Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Here's most of them:

2008 Rockingham, NC Springnationals - 67

2008 Milan, MI - 56

2008 Edmonton, Alberta Canada - 11

2008 Budds Creek, MD - 50

2008 Grand Bend, Ontario Canada - 35

2008 Epping, NH - 50

2008 Tulsa, OK - 11

2008 Martin, MI - 68

2008 World Finals at Rockingham had 72 Stockers.
Would have been 73 but I couldn't make it.

2009 season opener in Baton Rouge, LA - 43.



lol Brandon pulled a pretty good holeshot on me! ;)

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

On the subject of stats,according to my latest Nitro Joe stats,there were 1,633 cars that made a run in Stock Eliminator in NHRA in 2008.There were 438 (1/4 mile) cars that made a run in Stock Eliminator in IHRA in 2008.
Of the 1,633,only 29 were in O/SA.Of the 438,only 7 were in O/SA.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

that will prob. be the only holeshot i get on you all year Myron

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Maybe it's just me but this whole thread sounds like two 9 yo's arguing about whose dad is the best!

Race where you want to, that's why it's a free country!

NHRA,IHRA,NSS,NMCA, BRACKET, etc. To each his own!

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Tulsa, OK this weekend, double-header Pro-Am.... 1 Crate Motor car, no GT Stockers, no Pure Stockers, not even any trucks or fuel-injected cars, and no Super Stock Production cars, at a 1/4-mile race hosted by a great national event facility. Meanwhile, back at MIR on the east cost, some "NHRA Stockers" showed up and easily outran everyone in qualifying. ...so that covers several of the arguments about why some don't attend IHRA races. So what is it really?

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Only 26 cars in stock at MIR ! What a shame....great weather, great track, fast weather conditions except maybe the guys are afraid of the girls.....lol. Final 4 cars in stock on Sat. had 3 women and one guy. Final was two women. Runner up Sat. won on Sunday. They kicked butt. Didnt see you either Michael.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Terry,29 cars on the sheet,....Michael was there Sunday.....it was ashame only that few cars with the beautiful weather. To each his own.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Hi Bart....I heard Michael might make it up Sunday. I was just there on Saturday. Every time I came by to say hi you guys were nowhere to be found. Sorry I missed seeing you.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

I was leading the points at Pageland Dragway in South Carolina and Div. 1 Stock, so I ran the points race at Pageland Saturday night, lost 1st round, drove 2 hrs home, got 4 hrs sleep, drove 6hrs to MIR, pushed through the beams first round (not like I was going to do anything with Chris's .019 and dead-on anyway!), and drove 6hrs home. Yeah, that was hot. :cool:

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Now thats dedication !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A real hard core racer.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Bo, if you want to have some fun, come on down to our SSSSA big dollar race at Orlando Speed World November 1, 2009. Love to have you! Jim

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

NHRA must not be too bad. Mike Lyons was a IHRA all star qualifier and skipped the race to go to a lowly NHRA points race! LOL

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Could be.....I don't know. I am sure Mike will be along to answer.


BTW IHRA had 2 racers skip the all star race. James Paul also skipped, but he at least he wasn't at a NHRA points race.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Well went to my first NHRA race and I have to say I was pleasantly suprised at the way it went. After years of racing IHRA and hearing how hard the NHRA tech guys were I was really nervous about tech, I wasn't sure exactly how much of my tech card I was supposed to fill out and was waiting to get reprimanded by the tech official for not doing it right. Well to my suprise the gentleman simply explained what all I had to fill out, no rolling eyes or digusted sighs I was very relieved and thanked him for his help. The race for the most part ran on schedule, plus they raised alot of money for Mr. Hessers' family which I thought was a very good guesture. So..... I guess I have to say my experience was better than I'd expected and will have no reservations about attending another NHRA race. Thanks to the NHRA staff for their help. Joe

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Great thread, glad someone started this one. Here is a great example of the difference between the two sanctioning bodies when viewed from this stock eliminator racers perspective.

Spent a lot of money and worked my tail off to build an NHRA stock eliminator car. Being naive and not one inclined to bend rules I actually built a rulebook legal car. Had one of the best stock eliminator engine builders in the country put my combination together minus the $8000 cylinder heads and intake manifold that I latter discovered was the key to running 1.5 or more under the index. (Do not be fooled, no amount of suspension tuning or chassis set-up will make up 70HP-100HP)

My rulebook legal car ran .6-.7 under the C/SA index. NHRA then drops the indexes by .3 tenths and now I have a car that runs .3-.4 under - what's your address, I will just send you my entry fee and save all of the traveling expenses.

I don't blame NHRA. I did not do my research and at this stage of the class racing game, I was the dumb$%s that didn't realize the rulebook was just a suggestion. I learned why a class motor really does cost $20K minimum to be competitive.

So here were my choices - 1) spend $8000 on a set of ported and covered up stocker heads/intake and sweat bullets pulling through the gate at every event wondering if I will be torn down and found illegal.

2) Continue class racing and consider each event as a great way to test my car on a really well prepped track all the while letting my fellow racers think that I am sitting on the bottom of the ladder sheet on purpose!

3) Quit trying to class race with a rulebook legal car and either hit local week-end bracket racing or sit in my garage and watch my car's battery charge - after the first week-end this becomes a toss-up. I do think watching batteries charge edges out week-end bracket racing from an excitement standpoint.

4) Try to work with NHRA to fix some of the issues or at least get the car refactored - "I will not elaborate on my three years of frustration on this subject".

5) Call IHRA and see if I can get a crate motor approved for the Buick.

Here are the results - 3 emails, a couple of phone calls with the National Director of tech, Mike Baker and three weeks and I have a crate motor approved for my car. Instead of spending $8K on dinosaur iron, I actually get to take advantage of some of the new and readily available parts all the while being able to run my original old survivor Stage 1 Buick car in stock eliminator.

For the uniformed, the bottom end is still the same as for stock eliminator you just get to add a spec aluminum head, intake and Holley 850. For $4500 you can convert your stocker to a crate motor car, pull the car through the gate legally and have a fighting chance to be competitive - basically my index is tenth slower than NHRA and I get better and newer parts - no brainer!

If you decide you are done with the crate motor class or want to sell your pieces and parts or quit racing, you actually can get some of your money back because people are always looking for good untouched aluminum heads, intake manifolds and Holley 850's.

Remember 3 phone calls and 3 weeks and IHRA approved the combination. Another thing, they are actually nice to you on the phone and look for ways to get you to the track.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

I would have to say there are a number of reasons some NHRA racers do not race at more IHRA events. In my personal situation, IHRA races are farther to travel to for the most part. I live in Northeast Pennsylvania and am 1.5hrs from Maple Grove, 2.5hrs from Englishtown, 3hrs from Atco, 2.5hrs from Cecil County, etc. Many of us in the northeast are fairly close to NHRA tracks, but not as close to IHRA tracks. I grew up with my dad racing mostly NHRA with very few opportunities to race IHRA at the time because of geographics. I have raced at a few IHRA events and had a great time. I attended the divisional at Beaver Springs when it was held there and also The Empire Nationals when it was held at New York International. Some NHRA racers do not like the crate motor classes, because there isn't as many opportunities for heads-up racing for the tradfitional classed stock and super stock cars. To me...this doesn't matter as much as it does for some. There is also the 1/8th mile vs. 1/4 mile argument. I grew up racing 1/4 mile. Many are used to racing 1/8th mile. Some racers literally won't race 1/8th mile period. I have raced 1/8th mile, but definetly prefer 1/4 mile. This was the big reason Peter Biondo and Kyle Seipel did the "1000ft compromise" at Bristol. Generally, there are more 1/4 mile tracks in the north and more 1/8th mile tracks in the south. I guess it depends what you like and are used to. As far as NHRA racers looking down on IHRA as a sub-par racing organization....I don't think this is the case, whatsoever. I had a great time at the IHRA races I attended and hope to make it to Budds Creek for the National Event at the end of the season.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Although not negative that's the key difference. IHRA is about encouragement, not discouragement. Tech isn't an issue until it's an issue. With NHRA it's an issue before it even starts....unless you have $$$ to sway influence towards personal advantage. Of course if participation tanks that could change.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

It's time to go racing. IHRA<NHRA what does it really matter? In todays world expence means the most to me. Travel,entrance fee,prize purse are alll accountable as to where I go to race. The double Pro Am races with IHRA are a great deal, just ask Byron, and @ Pittsburg and Richmond they throw in a Sports Nationals the same weekend. For you racers that think IHRA is easier than NHRA if might only be because of car counts,less rounds, not the quality of racer or car.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

here is my 2 cents.........
I dont care if it's NHRA, IHRA, East Coast deal, Buckeye SS/Stock Series, Mike Carr's Tri-State, Southern Series, Tri-state MN series, ect as long as everybody helps support all the SS/Stock series out there everyone will have a place to go race and it's totally up to every driver where they feel better playing at, I never trashed anybody for picking one series over another one as long as we have racers supporting them to keep them floating that's all that matters.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

I used to have that NHRA only mentality. But, living in NC with an IHRA track in every direction, it was stupid not to try it. I was never made to feel so welcome at a race before. It was really fun and now I'm hooked.

As for the CM classes. I like the concept. Same as any other stock combination. Specific casting #'s to use (heads, Pistons & carbs), technical specifications to adhere to.
Only real leway; manifold choice.

My only real problem with them (CM classes); the indexes. When 13 of the top 15 qualifiers are CM cars, it seems obvious to me, the indexes are too soft. Even with the .05 hit they got this year. That was just a token hit..

I think that's the turn-off a lot of 1st class NHRA racers have. When they go to a IHRA event and find themselves qualified mid pack.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

The "1st class NHRA racers" can and do regularly out-qualify the crate motor cars, when they bother to show up.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

[QUOTE=Ed Wright;114781][QUOTE=Michael Beard;114686]Car count is a self-fulfilling prophecy... if everybody showed up, there would be a lot of cars. Ed,

About 10 to 15 years ago a late model Firebird running in Stock had the fire extinguisher blow up and launch itself through the rear glass and land on another car about 100 feet away......it was filled with NOS! He received a lifetime suspension but I wonder if THAT had anything to do with the ban on extinguishers?

JimR

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

[QUOTE=treessavoy;184301About 10 to 15 years ago a late model Firebird running in Stock had the fire extinguisher blow up and launch itself through the rear glass and land on another car about 100 feet away......it was filled with NOS! He received a lifetime suspension but I wonder if THAT had anything to do with the ban on extinguishers?
JimR[/QUOTE]

That was a Super Stock car, and I believe light green in color... :-)

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

And it was from Calif.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

And he worked at a PRISON !! :-)

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

Ok who was it?

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

...and it was twenty-five years ago.

Re: IHRA vs NHRA
 

*** Comming from a COMPLETE nubie to the sport***

I would HAVE to go with IHRA... Epping is 10 min. from my house. I have done many Street nights there and bracket raced the Truck Nationals there a few years back and did pretty well too.


When is the next points race there, so I can go watch and meet some of you guys and learn more about the sport? I'll be back in NH in mid May.

Steve