Nitromater
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Return to 1/4 mile (1320ft.)
- Thread starter ATC TWR
- Start date
Nitro Bass!
Nitro Member
What I was getting at is that to me it's time to evolve the sport. Pro Stock can just be a name of cutting edge drag racing vehicles. Whether it is a Camaro or an SUV or pick-up, does it really make a difference what the model is? Same engine etc as it is now, just allow any body that you can buy at a dealership, whether it is a truck, coupe, SUV, whatever. It would make the class a lot more fun to watch and to root for. Figure out the weight difference if needed etc... and just go for it, but what do I know, I just pluck strings....
Alan, It is now called Balance of Performance, BOP, LOL
65 Goatboy
Nitro Member
No, they would have to be full size suv's. Suburban, Yukon XL, Expedition, Toyota Sequoia, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, etc. And FULL SIZE pickups too.
Nitro Bass!
Nitro Member
Good to know, and as a fan I would have no idea. What would be wrong with just any body from a showroom, any style, minimum weight, and 500CI and there you go?
Because the most aerodynamic body will always win… the 6th gen Camaro.
Nitro Bass!
Nitro Member
Makes perfect sense, then sadly one of the most amazing and competitive classes will suffer from lack of diversity and creative growth....
none
Nitro Member
That's what we have now. In 1982 NHRA said 500 Cubic Inches, and 2350 lbs. Have at it! That is still the rule today.
Over time, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Plymouth, Mercury, AMC ceased to exist.
Ford and MOPAR lost interest.
Josh is right. (Except the Mustang is slightly more aerodynamic) But Chevrolet helps KB/Titan and Elite so they run Camaros.
If you have an idea to get any other manufacturer to make an investment and get involved I would like to hear it.
Alan
none
Nitro Member
Quick side story. Years ago, talking 2000 ish. I was working with David Nickens and we were fighting some issues.
We were at a test session and I suggested to our head machinist that we could ask Warren Johnson. He scoffed. But, Warren answered our questions truthfully. He didn't tell us everything, but everything he did tell us was 100% true. He pointed us in the right direction.
I asked him about that much later and he said: "I need somebody to beat. Ford is gone. If MOPAR quits, then GM would have much less interest. I don't want to lose to you, but I need you to be competitive." He understood.
Competition drove Pro Stock. I am very grateful to KB/Titan and Elite for keeping it alive. But for Pro Stock to return to it's former glory. It needs manufacturer support at a high level.
How do you do that?
Alan
We were at a test session and I suggested to our head machinist that we could ask Warren Johnson. He scoffed. But, Warren answered our questions truthfully. He didn't tell us everything, but everything he did tell us was 100% true. He pointed us in the right direction.
I asked him about that much later and he said: "I need somebody to beat. Ford is gone. If MOPAR quits, then GM would have much less interest. I don't want to lose to you, but I need you to be competitive." He understood.
Competition drove Pro Stock. I am very grateful to KB/Titan and Elite for keeping it alive. But for Pro Stock to return to it's former glory. It needs manufacturer support at a high level.
How do you do that?
Alan
Nitro Bass!
Nitro Member
That is an awesome story and makes total sense. You are correct, without manufacturer involvement everyone is on their own. How does the class survive, and how does it thrive in today's world? With this big Ford announcement in Jan do you think there will be a Pro Stock part of it?
NHRA’s history with PS weight breaks should be more than enough to never, ever again bring up that subject.
Nitro Bass!
Nitro Member
Eh, not so sure about the most aerodynamic always being the winner - when many GM guys transitioned from the Cutlass to the Firebird, I am pretty sure that WJ said the Cutlass was more aerodynamic. There was still some Cutlass's racing the Firebirds but the Pontiacs simply had more HP in many cases.
Would be an interesting topic to look into though, head to head competition like that.
Right.....that's why I didn't mention the Ridgeline,
Would you watch SUVs run in either of those classes? I wouldn't mind it. I've seen it before in stock class at the old Kanawha Valley Dragway. Was kinda funny too!
And to your prior post, nah, I'd rather not see them in PS either, but it sure seems like PS is withering on the vine.
Would be nice to see the marketing folks at NHRA try to bring in some "foreign" brands, I've posted that before. (I use quotes because what is "foreign" anymore is blurred).
ironpony
Nitro Member
I am going to slightly disagree here. The body has to fit in a "box" so MOPAR could not run the Challenger their premier muscle car or the Charger which is a slippery design. They had to go to the Dart which is the most aero actually. WJ has said if money didn't matter he would run a Dart with a HEMI in it.
Also when MOPAR was participating and winning some, all of a sudden NHRA says lets lower the RPM and change the fuel which all but eliminated the brand. HEMI's had to spin up a little higher to make the peak HP.
Do you want to spend millions when if you start to win they change the rules.
So there is a little more to it than 500CI and 2350 lbs.
PS should be bodies in white, any body, on a current spec chassis. I would bet Toyota, Honda, Kia's would be winning in short time.
Again they would all be running GM power more than likely but at least there would be variety.
That's very interesting about the Dart. Wonder what is the wheelbase length? I remember reading something about WJ when he drove the Firenza about the shorter wheelbase making it a little harder to handle, and also seem to remember that was a criticism by the Dodge Boys regarding the Daytona.
Similar threads
