The 1000' speculations...

[Namely Nick]

I am all for what they are doing if it means I don't have to lose another friend in this sport!
The tracks have not evolved with the technology of the cars. Once the tracks catch up, I am sure we can all feel safe about going back to the quarter mile. Until then, WHAT EVER KEEPS THEM SAFE, SO BE IT!!!

DITTO for me

The only constant in life is change and change CAN be good. (this one is)

 

[Wes]

I am all for what they are doing if it means I don't have to lose another friend in this sport!
The tracks have not evolved with the technology of the cars. Once the tracks catch up, I am sure we can all feel safe about going back to the quarter mile. Until then, WHAT EVER KEEPS THEM SAFE, SO BE IT!!!

Thank you, Suzie!!

Show of hands from past and present RACERS...who has raced at a 1000' track? <raises hand> I could tell a bit of a difference but there wasn't an issue with stepping off the throttle at the right time. The track was marked well enough and I made a point to walk down and look at the layout prior to drving my car down it. We ran on an index (which was a 6.35) and most of us had no trouble figuring out what we needed to do. After 2 or 3 passes My mind got used to the duration of a run. The very next week I ran an 1/8 mile track on Friday then to a 1/4 mile on Saturday. No issues. The media and some people are making it WAY more than it really is.

 

[Toejam]

How did this get dragged into another 1000' pro or Con thread? Wasn't a dozen enough?

 

[JIMBO]

That's why I posted what I did Joe to bring it back down.
Listen folk's He's just saying that people will be speculating the what ifs when someone has a good run.
Try to stop the negativity please.
THANK YOU

 

[Rajunz]

How did this get dragged into another 1000' pro or Con thread? Wasn't a dozen enough?

I dunno, perhaps the title contributed a little to it?

 

[nhray]

I dunno, perhaps the title contributed a little to it?

How about, The 1/4 mile speculations...

For everyone who says what it would have run, someone else will say it could have thrown a belt or it should have blown up.

It is what it is... 1000'

 

[afx421]

i want to bring up a thought on safety, but not fuel, its pro stock, we all know the fuel cars spin the tires or "black track" all the 1320 feet, but now with only 1000 ft there will be significantly less rubber from 1,000-1,320 and beyond, and as weve all heard, driving a pro stocker in the big end its like they are on ice because of the limited wing they have, so with less rubber, will it effect thier traction even more thus making them even more unstable, i hope not. just a thought.

 

[Paul]

I am all for what they are doing if it means I don't have to lose another friend in this sport!
The tracks have not evolved with the technology of the cars. Once the tracks catch up, I am sure we can all feel safe about going back to the quarter mile. Until then, WHAT EVER KEEPS THEM SAFE, SO BE IT!!!

Could not agree more! I will fully support anything the NHRA does in the interest of safety.

 

[FABMAN]

i want to bring up a thought on safety, but not fuel, its pro stock, we all know the fuel cars spin the tires or "black track" all the 1320 feet, but now with only 1000 ft there will be significantly less rubber from 1,000-1,320 and beyond, and as weve all heard, driving a pro stocker in the big end its like they are on ice because of the limited wing they have, so with less rubber, will it effect thier traction even more thus making them even more unstable, i hope not. just a thought.

That's an excellent thought, surely the teams will catch that and NHRA will let them add more to the lip on spoiler, w---p---- -l, i don't know how to spell it so I'm playing it safe, I think it's an 1/8 inch right now but i could be wrong.

 

[sdwarf36]

Thank you, Suzie!!

Show of hands from past and present RACERS...who has raced at a 1000' track? <raises hand> I could tell a bit of a difference but there wasn't an issue with stepping off the throttle at the right time. The track was marked well enough and I made a point to walk down and look at the layout prior to drving my car down it. We ran on an index (which was a 6.35) and most of us had no trouble figuring out what we needed to do. After 2 or 3 passes My mind got used to the duration of a run. The very next week I ran an 1/8 mile track on Friday then to a 1/4 mile on Saturday. No issues. The media and some people are making it WAY more than it really is.

I've raced 1000ft. ESTA dragway in upstate Ny. At a DRAGBIKE! event in the early 80's. There were lites to the 1000ft mark (paid for by fire depts-remember on wide world of sport when they had fireman games? 4 or 5 guys hoped on some souped up ladder truck + raced down the track and had to run a hose up to a 2 story scaffold?) We raced Sat to 1320-then Sunday to 1000ft. I still my certificate for the 1000ft record in my class in Comp.

 

[Wes]

OK, OK, OK! For everytime I hear a racer, crew chief, or "TV personality" surmise what they thought the car coulda/woulda/shoulda run in the 1320' I'll drink a very cold domestic microbrew in Scott's honor.

But...I'd be doing that any in case so it'll just be another excuse to toast to Eddie and enjoy the goods from Boston, Chico, and Breckenridge.

 

[Rajunz]

OK, OK, OK! For everytime I hear a racer, crew chief, or "TV personality" surmise what they thought the car coulda/woulda/shoulda run in the 1320' I'll drink a very cold domestic microbrew in Scott's honor...............

Sounds like a deal Wes, I'll be toasting a cold one to you and Scott!

 

[Larry]

I am all for what they are doing if it means I don't have to lose another friend in this sport!
The tracks have not evolved with the technology of the cars. Once the tracks catch up, I am sure we can all feel safe about going back to the quarter mile. Until then, WHAT EVER KEEPS THEM SAFE, SO BE IT!!!

Right on the money Susie !
I remember when Kennedale was a quarter mile track.
It barely is adequate for 1/8 mile with today's cars.

 

[PJ]

i want to bring up a thought on safety, but not fuel, its pro stock, we all know the fuel cars spin the tires or "black track" all the 1320 feet, but now with only 1000 ft there will be significantly less rubber from 1,000-1,320 and beyond, and as weve all heard, driving a pro stocker in the big end its like they are on ice because of the limited wing they have, so with less rubber, will it effect thier traction even more thus making them even more unstable, i hope not. just a thought.

Thats one of the reasons why I think they'll bump them all to 1000'. The question is will it be temporary or permanent

 

[qtermile14]

I am all for what they are doing if it means I don't have to lose another friend in this sport!
The tracks have not evolved with the technology of the cars. Once the tracks catch up, I am sure we can all feel safe about going back to the quarter mile. Until then, WHAT EVER KEEPS THEM SAFE, SO BE IT!!!

Hey Suzie, I also agree with what ever keeps the drivers safe that are out there for our enjoyment. I am a big fan of John Force, and worked on his BRUTE FORCE cars back in the late 70's, so I know how you feel about this situation, having a close relationship with the Kalitta family.

I would also like to say that this could possibly result in closer racing, due to a lot of the engines that go away are after 1000'.

 

[Suzie Q]

You are right Mike. It will be some VERY close racing and that is exciting.

Wow! The Brute Force cars??? That was a while-a-back-ago! (a little Texas sayin fer ya!)

 

[Suzie Q]

Right on the money Susie !
I remember when Kennedale was a quarter mile track.
It barely is adequate for 1/8 mile with today's cars.

I was up at North Star Dragway watching Nancy Matter last Saturday and the shutdown area is not very long there either! She had to make the first turn really fast and ran off the road a little. The last pass, she went all the way to the very end of the track. It makes me a wee bit nervous, but she knows what she is doing and how to handle that beast! I can't wait to see her run again. Y'all need to check it out.

 

[d'kid]

You are right Mike. It will be some VERY close racing and that is exciting.

Wow! The Brute Force cars??? That was a while-a-back-ago! (a little Texas sayin fer ya!)

Y'all sayin' I be old there Suzie Q????????

(remembers SOHC and Boss 429's in Conrad's stuff)

d'kid

 

[Suzie Q]

Y'all sayin' I be old there Suzie Q????????

(remembers SOHC and Boss 429's in Conrad's stuff)

d'kid

You are not old Karl, you are "perfectly aged" Like a fine wine or an excellent cheese!!!

 

[Toejam]

I am curious what they will be with the Speed traps? Will they just leave the 1/4 by itself, or put in another set for the Fuel cars?