When three legends of the sport speak NHRA needs to listen! (4 Viewers)

[Butch]

Price of progress I suppose.

In 1965 who would've thought a 4-Speed would eventually be slower than an Automatic?

 

[GumbyWVU]

In 1965 who would've thought a 4-Speed would eventually be slower than an Automatic?

True, along with clutch-less paddle shifted cars too.

 

[GumbyWVU]

Its the priced of competitiveness. All the things we miss were all part of what made the cars competitive at the time. Long burnouts were to put rubber down; now we glue the whole surface. Dry hops were to make sure the car had starting line hook; now its a precise mathematical calculation on the timing and pressure of the throwout bearing and weight on the clutch fingers. Throttle wacks to seat the clutch have been replaced with multi-discs all with a specific hardness and thickness based on the desired tune-up for the condition.

There has always been science involved with what drag racers do- its just taken on many forms over the decades.

Right now, the intent is to rotate the Earth and put everyone on the trailer. Only difference between 1955 and now is that there are a million more ways to be insanely precise, and all of those things have to work perfectly with each other or you become second place.

I understand. Scientific progress has "cost" those other things mentioned that people were used to and liked. And tuners I'm sure are much more reliant on computer controlled engine aspects than they were as recently as the early 90s, when the tech just wasn't there yet.

 

[GumbyWVU]

It's a good question to discuss with the three. It's rare that neither Amato or Kenny attend a race and don't think Don attends more than a few. Just because they ran t/f many moons ago doesn't mean they have a clue what it takes today. I think that both Kenny and Joe probably know more about face plastic surgery and golf than what it takes today.

So, let those ugly, currently employed tuners tell their side of the story, IF it is different than what the pretty, retired racers think.

 

[none]

The desire to win trumps everything else.

I was talking to a Pro Mod guy a while back when the automatics and two-steps were starting to have success and told him they are taking away from the show. Two cars in prestage revving them up, "Talking" with the gas pedal really got the crowd going. Now they idle in and hit the two-step.

He said: Yeah, but it's faster.
So I asked: "If I showed you that running mufflers and not doing burnouts was worth a tenth would you do it?"
Him: "Hell yes!"
Me: But what about the show?
Him: I want to win!!!

Alan

 

[z28]

The desire to win trumps everything else.

I was talking to a Pro Mod guy a while back when the automatics and two-steps were starting to have success and told him they are taking away from the show. Two cars in prestage revving them up, "Talking" with the gas pedal really got the crowd going. Now they idle in and hit the two-step.

He said: Yeah, but it's faster.
So I asked: "If I showed you that running mufflers and not doing burnouts was worth a tenth would you do it?"
Him: "Hell yes!"
Me: But what about the show?
Him: I want to win!!!

Alan

It's always fun but way more fun when you win!

 

[TF CREW]

I think that the Heritage Circuit could look at adding rear-engine top fuel at this point with a car that resembled the late 80's - early 90's with the combo that knocked on 5 sec/300 mph passes. Limit fuel pump and downforce but run a full load of nitro. All the cackle, reasonable speeds and some great racing.

They already tried it, got 3 cars at the most

 

[Jim]

As I've read through this thread, the thought that struck me is how much drag racing is like other sports. I don't care what sport it is: baseball, basketball, NASCAR, or anything else, you will always find people who thought it was better when they first got interested or participated in the sport.

Long-time baseball fans still bemoan the designated hitter and interleague play. Football fans don't like the rules that protect the quarterback. Veteran drag racing fans still want to go back to 1,320 feet.

Change happens every day in every part of life.

 

[ch streetcars]

I understand why we will never go back to 1,320. But pushing the cars through the burnout box, barely any tire smoke, no throttle whacks in the pits, don't even get me started on how cool the dry hops were. It was like two monsters threatening each other, one hop, then a response from the other driver. It was like chained up fury. Watch the You Tube clips. I still love national events . It's just that the pursuit of low E.T. and winning has, ironically hurt the show for most fans. Less sponsors and teams have been the result. I will listen to anyone that wants to argue that if those things came back- the crowds WOULD also.

 

[yoda]

Thoughts?:

- $500 bonus for best LONG smokey burnout of the round
- $50 buck bonus for every dry hop prior to staging.
Match cars interested in the bonus money in a B Eliminator category so that they don't hold up the "serious" teams.
i believe this was done at Indy with the PS class a while ago.

If 660' is truly in the future, watching cars spend 80% of the run being diddled on before staging by the crew is an audience snoozer. And if some of the B cars end up figuring out a tune-up that gets them down the track, bonus for the fans.

 

[mick]

how about this ..... just dreaming ..... car rolls thru beams to start burnout. car must pass 660' mark.
back up and required 2 dry hops. e.t. ..... winner based on subjective judging by fans.
then cars stage and actually race. 50% of payout based on show, 50% payout based on go. you can win or lose one or both.