ahra resurection
 

there was a posting on competition plus regarding ahra being brought back and catering to sportsman racers. nhra made a business decision years ago to focus building their brand around the current pro classes and use sportsman racers as a source of revenue and show filler. good for them, however, just like the pro classes sportsman racing has evolved into a significant entity and due to the time and investment now requires significant marketing attention. this could be a great business opportunity done right. depending on what these people end up offering competiters its time to collectively stand up and support someone should they present a viable concept.

Re: ahra resurection
 

Check out the classes....Its all bracket racing except for the Nostalgia funny cars, etc.

Re: ahra resurection
 

http://www.competitionplus.com/index...=9784&Itemid=7

Here you go.

Re: ahra resurection
 

People that are too elitist to run IHRA likely would not support AHRA.

Re: ahra resurection
 

LOL...and most likely anything that Alex and myself could get started.

Re: ahra resurection
 

Would you be speaking of the elitist organization, the IHRA, who made a decision not to support 50% of the country?

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How do you have events without tracks? :confused: A track's choice of sanction is driven by its customers. If you want to have IHRA out west, "DEMAND IT!"

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I have an old 1981 AHRA rule book if anybody is interested, has all the old formula hotrod stuff and such......

Re: ahra resurection
 

pat, i'm interested in your book , pm with the details thank you

Re: ahra resurection
 

Nope, I'm talking about racers in areas that DO have IHRA tracks, not showing up. Same rules, same indexes, same cars for the most part, very friendly officials who do seem happy to see you show up, the money still spends the same (At least that is what Slate tells me, I haven't collected enough of it to know for sure.). I don't think you can really fault an smaller association for not covering all of the U.S. It takes tracks from other areas joining up. Do you expect them to go out and buy race tracks? I realize I'm a bit slow, but I don't understand more guys not racing with them.

Re: ahra resurection
 

Well progress is being made in that direction...have you noticed that Rocky Mountain Raceway in Utah, has switched from NHRA, to IHRA? They also have a national event scheduled for late June of this year. I spoke with an IHRA official who said they were talking to some other tracks out west, so you never know...it could also be the tracks getting dis-enchanted with NHRA as well...I guess we'll see huh???

As for me, I'm still hoping that Terry & Alex get something going that will give all of us an option for racing in the category we love, but being shown that we're actually appreciated like our category was in the good ole' days.....

Re: ahra resurection
 

One problem with IHRA down here in the southeast is all of their races are 1/8 mile.

Re: ahra resurection
 

guys, consider this; instead of attempting to become a sanctioing body involved with all the crap that goes along with trying to sanction and keep track owners happy as well as attempting to compete with that side of the business with nhra and ihra and the other hras focus on the marketing side. put together a set of rules for however the business wants to see it structered. now focus on selling race tracks the show [ same as the old match racing days] for a fee. use contingency programs to subsidize the purses and it becomes sunday, sunday, sunday. just a thought.

Re: ahra resurection
 

Art,

That would be a big problem for me, given that the few times I ever did 1/8th mile racing I was less than 1/2 my 50yrs of age...that would be a serious learning curve. However, I haven't heard of Rocky Mountain Raceway doing that for their race forthcoming??? I hope they don't change to that....

Re: ahra resurection
 

Just a real question here. Why is everyone so down on 1/8 mile racing? Maybe I'm being too simple here, but it's two cars racing side by side to a finish line. What many of us did on the street umpteen years ago. Yes, the traditional distance is a 1/4 mile. I guess I was brought up on it around here because except for IRP (now ORP) many of the local tracks here in Indiana were 1/8 mile.

Not trying to pick on anyone, you have to still work on getting a car to react, leave hard, not as much mph, yes the races are over sooner.

Robert Swartz

Re: ahra resurection
 

1/8th mile is like you are getting too feel really good, and your wife (or whatever) gives you a shove and says "get off me, wer'e done now".

Re: ahra resurection
 

No.1 The AHRA as of 2006 was active at only one track....Seattle and it's bracket racing only, also someone out there owns the "AHRA" trade mark and we would have to "rent" it from him.

No.2 NHRA racers are generally traditionalists hence the disregard for 1/8th mile racing plus there are changes to their cars that would have to be made...gears, torque convertor, etc.

No. 3 The plus for 1/8th mile is less wear and tear on the car, the race goes a little faster due to the time for the turn around being quicker.

No. 4 I don't see how running 1/8th mile would cause anyone to have to get "used' to running it. I must be wrong but I thought drag racing was simple....launch the car with your foot on the floor and keep it there until you pass the finish line whether it's 1/8 or 1/4. Heck, if you race 1/4 mile then you are already racing 1/8th mile.

Just my thoughts
Jim

Re: ahra resurection
 

Jim It's not always an easy matter. With some cars there are not an infinite supply of aftermarket parts.
In my case the biggest gear ratio I can buy without having one custom made is a 3.72 to 1 ratio. This coupled with the fact that I have a 2600 pound car and only 151 cubes.
Doesn't bode well for the eight mile. I shift into high gear just before the 1/8 mile mark.

Re: ahra resurection
 

1/8 mile requires you to tighten it up quickly. Alot less time to rubberneck and play games at the stripe. I enjoy it myself. Also AHRA died in Spokane Wa. not that other town on the west side. Spokane is now NHRA leased by Buckey Austin.

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I was never a big fan of 1/8 mile racing,but I understand that the insurance for the track owners is cheaper than 1/4 mile.I don't know this to be a fact,but if running 1/8 mile helps keep dragstrips from closing their doors,then everyone should start getting used to it.

Re: ahra resurection
 

Local track here found 1/8th mile races don't go faster if you have a 1/4 mile track, you still have to drive to the turn-off to come back, only not as fast if you click it off at half track. A round of racing at a track built for 1/8th mile would, the distance to the turn-off would be shortened up.

Some have told me half track racing would make you better. I don't see the difference there either. I have done both, I don't find one harder than the other, but I do find one a lot more fun.

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As far as 1/8 mile racing goes, racing is racing! I love to race i've done the 1/8 th mile thing, and i'm here to tell you, you better be ready, as in have your head out of your BUTT, or some body will hand it to you! It's still great fun, hell i've been doing the 1/4 mile thing since 58, with AHRA, Then NHRA ,and IHRA. I'm still having a great time, check with Alex, the mad Russian.......John Lang

Re: ahra resurection
 

According to Rod from AHRA in an email I received earlier today; Yes, there will be an Index Series as well as the Bracket Series....!!!!!!! Keep an eye on the site for further info....!!!!!!!

Re: ahra resurection
 

Art,

I understand that some cars, like yours, would find the change over difficult but others that state they don't like 1/8 mile would only have to make a few changes to keep their cars competitive.
I race a max wedge and set it up the same way for both distances.
I just think it's time that some of the so called "purists" drop their attitude and consider going "drag racing" where ever there is a track and under any association. Our sport is racing, why not take advantage of any opportunity that offers itself.

Jim

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I don't like 1/8th mile, but unless you are really slow, or are prone to a lot of heads-up rounds with fast cars, you should not have to change gears. You should still be able to run under the index, which means you are racing the shoe polish bottle. Cut a better light than the other guy and run that show polish number on the window and you win, right? That's all there is to bracket racing.

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Ed,
I understand what you're saying but while at the Gator's this year I saw 3 cars in a/sa that had three different dial-in's. The truth is that NHRA/IHRA stock eliminator is just bracket racing with class rules....unless you hit someone in your own class.