Raconteur
Nitro Member
Nitromater
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Welcome 1,000 foot drag racing in 2009?
- Thread starter Raconteur
- Start date
my friends call me Zappy
Nitro Member
Yes he did Karl. I am glad they will stay at 1,000ft. It's much better than more rule changes, that just cost teams big $$$. I was guessing that they would split, Long tracks 1320-shout tracks 1,000.
Hats off to nhra good choise.
1,000FT - we can LIVE with it.
Hats off to nhra good choise.
1,000FT - we can LIVE with it.
Raconteur
Nitro Member
Pomona Raceway top end sand trap remodeling in progress.
Unfortunately, the insurance companies input will probably be the deciding factor IF the decision to switch all classes to 1000' racing occurs. Having to tell family members their loved one died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash will probably be at the bottom of the list.I am as deeply saddened by the deaths of racers as anyone else is. But, there is an inherent danger every time someone straps into any type of racing vehicle. I believe racers have to accept some responsibility for anything that happens while competing.
The NHRA is working with teams and track owners to try and make the racing as safe as possible and I think they need to give the improvements a chance, before making the switch.
mike
Nitro Member
I'm sorry, but 1000ft does not make this sport safer! Anyone who thinks so, has got to seriously be kidding themselves!!!
Shut down areas were the result of two deaths! I witnessed a sickening crash at a track in Australia, and the driver's throttle was stuck well past the finish line, the fact the track had a decent sand trap and catch net, probably helped him walk away.... Let's see a boom gate and a concrete wall... and in the other some trees.... Figure that out! FIX THE DAMN TRACKS!!! Shortening the distance is just a cheap option and a cheap fix, it's not a solution! The only solution it's fixed, is some tighter racing... it sure as hell, and sadly won't save lives if the tracks are not up to scratch!
But if some people think cutting off just 320 feet of track is making the sport safer, and will help save lives....
Flame away!
Shut down areas were the result of two deaths! I witnessed a sickening crash at a track in Australia, and the driver's throttle was stuck well past the finish line, the fact the track had a decent sand trap and catch net, probably helped him walk away.... Let's see a boom gate and a concrete wall... and in the other some trees.... Figure that out! FIX THE DAMN TRACKS!!! Shortening the distance is just a cheap option and a cheap fix, it's not a solution! The only solution it's fixed, is some tighter racing... it sure as hell, and sadly won't save lives if the tracks are not up to scratch!
But if some people think cutting off just 320 feet of track is making the sport safer, and will help save lives....
Flame away!
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Dave
Nitro Member
Thank you Michael. I know we don't always agree on some things here but I am glad to see somebody say what you said.
I feel terrible when somebody is killed on the Drag Strip and it always makes me have second thoughts about continuing to drive. I went off the end at Union Grove 10 years ago with a blown engine and no brakes or chute. I'm sorry but another 320 feet wouldn't have made a difference in my situation. As far as the deaths this year, two were similar but the others were all different. Why wasn't anything done when John Shoemaker died at Bakersfield? In Scott Kalitta's and Bobby Martindale's case, I feel it was very poorly placed obsticles that caused the damage. I don't think Engel's or McRobie's crashes had anything to do with 1320'. As Michael said, 320 feet ain't gonna save lives. When Al Hofmann was almost killed at Gainesville in 1997, I didn't hear anything about shortening the tracks. When Blaine Johnson was killed, I didn't hear anything about shortening the tracks. So why now and how do we know this will solve the problem? As bad as it sounds, is it possible that this rash of crashes are just bad luck that they all seem to be happening this year? I don't want to sound insensitive, but if we only lost one this year, would this 1000' thing even be an issue?
Dave
I feel terrible when somebody is killed on the Drag Strip and it always makes me have second thoughts about continuing to drive. I went off the end at Union Grove 10 years ago with a blown engine and no brakes or chute. I'm sorry but another 320 feet wouldn't have made a difference in my situation. As far as the deaths this year, two were similar but the others were all different. Why wasn't anything done when John Shoemaker died at Bakersfield? In Scott Kalitta's and Bobby Martindale's case, I feel it was very poorly placed obsticles that caused the damage. I don't think Engel's or McRobie's crashes had anything to do with 1320'. As Michael said, 320 feet ain't gonna save lives. When Al Hofmann was almost killed at Gainesville in 1997, I didn't hear anything about shortening the tracks. When Blaine Johnson was killed, I didn't hear anything about shortening the tracks. So why now and how do we know this will solve the problem? As bad as it sounds, is it possible that this rash of crashes are just bad luck that they all seem to be happening this year? I don't want to sound insensitive, but if we only lost one this year, would this 1000' thing even be an issue?
Dave
I'm in agreement guys, 1000 ft. isn't the solution, especially when 2 of the 4 Pro classes are over 100MPH SLOWER than the fuel classes! It doesn't make sense. Like everyone else, I'm sickened when a racer, of any type of vehicle, is killed. But each accident needs to be looked at situationally. The Australian T/F driver who recently had his throttle hang open over 300mph was virtually unscathed, and I'm pretty sure having no fixed objects to hit was a big reason. If he was racing to 1000 feet, could his throttle still stick?
I support the move to 1000' and think it needs to be done. I do think all classes should race the same distance be it 1320' or 1000'. Now comes the BUT statment...It won't be BUT a couple of years until they are again running 330 - 335 and what then? Someone is going to have face the fact that all other motorsports have faced and that is the cars are going to fast and need to be slowed down. They also MUST face the fact that no matter how much no one wants this some tracks just don't have enough additional space to be made safe and must be eliminated from the circuit. Just my 2 cents worth.
Bullet
Nitro Member
I believe that is one of the major reasons that the 1000' solution was met with open arms originally.
I don't want to go to 1000' racing. I will seriously consider cutting back on my trips to the races if that happens. I have gone to the E-Town national event every year since 1984 so I wouldn't miss that one, but I wouldn't consider traveling to a national event as I have in the past.
vegasnitro
Nitro Member
When 1,000 feet racing first came about, I was against it. I have changed my mind.
I will say this:
- More side by side racing in the fuel classes, bringing holeshots into play in a significant number of races.
- Saves the racers money, which may increase car counts.
- Less oil downs, cars are not on the limiter.
- Gives the racers more time to slow down, maybe only 3 or 4 tenths of a second, but that could be all the difference.
Times change, the sport marches on. I will still attend/watch.
PS can you imagine how absolutely RUTHLESS Pro Stock is going to be at 1,000FT?!?!?!?!
I will say this:
- More side by side racing in the fuel classes, bringing holeshots into play in a significant number of races.
- Saves the racers money, which may increase car counts.
- Less oil downs, cars are not on the limiter.
- Gives the racers more time to slow down, maybe only 3 or 4 tenths of a second, but that could be all the difference.
Times change, the sport marches on. I will still attend/watch.
PS can you imagine how absolutely RUTHLESS Pro Stock is going to be at 1,000FT?!?!?!?!
PS can you imagine how absolutely RUTHLESS Pro Stock is going to be at 1,000FT?!?!?!?!
pro stock would become nothing more than a reaction time contest. it's almost like that now. 1000ft for pro stock racing would be beyond insane
clwill
Nitro Member
I'm not a huge fan of 1000', but if it makes the racing less costly of lives and engines (oil-downs) as it has, as tight as it's been since it went into effect, and makes some tracks workable, then I'm OK with it.
I will say, though, the thing that bugs me the most is the varying lengths. It's so weird to have the fuel classes at one length, the trot out the pro stock cars right behind at a different length. I think they should just do it for everyone.
I'm still trying to figure out how that would effect our S/C car, but if 1000' is here to stay for anyone, it should be for everyone. IMHO...
I will say, though, the thing that bugs me the most is the varying lengths. It's so weird to have the fuel classes at one length, the trot out the pro stock cars right behind at a different length. I think they should just do it for everyone.
I'm still trying to figure out how that would effect our S/C car, but if 1000' is here to stay for anyone, it should be for everyone. IMHO...
JRX
Nitro Member
After seeing the Chicago race at 1320 and Indy at 1000 I came to the conclusion I really don't care for the shortened distance. If we have to lose some history and only race at safe tracks then fine. Fix the short tracks or don't race there, IMHO. 300mph is fast enough, slow them down by whatever means necessary.
My name is John Rogers, and I appove of this message.
My name is John Rogers, and I appove of this message.
Jenn
Nitro Member
Christopher, do you guys race any 1/8 mile brackets?
Doesn't really affect the cars that much other than reducing the room that you have to run the timers, which most crybaby fans don't care for anyway.
Just my opinion, but I don't agree that if it's 1000ft for fuel cars, than it should be the same for everyone. They are a different animal altogether. The dragsters hit 280 in the 1/8, which is a s fast as the fastest A/FD, from there on nothing is even close. I may be totally wrong, but PS is so close already, that to lob off more than a football field will make them less exciting. The ADRL format works because you have short-wheelbase, high horsepower, evil handling cars, NHRA PS cars are usually side by side and I just think 1000 ft will take away from their show. Again, JMO. Hey if short track racing is the wave of the future, maybe the ADRL guys should consider an Extreme TF class. Eighth mile, no cube limit, no gear ratio limit, 100% pop, and whatever else they can dream up. I bet we would see 300 in the 1/8 before too long...
Jenn
Nitro Member
You can say that because you have plenty of tracks near you that are adequate to run 1/4 mile for. If you can't race here, there's another track relatively close by.
In New Mexico, we don't have a divisional, much less a national. Closest track for a National or Divisional, is about 400 miles away. Take that track away and the next closest is 600 miles away.
Until recently, we had to go 400 miles just to test on a good sticky racetrack. Thankfully, our new racetrack is run by racers who I think are doing an excellent job of upgrading the racetrack, now we are just 30 minutes away.
If they do this for Pro Stock can you imagine the cost to purchase all new rear ends and transmission gears? At least with the fuel classes they run a mandatory rear gear ratio that never changed with the reduced length of the track. I know most Pro Stock teams have 10-12 different rear end ratios and 8-10 trans ratios per gear if not more!!!!
