Re: Super Classes Future
 

Jeeezzz, I just noticed that I am posting like Jason....where is he ?

Re: Super Classes Future
 

Dave , I just think you just miss hanging out with us all at the NHRA races. Either that or your just really really bored...haha.

Should come play with the MASGA guys at Numidia in August, not sure how far that is from your house but it's prob. the closest.

Re: Super Classes Future
 

Hey Dave.... I didn't see Comp on your list..... I think there were 12 last year and 20 or 21 this year..... but that doesn't really compare to Maple Grove where thet usually fill the 32 car field with a few going home.....

and you're right..... the fans loved T/D and T/S..... which is why I believe they will be at National Events shortly, and someone is getting bumped...... it will all come down to how much it costs NHRA to run what classes....

Personally, I have to decide where to go..... it looks like it's going to be move up, or back to brackets....

Re: Super Classes Future
 

I'll fill in for Jason, since we're both engineers who raced S/G in the old days and think similarly ;)

When I brought up the subject of eliminating throttle stop timers last year, people were calling for my head and the thread was locked down. I still think it would be in the best interest of the class to get the costs back down and the spectator appeal back up. In the late 80's and early 90's, many spectators stuck around to watch us even at national events. Somewhere I have some photos of me racing at Seattle and Sonoma, with packed grandstands.

From very limited sample size (I've only been to a few points meets in the last few years) it does appear that TS & TD are growning while SC/SG/SST are shrinking.

If I could afford it I would probably build a TS car, but I still do enjoy the pro tree, heads-up aspect of S/G.

Regards,

Re: Super Classes Future
 

Lowering the indexes might help repair the perception of throttle stop racing. If you took a second off the indexes (7.90 for S/C for example), the cars would be on the stop for much less time, and wouldn't probably have to drop down in RPM so far. They'd look much less "stupid" to the uninitiated.

Re: Super Classes Future
 

Why not just institute a rule that says that throttle stops may not be timer-controlled, only by a switch on the shifter? When a stop comes on or off with the gear change, it's a lot less noticeable to the spectators. I suspect people will have their stop come on immediately on release of the trans brake button, and turn back off with the 1-2 shift.

Re: Super Classes Future
 

You know, as much as I like the pro tree heads up aspect of the super classes, the only way that the spectators will ever "get it" is if we get rid of the stops...as long as there is an index and stops are allowed, there will be guys building 8 second cars to run 10.90 and 7 second cars to run 9.90....

If NHRA cared or wanted to care about making spectators happy, they would change the classes to make it so we dont leave at 6000 rpm only to die to nothing and slowly come back...

Non technical guys/gals/kids want to see burning rubber , loud cars and wheelies....

It would be very easy to make the super classes bracket type classes, like TD and TS...

Heck there are lots of cars that when they switch from SC and SG to TD and TS become wayyy cool...so why cant they run like that all the time...

Anyone who doesnt think that this is what "fans"want, go sit in the stands for a round of classes, sst thru TD and sit near some families and listen to the comments....

Its all good....we as racers just have to make up our minds to be happy with whatever we choose to race...

Re: Super Classes Future
 

I might be a little bored I guess, although I've raced 8 weekends already, and have a full summer lined up at LVD...

I really like the MASGA stuff, problem is that all the tracks are far away...Atco is 200 miles one way, MG is 230, Numidia 210...bad part about living upstate NY I guess...spoiled going to LVD 59 miles one way...

Re: Super Classes Future
 

Wow didn't know Numidia was that far for you to drive!! I guess you get spoiled when you have Atco 25 min from my house, MG about 80 miles, Cecil about 100 miles and E-town about 75 miles from my house.

Re: Super Classes Future
 

Guess one has to decide if the racing is for the racer or the spectator. As a racer, I think throttle stop racing is a blast. Anytime the MOV is routinely less than a hun, that's fun racing.

I understand why spectators think it's "weird". But I've explained it 1000 times, and once people get it, their reaction is almost always "OMG, that's *hard*".