Wreck Fest

[Pete]

I'm going to throw my two cents in here, and am ready for the consequences... I don't think that there is a person on this website that is not absolutely passionate about drag racing. Come on, look at the threads: What does a top fuel crank look like, do they fire the cars on gas, nitro, or methanol, why did this happen, etc. WE WANT TO KNOW! We want to know how our sport works. So when someone posts something to the effect of why did so many cars crash at Norwalk, it's because we care about our sport! I really don't think anyone was trying to point their fingers at any one cause. I think it's a legit question... did you over drive the car, was the track prepped right, does the NHRA only care about the fuel cars. I am thankful to the racers, crew chiefs, former racers, former crew members that have the knowledge and time to come on here and post answers that are informative. I, for one have had a few not so good experiences asking questions of the crew members in the pits (yes I know they are in the heat of the battle), but how simple is to answer the question of "Gee, how many cans of brake cleaner do you go through in a weekend?" I won't share some of the answers I have received. Like I said, my two cents.

Very well worded post Russell. Fans have the right to ask "what happened" after incidents like Norwalk. However, with the emotion of the driver, crew and car owners being so high after such a loss or injury, it may not be the right time. In my opinion, I wouldn't have hopped on an internet message board right after something that dramatic/drastic happened to me. Just my opinion.

 

[Silly Savage]

Very well worded post Russell. Fans have the right to ask "what happened" after incidents like Norwalk. However, with the emotion of the driver, crew and car owners being so high after such a loss or injury, it may not be the right time. In my opinion, I wouldn't have hopped on an internet message board right after something that dramatic/drastic happened to me. Just my opinion.

Well said Pete.

 

[smokemasterJ]

I agree Pete... I hope my post didn't imply that we should have answers right away. Just as in any situation, a driver should have a period of "cooling off" before anyone thrusts a mic in their face, or people jumping on message boards to criticize. We are lucky as fans to have pretty much unrestricted access to our sport and the participants. As a sidebar, growing up in Monrovia, (a long, long time ago) we used to ride our bikes down to Lou Gasparelli's Eastside Garage and hang out. He was FANTASTIC. Would let us sit in his funny car, show us what was what, a fantastic man! Am still friends with the extended Gasparelli family! That being said, I think the NHRA could certainly be more proactive in their PR to explain why certain tracks have their "issues" and should address what some drivers have said about track prep, etc.

 

[Toejam]

Why would anyone on here think that a driver needs to explain what happpened on the track to you? Are you saying he needs to tell you why he crashed? Or what his thinking was? Things happen. I crashed 6 years ago and after three days in the hospital, I go online to see people that don't even know me talking about how I kept my foot in it way too long. They weren't in the car and had no idea that I had killed the motor and pulled the fuel shut off. They said I over drove the car......well, I'd guess that none of them ever put their ass in a car nor ever had a rear end break on them at half track at over 120+ MPHs.....

Unless that crashed involved you...just move on...

JR, I don't anyone is out to Trash any driver for crashing their car! Fact of the matter is there seems to be a lot of Crashes involving Pro mods lately! Just as Steve Engels' crash, both Roger Burgess and Toni Pontieri both made Hard right turns at the Lights! As a Driver what do you think is causing it? I've never seen Footage of Toni's or Steve's crashes so I can't guess, but Roger was WAYY out of the groove past half-track.

 

[Silly Savage]

JR, I don't anyone is out to Trash any driver for crashing their car! Fact of the matter is there seems to be a lot of Crashes involving Pro mods lately! Just as Steve Engels' crash, both Roger Burgess and Toni Pontieri both made Hard right turns at the Lights! As a Driver what do you think is causing it? I've never seen Footage of Toni's or Steve's crashes so I can't guess, but Roger was WAYY out of the groove past half-track.

This is just an opinion. The Pro Mods are the fuel altereds of today. High horsepower, short wheelbase and add to that a sprung suspension. The chassis is constantly wanting to load and unload and your down force is disrupted through out the run. Those are just beasts to drive and are a handful. I'd say they need more downforce? Pro stockers deal with a similar situation, however they are regulated to the amount of wicker and size of rear spoiler. As far as I can tell, it is just the nature of the beast. There are very few PMs that go straight down the track everytime....driver ability or not. Maybe a rear spoiler more in line with what is on the asss end of a nitro funny car....larger spill plates may give more stability. Just an opinion, as I do not run one of those cars.

 

[HEMI6point1]

This is just an opinion. The Pro Mods are the fuel altereds of today. High horsepower, short wheelbase and add to that a sprung suspension. The chassis is constantly wanting to load and unload and your down force is disrupted through out the run. Those are just beasts to drive and are a handful. I'd say they need more downforce? Pro stockers deal with a similar situation, however they are regulated to the amount of wicker and size of rear spoiler. As far as I can tell, it is just the nature of the beast. There are very few PMs that go straight down the track everytime....driver ability or not. Maybe a rear spoiler more in line with what is on the asss end of a nitro funny car....larger spill plates may give more stability. Just an opinion, as I do not run one of those cars.

That's what I always wanted to know.... why can't pro mods just run a tall TF style wing? Is there a reason why no one has tried it yet?

 

[Silly Savage]

That's what I always wanted to know.... why can't pro mods just run a tall TF style wing? Is there a reason why no one has tried it yet?

Technically I do not know the rules for the class...but I know that the Superbird/Daytona had that crazy stock style wing, so I am not sure they really have rules on the wing dimensions???

 

[FC138fan]

That's what I always wanted to know.... why can't pro mods just run a tall TF style wing? Is there a reason why no one has tried it yet?

They should just leave it as is. It makes it a challenge to drive. It makes it a challenge to get the horsepower to the track. It's what makes the class interesting. Maybe it makes it a level playing field too. I haven't been following them closely but last I heard they kept having different winners and lots of suprises (unlike the pro classes)

 

[Silly Savage]

They should just leave it as is. It makes it a challenge to drive. It makes it a challenge to get the horsepower to the track. It's what makes the class interesting. Maybe it makes it a level playing field too. I haven't been following them closely but last I heard they kept having different winners and lots of suprises (unlike the pro classes)

Good observation

 

[texasprostocklover]

JR, I don't anyone is out to Trash any driver for crashing their car! Fact of the matter is there seems to be a lot of Crashes involving Pro mods lately! Just as Steve Engels' crash, both Roger Burgess and Toni Pontieri both made Hard right turns at the Lights! As a Driver what do you think is causing it? I've never seen Footage of Toni's or Steve's crashes so I can't guess, but Roger was WAYY out of the groove past half-track.

********
Sorry, Steve Engle's car did not take a hard right turn at the finish line........it was an extermely hard LEFT turn into the wall. Very hard to watch - seen it before and that outcome was the same. Peace out.