So I kind of figured this would be a controversial subject, and probably a no win situation regardless of the facts. Like I said in the podcast, I grew up racing quarter mile and have NO problem racing to that distance if we go back to it. As a matter of fact I am going to be racing a nostalgia funny car at the March meet in a couple of weeks and going the whole 1320 and I am looking forward to it!
Also, just because I am lucky enough to be a "pro" racer and drive for who I consider to be one of the best team owners in the sport, Connie Kalitta, doesn't make my opinion or thoughts any more credible than anybody else on this board. We all get up in the morning and put our pants on the same way and go to work and do the best job we can. I may have a little more "insider" information than most on our sport, but don't think because of what I said about ONE possible solution to what we have going on right now, REALLY MEANS that I want to see everybody race to a 1000'.
What I find surprising though is that a few of the outspoken members on this forum (in past discussions) have all said they would be fine watching side by side 280-290mph nitro 1/4 mile runs. You do realize that some alcohol funny cars cars are running in the mid 260's now, right?? Now that the alcohol cars are running within a few tenths of what the majority of 1/4 mile proponents want to see, what are we going to do about them?? Should we slow them down too? If not. in a few years you could have alcohol dragsters or funny cars running quick enough to qualify for the nitro class!
As a driver, I would much rather have the power we have now and rip to the thousand foot, than to water it down and go slow to the 1/4 mile. Think of it this way...some of the funny cars out there now are running over 270mph to half track and you only want them to go 290 to the 1320? They are going to look SLOW! And they aren't going to sound all that good depending on how they would decide to limit us.
I also noticed a few sportsman drivers on here whining about racing to a 1000'. What would you rather do with your car if you had the choice? Run as fast as you do now to the 1000' or slow your car down a second in ET and race to the quarter? You already know my answer...I am a racer and want to go as quick or fast as I can! And most of us enthusiasts have done the same thing with our street cars or race cars. Not very often did you ever go to a speed shop looking to slow your car down!
Thanks for all your comments and I will leave you with this one last thought...when you go to an amusement park to get your "thrill" , are you looking for the longest, slowest roller coaster or are you looking for the ride that you can barely see the top of that's going to try and rip your head off...I know which one I am getting on!
