NHRA gives up first place

[Leebone]

I'd much rather have "FOUR" rounds of racing at 1000' featuring the best in the world than "THREE" rounds at 1320' in the Hillbilly League. Anyone that prefers the IHRA because of that extra 320' is a REAL 1320 die hard for sure. JMHO

 

[clwill]

Another way of looking at this is to ask anybody with serious aspirations of driving in drag racing: "what's your wildest dream, your biggest fantasy ride"? If you get a single one who says "to race in the IHRA", let me know...

 

[fifty50]

I'd much rather have "FOUR" rounds of racing at 1000' featuring the best in the world than "THREE" rounds at 1320' in the Hillbilly League. Anyone that prefers the IHRA because of that extra 320' is a REAL 1320 die hard for sure. JMHO

Oh no the dreaded hillbilly reference! I found it insulting when Doug Herbert said it after he made his name racing IHRA and I find it insulting now.I agree there's no comparing the quality of the two assoc. but you will never see the stands empty after the fuel classes run like you do at an NHRA race,because you still have pro mod,mountain motor pro stock and imo the greatest sportsman class,top sportsman.Whether they race 1320 or not,the IHRA style of racing has a lot to offer.

 

[Zak]

Hey Lee Syrjanon- as long as we're throwing around names - let me add dimwit. Your 'hilbilly' league offers a lot of under-funded teams a chance to work their way up the ladder. My IHRA media guide shows past event world champions like:

• Ray Beadle
• Don Garlits
• Bob Glidden
• Warren Johnson
• Kenny Bernstein
• Connie Kalitta
• Billy Meyer
• Ronnie Sox
• Rickie Smith
• Dale Pulde
• Mark Oswald
• Bob Newberry
• Gene Snow
• Ed McCulloch
• Chuck Etchells
• Del Worsham
• Doug Herbert
• Paul Romine
• Doug Vancil
• Clay Millican

Should I add event winners?

 

[Mooseman]

Didn't austin coil win a championship or 2 in IHRA with the chi-town hustler??

 

[Mooseman]

Didn't austin coil win a championship or 2 in IHRA with the chi-town hustler??

As a crew chief I mean .

 

[nick name]

Lots of "what if's" there, but to give my .02 on them...
If a IHRA TF goes 320mph, no big deal. nhra's TF has been faster than Ihra's for years and IHRA did not fold up.

By the same, IHRA's P/S ers have been faster + quicker than nhra's P/S for years, no big thing.

I don't think it will have any effect on the fans. If the show is close and they want to go, I don't think what "HRA" it is will matter to the drag fan.

Thanks, Paul. That was the type of response I was looking for when I started the thread. You make some very good points.

 

[knightrider]

I see that IHRA has decided to run 1320 feet in all their classes next year. That brings an interesting situation: When the first TF team lays down a good pass, the IHRA can honestly claim to race the fastest vehicles in the country.

Other than possibly during the nitro ban, I can't think of a single time in history when that's ever happened. The five second barrier was broken under their sanction, but I don't recall the MPH record for them.

And please, no sophomoric comments about not caring about the safety of their drivers.

There's an answer out there, but it will take the right party to get it done. Did you ever wonder why all of the tower complexes built onto existing tracks in the 80s look pretty much alike?

That's because Winston, seeing the need to step up drag racing's image, paid for the plans and financed them to any track willing to make the committment. Yes, tobacco's gone, but isn't there anyone out there willing to do the same and make sure every track needing one gets a high tech arresting system?

What tickled me the most was, when Eddie Hill broke the 5 sec. barrier at Ennis, the nhra called it a "MATCH RACE"

 

[clwill]

<The IHRA> offers a lot of under-funded teams a chance to work their way up the ladder.

Exactly. Which is why I never really understood why the NHRA didn't at least want to get involved (as part owner or partners or something) with the IHRA. Treat it as a development league -- like the minors in baseball. Such a arrangement would offer:

• A chance for rising teams a place to race. As it is in NHRA you go (for example) from TAD to TF without a chance to really race at the new level. You jump into a TF car and you can't really race divisionally, so where do you go? The minor leagues. Put a couple of years in there, get stable, then try for the bigs. Like Clay Millican, or any of the names you mention.
  
• A viable place for teams "on the outs". In many sports, the minors catch the rising and falling stars. Wouldn't it be neat, in this ugly economy, if some of these teams facing hardship could find a place to get in a few races without all the pressure and costs of "the big show"? To keep the team together, the name out there, the juices flowing, until they can find the full funding?
  
• A chance for a lot of people in relatively out of the way places a chance to see the sport up close. And a much less expensive ticket option for the fans really on a tight budget.
  
• A place to test classes and formats before they hit "the big time". Like pro-mod, or nitro bike, or -- gasp -- maybe the countdown. Before you foist it on the major leagues.
  
• A place to train and keep employed the professionals who run the operations (safety teams, technical teams, coordinators, announcers, etc.). Rather than 24 weeks a year of work, schedule the IHRA in the other weeks -- give them another dozen or so weeks a year of work, practice, training and make it a viable full-time profession?
  
• Another TV opportunity to get the sport in the eyeballs of more folks. Like the Busch/Nationwide/whatever series is to NASCAR.

Seems to me that it would be in the best interest of the NHRA to foster this league, not compete against it. As they say "a rising tide raises all boats". The more quality drag racing there is, at any level, isn't it to the "big league's" benefit?

 

[DragFan2]

Hey Lee Syrjanon- as long as we're throwing around names - let me add dimwit. Your 'hilbilly' league offers a lot of under-funded teams a chance to work their way up the ladder. My IHRA media guide shows past event world champions like:

• Ray Beadle
• Don Garlits
• Bob Glidden
• Warren Johnson
• Kenny Bernstein
• Connie Kalitta
• Billy Meyer
• Ronnie Sox
• Rickie Smith
• Dale Pulde
• Mark Oswald
• Bob Newberry
• Gene Snow
• Ed McCulloch
• Chuck Etchells
• Del Worsham
• Doug Herbert
• Paul Romine
• Doug Vancil <== Who ??
• Clay Millican

Should I add event winners?

Jim, that is a pretty impressive list of IHRA champions, and I for one have been aware of them, but most of them are from 10-30 years ago when IHRA was actually a real threat to NHRA. By the way, who is Doug Vancil ??

 

[M Jones]

Great post!!!

 

[fifty50]

Jim, that is a pretty impressive list of IHRA champions, and I for one have been aware of them, but most of them are from 10-30 years ago when IHRA was actually a real threat to NHRA. By the way, who is Doug Vancil ??

Hate to answer a question directed to someone else,I believe Doug Vancil piloted a harley top fuel motorcycle, another very entertaining class that the IHRA sadly lost. You talk about excitement on two wheels!

 

[Leebone]

Okay okay, my Herbert/Hillibilly reference was uncalled for. I'll own up to that one. HOWEVER, the NHRA taking second place to the IHRA? That's a bit of a stretch to say the least. JMHO I do love the Pro Mods though.

 

[Toejam]

Hate to answer a question directed to someone else,I believe Doug Vancil piloted a harley top fuel motorcycle, another very entertaining class that the IHRA sadly lost. You talk about excitement on two wheels!

Doug is from Albuq. and yes he won 2-3? Top Fuel Harley Championships in IHRA!

The IHRA was created for the simple reason to offer a less expensive alternative to NHRA. And of course it's more Laid back atmosphere is welcomed by many! I think in the beginning having races at smaller markets back in the 80's-90's worked out great for them. I do think losing Pro Mod as the feature catagory has hurt them incredibly!

 

[Zak]

Okay okay, my Herbert/Hillibilly reference was uncalled for. I'll own up to that one. HOWEVER, the NHRA taking second place to the IHRA? That's a bit of a stretch to say the least. JMHO I do love the Pro Mods though.

Apology noted - BTW I agree that making the #1 claim is a long stretch

 

[Zak]

Hate to answer a question directed to someone else,I believe Doug Vancil piloted a harley top fuel motorcycle, another very entertaining class that the IHRA sadly lost. You talk about excitement on two wheels!

Correct - of the Vancil & Hines Harley's - I guess that was a stretch on my part. I thought that would be an iconic name for NHRA

 

[Zak]

Exactly. Which is why I never really understood why the NHRA didn't at least want to get involved (as part owner or partners or something) with the IHRA. Treat it as a development league -- like the minors in baseball. Such a arrangement would offer:

• A chance for rising teams a place to race. As it is in NHRA you go (for example) from TAD to TF without a chance to really race at the new level. You jump into a TF car and you can't really race divisionally, so where do you go? The minor leagues. Put a couple of years in there, get stable, then try for the bigs. Like Clay Millican, or any of the names you mention.
  
• A viable place for teams "on the outs". In many sports, the minors catch the rising and falling stars. Wouldn't it be neat, in this ugly economy, if some of these teams facing hardship could find a place to get in a few races without all the pressure and costs of "the big show"? To keep the team together, the name out there, the juices flowing, until they can find the full funding?
  
• A chance for a lot of people in relatively out of the way places a chance to see the sport up close. And a much less expensive ticket option for the fans really on a tight budget.
  
• A place to test classes and formats before they hit "the big time". Like pro-mod, or nitro bike, or -- gasp -- maybe the countdown. Before you foist it on the major leagues.
  
• A place to train and keep employed the professionals who run the operations (safety teams, technical teams, coordinators, announcers, etc.). Rather than 24 weeks a year of work, schedule the IHRA in the other weeks -- give them another dozen or so weeks a year of work, practice, training and make it a viable full-time profession?
  
• Another TV opportunity to get the sport in the eyeballs of more folks. Like the Busch/Nationwide/whatever series is to NASCAR.

Seems to me that it would be in the best interest of the NHRA to foster this league, not compete against it. As they say "a rising tide raises all boats". The more quality drag racing there is, at any level, isn't it to the "big league's" benefit?

Absolutely a great outline for a perfect business model Christopher. Now if we can just get Feld and Compton locked in a room...