Short TF fields. (8 Viewers)

[ironpony]

IMO the bottom line is if you do not reel in the cost the little guys are going to disappear whether they close shop or go to IHRA. We keep saying it is going to work out but every year we lose another car, sponsor.
Salinas is basically out yes his health but why isn't he funding Jasmine for the full year ? It gets old spending millions with zero return. Capco seems like they got bored and only show up on occasion now.
Qualifying used to bump a few cars now if you show up you are in and a good chance there will be a bye or two

 

[Mike]

Ken, Salinas is out because he got the(HUGE)contract in Southern Calif to do the clean up from the wild fires.

Capco, children in a persons life change a lot of things along with a very big business

 

[z28]

Ken, Salinas is out because he got the(HUGE)contract in Southern Calif to do the clean up from the wild fires.

Capco, children in a persons life change a lot of things along with a very big business

no matter what they're still gone. Hope Capps has found the money for Angel and Smoke does as well. You would think Smoke won't have any trouble.

 

[Flicka]

I'm with you on everything, but, to cut down on these explosions, you are going to have to take some of the power out. These engines are running on the ragged edge , why do we need 340 mph? Close races and more touring cars will bring people back , anything over 300mph is unique and super exciting. Like has happened in the past, the teams with huge budgets seem to dictate the cost to follow the tour, we've seen so many independents get out of the sport. Top level Drag Racing , including alcohol is pricing itself into oblivion. Better talk about it and the problem with empty stands, before it's too late.

It's NHRA's Sand box.. There are ones that could possibly Come up with solutions.

 

[ch streetcars]

Yes, and if the sponsored/funded teams want someone in the other lane to race against, PRO better have some meetings with the team owners and NHRA on how to back these Nitro cars down and make them safer, also making it less costly. Even some of these people that can afford to do this, seem to be questioning the danger of running 340mph. It's a show that needs spectators and sponsors to stay in business. Nascar is not running 220mph like they did years ago, and they survived. I sure hope Ron Capps , Hagen , Reed and others don't decide exploding engines and crashes are just not worth the risk and expense of being the quickest or fastest. We all want the races to be here in years to come , and things seem to be going the wrong way.

 

[T.Smith]

Crazy idea but someone suggested running TF and FC together but other than history, what’s the purpose of TF? The performance difference from FC is imperceptible and TF cars make lousy billboards. So why not all fuel cars be funny cars?

And lift that lousy body on & off the car up to 18 times per weekend?...hard pass.

 

[Butch]

I remember the time that if the body was removed you had major surgery due. Now it's just part of the normal service.

 

[ironpony]

Yes, and if the sponsored/funded teams want someone in the other lane to race against, PRO better have some meetings with the team owners and NHRA on how to back these Nitro cars down and make them safer, also making it less costly. Even some of these people that can afford to do this, seem to be questioning the danger of running 340mph. It's a show that needs spectators and sponsors to stay in business. Nascar is not running 220mph like they did years ago, and they survived. I sure hope Ron Capps , Hagen , Reed and others don't decide exploding engines and crashes are just not worth the risk and expense of being the quickest or fastest. We all want the races to be here in years to come , and things seem to be going the wrong way.

IMO as long as it is truly sponsors money replacing parts most will keep playing, if it was actually their money I am positive the explosions would decrease if not stop completely.
Sponsors already have fallen away from drag racing, making it cost even more to win will just drive more away. If you look at it honestly there are only a handful of true sponsors left.

 

[T.Smith]

Ken, Salinas is out because he got the(HUGE)contract in Southern Calif to do the clean up from the wild fires.

I've heard from a couple sources, that is supposedly not true.

 

[T.Smith]

Yes, and if the sponsored/funded teams want someone in the other lane to race against, PRO better have some meetings with the team owners and NHRA on how to back these Nitro cars down and make them safer, also making it less costly. Even some of these people that can afford to do this, seem to be questioning the danger of running 340mph. It's a show that needs spectators and sponsors to stay in business. Nascar is not running 220mph like they did years ago, and they survived. I sure hope Ron Capps , Hagen , Reed and others don't decide exploding engines and crashes are just not worth the risk and expense of being the quickest or fastest. We all want the races to be here in years to come , and things seem to be going the wrong way.

PRO is the teams. You think they don't talk???

Your comments could be placed in any era of nitro drag racing.

NASCAR plate racing is just as dangerous as when they didn't have plates. The cars still get airborne, they still have been close to flying into the stands and you now have pack racing where they constantly run over one another for the last 25 laps. Pure sh*t if you ask me. Chop down the banking, take the plates off and let 'em eat.

 

[Marchboom]

I don't think the drivers are worried about going 340+ MPH. They worry about going 340+ and having the engine explode. Just a matter of time before someone gets hurt or killed. Someone has to do something to curb these ever-increasing explosions. Manifold burst panels don't seem to be doing their job. Drastically reducing costly engine explosions will keep racers in our sport. When you run out of money you can't race any more.

Been reading several drag racing books about drag racers in the 60s and 70s. Every other page they mention how a racer had to get out of racing because of the rising costs. These were names that you would recognize. I think we might be seeing this happen again.

 

[ch streetcars]

PRO is the teams. You think they don't talk???

Your comments could be placed in any era of nitro drag racing.

NASCAR plate racing is just as dangerous as when they didn't have plates. The cars still get airborne, they still have been close to flying into the stands and you now have pack racing where they constantly run over one another for the last 25 laps. Pure sh*t if you ask me. Chop down the banking, take the plates off and let 'em eat.

I don't follow NASCAR, but have good friends that do, I am just saying limiting speeds has worked for them and sponsorships are still viable over there. I know that PRO is the team owners, and just like when Bernstein was the spokesman , Kalitta Racing has different priorities, goals and budget than
Bode Racing or Bob Tasca, ect. NHRA needs full fields , and that's going to take cooperation between everybody. Don Schumacher said years ago, I help everyone I can because my sponsors expect someone in the other lane to race against and beat. I have talked to you at Joliet , and appreciate that you are still on this board , any ideas , or comments on improving the challenges Nitro teams are up against right now, or improving the show for the fans?

 

[robinjackson]

Trouble is, A/Fuelers have been topping 280mph for years.

What, then, would be the point of a blown nitro eliminator costing significantly more and running just 15-20mph faster?

 

[ironpony]

Trouble is, A/Fuelers have been topping 280mph for years.

What, then, would be the point of a blown nitro eliminator costing significantly more and running just 15-20mph faster?

Well for starters one sounds like a pissed off bee going down the track the other sounds like violent thunder and destruction shaking your body and senses to the core. The MPH to the casual fan is meaningless