Nitromater

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For fans: Your interest in watching NHRA 1/8 mile nitro racing?

While I never spoke with a ny nitro drivers about ¼ vs ⅛ mile, I know enough door car drivers that say the last ⅛ mile is a game changer. They just want to get home to their family at the end of the day.
Much respect to anyone racing NHRA P/M.
 
Well I've been drag racing fan for a while too.

Went to my first National Event at Sanair in '74 (I think) and continued attending annually up until the end.

When Sanair lost it's National Event, I started going to IHRA events in Epping and continued that after they got their NHRA event up until a couple of years ago when none of my friends were interested in going any more.

I didn't dislike 1,000 foot racing at all.

I had never seen an eighth mile event (other than snowmobiles) until Bradenton four years ago. Went to the US Street Nationals 1/8th and the PRO 1/4 and 1,000 foot events at Bradenton. Did attend Sick Week at Gainesville as well.

I considered myself a purist and expected to hate 1/8 mile racing.

Exactly the opposite to me, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The qualifying sessions in Pro Mod with 70+ cars for a 32 car field was exiting to say the least.

I guess I've gone over to the "dark side" to most on here but I'm a drag racing diehard fan and will continue to be one even if it all ends up at eighth mile.
 
I suppose an NHRA/NFL comparison is in order. Football injuries, in particular head injuries both immediate and longterm, are a really big deal. So what's the solution? Less time on the field? 12-minute quarters would be the NFL equivalent of 1000 foot pro racing. Going a step further would you watch or attend a regular season NFL game with 7:30 quarters?

Some would if it were some sort of scrimmage and not a regular season game...or if it were a regional non-NFL event. But not regular season competition.
One of the reasons they changed the kickoffs in NFL was to help eliminate injuries.
 
I'm a drag racing diehard fan and will continue to be one even if it all ends up at eighth mile.
This ONE sentence sums it ALL up...
If you're not, go get some knitting needles at go away!!!!
I'll attend either and BE HAPPY doing it by the starting line so I can't hear any naysayers whining!!!!

Safety is still a thing to consider too & less risk & damage is a result also.
Clay starts @ 13:15 but feel free to hear other drivers opine by starting at the beginning...

 
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This ONE sentence sums it ALL up...
If you're not, go get some knitting needles at go away!!!!
I'll attend either and BE HAPPY doing it by the starting line so I can't hear any naysayers whining!!!!
Is it really a good idea to tell people who disagree with you to stay away? Attendance at most IHRA races last year was paltry and you are telling people who aren't all-in on 1/8 mile yet to stay home.

Are you wanting an IHRA race to be indistinguishable from an NHRA divisional or one of the high $ bracket races as far as butts in seats?
 
This ONE sentence sums it ALL up...
If you're not, go get some knitting needles at go away!!!!
I'll attend either and BE HAPPY doing it by the starting line so I can't hear any naysayers whining!!!!

Safety is still a thing to consider too & less risk & damage is a result also.
Clay starts @ 13:15 but feel free to hear other drivers opine by starting at the beginning...


And the common no is tire safety, but there is no problems with the Goodyears...................sounds like a politician talking. Goodyear has said 340 is the limit and then back pedaled when pushed...............awful lot of tire failures compared to previous years.
 
And the common no is tire safety, but there is no problems with the Goodyears...................sounds like a politician talking. Goodyear has said 340 is the limit and then back pedaled when pushed...............awful lot of tire failures compared to previous years.
Goodyear engineers have told me in person that they are not concerned with the speeds the cars are going. They ARE concerned with debris on the racetrack, or falling off of cars during the run. Punctures have been the main culprit of the recent tire failures.
 
Goodyear engineers have told me in person that they are not concerned with the speeds the cars are going. They ARE concerned with debris on the racetrack, or falling off of cars during the run. Punctures have been the main culprit of the recent tire failures.
Clay had voiced concern about punctures when NHRA allowed the air deflectors (mud flaps, canards) to be removed last year
 
Goodyear engineers have told me in person that they are not concerned with the speeds the cars are going. They ARE concerned with debris on the racetrack, or falling off of cars during the run. Punctures have been the main culprit of the recent tire failures.


Morton Thiokol also said the O rings were fine, it is safe to launch the shuttle. I lived thru that during my aerospace days and watched it explode live on TV.
 
Is it really a good idea to tell people who disagree with you to stay away? Attendance at most IHRA races last year was paltry and you are telling people who aren't all-in on 1/8 mile yet to stay home.

Are you wanting an IHRA race to be indistinguishable from an NHRA divisional or one of the high $ bracket races as far as butts in seats?
I guess you missed this part:

I'm a drag racing diehard fan and will continue to be one even if it all ends up at eighth mile.

The rest of the people that aren't all in, won't be there - and the ones who are complaining about change isn't going to get those people interested because they have made up their minds already.

IDC who's "branding" is on a race, it's about seeing action from the stands & paychecks for the participants as safely as possible.
I'm no a fan of hardly EVER getting thru a TFD/NFC session without at least ONE oil down or cleanup from a grenaded block.

THIS:

That first post makes sense to me, (as well as #8) but not to some folks.
I like and WANT to see full stands, but that's been a struggle for the entire drag racing scene - so matter the sanctioning body or location - but costs probably play a larger factor than many realize.
In short, neither your ideas or mine apply to someone else's opinions & decisions so they don't care what we say ~
 
Isn't 1/8 mile just an overdone dry hop?
Hey....big dry hop fan here.... 👍

Several years back Del Worsham restored (or re-created) a Blue Max FC and brought it to the 'Plex for a Friday night exhibition which included a couple of dry hops. The entire place absolutely lost their collective minds; you would have thought somebody laid down a 350mph pass.

If 1/8 mile nitro racing came with mandatory pitside throttle whacks and dry hops I'd be the first in line. :)
 

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