THRTTLE STOPS.........no thanks

[Huge]

I use to help on a sportsman team from 94 to 97 and the dragster would run 7.50 out the back door. With the throttle stop we could run 3 classes with the same car. We ran 7.50 in the bracket class, 7.90 in the super E class at the division 7 races, and 8.90 at the national events in super comp. That was a lot of fun back then.

 

[DrRocket]

Why don't they just adjust the damn index. We all know a 8.90 car can run much quicker, so just lower the index to 8.20 or whatever until the throttle stop games are over.

Then you're off to a no-holds-barred arms race. It would get pretty expensive, more so than it is now.

 

[vegasnitro]

Why don't they just adjust the damn index. We all know a 8.90 car can run much quicker, so just lower the index to 8.20 or whatever until the throttle stop games are over.

That's called "Top Dragster".

 

[Rajunz]

I say keep the classes, keep the indexes, but remove all of the electronics. The drivers then would have to know their car and race the stripe. I remember when the 9:90 class originated, it was like that, it was bracket racing and the majority built their cars to run on the number.

 

[Marchboom]

S/C and S/G are participation classes, not spectator classes. They are the biggest classes at any national event or divisional event for that matter. They aren't going anywhere. If you don't want to watch them, don't. There are 1,000 other things to do at the track when those cars are running. It's not like there is anything else that could be running in their place that would keep spectators in the stands. Hell, they won't stay to watch the Factory Stock cars, Alcohol cars or Pro Stock. 90% of the people in the stands couldn't tell you what a throttle stop is, so to assume people are not watching because of the throttle stops is flat out laughable.

IMO, the decline in attendance in Divisionals started when they quit doing divisional Top Fuel championships and the proliferation of National Events. Divisionals were a big deal when there were only 8 or 10 National Events a year, now that there are 24, not so much. Divisionals still exist because they are profitable for the tracks and NHRA, mostly because of the big participation classes like S/C and S/G paying all of that back gate.

Lastly, if you all had your way and got rid of the throttle stop classes, it would be absolutely devastating for 1,000s of racers, tracks and the aftermarket suppliers, many of whom would have to close up shop without selling parts and support to the super category racers.

I guess you like the super classes.

Doesn't matter if people don't know what a throttle stop (TS) is. All they know is that a super class car is much more boring to watch than a non TS car. The start is the most exciting part of the race, IMO. A TS ruins that.

What would the downfall be for the racers to remove the TS? Can't be the expense as there are some bucks up cars out there. What's next?...governors?

Hopefully throttle stops will go the way of sport compacts.

 

[SoCal Racer]

I think what's most difficult for uninitiated fans to understand is why you want to slow down for a couple seconds and then charge the finish line. It looks strange in a sport where generally the objective is to run your car as fast as it can go.

Another thing to consider is that the throttle stops make running a car more economical.

Sorta..... as compared to what though? I see S/C, S/G, & even a few S/ST cars that are easily $60-70K cars before adding all the support equipment. You can go class racing for less than that, although probably not go as fast. If you remember back to the early days of S/G, most cars were only capable of mid-nines at around 140 mph, so a simple mechanical stop or tuning was enough to run the index. They were truly economical to build and operate. Now you need an exponentially more expensive 1,000 horsepower engine, the latest trick car, more electronics than a NASA space flight, and be able to run 165 mph to be competitive - and that's just S/G. I've seen S/ST cars that run 10.90 @ 170 mph.....seems a bit much for the class! Which brings me to my next point:

Why don't they just adjust the damn index. We all know a 8.90 car can run much quicker, so just lower the index to 8.20 or whatever until the throttle stop games are over.

That would be one way to reduce the time on the stops, but another would be add a second "index" - a speed limit. Maybe something like 130 for S/ST, 140 for S/G, and 150 for S/C.

 

[vegasnitro]

I guess you like the super classes.

Doesn't matter if people don't know what a throttle stop (TS) is. All they know is that a super class car is much more boring to watch than a non TS car. The start is the most exciting part of the race, IMO. A TS ruins that.

What would the downfall be for the racers to remove the TS? Can't be the expense as there are some bucks up cars out there. What's next?...governors?

Hopefully throttle stops will go the way of sport compacts.

I do not like S/C or S/G at all. It bores me to tears. A wise man once told me that the super categories are like masturbating, it's a lot of fun to do, not very much fun to watch someone else do.

BUT, I recognize the value and impact of having these classes available and healthy. I just find something else to do when they are on track (walk the pits, hit the restroom, get a beer, etc).

Also, they are not sticking around to watch Pro Stock, they are not in the stands when the super categories are running. It is NOT the throttle stops that make spectators leave the stands ... they ain't there watching them in the first place. Guess what, no one is watching TS or TD either. Nitro puts the butts in the seats and that is it at a National Event.

A lot of people on this board just don't like throttle stops and won't stop complaining about them until they are gone. Well scratch and get glad folks, they ain't going anywhere!! I would also bet most of you are like me, not even in the stands when they run ...

 

[J5races]

My point is now that all the super cars are actually much faster than the old, outdated index calls for, lets quicken up the indexes so that throttle stops are no longer needed. I realize super cars launch hard for a good reaction time, then put on the stop for like 1.5 seconds (or more) then crack it open and charge. It just seems silly to do it at all when the cars have so much power. Adjust the index to get the cars running hard barely reaching the index, then it's truly a drivers game and more fun.

Every time I take new people to the drags and super cars come up, people think something went wrong when they "fall on their face" and then jerk back alive and charge down the track. It's just silly in my opinion.

My brother had a super comp dragster and I always felt like a heads up class would have been a wiser choice.

 

[PJ]

Super gas used to be one of my favorite classes, now I can't get out of the stands fast enough. Steve and Terry Eckard, Sheldon Gecker, variety of cars.

I'd rather they drop them and go to one, or maybe 2, massive bracket class(es). Pick whatever number you want, no TS. Spend as much or little as you want

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

They have NO BUSINESS at the national events, which should include Top Dragster/Sportsman at all races.

I think it would be cool if it got to that point someday. Not sure if the participation numbers will ever get close enough, though. Like Chris said earlier, there's no way NHRA is gonna consider losing that gate. The revenue numbers from these classes likely play a HUGE role on the balance sheets of National Events.

I would go further in saying that even if the future brings the demise of the Super Classes in favor or TS and TD, I still think there should be one .90 class left as an "entry level" kind of a class for National Event competition. Whatever the index would end up being, DON'T make it an all-run deal either. Qualify 64 cars closest to the index. At least make them do something to get into the show other than writing the check. And I believe they should've been doing this since day one for all three classes. It would've bit me in the ass on more than one occasion, but I could've and would've lived with it.

Sean D

 

[DrRocket]

Super gas used to be one of my favorite classes, now I can't get out of the stands fast enough. Steve and Terry Eckard, Sheldon Gecker, variety of cars.

I'd rather they drop them and go to one, or maybe 2, massive bracket class(es). Pick whatever number you want, no TS. Spend as much or little as you want

Used to be one of my favorite classes as well. Just from the sheer variety of different cars that were used. That was before it became the CRWAT_S/G class.

(Corvette Roadster With A Throttle Stop)

 

[Jimbo]

Bring back Modified Eliminator.

I second this idea any day !!!!!
Jim Hill
www.nostalgicracingdecals.com

 

[Jimbo]

I understand the reasons why guys run throttle stops and I know to them it makes sense but to many watching cars run with throttle stops it simple looks crazy!!!

Just my opinion and opinions are like toilet seats everyone has one.

Jim Hill
www.nostalgicracingdecals.com

 

[camaro]

I second this idea any day !!!!!
Jim Hill
www.nostalgicracingdecals.com

Bring back Modified Eliminator.

The issue with Modified eliminator is, it would require a lot of rules for a couple dozen different categories and all of that would require policing of some sort. Instead, I'd like to see a form of "ET" racing with a 'dial in', as usual, but a requirement, that the cars must run 'wide open' throughout the quarter mile! i.e. no braking, coasting etc.

 

[SundayNiagara]

The issue with Modified eliminator is, it would require a lot of rules for a couple dozen different categories and all of that would require policing of some sort. Instead, I'd like to see a form of "ET" racing with a 'dial in', as usual, but a requirement, that the cars must run 'wide open' throughout the quarter mile! i.e. no braking, coasting etc.

Same, but different.

 

[Demon]

My car was originally built to run S/ST..but once the body allowed tube frame cars and t-stops..I decided just to run brackets at the 2 local tracks. Now I'm putting the car back on the street and will race it occasionally.I saw no reason to try to run with a 140 mph car when my car went 122 mph and we both had to go no faster than 10.90.

 

[Nick Name]

It is terrible to charge the kind of admission price that they do, then run those cars. If you got in for free, then that would be a different story.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Why don't they have the TS kick in at the end, instead of in front of the majority of the fans ? Have them fall on their face at 1,100ft, 1,200ft or 1,250FT where no one would even notice.

 

[vegasnitro]

Why don't they have the TS kick in at the end, instead of in front of the majority of the fans ? Have them fall on their face at 1,100ft, 1,200ft or 1,250FT where no one would even notice.

It would be less safe for it to kick in when they are going 160+ and it would make it infinitely harder to "drive the stripe".

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

It would be less safe for it to kick in when they are going 160+ and it would make it infinitely harder to "drive the stripe".

No Chris, you misunderstood. I don't mean cut out then back on. Just cut out at what ever distance they need to run their number, and stay off, coast to the stripe.