Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Billy, I doubt that you can go by those figures. The guys at the bottom are showing us what they got, and it ain't much, in most cases.
Meanwhile, the guys at the top are protecting their combos. Can't say I blame them. That's the system we currently have.
Take a look at the top 10 at the recent Vegas ( altitude) vs. Pomona .

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Just heard from a very reliable source they can't/haven't got it
all figured out in Calif. Haven't even been keeping up with all
the runs since they took it away from 'old reliable'.(Trying to
save money so they could give it to the higher ups, I guess).

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I don't think you understood my post. If you lower the indexes 3 tenths. Then somebody (not necessarily Mr. -0.06 from last year), can run -0.06 at Indy next year and win the next national.

If Mr. -0.06 just happens to pick up 3 tenths from last year and runs -0.06 at Indy next year with the lowered indexes he could possibly win the next national event, right?

You could lower the indexes again and again and again, but there will always be somebody that could be -0.06 and not qualify at Indy and win the next eliminator. Follow me?

So what has changed then?


-Toby

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

:DToby-

The -.06 under guy picks up three tenths. That's awesome, he should be congratulated.

Sean

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I love rumors any body else got anything to add. i just spent money for a new set off heads for NOTHING.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Yes, he should, but lowering the indexes doesn't prevent the scenario that Mark has described from happening again and again.


-Toby

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I follow you, Toby . I'm not sure you follow me though.

What has changed is the guys at the bottom will have to deal with a tougher performance standard, not some ridiculously soft index that has been raised up two tenths from 30 years ago.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Why didn't you just say that in the first place!


-Toby

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Larry-

How do you know they're worth nothing? You haven't even bolted them on yet! LOL!

Sean

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I guess its begining to look like a rumor right now. It seems as though most on this site have gotten their panties in a wad over nothing. IF NHRA was going to post this they might wait until the day they close for the Christmas Holidays so they wouldnt have to hear all of the whining and crying until after Jan 2nd. All that has happened is a bunch of "what ifs and why fors". Dont ya just love it. Oh well....It gives everyone something to do while its to cold to race.....LOL.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I heard .5 at Memphis, .3 at Las Vegas, might be zero by Jan 1st.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

And maybe they just threw some numbers out there to see what the reaction would be. They do look at this site. I was told at Charolette it would be at least 3 tenths.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I guess it will be harder for guys to ladder themselves for what ever reason LOL. That is the only thing I see that makes a difference

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Or maybe +.2 by Feb LOL. Better yet everyone could just wait until the actual numbers get posted before getting all wound up.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

You're supposed to guess what's wrong with this picture LOL

Have a good holiday.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I figure it will be the day they leave for Christmas/New Years break, so they wont have to respond (LISTEN TO) to anybody for days.

I don't care about the 3 tenths, I just wish the new factory cars were in some kind of FX class, racing each other (IN HEADS UP SITUATIONS) for three years until the HP factors get worked out. Kind of like the FI cars were when they first came out. They could have what ever dial in (index) and factored HP they want.

I guess after taking so much time to read all of these posts I could not resist.

What keeps me from racing more is almost a year of unemployment.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

sean i just thought all these internet jockies knew what they were talking about, and i needed 3 tenths just to stay under so i could bracket race there high dollar cars. and now i have went over my budget of 5,000$ for a class car.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

A class car for $5,000, That would be a low buck pro-bracket car?. Try again

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

sorry ruler, 95 mustang n/sa and under 5 grand till know and it went under barely.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

It's not a bad combo, Get off your wallet and spend some money on it and it would run well under!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

and that will get me what??

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Bragging rights and a big ego..............................

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Larry, what it will get you is a since of pride and accomplishment. You will be competing againist the best class racers in the world, and racing the best class cars to date. I cant think of any group of people that i would rather spend a weekend with. If I wanted to bracket race, then i could always race my every day work truck. Class racers enjoy working on their cars and trying to squeeze every inch of horse power out of their engine. It does not matter if it is a 15,000 or 35,000 dollar engine. Anyone who has stock and superstock in their blood knows what I am trying to say.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Empty pockets,, lol

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Ed, and some spend more on their trailers and campers, than they do on their cars. lol

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

herbie i have had the fastest s/s car in my class and been no.1 at a nat. event you know what my ego got was a hat and my pic. taken. i didnt see the point. after alll that work.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I am really sick of the just spend more money crowd. These class used to be run by people that worked on there stuff on there own. Now these people should all get out of the way of the just buy it and he with the most money will win crowd. Whats next you must bring recepts to prove you spent a certen amount on the car before you can enter.
I would be much more impressed with the guy that built his own car and can just run the index than the guy that just wrote a big check to have some one build them a turn key car. I have had allot of help getting me to the point I am at I did not build it all my self I had help from friends but we try to do every thing we can by our selves. That explains why we have not had the car out for awhile. But it will be back in the spring with a home built motor.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I do the same, I machine and build my own engines, trans, rears, carbs, suspension and alignment. One thing I have zero talent for is paint and body work, I'm very impressed with people who have that talent. Big money will always have an advantage, there's no way around it, Paul.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Paul

1st of all get the car out and race it
When was the last time the car was out 4-5 years ago
Then spend more then 500 bucks a year on it
It isnt always about big money
You have to expect to spend some money on it
Class racing costs money..
As in all things for the most part you get what you put into it in both time and money
There are no free rides here and thats the way it should be....

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

So I guess if we don't have the equipment, or the ability to build our own cars and motors, we shouldn't race???? You're an idiot! I race on a limited budget, yet I pay someone to build and freshen my motor, continually updating it to make it faster. Every year I make improvements to my car, once again to make it go faster! Does that make me a bad guy because I pay others to do most of it??? Oh, wait. I actually race my car too! That's more than we can say for some of you on here crying!

Last year the best I went under the index was -1.11 seconds! I was outrun in class by over 2 tenths by the type of racers you're crying about! Am I going to pack my bags, sell my **** and quit??? Hell NO! I'm going to make my car faster!!!! On my own???? NO!
With a little help from my engine builder, and others whom I rely on to help me WIN!!! Oh, by the way.....I hope they do take .3 off the indexes!!!

Herbie.......some people just don't get it.........and never will!

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

You don't get it. I don't think that you should not be allowed to race. I was trying to make a the point that there are different kinds of racers and there is no reason we can't all race the way that we are able. I am not asking for any change.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Good points by many. I've heard the phrase "Stock/Super Stock isn't supposed to be easy" and I agree 100%. Just like anything, it's not just about money, but priorities as well. Ask yourself a couple of questions. Do I buy that new big screen TV or do I get a new set of pistons, rings and cam for the race car? Do I watch the big game on TV this weekend or do I get my butt out in the garage and work on the race car? The .3 lower indexes are coming and it isn't the end of the world.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Bryan its one thing when you pay its another when you stand around with that dunb look on your face waiting for your father to fix it for you.... At 42 years old does your mom still make your bed. So why does your dad still have to work on your car? lol

ko

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Hi Mark, I’m not complaining or saying that everybody should build their own cars, I’m just saying that I do and that’s what I enjoy. As far as me not being out in 5 years, life gets in the way sometimes. I suffered a minor stroke just 5 weeks after moving to PA in Nov 04 which left me partially blind. After thousands of dollars in medical bills followed by 8 months out of work, my first year here was very difficult to say the least. It took close to 3 years to get all my things to PA from NH. I would like to race now but first I have to build another garage or a better plan is to buy an enclosed trailer, right now you couldn’t get a piece of paper between the two cars or the garage. After I get a new roof on my house and a new tow vehicle, I’ll be looking for that enclosed trailer. At 55 I have to take care of the priorities first, and fun second. I did race my Sport Fury non stop, uninterrupted from May 71 till Aug 2004 (33 years) attending close to 100 races a year back in the seventies so I don’t consider myself a bench racer, I just need a little more time, Paul.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

NOVASSDUDE you at least got my point, i build my own stuff as cheap as possible. i dont cry about guys that spend alot of money on there cars , but this thread was about 3 tenths off the index, if that happens then i will spend what it takes to go under, i wont like it but i choose a bottom feeder on purpose.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Paul 100 races a year?

Anyways I am sorry you are having medical issues
And it is hard to ask this
But in those 100 races a year what is the most your car ever went under the index? In stock?

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

FWIW - NHRA allows anybody to BUY their way into a class, Funny Car on down. If you can buy the parts, pass a licensing test, your in where ever your wallet allows you to be. At least NASCAR, Indy racing, F1, etc requires you prove yourself by moving up and through the ranks.

Back on topic: .500 index reduction would have been fine with me.

Paul Precht - no excuses are necessary.

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

I believe that's *exactly* what it would take to satisfy a number of people.


Lessee.... the slowest I run in bad air is 'x' under the index... "I would be fine with an 'x'+.10 reduction in the indexes." :rolleyes:

As I said before, if all the heroes want the indexes chopped, why go halfway? Cut them 1.40 seconds. Aww... can't run the index? "Mebbe you need to work harder." Yes, that's sarcastic. It's all a bunch of BS. The country club is just annoyed that someone is playing on "their" course that they don't want there. They're mad at the slow guys because they don't spend enough money to be in the clique, and they're mad at the Cobra Jets who have blown in and taken candy from a baby, and they're mad at the "Touring Pro Sportsman" because he's worked on his driving as hard as others work on their car. Protect your agenda at all costs. No, not all of this applies to everyone, but there are apparently plenty whom it does cover.

FYI, I got started in Stock as an index-runner, and worked my way up. I've since set National Records, won Class, been #1 Qualifier, run more than -1.000 under, been Div Champ and World Champ. ...yet somehow I can remember where I came from and maintain a wide perspective on the sport. I've even helped others get into the sport or improve their program.

Maybe we should start looking at the big picture.

$.02,

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Hi Mark, Although we had frequent S/SS races out on Long Island in the seventies, 90% of the time I bracket raced. Hampton raced until the Sunday before Christmas and reopened the Saturday after New Years Day. National would start the Tuesday night racing near the end of Jan and run until the end of Nov. . I raced every Tues, Sat and Sun with rare exception, close to 48 weeks a year, it was my life and nothing else mattered, honest. Back then I would think nothing of getting home from the track saturday eve and stay up all night just to try another motor, get to the track the next morning and start it there for the first time. My friends would go out partying on Fri night and I would be in the driveway changing the cam or heads just to see what I could gain. My mother couldn't believe I left the house one rainy Sun morn with the race car hooked up. She said you cant race in the rain, I said maybe it's not rainig there, it wasn't. Back then Hampton was 5 dollars on Sat and 6 on Sun to race. Tues night at National was 10 dollars. The farthest under I went at a Nat event E Town was .57 and NE Drag .62 under. Considering the mild state of tune the engine was in and the stock Pushbutton trans, I think it ran quite respectable, and once again every single inch of it was built and machined by me, Paul

Re: Black Tuesday?
 

Paul
I am going to let this go
I dont want to be know as the message board basher
I hope the band your band is doing fine
I am sorry you are having health issues