Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

Why do you say that?
I race an automatic trans equipped car,but I still shift manually.

Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

Leave the stick and auto thing along folks!!!! Some people still like to "drive" there cars!!!!

Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

Case in point: A.H. Adkins has a SS/C '69 AMX and lives in West Virginia, races both NHRA & IHRA. IHRA came out with a "Top SS" program combining A-B-C classes into a common SS/B weight. Adkins liked the idea, rebuilt his chassis to be better and lighter and now competes in the IHRA class and also NHRA SS/B. I see from the Nitro Joe stats he's the second slowest NHRA SS/B car. Damned if he doesn't love it! And he's moving forward with more improvements. Says he hasn't been challenged to this degree in years.

SStock1373 says:
Originally Posted by GUMP
I think that the first step should be to combine sticks and autos.

If this happened their wouldn't be one stick car at the racetrack.

Oh I don't know if that's true. Myself, I would love to race against all the SS/HA cars (and there's some seriously fast cars in that class). As most of us probably had a street race or two in our life before sanctioned drag racing, I can't remember any street racer, myself included, who ran from a race over the opponents transmission!

What really irks me is the difference in indexes between the stick and auto classes! :mad: Worst yet a conversation between an official and a stick racer; the official refused to believe there were index differences between them! :eek:

Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

Oh, now that really cracks me up! :rolleyes: That reminded me of when i was looking at one of the first brand new 2008 Challenger SRT8's to hit the showroom floor and i just couldn't bring myself to buy it because it was an automatic (unfortunately all the 2008's were) and the salesman asked me why i wasn't going to sign the papers and drive it away? I said it's an automatic, i will wait and order a 2009 with a stick. He said "well, this has the (autostick) in it and you can manually shift it without the hassle of a clutch. Wether it's a muscle car or drag car, that clutch pedal does make a difference...:cool:

Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

Jeff I live not far from "Gus" & have been watching him run that AMX cents 1985! It was a SS/C car back then & to see it in SS/B was a big surprise! Now I know " the rest of the story" ;)

Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

IHRA never had a Top S/S class. It was Top STOCK with the A, B, C cars and unfortuneatly the crate motor combos included. Dave Ley ran a top S/S deal in Div. 1 NHRA at the Dutch a couple of years ago.

Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

X-Tech,
We ran TOP/SS in Division 3 for 2 years. Due to the dilution of cars into many classes only a few higher class cars were available but we had some 6-8 car races that were really Great. Indy first year national open 8 cars. Tony Depillo, Gus, John Nemeth, Kenny Schindler,Eddie Smith, Brandon Wilkenson , Ray Paquet, and one time Brian Oakes even came for the races and Won Both TOP/SS and TOP/STK. ALL the people who ran felt it was the best thing they had done for some time. Stephan Johnson, Dave Thomas, Bucky Hess Jim Pancake and Charlie Westcott even came for a meet and supported the race. Many others competed on a one or two race basis.
It is an example of how condensing classes gives an option for Class racing without eliminating the Sunday Eliminator program...EVERYONE has a
program they enjoy.

Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

Since I posted this I've had suggestions to check my meds, leave the country(thanks for the tip Terry but I have BIG guns), combine sticks and autos and go to 1 pound breaks.
Well thanks all for responding but it was a bit of a trick. Although the debate is fun during the nonracing months, lots of people shared opinions but NOBODY did any math! It's not practical! If we had 2 pound breaks the weight swings would be so ridiculous most cars wouldn't be able to make weight.
Realistically, the only way to combine classes would be 1 pound breaks or combine sticks and autos.
I do like the idea of going back to only being able to run natural class though.
This is a test! Do the math.

Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

Didn't have to do any math. Thought it was an obvious and foregone conclusion. It's as ridiculous as the 6 pound break my front driver has to deal with.

Been saying that for years.

Conceptually good, but some of the HP factors have been moved so much that it can be virtually impossible for some combinations to get anywhere near weight.

Re: Just an idea to combine classes.
 

Yes...I know you had it in Div 3 but the post was about IHRA having a Top S/S catagory which they never had.