Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

On the subject of the cost of Wally's,when I asked my Div. 1 rep.(Dave Mohn) how much an extra Wally would cost me He said $190.That was in 2006 and for a divisional win.Wonder what they get for a Nat'l
event Wally.

Ed F.

Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

Thank you Ed. I rest my case. Jim

Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

All class winners should be in eliminations. In the case of a single in a class he/she must run .5 under either in qualifying or during the class runoffs to qualify for eliminations.
There is nothing wrong with someone who has a (-.5) car beating one that runs -1.2 in eliminations. It happens all the time.
I trust with the new policy that "policing" will increase accordingly to make sure everyone is legal.

Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

Ya know, It seems to me that NHRA is trying to get the 1000 ft. gang to run it on out. If they really want to do this why not go back in time when ONLY class winners run in the eliminator. As it stands now what good is class eliminations. If I were to make two or three passes (at 1.0 + under) before class elim at Indy why even go to the staging lanes for class. Everyone knows that's when you get your pass to the barn. Just take the day and go play Golf. Let them look me up on the fairway.
Class used to be THE THING at Indy. These classes with small car count would change if you had to win class to run the eliminator. Guys would build cars for the class AGAIN.

Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

Might is the operative word. A guy who singles for class did not compete for class. I know at least a 1/2 dozen who intentionally and admittedly build cars for classes no one races so they do not have to race anyone to win class. It's a "free ticket" in to a race you have to qualify for.

Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

And if you buy a $6 t-shirt from NHRA, it'll cost you $25. That's what a Wally would cost YOU, NOT what a Wally costs NHRA, which was the original question. The AVERAGE mark up for souvenir stuff purchased from NHRA is 300%, at least.

Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

No Ed, actually the point I was making was there are very slow cars that are almost able to run 0.5 under the index as you buy them off the used car lot for $3500, and people buy them because they can race them and NEVER have to face a heads up race.

Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

Look at the entry list for stock at Indy this year. May not be a problem in stock, however super stock is a different thing.

Greg

Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

I'll say this, and I'm done with this thread.

I seriously doubt Wally Parks, or any founding member, EVER intended that cars that could barely run a 1/2 second under the index be able to avoid actually racing for a class win or qualifying and have a free ticket to single into the U.S. Nationals, or any other event. I just cannot look back into history and see any evidence there was an intent to allow anyone to actually be able to avoid actually qualifying or racing.

It seems to me that people are assuming that because Stock has so many classes that NHRA intended to have enough classes to allow people to not have to race other people for a class win. I don't think so. They have enough classes to allow a large variety of cars. Not to allow people to avoid competition.

Do I think a class win at Indy should be special? Yes, I certainly do. You should get a BIG Wally, a decent amount of prize money, and at least your name, if not your name AND picture in the Dragster. But I do not think you should get a free pass through qualifying if you single for class and do not even come CLOSE to qualifying on time, and 3 tenths is NOT close. And you certainly should NOT bump out a car that is 3 tenths faster than you. MAYBE they should allow you in, but not at the expense of a car that actually ran fast enough to qualify.

This is ANOTHER reason to lower the index 2 tenths. Then leave the trigger for a single for a class win at 5 tenths under.

It's called RACING, you have to QUALIFY, and to WIN, you have to RACE. I'm thinking they changed the rules because people started taking advantage of the rules, and gaming the system. And I'm glad they did. I'd sure as Hell NOT be proud of making the field at Indy by AVOIDING having to race another car and barely running a 1/2 second under. It's one thing to build a car for a class where there are not a LOT of other cars in the class, it's another to build a car for a class where the odds are you won't ever see another car in your class.

It's a SAD day for the sport when people WANT to build class cars and NOT have to race. It's even sadder when they are rewarded for it, especially at the expense of people who actually race other people. It'll be a shame when class racing becomes like the children's sports where people feel it's bad to keep score and have winners and losers.

Re: NHRA Fastest 128 cars
 

Jack,
Man, you have got your act together! You have several light conversations with a guy and you immediately know what is in his heart. I ain't buy'n it. Sure Wally started off with great ideas but dough soon became the light of his life. Sorry to sound so cynical.

I kind'a look at what Wally did over twenty years ago when he changed the whole nature of the organization into a giant government money sucking organization; you know - our tax dollars. I do not lay claim to any part of this sport but I am damn serious about the taxes I pay. This change a enabled him to become very rich.

Yeah, as far as Stock and Super Stock are concerned, they added a bunch of classes along the way but that was for survival. They are good at that. And then Wally turns the whole organization over to a bunch who have continued to "enhance" the sportsman racers. It's more of a case of "what could have been" than "what is."