Short TF fields.

[Chili]

IHRA will have the quicker bump, but they won’t have a whole lot of cars near the bump. I would gladly show up to see an 8th mile funny car and TF event if it were within reasonable driving distance and quite affordable. I think that’s where IHRA will perform. They just gotta put some butts in those seats.

As long as there is 1000’ nitro, I won’t ever attend a 1/8 mile race. Easy pass. Now I would go to a 1000’ IHRA race if it was close to home.

 

[T.Smith]

The rumor mill is a churning.

 

[LoPony]

The rumor mill is a churning.

Well, that’s what we want, right? We are the rumor mill!

NHRA will never go to 8th mile. If they do, they will alienate more than half their fans. Dale Armstrong is on record years ago saying to limit blower overdrive. I did not get from that article that timing was the issue there, although they are already limiting timing at 7900 RPM. Hopefully we’re talking about the same article?

This ignites an old controversy, they could easily go back to 1/4mile. Now that would be interesting, but not enough to differentiate the A/F cars from TF. It would cost the teams a lot of money in the first year, and I don’t think THAT’S what they want.

Limit blower overdrive. Do not decrease the nitro percentage! I think that’s already too low. We want nitro to sound like nitro!

DALE ARMSTRONG INTERVIEW - THE BEST PLAN FOR SLOWING TOP FUEL DRAGSTERS AND FUNNY CARS | Competition Plus

competitionplus.com

 

[robinjackson]

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

All that blown nitro sound and fury isn't just for show. It achieves substantial results and extraordinary, jaw-dropping performance far beyond a mere 15-20mph faster than A/Fuel.
Without the enhanced performance figures, it would just be (as the famous writer once wrote) 'sound and fury, signifying nothing'.

 

[cknight]

I agree 100%. Why watch anything that lasts 3 seconds? The crew chiefs will find a way to explode an engine in 1/8 mile. Would be about as exciting as watching any car with a throttle stop. I think it says some where in the Bible that throttle stops are evil. You know, "Thou shalt not use a throttle stop."

Want to slow down the cars? Restrict cam lift. This will restrict how much air/fuel will get into the combustion chambers. Less fuel. less power. This will save on valve springs and the other parts from the lifters to the valves itself. They won't have to replace any other parts (unless there is something I'm forgetting) unless they want to. And how much would a new cam cost?

The excuse that the racers would have to replace all their parts to comply with any new parts restriction is bogus. They are replacing all their parts anyway with the excessive parts breakage.

Restrict cam lift, and they'll go to higher ratio rocker arms, which will put higher loads on the rockers, pushrods, cam and lifters. Restricting gross valve lift is possible, and easy to check. Personally, I don't think that would slow them down much, just a small increment.

 

[Butch]

Just think of all the races w

Restrict cam lift, and they'll go to higher ratio rocker arms, which will put higher loads on the rockers, pushrods, cam and lifters. Restricting gross valve lift is possible, and easy to check. Personally, I don't think that would slow them down much, just a small increment.

The CAM GOD has spoken.

 

[Nunz]

Nitro entry list for IHRA race in Ohio this weekend. Some of these will not run NHRA, but St. Louis has exactly 16 TF and FC entered. Imagine the show if 4-5 more of each class was on the entry list at St. Louis.

Top Fuel
Scott Palmer
Lex Joon
Jake Sanders
Chuck Loftin
Bernie Plourd
Dan Mercier
Smax Smith
Gary Pritchett
Greg Carillo
Todd Paton

Funny Car
Del Worsham
Dale Creasy Jr.
Dan Hix
Jack Wyatt
Terry Haddock
McKailen Haddock
Mike McIntire
Jody Austin
Alex Barker
Joe Morrison
Jake Slater

So that's 53 blown nitro cars running this weekend when you combine the NHRA and IHRA lists. How cool would it be to have them all at one event? Nice to see that number of cars out there. BTW Michael, where do you find the entry list for IHRA races? I couldn't find it on the IHRA site.

 

[Joe]

After watching some of the IHRA this summer, my opinion of 1/8 mile racing is just go ahead and make it 100' because if you didn't tree the opponent the chance of chasing them down is slim and none. The race is over within 20'.

Has there been an IHRA National yet thst was 1\8 mile? This weekend at West Salem is the first I know of. Looking forward to all doing well, hope Smax brings Ironman home.

 

[Paul]

Which show will be better? IHRA like usual, has some quality cars and a bunch of noncompetitive field fillers. I saw on Facebook that Mike McIntire will not be at the IHRA race, so that's one less quality car. I will be heading to St. Louis once my wife is done working, hope to make it in time for Friday night qualifying, but it's going to be close.

 

[mick]

ihra is currently providing better odds of taking home guaranteed money at levels surpassing nhra.
no surprise at all that all these independents do not hesitate to run ihra; right now at least. they have no allegiance to anyone.
it's no wonder companies have stepped up in the nhra to not only sponsor friday night low e.t., but also in the case of ennis, additional
qualifying and show money for the pro nitro classes.
will be interesting to see what happens with 1/8 mile this weekend.

 

[mick]

gotta' applaude kyle w., the jerry freeman TF'r w/cam driving, and will smith in luigi's car for racing in st. louis this weekend.

 

[Marchboom]

Restrict cam lift, and they'll go to higher ratio rocker arms, which will put higher loads on the rockers, pushrods, cam and lifters. Restricting gross valve lift is possible, and easy to check. Personally, I don't think that would slow them down much, just a small increment.

Yep, you're right. Then NHRA would have to limit rocker arm ratio to 1:5. Maybe designate a max intake valve travel to a certain length.

If there are any TF or FC crew chiefs out there, please let us know your opinions on this idea.

These explosions can't continue to occur. When NHRA's insurance gets cancelled or the premiums get so high they can't afford it, changes will occur. But why wait for this to happen?

 

[Chili]

gotta' applaude kyle w., the jerry freeman TF'r w/cam driving, and will smith in luigi's car for racing in st. louis this weekend.

Actually makes more sense. 16 cars on property. Make one qualifying pass, click it at half track and put it in the trailer until Sunday morning guaranteeing first round money. Go to the IHRA and have to run it harder to qualify for an 8 car field.

 

[65 Goatboy]

Well, that’s what we want, right? We are the rumor mill!

NHRA will never go to 8th mile. If they do, they will alienate more than half their fans. Dale Armstrong is on record years ago saying to limit blower overdrive. I did not get from that article that timing was the issue there, although they are already limiting timing at 7900 RPM. Hopefully we’re talking about the same article?

This ignites an old controversy, they could easily go back to 1/4mile. Now that would be interesting, but not enough to differentiate the A/F cars from TF. It would cost the teams a lot of money in the first year, and I don’t think THAT’S what they want.

Limit blower overdrive. Do not decrease the nitro percentage! I think that’s already too low. We want nitro to sound like nitro!

DALE ARMSTRONG INTERVIEW - THE BEST PLAN FOR SLOWING TOP FUEL DRAGSTERS AND FUNNY CARS | Competition Plus

competitionplus.com

Their are still several tracks that do not have a long enough shut down area for 340+ mph and the 1/4 mile.

 

[LoPony]

Their are still several tracks that do not have a long enough shut down area for 340+ mph and the 1/4 mile.

Yeah, Pomona comes to mind for notorious reasons.

 

[LoPony]

Yep, you're right. Then NHRA would have to limit rocker arm ratio to 1:5. Maybe designate a max intake valve travel to a certain length.

If there are any TF or FC crew chiefs out there, please let us know your opinions on this idea.

These explosions can't continue to occur. When NHRA's insurance gets cancelled or the premiums get so high they can't afford it, changes will occur. But why wait for this to happen?

Makes good sense.

 

[65 Goatboy]

I'm guessing it's not as simple as playing with the camshaft and valve train but I don't think we will hear from any crew chiefs either.

 

[stitcherbob]

This just posted on Youtube

 

[Chili]

This just posted on Youtube

I’ve been watching the IHRA races on YouTube and not once did the crowd look like that at National Trail. Maybe someone in attendance can verify. I also believe that either IHRA is paying him or he just has a big vendetta against NHRA.

 

[I was NITRO BREATH]

Nitro entry list for IHRA race in Ohio this weekend. Some of these will not run NHRA, but St. Louis has exactly 16 TF and FC entered. Imagine the show if 4-5 more of each class was on the entry list at St. Louis.

Top Fuel
Scott Palmer
Lex Joon
Jake Sanders
Chuck Loftin
Bernie Plourd
Dan Mercier
Smax Smith
Gary Pritchett
Greg Carillo
Todd Paton

Funny Car
Del Worsham
Dale Creasy Jr.
Dan Hix
Jack Wyatt
Terry Haddock
McKailen Haddock
Mike McIntire
Jody Austin
Alex Barker
Joe Morrison
Jake Slater

So it seems like a pretty obvious question, how does nhra get those 4 or 5 cars to come to nhra races on a regular basis ?? If they accomplish that the ihra goes away