Should the break out rules be eliminated.

[mick]

i agree with chris - it may appear that a 'heads-up' or 'pro-only' event format
would be more fan friendly, but IMO the sportsmen categories allow........

- racer fees collected to offset event costs
- nhra 'fan in pits' selling point would be virtually impossible if all action on
track was 'average fan worthy'
- track and nhra equipment all in one place allowing safest and best track
conditions to attract large fields for competition

i only see one event per year (BIR), but i'd say that event is run smoothly
every year with i'm guessing 500+ sportsmen car counts; there is something
for everyone and i thoroughly enjoy each day for different reasons.
IMO there are a lot of fans at nat. events that understand breakout rules
and those i've explained to understand their purpose.

 

[Crash]

Breakout racing was started to help small track operators have something they could run week after week that didn't cost the racer a fortune. It should have been a stepping stone to heads up racing. That didn't happen.

Instead the big mistake was bringing breakout racing of any kind to national events. It should have stayed at the weekend tracks. All national event racing should be heads up. If you want to race at a national, you would have to step up to heads up.

It is an insult to take peoples money for admission to an NHRA national event, then subject them to throttle stop racing.

I shouldn't be surprised any more by the ability of people to miss the point entirely, but I am. IT IS A STEPPING STONE to heads up racing. You just need wheelbarrow loads of $$$$$ to take the next step, and some of us don't have that kind of cash laying around to take that step. I'm sorry you are insulted by what I do, but it is all I can afford, and barely at that. You want an insult, see how we (sportsman racers) are treated at a national event after they take OUR money.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

You want an insult, see how we (sportsman racers) are treated at a national event after they take OUR money.

That is the understatement of the century in regards to the sport of National Event level drag racing. Some of the stuff I've witnessed is absolutely pitiful.

Sean D

 

[Marchboom]

What I do mind is throttle stops. But that's another topic for another day.

Handicap racing can be difficult enough to explain to a new race fan. When you see their reaction to a couple of dragsters with throttle stops in action, it can be hard to explain.

If I were king, throttle stops would not be allowed.

 

[Lori]

All you are going to find out then is whose wallet can go faster. Index racing is the great equalizer between the haves and the have nots....in that the name of the game isn't having a bigger budget, it's knowing and driving your car better than your competitor knows and drives theirs.

ding, ding, ding!! Good answer.

 

[Professor Dave]

Well, I believe that the "cheapest" way to do that is to go race Comp....and it takes 6 figures at the least to be competitive there. What do you race?

It doesn't take six figures to be competitive-You just have to be smart about what class you pick and then spend your money wisely-it also helps to have a really good engine builder as your partner!

 

[Rajunz]

Handicap racing can be difficult enough to explain to a new race fan. When you see their reaction to a couple of dragsters with throttle stops in action, it can be hard to explain.

If I were king, throttle stops would not be allowed.

I have to agree with this one too. Handicap racing is great, and fairly easy to understand for the masses, but throttle stop racing is pretty rediculous to most. I remember when the Super Gas class originated, it was really exciting to watch, because most of the cars in that class were built to run right at the 9.90 index, and none of them shut down after the launch. Take away the electronics and let the drivers race the cars.

 

[Crash]

It doesn't take six figures to be competitive-You just have to be smart about what class you pick and then spend your money wisely-it also helps to have a really good engine builder as your partner!

OK, Dave, you are correct, but ....those of us without an engine builder-partner need 6 figures!

 

[BigDaddyB]

I have to agree with this one too. Handicap racing is great, and fairly easy to understand for the masses, but throttle stop racing is pretty rediculous to most. I remember when the Super Gas class originated, it was really exciting to watch, because most of the cars in that class were built to run right at the 9.90 index, and none of them shut down after the launch. Take away the electronics and let the drivers race the cars.

So just asking, Did Pinks have the right format for handicap racing? They certainly had car counts from what I saw on the tube. If I give your 4 cars and beat to the strip. Drag racing or not.

 

[zero]

Class racing died a long time ago, and for good reason, cost.
This kind of thing kills me, we have had handicap racing ever since the invention of the Christmas tree! Anybody remember Super, Comp, S/S, stock Eliminators in the 60's? ALL handicap eliminators. It's the only way to run dis similar cars against each other. when people say "heads up" was the old way "back in the day", I laugh, they certainly weren't around!

 

[willy]

So just asking, Did Pinks have the right format for handicap racing? They certainly had car counts from what I saw on the tube. If I give your 4 cars and beat to the strip. Drag racing or not.

I thought Pinks All Out was cool..and you were eliminated if you ran a certain amount faster than you qualified..hey..that's a breakout!

They changed and tried to add drama to the weekly show and it's now canceled. Racers arguing and b!tching instead of just racing. They had a good thing going and blew the tires off.

 

[Rajunz]

So just asking, Did Pinks have the right format for handicap racing? They certainly had car counts from what I saw on the tube. If I give your 4 cars and beat to the strip. Drag racing or not.

They (Pinks All Out) had car count for the most part, because it was a big opportunity for the little guy to get some credibility and TV exposure.

However, their format would never work in the NHRA, hundreds and hundreds of cars show up, make a few qualifying passes and never get to compete in eliminations.

.......This kind of thing kills me, we have had handicap racing ever since the invention of the Christmas tree! Anybody remember Super, Comp, S/S, stock Eliminators in the 60's? ALL handicap eliminators. It's the only way to run dis similar cars against each other. when people say "heads up" was the old way "back in the day", I laugh, they certainly weren't around!

I was around and remember very well, have always been a fan of handicap racing, still love it. As a spectator though, most are just not a fan of the throttle stops and electronics as stated earlier.

 

[BigDaddyB]

I thought Pinks All Out was cool..and you were eliminated if you ran a certain amount faster than you qualified..hey..that's a breakout!

They changed and tried to add drama to the weekly show and it's now canceled. Racers arguing and b!tching instead of just racing. They had a good thing going and blew the tires off.

Well back in my day we called that sandbagging and yes it should DQ you. All Out. Think racing should about racing not electronics. Your car better than mine if so give up some cars, see the arguement can when people tried to get the edge. Normal human behavior.

 

[Rajunz]

Bruce, I thought that you said you were going to proof read your post before submitting them. That's pure jibberish and EXTREMELY hard to understand what you are meaning to say. Type them in Word first and run the spell and grammar check first if you need to.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

Bruce, I thought that you said you were going to proof read your post before submitting them. That's pure jibberish and EXTREMELY hard to understand what you are meaning to say. Type them in Word first and run the spell and grammar check first if you need to.

Ouch............

Sean D

 

[Nemo]

A few things.....

One, if "index" racing is too hard for the casual fan to understand than we need to get rid of the port-o-crappers too...I mean you have to open the door, and take down your pants...all kinds of complex things. Don't underestimate the fans, the ones that care understand, the ones that don't enjoy their hot dog or go breath in the nitro warm ups while the "peon cars" run.

Two, you don't want any index racing at Nationals then cool, have at it. I stopped racing at them a few years ago. Good luck though, you know, finding 500 hundred "heads up" cars that will show up, fork out 300 bones to offset the "costs" to the NHRA, have them come to the staging lanes anywhere between 6am and midnight at a moments notice, cancel their time trials, cancel their first rounds, move them to Monday, then pay them 800 to win........(hint.......would have a better chance getting the Easter Bunny to marry the Tooth Fairy).

Three......electronics win and loose the races in super comp and the drivers are nothing....huh....wonder how Shawn Langdon, Jeg Coughlin, and dozens of other drivers that ran (and in a lot of cases struggled to win) then moved right into Pro Stock, Top Fuel, Funny Car and proceeded to win. Was it that the Super categories are harder, or was it that money wins (in either category). All the drivers have the same electronics in the Super categories so they don't do anything. Also what about all the electronics in the other classes.....you don't like throttle stops, well join the club......so do most of the super class drivers but what else are we going to do (look and see how many of us use the TS in weekly bracket racing). Move the index, I"m cool with that but a lot of low budget guys need it (what the classes were created for).....if it's so easy then come in to Super Comp and impress me by taking the championship, I'll be watching for you this year.

 

[Nick Name]

In the scenario you describe above, that would limit National Events to Top Fuel, Nitro Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Alcohol Dragster, Alcohol Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle. They are the only classes that race heads up.

.

And pro mod, top fuel Harley, Pro Street motorcycle, and you have a pretty full show.

 

[Bill]

And pro mod, top fuel Harley, Pro Street motorcycle, and you have a pretty full show.

Plus all the heads-up/no breakout racing that goes on in the Stock Eliminator and Super Stock Eliminator races for Class supremacy, and the racing in those categories when two identical-classed cars meet in the Eliminations...

Or, maybe you went for a hot dog???

 

[Bill]

Bruce, I thought that you said you were going to proof read your post before submitting them. That's pure jibberish and EXTREMELY hard to understand what you are meaning to say. Type them in Word first and run the spell and grammar check first if you need to.

Bruce; WTF does THIS mean??? "If I give your 4 cars and beat to the strip. Drag racing or not."
This sort of thing is what Lance is talking about. TWO non-sentences that don't seem to mean ANYTHING.

Give us a break....

Bill

 

[Bill]

Class racing died a long time ago, and for good reason, cost.
This kind of thing kills me, we have had handicap racing ever since the invention of the Christmas tree! Anybody remember Super, Comp, S/S, stock Eliminators in the 60's? ALL handicap eliminators. It's the only way to run dis similar cars against each other. when people say "heads up" was the old way "back in the day", I laugh, they certainly weren't around!

Apparently, you weren't at the 1962-NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis which had 1,200 entries and not a single handicapped race.

Class racing is alive and well in Stock and Super Stock Eliminator. Lots of competition for those Class winner accolades, particularly in the higher classes. Of course, it was a lot more competitive back in '62 when they didn't have so many classes.... but, the racing was surely a lot more exciting. with all racing being heads-up.

Where would we be without the Christmas Tree???

Dunno, but there was surely no lack of entries before its appearance at the 1963 race.


I guess "back in the day" depends on how old you are...
Bill