALL motorsports (not just the insular world of drag racing) is that testing bans ultimately fail. It will just take 1 team to believe they are at a disadvantage and that disadvantage can be remedied by more track/seat time. That is when you will start to see some creative accounting and new team owners whose cars never appear at a race.
Like I said earlier ... it is all good now ... but the season hasn't even started yet ... talk to me in August when there are a few teams sweating the Countdown towards Indy and they are out of testing days ...
EDIT: Here's another naive belief ... that the teams will pocket the money they are "saving". They will find other ways to spend that money ... if a team can't test at the track ... they will test in the wind tunnel ... they will test clutch dynos and blower dynos ... computer simulations ... parts development ...
My concern is not for the IHRA teams, they are not chasing NHRA points anyway, and they will still get paid commensurate to their performance at NHRA events.
The ONLY point I am trying to make as a long time observer of ALL motorsports (not just the insular world of drag racing) is that testing bans ultimately fail. It will just take 1 team to believe they are at a disadvantage and that disadvantage can be remedied by more track/seat time. That is when you will start to see some creative accounting and new team owners whose cars never appear at a race.
Like I said earlier ... it is all good now ... but the season hasn't even started yet ... talk to me in August when there are a few teams sweating the Countdown towards Indy and they are out of testing days ...
EDIT: Here's another naive belief ... that the teams will pocket the money they are "saving". They will find other ways to spend that money ... if a team can't test at the track ... they will test in the wind tunnel ... they will test clutch dynos and blower dynos ... computer simulations ... parts development ...
Last edited:
How many full time TF NHRA teams do you know raced in the IHRA last year? I can't remeber any of the full time teams racing over there last year. The teams who run outside the NHRA can show up at the US National and compete. They just will not get any points, which doesn't matter since they weren't racing the full schedule anyway.
clwill
Nitro Member
We have a winner! If you have money, you're going to find a way to spend it. You tell me that AJ with the Al-Anabi $$ isn't going to find a way to "test"?
Bobby Bennett
Nitro Member
Tasca's Take ON Testing Regulations
Drag Racing Internet Magazine - Competition Plus.com - TASCA TALKS TESTING
Drag Racing Internet Magazine - Competition Plus.com - TASCA TALKS TESTING
Marchboom
Nitro Member
Will the NHRA apply the testing ban if a team is making runs involved with testing safety equipment? What if a team needs a new driver mid-season and has to do licensing runs? Or just a few runs for the driver to get familiar with a new car. Does that count? I think the NHRA might be a little too restrictive with this LAW.
Let's see, the Kalitta team is located at an airport with a long runway and large ramp area.
When enforcing this law, the NHRA will use the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law to make their decisions.
Let's see, the Kalitta team is located at an airport with a long runway and large ramp area.
When enforcing this law, the NHRA will use the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law to make their decisions.
BaldyLochs
Nitro Member
If somebody was hell-bent on testing, why couldn't they buy like - I dunno; maybe say a 10 acre parcel of land somewhere out in the boonies and put in the concrete/asphalt themselves? I'm sure some of our country's struggling farmers would part with some land. You know, when you're driving like through Nebraska or somewhere along the interstate, and all you see for miles are farm fields. Tell me a make-shift dragstrip couldn't be put there.
And with the compunds available today, you could somewhat-emulate national event track conditions. Maybe not even a full 1/4 mile strip? No bleachers, no buildings, no spectators .... only for testing launches & like 500' passes....
And with the compunds available today, you could somewhat-emulate national event track conditions. Maybe not even a full 1/4 mile strip? No bleachers, no buildings, no spectators .... only for testing launches & like 500' passes....
Last edited:
clwill
Nitro Member
Ya know we've heard before how the "teams" were all behind and in support of the big decisions over the past few years. Only to hear many teams squacking about the decision. When nhra tells me they consulted the teams and they are for it history tells me thats not so.
I still have no problem with stopping or limiting testing at nhra events/tracks. But making it more difficult for teams to race elsewhere is wrong. That is one of the ways to grow the sport, having teams go to other places and race spread the sport. Even if its a place they already go to its still another shot at people getting hooked. Also with the countdown we've already seen teams not have to race the entire season and yet still make the cut. With the very real chance of low turnouts this year we should see part timers make the tf field.
Between the last few years. Densham, Hillary, Doug K, Wilkerson, Del and Cruz have all run an ihra event. I'm pretty sure Tony P has and I know Gilby bounces between full and part time but he runs both. This would aslo count against guys who match race or special race. I know Tony S has done world series, Wilkerson had several such races last year. 8 of them show up at Norwalk every year for the night of fire and I know there are other such events throughout the year.
I assume since it happened during the off season it doesn't count but I know Team Kalitta headed to Austrilia and in the past teams have gone to England to race but those seem to be during our off season so I'm guessing those don't count against them
I still have no problem with stopping or limiting testing at nhra events/tracks. But making it more difficult for teams to race elsewhere is wrong. That is one of the ways to grow the sport, having teams go to other places and race spread the sport. Even if its a place they already go to its still another shot at people getting hooked. Also with the countdown we've already seen teams not have to race the entire season and yet still make the cut. With the very real chance of low turnouts this year we should see part timers make the tf field.
Between the last few years. Densham, Hillary, Doug K, Wilkerson, Del and Cruz have all run an ihra event. I'm pretty sure Tony P has and I know Gilby bounces between full and part time but he runs both. This would aslo count against guys who match race or special race. I know Tony S has done world series, Wilkerson had several such races last year. 8 of them show up at Norwalk every year for the night of fire and I know there are other such events throughout the year.
I assume since it happened during the off season it doesn't count but I know Team Kalitta headed to Austrilia and in the past teams have gone to England to race but those seem to be during our off season so I'm guessing those don't count against them
Wes
Nitro Member
Since this silly rule doesn't affect me personally I could care less who wanted what when and for how much. But the analytical side of me has to ask....
What was wrong with the testing ban they had in place last year?
Why not extend the testing ban to Pro Stock? Those teams spend mega bucks testing between each and every event...why not control the costs of that class, too?
Why even worry about teams running IHRA events...at this point there isn't any real nitro program in place for 2009 on that side.
To me this testing ban looks less like a cost-saving move and more a piece of legislation to protect the few remaining full-time NHRA teams. By potentially penalizing a "part-time" team that does run an alternate series or does paid bookings throughout the year it eliminates any potential of said team making the silly countdown.
Eh, whatever. With the exception of a few racers that I follow for various reasons, I am becoming more and more apathetic about the whole NHRA scene by the hour. The ADRL, OFAA, and some of the nostalgia series now have my undivided attention...once hockey season is over.
What was wrong with the testing ban they had in place last year?
Why not extend the testing ban to Pro Stock? Those teams spend mega bucks testing between each and every event...why not control the costs of that class, too?
Why even worry about teams running IHRA events...at this point there isn't any real nitro program in place for 2009 on that side.
To me this testing ban looks less like a cost-saving move and more a piece of legislation to protect the few remaining full-time NHRA teams. By potentially penalizing a "part-time" team that does run an alternate series or does paid bookings throughout the year it eliminates any potential of said team making the silly countdown.
Eh, whatever. With the exception of a few racers that I follow for various reasons, I am becoming more and more apathetic about the whole NHRA scene by the hour. The ADRL, OFAA, and some of the nostalgia series now have my undivided attention...once hockey season is over.
none
Nitro Member
Your points are well founded........for last year. There is some argument as to how many "full time" teams there will be this year. Smart money says it will end up being less, not more than indicate their intentions early. Any number less than the count down number will result in an unexpected side effect. Still, you have to appreciate the fact that they are no longer being silent on the situation.
Very good point Wes!
Nitrohaulic
Nitro Member
Ding! Ding! Ding! You're right, Paul. You just made a good argument AGAINST the limitations on "testing" via running IHRA. Let the "little guys" who want to do it! The top teams aren't interested in that, anyways.
You just gotta give some people enough rope and stand back.
Nitrohaulic
Nitro Member
The "Area 51" of drag racing
Then, you'll just need inflatable cars, drivers, crewmembers, and transporters to make it appear that you're all really somewhere else!
Ding! Ding! Ding! You're right, Paul. You just made a good argument AGAINST the limitations on "testing" via running IHRA. Let the "little guys" who want to do it! The top teams aren't interested in that, anyways.
You just gotta give some people enough rope and stand back.
Huh?? The little guys can, they just won't get any points when the race at the next NHRA race. The little guys who run in the NHRA will most likely not be in points contention for the top 10, so it doesn't matter. Did you read the article on NHRA.com from the top owners on the testing rule????? Clearly you didn't, because it states the top teams would test if one team was "testing until they were blue in the face" and they were gaining a performance advantage. As far as the top teams testing in the IHRA, they would if they were struggling and the IHRA would let them race, hence the reason why this was put into the rule. Let me ask you a question, if you were in charge how would you limit testing? If your rope statement was some sort of "in your face", try again because top teams would use the IHRA to test if it wasn't in the rule regardless of what they did last year.
