I'm Done

[DrRocket]

I thought it was a great show from a spectator standpoint, and with the potential of a bunch of "new " milestones to be bested for a while, I say, let's give 1000 ft a chance--if it gives us time to save a life it is critical, and after what I saw at Bandimere, it's a darn good show to boot!

I agree Terry. I'm willing to give 1,000' a chance to work for the rest of the season. As we both noted, there seemed to be some pretty good, clean non-destructive racing.

What I'm really interested in now that the teams have packed up and are moving west is what the parts count was. Like I said, It seemed they weren't hurting as many pieces as usual. I saw lots of clean, non-smoking engines after the runs. Can anyone from the teams come on here and perhaps tell us what you were finding between rounds? Was it easier on the equipment? Maybe not as many burnt pistons or blackened cranks? And hey, how about the new Goodyears? I heard nary a complaint about those. How did they work out? How long were they lasting?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Toejam]

Maybe? Have you changed your thinking on the issue of nitro cars running 1000' since you posted what you did after Norwalk? If so, I will stand corrected.

Jackie........what didn't you understand about post #95?

 

[DrRocket]

Jackie........what didn't you understand about post #95?

Joe, you need to read her reply in #99. She did apologize.

 

[DragFan2]

Uh, Kurt, did you miss Joe's post when it was first announced that they would run 1000' for the rest of the season? http://www.nitromater.com/nhra/16060-1000ft-drag-racing-denver.html Might want to find a Mater who went into this with a bit of an open mind.

This may come as a shock, but this is about people dying in drag racing. No one is a more staunch supporter of traditional 1320' racing than I am, but I'll be darned if I think what I want is more important then the safety of the people driving these cars.

And because of that, I feel it's worth hanging in there until something can be worked out and they're racing the quarter mile again.

Hey Jackie,

I guess you are right about asking someone that was not against 1000 ft racing to begin with give me an opinion, (after the race), but Joe did come out of it with a better position than he went in with. I must say I did not read all the 1000 ft bashing threads (or the single combined thread) as I did not like all the negativity and insensitivity about the subject at hand. I was part of the group that wants to keep nitro racers alive! Just like you. I for one am not going to second guess or bash the people who risk their lives for our entertainment. Especially out of some notion that 1/4 mile racing has to remain because of tradition. Hey, if Large Father Don Garlits can agree with this move, and he's more a part of the History of drag racing than anybody else on this planet, my opinion and most of the keyboard racers on Internet boards don't mean SQUAT. Yes, they are entitled to their opinion....but when their ass is not on the line every other weekend, then they should respect the opinion of those whose life is on the line. It's as simple as that. What RIGHT do we have to be offended by their decision? I happen to live in Florida and have family in Bradenton/Palmetto, FL which are right next to each other separated by a beautiful wide river and many times I had thought about driving over to look for Scott's Marina in Palmetto to check it out and maybe say Hi if he was around. Now I wish I had done that as the opportunity is gone. So, Scott's death affected me in many ways, and I hate what all the sniping has done and hope his wife doesn't frequent this or other internet boards to see some of the insensitive remarks. That is not to say there haven't been some incredible "good" remarks as there have been plenty. It's just that some (probably a minority) just don't want to honor Scott and the racers and NHRA with this interim solution. Ya can't please everyone and I know it. End of rant or whatever this turned into.

- Kurt

 

[DragFan2]

Kurt and Jackee I posted my impressions of the 1000 ft racing at Denver on post #88 of this thread. I guess I will toss that in here in the "for what it's worth" dept if anyone wants to see my take on the racing at Denver. If not, guess that's ok also.

Terry,

I read your post (#88) too and thanks for sharing. I wasn't specifically asking for Joe's impressions ONLY, I just knew he was one of many Mater's who attended, and we've actually met once down in Gainesville. And guess what, he didn't think it was all that bad just like you. I actually found very little difference watching it on TV. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out at sea level since Denver is always a weird race with very difficult conditions most of the time. Not only is it mile high, but the temps can be mile high too, and when a super hot track and thin air are combined, the race in Denver tends to dissappoint me. But, when you win Denver, you really are King of the Mountain...until next year! The track looks awesome, especially with all the improvements the Bandimere's have done to it. Some day I may have to get myself out there as I have friends in Denver.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

I actually found very little difference watching it on TV. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out at sea level since Denver is always a weird race with very difficult conditions most of the time.

After watching it, I thought the exact same thing, Kurt. I was sitting there with my wife and after the first pair, I looked over at her and asked her if she noticed a major difference. She, like me, didn't. I was actually quite surprised.

When we head to Indy in a couple of months, we'll see how it looks live. Either way, though, I'm still with what appears to be the majority of folks and hope this is just an interim measure until we have a solid direction on slowing the cars back down mechanically for a safe return to the 1320.

Sean D

 

[Rich]

...I was part of the group that wants to keep nitro racers alive!

As opposed to what? Those who WANT to see nitro drivers injured or killed?



Sorry, I must have missed those posts because I have have seen none where those opposed to 1000' racing want a return to a status quo that puts drivers at risk for injury or death. The issue is finding a solution that protects both the drivers and retains the history and integrity of the sport.

 

[Bobby]

1000 foot racing was announced as a temporary move by the NHRA. Now a bunch of you are saying you don't want to go and support the racers until they go back to 1320. Well then Gary Scelzi said it right. He stated that if you don't care about my safety then I don't care about giving you an autograph. This move is for the drivers safety. Without the racers we don't have drag racing so give them some time to slow these cars down the correct way. Support the racers through this time.

I think I 've been consistent in saying I support them slowing the cars down.

But I couldn't deal with what I saw on tv last night. the two finish lines was just maddening.

Hopefully there will be a significant drop in ratings and NHRA will figure out they have to slow them down.

Trust me people if you all keep going on about '3 and 3's that's what you''ll be getting.

Forever.

Back to the tour de france for me.

 

[none]

I was encouraged by the amount of people that want to go back to a quarter mile. If this is indeed temporary and they return 1320 feet within a reason able amount of time I can live with it. I was afraid when they announced it, that they would announce the change to 1000 feet as temporary and gradually make it permanent. I feel a little better about this now. My favorite part of last night's broadcast was the Lee Beard interview, too bad Lee isn't on the task force.

 

[JT]

Enjoy the Tour de France Bob you are better suited for that than drag racing.

 

[clwill]

Back to the tour de france for me.

You keep saying that too, but you keep coming back here...

 

[kingcobrafan]

Put me in the "not much difference on tv" group. My first live 1000 ft. race will be Brainerd, then Indy, which I'll be trying to watch with an open mind. With that said, I want 1000 ft. to be INTERIM until the powers-that-be figure out how to slow them down.

 

[Bobby]

You keep saying that too, but you keep coming back here...

I'm not giving up yet.

 

[davey]

I just hope that all of this talk from Glendora about finding solutions to slow them down isn't some orchestrated charade to BS everyone into thinking that they are working on bringing 1320' back when their plan is to remain at 1000'. They can then claim they tried to come up with everything possible and it just wouldn't work. I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.

 

[clwill]

I just hope that all of this talk from Glendora about finding solutions to slow them down isn't some orchestrated charade to BS everyone into thinking that they are working on bringing 1320' back when their plan is to remain at 1000'. They can then claim they tried to come up with everything possible and it just wouldn't work. I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.

Essentially every single person they interviewed on both shows said "good for now, but let's get back to 1/4 mile". I find it difficult to believe that you could "orchestrate" some of those people to say *anything*.

 

[Alan]

I thought it was a great show from a spectator standpoint, and with the potential of a bunch of "new " milestones to be bested for a while, I say, let's give 1000 ft a chance--if it gives us time to save a life it is critical, and after what I saw at Bandimere, it's a darn good show to boot!

It was a great show from the TV standpoint as well, with a lot of close racing. And were there any oil downs at all?

 

[Rajunz]

................
i'm getting tired of hearing myself talk about this. I think I 've said everything I can say about it.

I'm not giving up yet.

You're starting to loose credibility now Bob!

 

[DrRocket]

It was a great show from the TV standpoint as well, with a lot of close racing. And were there any oil downs at all?

A few teams had some "Deathsmoke" coming from the headers after a run, (Think Cory Mac was one of them.) ebut I don't recall seeing on single oildown myself during the show. They did show one of the FC teams switching bullets. But most of the time, the engines looked clean and dry after the run.

 

[Terry]

It was a great show from the TV standpoint as well, with a lot of close racing. And were there any oil downs at all?

Alan, the two Friday nitro sessions were oil free. They stopped once to clean some dust that had blown onto the east lane of the track from the normal sudden afternoon wind gusts, and they had to stop briefly again cause Force b**ched about the placement of the fireworks on the pit side of the track, but at least Friday there was very little down time in both sessions. I'm inclined to attribute that to the 1000 ft racing, but it certainly could have been coincidence also--oil free sessions were not unheard of in 1320 events either.

 

[davey]

Essentially every single person they interviewed on both shows said "good for now, but let's get back to 1/4 mile". I find it difficult to believe that you could "orchestrate" some of those people to say *anything*.

I don't mean the racers themselves. I know they want to get back to 1320'. I mean the NHRA brass. That's why I said Glendora. Has anyone noticed that three of the people appointed to the safety task force are Coil, AJ, and Head. Three people who don't seem to mind the 1000' deal. If you find it difficult to believe that the NHRA could pull the wool over people's eyes you haven't been following the NHRA closely for the past say, oh, 50 years.