Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

I raced a stick-turbo-FWD Stocker in BF/S and AF/S. It was #1 qualifier on many occasions and record holder in both classes. When I left it alone, it was very consistent. I fail to see what is special or unique about a FWD car that requires any special considerations. In fact, I thought there were some advantages as the car was a real good back half (of the track). Guys that left after me (which was always) saw me past the 330' as their light turned green and thought they would reel me in, no problem. They sure had to work at catching me at the finish line as it typically ran 102-103 MPH in the mid-13's with a best corrected MPH of 105. Most RWD drivers didn't expect that kind of MPH looking at the dial on the window.
If you have an under-powered carb or FI FWD with no turbo, your at the mercy of wind and atmospheric changes just the same as a 273 2bbl RWD Dodge. It's what you put yourself into when you built the car.

But to be clear, I don't think doing anything with FWD is a problem solver as there just aren't enough of you to be a factor in the grand scheme of things.
Combine all the other classes by weight breaks or transmissions. Make the races flow better, make the fans in the stands stay put and stand up and cheer, make the sponsors happier. And most of all, keep the eliminators.
Or have nothing for your class car but bracket racing.

Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

there's a wholehearted suggestion by ed...
no participation just drop your class !!

lets see ive got 30g in a 60 chevy wagon and cause NHRA has screwed all the rules up about class winners and the eliminator since wally died you fee i should just take it when you decide U/SA is no longer a class cause no one races in it much ????

carefull ss/ja aint real popular either !!

captain jack

p.s. how about this for the committee " we dont need anymore rule changes leave our class alone"

Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

Jack you are right-on, Ed' there are to many classes is BS

Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

Sure put the FWD drive cars in the same classes as RWD. All you have to do is make the RWD car run the stock gear ratio the car came with. And the stock (reaL STOCK) suspension. That would level the playing field Like you all want.
Big difference in FWD cars is most of us have to flog the cars ourselves. There are no Summit or Jegs quick fix parts. Most RWD cars are cookie cutter (especially the apple pie cars). They go to this guy for a trans, that guy for cylinder heads. The other guy for a shortblock. Etc. Etc.
With a FWD car you have to figure it out yourself. There are no quick fix parts. When you get it to fly. It is because you worked on it not because you bought the right combo of parts.

Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

Jack, you are mistaken about how many run SS/JA. Go to the back of the SS section of Nitro Joe's new book. More SS/JA than any SS class ran this last period. #2 behind GT/CA last time. I have never seen less than three show up for class in SS/JA. Not a class you want to run if your afraid of heads ups. I've sure had a few. I can't remember a race with no other cars in my class. I love it.

Sponsors aren't crazy about paying class money for single passes. Thus the new class run off deal.

I still think there are too many classes. I am not alone.

Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

Ed, I believe you should have also said, their are getting to be more really fast SS/JA cars...Besides you, Emmons and Mike Cotton.......I see that Sean Blair is running 10 ohs..... Interesting to me is that Sean has a 68 Dart with an AVS and Mike's car can run a Holley (same HP).......and of course, we all know you need more HP......(Just kidding, my friend)

Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

Ed I belive the sponsors really don't care as long as they get the publicity. What if you run down the track and both cars are running the same part? I never saw an ad using my car stating "number one qualifier, but he ran a single for class"
The no single deal was all about NHRA giving out less trophies. There aren't that many singles even in Superstock with all classes (way more than stock).
When they first came out with the combo class "brain child". Charlie Neilson told me that I should just add or subtract some weight to change class. He was told that by the tech dept. And that I must be mistaken.

Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

Art, what I was told by one sponsor, that there are too many classes to have to pay. If no racer collects it, NHRA keeps the uncollected money. It's gotten to be too many classes for them to have to pay, especially if no cars run the class. That is one of the major sponsors I was talking to. I know you have also been around long enough to remember class win money, and the product many of them handed out to everybody. Not any longer.

Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

Gary, it cracks me up when Jeff Tueton tells me that.

That's like me telling some one then need to loose weight and get better looking. LOL

Re: Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests
 

Ed I suggested to Charlie. That they give trophies to a classes represented but just pay contingency if there were 2 or more cars. Would that not satisfy the sponsors? He rapidly said no way. All this nonsense stemmed from some crybabies at Indy a few years ago. When some class winners bumped out a couple of fairhaired boys. I was confronted by one and told him that if it was a 2 car (only) qualified field. Could he make the program?
I then told him "I could". It went right over his head.

Ed I could lose a ton of weight. But "Get Better Looking"? I don't think so!!! LOL