When three legends of the sport speak NHRA needs to listen! (7 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 does long burnout. car must pass 660' mark.
back up and required 2 dry hops ..... 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.

 

[ironpony]

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.

Nitro engines won't last that long before blowing up..........................

 

[Litefoot]

Nitro engines won't last that long before blowing up..........................

They would have a much better chance of lasting if the didn’t give gear drive glue conditions to tires to push parts to breaking limit failure, if you can only use 3/4 of the horsepower or strike tires the parts limits last longer, crew chiefs would adapt and the drivers would be much more of part of the pass, win win for teams, drivers and lower funded teams, to me the show has become more like putting a nitro powered slot car on the starting line and throwing a switch, maybe test crowd response by having some demonstrations of throttle wacks and dry hops and get fan response, happy fans attract sponsors, just throwing out possible ways to see how relevant they might be

 

[ch streetcars]

Before he was the man to beat, John Force built a lot of his popularity on long burnouts. Norm Wilding used to do almost full track burnouts which brought the biggest cheers from a packed house . Freddy Nealy and K.C. Spurlock could also get the crowd going with long burnouts. Drag Racing without burnouts just lacks the tension and electricity the crowd used to feel. The pits feels very neutered without throttle whacks ! These are the most powerful vehicles on earth, it needs to be displayed to hook lifelong fans like ourselves. I get so jealous of young kids love of Monster-Jam , they know the names and even the drivers- I don't get the allure, but it's a show of power , and growing with toys and such. We have the best cars, and I think, the most interesting drivers. How the heck did we lose the youth interest ? A fast pass now is over in the blink of an eye, no buildup, just a gun-shot. Will the HRA's and teams/ drivers make adjustments to the show to bring back the fans and sponsors ?

 

[yoda]

Anyone here watch competitive archery?
Well, at 660', we will be.

 

[Butch]

I hear you on those stupid monster trucks.
I took one of my grandsons to one and I felt like I was in Romper room.

As for the wacks,dry hops, and burnouts.
If all entries were required to do that for the show factor. It would eliminate any benefits of not doing it. And I'm sure the tune-up could be made to accommodate that actions.
This probably slowing down the cars a few mph and et. The once a year fan will never notice the difference in performance.

 

[Jim]

On the subject of long burnouts ...

Two words:

Jungle Jim

 

[ATC TWR]

I absolutely agree with Garlits, Bernstein and Amato. As suggested previously by "Big Daddy" Garlits- one spark plug per cylinder, and one magneto would be a good starting point to slow the cars down and return to the 1320! There may be more that needs to be done but where there is a will, there is a way. Also letting the nitro teams know that in 2 years the changes will take place, allows for teams to prepare. I don't expect crew chiefs to have the pulse of the average fan. Crew chiefs care only about performance as they should. But entertainment goes hand in hand with performance. That is why the few teams that do throttle whacks get a much different response from the fans in the pits vs. those team that don't.

 

[Litefoot]

I hear you on those stupid monster trucks.
I took one of my grandsons to one and I felt like I was in Romper room.

As for the wacks,dry hops, and burnouts.
If all entries were required to do that for the show factor. It would eliminate any benefits of not doing it. And I'm sure the tune-up could be made to accommodate that actions.
This probably slowing down the cars a few mph and et. The once a year fan will never notice the difference in performance.

Thank you

 

[T.Smith]