Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Hell.....I took a "dump" this morning and didnt spray !

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

What about 2 steps and trans brakes ? Delay boxes ? Any weight min. ? like in S/ST and H/R. If Div 2 is going to have this then lets see ALL of the rule limitations if anyone would want to give it a try. .

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Did anyone even check the 2 cars in question?

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

And 130 is Big MPH? LOL

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

No one got checked at Indy for electronics or throttle stops. The cars we watched were 8.90 cars, one of them runs Indy a lot and definatly has a throttle stop. The other car launched the same way; hard launch, off the throttle for a 1/2 second or so and then back on the gas all the way to the stripe. All the classes had racers hitting the brakes or womping the throttle before the stripe, nothing wrong with that.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Good points Terry, but if the 'Unleashed' program is implemented to replace certain classes due to the tech requirement aspect I would think the 'Unleashed' cars would need those tech people to check for timers and delays and other electronic gadgetry....that area alone could increase the tech workload more than it is now as transmissions and the rest of the drivetrain would have to be torn down to look for all of the creative electronic gadgets that could be employed.

The actual cost of teching 'Unleashed' cars would probably exceed the cost of teching S/SS and Comp cars.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

I am not sure how this is going to go over, NO contigency, NO grade points, looks like if they really wanted this class to work with $100.00 entry fee, they would have a little more incentive to compete!:rolleyes:

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

5 tenths PRO tree

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

But no courtesy staging so if you can get in deep you can still cut a light....and to Woodrow's point, they are giving Wally's and if you look at the track facebook pages (I know but I made an exception this time) the local racers are excited to be able to compete...I'd bet there will be more Unleashed entries than Stock, Super Stock and S/ST combined.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Well the entry fee is $50. + Cheaper and the payout is $200. MORE than for a guy running s/st , there's an incentive.....

I hope it doesn't float..........

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

$60 dollars cheaper actually but $200 semis and no round money and no contingency but it will definitely draw a boat load of local bracket racers. Trying to run 13 classes and any potential (inevitable?) delays will limit everyone's time trials and possibly extend the event. But will have to see how it plays out...

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

I worked the Indy and Columbus Unleashed races. Cars WERE checked for electronics and throttle stops.. There were several cars that we made remove their electronic throttle stops in tech.

At Indy the starting line crew called us several times to check certain cars suspected of using throttle stops...none were found on those cars. BTW, we did DQ a car during eliminations for having a timer on his nitrous system. We also DQ'd a car for running faster than his safety equipment allowed. Several others were warned but they were able to slow down and run within their limits.

Here are the basic rules for the Unleashed Index classes:

ELECTRONICS RULES FOR HEADS-UP INDEX CLASSES
· Delay boxes and/or timed throttle stops prohibited
· Mechanical type throttle stops permitted. Any adjustment during run prohibited
· Timers of any kind associated with, but not limited to, fuel and/or nitrous delivery, throttle control, vehicle performance criteria, etc. are strictly prohibited
· Transmission brakes permitted
· Two-steps permitted

Info can be found on the NHRA website under Unleashed.

Travis Miller

(Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

They were probably just lifting the throttle. You can kill a lot of time early in the run by doing that, and counting to yourself how long to stay off the throttle to get yourself in the ball park. I used to have to do that with my Powerglide SS car when I ran the local ( then) AHRA track. Those records were so bogus-slow it was almost impossible to kill that much ( 1.1 seconds) at the finish line. Slap it into high, lift, count, and back on it. Never saw or heard of throttle stops back then . Probably what was going on there.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Travis.......Thank you for the info on the rules.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

This sounds like another enhanced reason to sit back and develope other hobbies. Little by little I'm loosing interest in what nhra has to offer. I keep wondering if it wouldn't be smarter to not use the money I set aside for a winter update on the car, and use it for a needed update on the fishing boat. If it wasn't for good friends and wheels up launches, I would already be fishing. Now, if I can just get the little fishing boat to take off with the bow straight up........................ah hell, the Challenger is still more fun!

Jim Fitzpatrick

P.S Jorge the Challenger is still not for sale.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Jim, just bring all your stuff and leave it up here, and race division 4. You can always drop the wife off at the casinos

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

And they were worried about Oil Downs with us LOL !!!!

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

That's where mine almost lives.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Is there really a time issue in Div. 2? I'm pretty sure that last year Chip told me he got SIX time shots at Atlanta. I was like, "What are you guys DOING down there?! National Time Trial Association?"

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

That's a fair question but Atlanta was an exception. Lots of racers don't like Atlanta or at least how the fall D2 race there is sandwiched between so many other events, at that point in the year people are getting tired of all the back to back weekends. Consequently, car counts were low, the weather cooperated, and things went smoothly. Let's see how they manage running 13 classes when a little scheduling adversity is thrown into the mix. Bradenton will be the first test, we shall see but I've been convinced to try it in hopes the tracks can make some money, which is hard to do with the Alky cars. If the tracks can't make money none of us will be racing.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

NHRA should run the alky cars at National events only like the Pro cars. I doubt anyone watches those things much at the points races anyway until one crashes or blows up. .

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Let me get this straight. An index class with NO throttle stops or timers??

Hmmmm.........:rolleyes:

Eddie Bolton

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Yes Eddie.....NHRA has an 8.50, 9.50, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0,and a 13.0 and only allow a 2 step and trans brake like S/S. AND NO DELAY BOX ! Door cars with a roof and NO "engines on a stick" (Dragsters). The other 3 faster classes are old NMCA classes like Outlaw 10,5 tire, etc, and flat out meaning lots of $$$$$$. Look up the Unleashed site on the NHRA web site. They have their own series of races and now it looks like Div. 2 will run some of the classes. They have several videos from Gainsville, Colunbus, Atlanta, etc. on there to view. I know you could win a few of those.
Terry Bell

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Jim Fitzpatrick, there is a fine line between fishing and just sitting in a boat.

X-Tech Man, alot of the spectators really like the alky cars and come to the races to see them, they really do draw fans. Heck, I enjoy watching them myself. I do not like the idea of them not paying though and delaying the show due to malfunctions. Besides there are not that many that show for a divisional down here in FL.

Tracks need to make money, period, bottom line. For some tracks the improvements out weigh return, or that the local run what you brung brings in more revenue for less investment. One track around here offers entertainment in the form of bands and a bar, drifting, and long burnouts to draw good crowds. If "you" owned a track you would look at bottom lines and decide how to increase revenue and what to cut back on.

It is better to try the Unleached classes at a divisional rather than a national. Maybe it will work or maybe it will run the same course as did other "great" ideas from our sanctioning body. At least we do not have snow down here for the snowmobiles, that would tighten up things.

This year I am running IHRA and NHRA, I will voice my opinions on here in the future of my experiences, sort of a "On the Run" column, but with more flair for the side shows one sees at the races. Am I going to have fun............. Oh Yeah.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA Ortiz Unleached
Ron Ortiz
U/SA

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Not sure I'd want to run this series, but if I did , and as I read NOS is legal, how can you run juice without a timer? And....in my case it's integral with my dely box.

Drake

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Put in a switch and use your finger like the other people who want to use Nitrous. No delay box either.
Gezzzz, cant anyone drive a race car without a timer, delay box, or throttle stop these days?

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

MB, thinkin' Sugar don't need no steenking throttle stop... :D

I won a 7.0 deal with the stocker once. It was a blast! PTRA runs 5.30, 6.0 & 7.0 classes. At least at the time, there wasn't any sandbagging going on, so it was really quite fun to watch, too.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

The car count at Atlanta was horrible, and the race was run "between directors", so it wandered about aimlessly. They moved the race this year, so that it was not the 3rd race in a series of 4 races, two LODRS races and two National Events. Had we gone to Indy, we'd probably have skipped Atlanta and gone to Charlotte a week later.

The Atlanta race was simply an anomaly, brought on by its place on the schedule, and the frustration of races sick of the poor track prep and other problems found there on a regular basis.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Terry, I've always had a problem with this line of thinking by the fans, if it is in fact, true.
In other words, they CAN understand ;
Two cars are dialed 12.0, one is late leaving and runs 11.80 for the loss ,even though he gets there first,...
But, if one is dialed 14.0 with a head start and he runs 13.90 , breaks out and loses, they CAN"T understand that?

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

In other words....just your regular bracket car!

JimR

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Pretty simple.
Option (A) poll to poll
Option (B) A thumb controlled button
Option (C) a limit (micro) switch on the shifter to either leave on the jug and cut off when it shifts or vice versa.
Option (D) be really good at hiding stuff in unobvious places

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

they should just make these index classes really simple

Index A: Avis Rent-a-Car Chevy Impala

Index B: Enterprise Rent-a-car PT Cruiser

Index C: Hertz V6 Mustang

Extreme Index D: Hertz C6 Corvette Convertible

Make everyone drive them to the lanes then randomly swap cars before first round,

Makes about as much sense

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

lol.........................

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Why in the world allow nitrous? Just more chances of oil downs.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

poll to poll ???????
What poll ?????
I could understand pole to pole.....:-)

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

Its for guys who dont know how to make a car run. It did bring in a lot of work when I was doing cylinder heads as most would cook or blow up something.....LOL.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

I don't see why everyone is so upset about this. We should use this as a chance to get the "TV Junkies" to the track and introduce them to wheels-up SS/Stk racing and heads-up door to door .90 class racing. Maybe they'll get there and see theres more to drag racing then a bald guy standing in the middle of track flapping his arms like a bird.You're not getting any exposure any other way to bring in new fans, so i say make the best of it. IMO

Chris

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

DOH!!!!!
Was in a hurry. I had spell check just not stupid check.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

NHRA already has 10 classes at LODRS races they do a terrible job of promoting, paying, and supporting. Now they want to add more.

I'll never understand why it is people think adding something "new" is going to change things.

I have no problem with anyone having a time and a place to race. But it can't be the same place and the same time for eveyone.

You cannot be everything to everybody. The further you dilute anything, the less desirable it becomes. The more things you put into a mix, the less attractive that mix becomes. If you have a great pot of soup, and a line of customers waiting to be seated, a sure way to ruin that is to water down the soup and add more ingredients. Because you're going to make the soup less delicious for more customers you already have, and you're not going to make it tasty enough to draw more customers to replace them, not that many people are excited about soup to begin with.

The vast majority of the time, adding a new "next great thing" in the motorsports world serves only to drive off part of the original hard core fan base and participants. Then when the "new" wears off, that huge group of fans they were hoping to draw, that half the time didn't even show up, is already off looking for that new "next big thing". And the old hardcore fans and participants are gone, most never to return. They get a short term boost that is never as big as predicted, followed by a big crash that leaves things worse off than they were. It then becomes a never ending circle of trying to find that "next great thing" to replace the last "next great thing" just to keep things afloat, until there's nothing left but an empty shell of what once was, that is in a constant struggle to survive.

It's been said over and over, time after time, they need to promote what they have, and take care of what they have. Two things they refuse to do.

A solid rule of business has always been "it costs up to ten time as much to draw a new customer as it does to keep a current customer". Another has always been "the best advertisement you can have is a happy customer". As long as NHRA, and maybe to a lesser extent IHRA, continue to ignore those two rules, things will continue to get worse.

Re: D2 races to include 3 Unleashed classes
 

I think this is a way that Rich S down in D2 is trying to think outside the box. Index racing is growing throughout the country. The NHRA has a division that needs some progressive thinking. I think the idea here is to bolster D2 car counts while helping the Unleashed series grow at the same time. There are already 2 races in D2 for the Unleashed series.Try it you might like it. Give it a chance....all the cliche's. Go to a few races with this format before you kill it. His job is to make D2 grow with more tracks,programs,etc.