Mater Dying????

[Suzie Q]

I have a vision in my head of a very cool looking funny car, probably with a little pink on it with a Texas flag and the name "The Derailer" on the side. Of course it's tuned by the "O" brothers and driven by Suzie "The Derailer" Oberhofer.

I am liking that idea Jim!!! Maybe Virgil can hook us up!

I just watched the Zappa on Crossfire video. Ahhhhhh, that Frank was something else! He let them have it!!!

 

[Treeshaker]

Now that this thread is totally derailed, I will be in Atlanta, will you be there Suzie? We can meet with the "O" brothers, get Nickie involved, and lay out the program. I am sure the old guy they work for has a couple of pieces laying around that can be used, maybe even a car. I bet Wendy even has a couple of companies that would add their names to the pink area.

What do you say?

 

[Toejam]

Looks like I'm gonna have to bring this thread back every couple of weeks! It's the only thing that's got people posting again!

 

[Tom]

Now that we all have to be accountable, it makes for a wonderful source of knowledgeable conversation and entertainment. We're blessed with posts from professional owners, racers and sponsors. Just last week Don Schumacher, Jim Yates and Fred Simmons posted on this site. That's VERY impressive. I'm guessing they're here because it's civil and professional. I know that's why I'm here.

As I read through this thread, John's post rang true the most to me. I've been a reader of the 'Mater since nearly the beginning and at times this place was pretty much out of control. Now, it seems as though, it has become a more pleasant and professional place to discuss drag racing, to the point that I actually signed up and started posting some.

By they way, it's great to see Virgil on here posting again. Over the years, between Virgil and Randy Goodwin these guys, in my opinion, have posted some of the most interesting and insightful drag racing info throughout the 'net. Thanks, guys.

 

[Kris]

Interesting thread, Joe, you provacateur.

More often than not I lurk in this section but that's been my M.O. primarily due to my newb status to the sport (dragged to a race in 2004) in order to keep up with what's going on in the sport (this is my favorite resource) and learn as much as I can about it.

I post only when I need a story idea or know what the hell I'm talking about with a pretty high level of certainty otherwise I try to keep my fingers off the keyboard.

Plus the company made some major changes here at the paper a couple months ago -- I got a new editor whom I love working with – among them is a requirement to write more stories than I was (no complaint, I love what I do) as well as shoot video, photos, lay out pages and write a column once or twice a month. All of those are things I wasn't doing three months ago so understandably I have been much busier of late. I take time to skim through daily and post when I really feel like I have something to add.

Even before real names were required I made no secret of my real world identity and while it changed the tone of the board I can certainly say I enjoy it more due to reasons already mentioned.

I'm not sure I have a final verdict on the status of the 'Mater but I'll keep visiting on a near daily basis for as long as it's around.

 

[Suzie Q]

Now that this thread is totally derailed, I will be in Atlanta, will you be there Suzie? We can meet with the "O" brothers, get Nickie involved, and lay out the program. I am sure the old guy they work for has a couple of pieces laying around that can be used, maybe even a car. I bet Wendy even has a couple of companies that would add their names to the pink area.

What do you say?

Damn!!! I wish I was going to be in Atlanta!!! I have a funny feeling there are some spare parts at the shop!

We will have to work on this one Virgil! Maybe Rhonda & I can take turns driving it too!!!

 

[Toejam]

Interesting thread, Joe, you provacateur.

More often than not I lurk in this section but that's been my M.O. primarily due to my newb status to the sport (dragged to a race in 2004) in order to keep up with what's going on in the sport (this is my favorite resource) and learn as much as I can about it.

I post only when I need a story idea or know what the hell I'm talking about with a pretty high level of certainty otherwise I try to keep my fingers off the keyboard.

Plus the company made some major changes here at the paper a couple months ago -- I got a new editor whom I love working with – among them is a requirement to write more stories than I was (no complaint, I love what I do) as well as shoot video, photos, lay out pages and write a column once or twice a month. All of those are things I wasn't doing three months ago so understandably I have been much busier of late. I take time to skim through daily and post when I really feel like I have something to add.

Even before real names were required I made no secret of my real world identity and while it changed the tone of the board I can certainly say I enjoy it more due to reasons already mentioned.

I'm not sure I have a final verdict on the status of the 'Mater but I'll keep visiting on a near daily basis for as long as it's around.

Kris, nobody said they ran into you in Vegass? I'll be in Seattle again...

 

[paoldtimer]

NOW the thread has been totally derailed...by the BAZUMBAS!!

I have nothing of substance to contribute...just didn't want the Mater to die.

I'll just add a few pictures...

 

[Kelly]

to derail a bit more.....

Virgil, I was watching the NHRA Thrills and Spills from 2003-2008 tthat was recently on ESPN Classic and it was nice to see you on there giving your opinion(s). We do all miss you!

On another point, those same shows made me sad. Eric was all over the place. I miss him too!

 

[Kris]

Kris, nobody said they ran into you in Vegass? I'll be in Seattle again...

Nobody tried! I was there wandering around with my camera so I couldn't have been hard to miss. *shrug* If photobucket ever comes back up I'll post a link to the pics I took.

I'll be here, too. I can't wait. Maybe we can all go have beer and pizza at the Rock in Covington after qualifying on Saturday. I always miss the morning Mater meetings.

 

[Bill]

Virgil,

Thanks for explaining the reasons for the rev limiters and 3.20 gears.

Seems like with 1000-ft. length limitations, they could drop the ratio restrictions, wouldn't you think? The only reason nobody makes a 3.00:1 gear is probably because NHRA has made them illegal all these years.

If they droped the ban on modified gear ratios (2.80/3/00:1 gearsets) I'd bet somebody would start manufacturing them in th 12" size.

With the Draconian mindset at NHRA nowadays, though, that's probably not gonna happen.

When 100% of the Fuel teams voted against the rev limiters, why didn't they just tell NHRA, "we're not going to use these"! ?????????????

Seems like the tail is truly wagging the dog on that issue... Where is the unity?


Bill

 

[Toejam]

A 2.90 Gear would sure reduce Parts attrition I bet! Reduce Engine RPM's by about 700-800RPM????

 

[Bill]

That's about ten percent; a significant amount, for sure, but if there are no gearsets available. it can't happen...

Nobody's gonna manufacture any as long as NHRA has a ban on ratios under 3.2...

 

[Toejam]

That's about ten percent; a significant amount, for sure, but if there are no gearsets available. it can't happen...

Nobody's gonna manufacture any as long as NHRA has a ban on ratios under 3.2...

True, but I bet if the NHRA Took a poll of Car owner's and Crewcheifs, I bet 80% of them would go for it in a Heartbeat! Strange could produce Gear sets in a few Weeks I bet!

 

[Bill]

Hell, Joe; they'd probably ALL go for it, but if Virgil's story about the rev limiters is true (and, I'm sure it is), NHRA has no qualms about overriding the wishes of the entire population of the racing field, so unless somebody figures out a way that NHRA can make some money off this ratio changeover, it's probably not gonna happen no matter who wants it, nor how badly.

I think it's gotten to that point.... really.


Bill

 

[Toejam]

NHRA is all about anything that saves $$$ for the teams, or so they say! Most teams will tell you the 1000' saves them a TON in Parts! So I bet if all the Driver's/Car owners proposed a 2.90 gear to save parts, I doubt NHRA would just blow it off!

 

[Treeshaker]

NHRA is all about anything that saves $$$ for the teams, or so they say! Most teams will tell you the 1000' saves them a TON in Parts! So I bet if all the Driver's/Car owners proposed a 2.90 gear to save parts, I doubt NHRA would just blow it off!

The 2.90 gear won't do what you think it will do. The rpms are going to stay the same, the speeds will go up. There will be more strain on parts, mainly crankshafts, rods, drive line parts.

It isn't just a plug in and go situation. The gear ratio would change a lot of periphery settings and have a learning curve.

The 3.20 gears are costly and the 2.90s would be more so. Unlike the 9" that is widely used, these are specialty gears with only one use.

My guess would be that less than 10% of the teams would consider trying the 2.90s. And NHRA would be against them because they are trying to limit speeds now with other items.

And, anyways, I thought this thread was about the Mater dying, or not dying as some of us are of the opinion?

 

[Bill]

Thanks, Virgil; it's always a delight to hear technical information from someone like yourself, who has dealt with the vagaries of Fuel motors firsthand and not just in theory (as I have.)

Joe, I appreciate your comments, too.

Bill

 

[Jenn]

Looks like I'm gonna have to bring this thread back every couple of weeks! It's the only thing that's got people posting again!

Good Job Joe!

I'm just too busy most of the time to get on much. Besides, some of the negativity just got to me.

Are you going to be going to ABQ this weekend?

 

[Nick Name]

This is one reason it is dying, if in fact it is. Someone who knows, just tried to explain what happens when you put a taller gear in a fuel car, and that is just not the kind of thing to post here.

Instead we need to know who is going to a barbeque.