Nitromater

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Sportsman rumor

I love comp and I can't see this as happening, if so after the truck deal I see nhra being wiser and giving much longer notice, perhaps even a full season before the completely dump and entire class.

Something tells me this one is just bs though
 
Gee, I hope not - I'm a huge fan of Comp Eliminator.

As a side note: I enjoy the opening sentence in the link... It might as well say, "My brother's, friend's, cousin's, step-father told me..." It's almost like six degrees of separation from the original conversation. ;)
 
Hope not,i like all the sportsman except super gas,i refuse to watch that,id rather stand in the rain at Maple Grove than watch that lol.
 
Unless they are doing away with sportsman racing at nat'l events altogether, this doesn't seem likely. While all the sportsman classes have had lighter turnouts due to the economy (along with the Pros), Comp seems as healthy as any other class.
 
Do we really need to boil racing down to Giant Funded Fuel teams and electronic robots? Why can't we just keep some of these classes that must run to the vehicle's potential a while longer and challenge engine builders to wring more HP out of a specific combination? I like Comp better than all other sportsman classes so I suspect they'll cancel that class. Too bad Eaton, Panella and the other PST boys aren't all running Comp right now.

On a side note, has the NHRA brass ever seen the stands when the electronic robot classes run at a national event?
 
I'd be impressed if the brass has even attended a national event.

I've seen Compton at Pomona almost every time I'm there (both Winters and Finals the last several years). And Graham is generally at every national event, or so they say.

Now, I've never seen either of them in the stands. Compton, at least, always seems to be shuttling around some big wig and their kids.
 
Maybe they are hoping all the comp guys will go to Pro Stock(get there numbers up) or Pro Mod. Comp is also one of my favorite class. I love just walking in the pits and looking at all the different combinations and the things they do to make them run.
 
The Comp guys spend an awfull lot of money on cars and parts, a lot of PS technology ends up in Comp. Getting rid of this class would make no sense.
 
Hope not,i like all the sportsman except super gas,i refuse to watch that,id rather stand in the rain at Maple Grove than watch that lol.
Jeremy, sorry you have so much disdain for all of us Super Gas racers, but I'm betting 98% of the Super Gas contingent (Including me) would love to be running in Comp or Pro Stock if we had the funds. First to the finish line wins type racing is the basis for the sport, but unfortunately, that type of racing instantly translates into exponential cost increases. That situation is what led to the development of bracket racing in an effort to make the sport more affordable for the masses and increase participation.

I understand you don't like the electronics involved in Super Class racing, but those are the tools that have evolved. We have to evolve with it to remain competitive, not unlike the move to two magnetos in the fuel classes--evolve or perish, unfortunately.

I probably shouldn't be speaking for all of my SG brethren, but a large percentage of SG racers that I know started out in stock foot brake racing, moved up to Super Stock, then had to bail as Super Stock motors became comp elim motors when the head rules were loosened. Super Gas/Comp/Street then became a viable avenue for us to continue competing on the Divisional and National level without totally breaking the bank to stay competitive. Electronics evolved, and we had to evolve with them.

Once again, I'm speaking for a lot of people here, possibly wrongly, but a lot of my SG friends and competitors (and me) always say, we'd be happy to unplug and go back to dead stick micrometer throttle stops and no delay boxes IF EVERYONE ELSE DID. It was a lot of fun in the early days when you went 4 or 5 events before someone won the TRW Grand 9.90 prize (remember that one guys?) for running dead on with a 0. Now you will see at least 2 or 3 of those runs in the first time trial session.

Anyway, Jeremy, I'm not attacking you for your views..you are certainly entitled to like whichever classes you like best. I just wanted to explain a little bit how most of us ended up in the Super classes, and barring hitting the powerball, that's where most of us will stay, doing the best we can, racing what we can afford (well, ALMOST afford).
 
Jeremy, sorry you have so much disdain for all of us Super Gas racers, but I'm betting 98% of the Super Gas contingent (Including me) would love to be running in Comp or Pro Stock if we had the funds. First to the finish line wins type racing is the basis for the sport, but unfortunately, that type of racing instantly translates into exponential cost increases. That situation is what led to the development of bracket racing in an effort to make the sport more affordable for the masses and increase participation.

I understand you don't like the electronics involved in Super Class racing, but those are the tools that have evolved. We have to evolve with it to remain competitive, not unlike the move to two magnetos in the fuel classes--evolve or perish, unfortunately.

I probably shouldn't be speaking for all of my SG brethren, but a large percentage of SG racers that I know started out in stock foot brake racing, moved up to Super Stock, then had to bail as Super Stock motors became comp elim motors when the head rules were loosened. Super Gas/Comp/Street then became a viable avenue for us to continue competing on the Divisional and National level without totally breaking the bank to stay competitive. Electronics evolved, and we had to evolve with them.

Once again, I'm speaking for a lot of people here, possibly wrongly, but a lot of my SG friends and competitors (and me) always say, we'd be happy to unplug and go back to dead stick micrometer throttle stops and no delay boxes IF EVERYONE ELSE DID. It was a lot of fun in the early days when you went 4 or 5 events before someone won the TRW Grand 9.90 prize (remember that one guys?) for running dead on with a 0. Now you will see at least 2 or 3 of those runs in the first time trial session.

Anyway, Jeremy, I'm not attacking you for your views..you are certainly entitled to like whichever classes you like best. I just wanted to explain a little bit how most of us ended up in the Super classes, and barring hitting the powerball, that's where most of us will stay, doing the best we can, racing what we can afford (well, ALMOST afford).

You know, I think most of us who don't care for SG dislike the delay box effect. Can't you guys design something to slow it down on the big end instead of making the car looked like it died right after it leaves the starting line?

I took a new guy to Norwalk this summer and SG was running when we arrived, he thought something blew up when the first 2 cars ran!

How about SG with no delay boxes? How would that increase expenses?
 
Jeremy, sorry you have so much disdain for all of us Super Gas racers, but I'm betting 98% of the Super Gas contingent (Including me) would love to be running in Comp or Pro Stock if we had the funds. First to the finish line wins type racing is the basis for the sport, but unfortunately, that type of racing instantly translates into exponential cost increases. That situation is what led to the development of bracket racing in an effort to make the sport more affordable for the masses and increase participation.

I understand you don't like the electronics involved in Super Class racing, but those are the tools that have evolved. We have to evolve with it to remain competitive, not unlike the move to two magnetos in the fuel classes--evolve or perish, unfortunately.

I probably shouldn't be speaking for all of my SG brethren, but a large percentage of SG racers that I know started out in stock foot brake racing, moved up to Super Stock, then had to bail as Super Stock motors became comp elim motors when the head rules were loosened. Super Gas/Comp/Street then became a viable avenue for us to continue competing on the Divisional and National level without totally breaking the bank to stay competitive. Electronics evolved, and we had to evolve with them.

Once again, I'm speaking for a lot of people here, possibly wrongly, but a lot of my SG friends and competitors (and me) always say, we'd be happy to unplug and go back to dead stick micrometer throttle stops and no delay boxes IF EVERYONE ELSE DID. It was a lot of fun in the early days when you went 4 or 5 events before someone won the TRW Grand 9.90 prize (remember that one guys?) for running dead on with a 0. Now you will see at least 2 or 3 of those runs in the first time trial session.

Anyway, Jeremy, I'm not attacking you for your views..you are certainly entitled to like whichever classes you like best. I just wanted to explain a little bit how most of us ended up in the Super classes, and barring hitting the powerball, that's where most of us will stay, doing the best we can, racing what we can afford (well, ALMOST afford).

Im sure its a fun ride and im sure money is an issue,but if the throttle stop was removed that could save money as well??
 
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You know, I think most of us who don't care for SG dislike the delay box effect. Can't you guys design something to slow it down on the big end instead of making the car looked like it died right after it leaves the starting line?

I took a new guy to Norwalk this summer and SG was running when we arrived, he thought something blew up when the first 2 cars ran!

How about SG with no delay boxes? How would that increase expenses?

I had a new guy next to me last year and asked why they slowed down like that and tried to explain,but didnt undestand,and said lets go get a beer lol. I would stay and watch super gas if they got rid of the throttle stop period.
 
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You know, I think most of us who don't care for SG dislike the delay box effect. Can't you guys design something to slow it down on the big end instead of making the car looked like it died right after it leaves the starting line?

I took a new guy to Norwalk this summer and SG was running when we arrived, he thought something blew up when the first 2 cars ran!

How about SG with no delay boxes? How would that increase expenses?

First, let's get the terminology correct. The effect you're talking about is the throttle stop, not the delay box. The delay box delays the time from the release of the transbrake button and the actual release of the transbrake. It helps prevent red lights. The throttle stop is what slows it down after launch.

As for big end vs. at the start, some people do that, but it's rare. It's more consistent to do the stop on the launch. And since consistency is the name of the game in the super classes, most people do it right after launch.

Finally, a super race without the modern throttle stops is possible, but again, do you want tight racing, or something to please the fans? According to people here, no one watches Super classes, so...
 
Without de-railing this thread any further, I think getting ride of Comp would be a complete mistake. These are some brilliant minds that compete in that class and it would be a huge negative to Drag Racing if Comp was done away with.

With regards to throttle stops and Super class racing, get rid of the throttle stops. I run a Super Comp Altered and I don't use one, never used one, and never will. It's probably dumb on my part since everybody else uses one, but I just refuse to run one. Running a Super Class car can be done without a throttle stop. The only reason throttle stops are used is because these people insist on running huge horsepower engines so they can "drive the finish line" and chase down the other car. Running 8.90 at 200+MPH is just plain nuts. If you can run that fast go run a heads up class. The way to put an end to this type of Racing, institute a speed limit for Super Class cars. 9.90 should be between 135MPH and 145MPH and Super Comp should be between 150MPH and 160MPH. That would take care of all of this stopping and starting and chasing the other car at big speed. If you are a good enough Driver and Tunner, you can make your car run on the index. Actually, it's kinda like Bracket Racing.

I will come down from my soap box now.

Dave
 

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