Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Dear NHRA and the individuals who make adjustments and horsepower determinations.

It appears to me that somehow you have been influenced by either corporations, friends, organizations, or people who can benefit your well being in unconventional ways. I would really appreciate it if you would return to the original concept of level playing fields. I believe it would be alot more fun and competitive to allow Stock Eliminator players to let their vehicles perform the way they should be, all out. Since there has been quite a few complaints and disagreements concerning proper factors and ratings, the soloutions that you have provided us appear inadequate. Realizing that there is some bias amongst competitors seeking an edge, there still is a sense of fairness amongst them. Each one wants the sports to thrive and progress, and each one will accept fair rulings.

In the interest of the sport, and its future, the following suggestions are being presented to you, by me, an average competitor with a limited budget, who has been the fastest and one of the slowest in his respected class during the past 20 years, a technical official, a vendor, and a spectator.

1) Utilize the data from all runs from the starting line to the finish line to determine overall performance of vehicles while calculating external factors ie weather, wind, altitude etc.

2) Recognize sand bagging from the calculations and factor in the corrected ET.

3) Eliminate the trigger.

4) Calculate the data from above and readjust the horsepower rating system totally.

5) Let tech perform their duties.

Thank you for your time and the opportunity to offer a possible soloution.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA #2102

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

While your letter is to the point I dont think they will get it. We all know the HP factors are a joke so you need to get a majority of the racers to sign on. One letter will not make a dent in their minds. We as a group must announce our dissatisfaction with the horsepower ratings and how the bogus ratings came about. Its not about the index, its the hp ratings. Well 2 cents aint worth much but somehow we as a group must get the point across.

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Ron,

You might want to soften up your opening statement to the addressee that run's a large corporation....

"It appears to me that somehow you have been influenced by either corporations, friends, organizations, or people who can benefit your well being in unconventional ways".

Your first sentence has the reader of your letter saying "F-You" and then it hits the trash can!

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Jeff, I appreciate what you are saying and you are probably right, however, I think it was a well written letter that addressed valid points and concerns of a member of an "association".

Well put Ron! Not telling the truth is part of why this economy is in the shape it is right now. Sometimes the best way is to call it like you see it.

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Good job Ron! I would sign it. Jim

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

I've never been accused of being subtle but there is a way to approach things to get things done, not just piss a guy off. It may be "well said" for some but it will not affect any of the changes the author and many others may want.

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

If an observation by a member of an "association" pi$$es someone off enough that he disgards the letter then that person does not belong in a position to even be reading the letter. Unprofessional to say the least but that is the way this whole deal has been handled.

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar and that first sentence is a whole lot of vinegar. I agree with Jeff....lighten it up.

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Seems to me the "honey" method has been tried for years. So, how's that "honey" thing workin out for ya? Jim

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

This is in response to those that think that the opening statement might be a bit harsh.

Normally I would send a letter with wording that would be understandable to the reader, direct, but yet tactful in its presentation, and most of all in a professional manner.

The time that I have written to NHRA was concerning HP ratings for my car and a couple of other cars in U/SA. I presented them with charts, graphs, and data clearly showing the disparities between them. Never heard a word from them, and those combos went on to be #1 qualifiers at numerous events.

I have always treated NHRA and it employees with respect. I have performed youth clinics at area high schools before the Youth & Education Services was created. I have worked with that service in its initial stages. If you look back at all the bashing post against NHRA you will notice that I have not done so.

If you would like you can ask Wesley, Travis, anyone who knows me in tech, the safety people, announcers, or anybody else, I do not bash NHRA.

I remember when Jeff Tueton started a committee, I recall the recent SRAC, I have heard of groups that have presented NHRA with possible solutions and communications.

How many times have you heard about the head that was legal next to a slightly modified one and a tech guy was overruled. Or other questionable components. What about the times that someone has posted about "Glendora" or "Danny" showing some possible favoritism.

How about a manufacturer showcasing their newest "production" car with desirable components. Or their disclosure of HP ratings or available parts.

Then the individuals who make adjustments and horsepower determinations come up with a solution that just buffers the problem by lowering the indexes. And I realize that alot of people wanted it, but it did not resolve the problem.

So, after witnessing so many things, reading about all the injustices, hearing all the nonsense, I felt compelled to write to NHRA. Understand when I started typing, the words just flowed out, as it appeared to me that somehow they have been influenced by either corporations, friends, organizations, or people who can benefit their well being in unconventional ways. It was the only possible answer. So I addressed it as so.

Looking back, maybe I should have done it in a professional manner, but in reality, it was necessary. For those who took offense, I apologize. I just want our sport to succeed and and let the racers run their cars out within a level playing field.

I am sending this response to NHRA also.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA #2102

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

No offense taken....but you took the letter from a business letter and made it a personal attack. Porbably will not be received and reviewed with much enthusiasm.

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Not a personal attack, just an observation and suggestion. The results will probably be the same as before.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA waitig

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

RON... you need to send a HP reduction request since you got screwed when the early cars with the better carb got YOU hit with HP... send it today - contact Roy Dean for more info and another letter sent same time

you are right, but they can stuff all the AHFS up thier ***** couse it will never work... just give us a HP committee with woodro, provoast, travis, wesley...you get the idea engine guys with sense tech guys with balls... and let the chips fall where they may...if fords end up in SS so be it... travis tossed em at indy !

jack

Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Since two speed automatics can be replaced with three speeds in certain cars it doesn't seem to me allowing a '66 or '67 car to use the larger carbeurator a '65 that is rated at the same horsepower can run would be nearly as big a variation!

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Jack, appreciate the info, but I wasn't looking for a HP reduction. I was makeing an observation of how Stock Eliminator seems to be somewhat influenced.

Bill, yeah, whats the difference with a little CFM.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA lower hp ha ha

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Sounds like a good idea to me Bill. Then we can all go back to 165Hp and race on an even playing field. I'm all for it. Thanks for the great idea.
Clayton

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

what two speed cars can replace with a 3 speed in stock (unless it is in the 2010 rules ?)

if you are discussing the 1957 - 1961 issue i had approved it is a fact these cars were equipped with a 3 speed transmission called a "turboglide" from the factory... since you guys are my U/SA buddies i will be happy to supply you with the data i supplied NHRA with which resulted in thier identifying this as fact and approving ONLY 1957 -1961 full size chevrolets as so equipped ... just ask !

jack

and by the way so far i have found VERY little performance advantage :(

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

Capt, was that the thing with the "GR" next to "D" on my mama's 57 Chev? I thought it was a turbine. It ran like a Buick Dynaflow. But then again.....

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

that was it jeff... BIGGG said GR was for "get ready" :)

anyway 2 planetarys + direct drive = 3 speed ... also had a 3 turbine convertor was a pile of ***** that is why i dissapeared out of NHRA books when you had to run the factory transmission it sucked... but when enhanced by the "any corporate trans with same number of gears" rules... shazam its a turbo !

anyway jeff merry christmas to all my mopar friends down south and see you all at pats place in march !!

jack

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

[QUOTE=Jeff Lee;

Your first sentence has the reader of your letter saying "F-You" and then it hits the trash can![/QUOTE]

It's already there. They had someone come in from vacation, just to toss it .
They wouldn't want you to expect them to work for their salaries next year.

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

I don't really see any other way you can write the letter. A point needs to be made. I would sign it.

Re: Readjustment letter to NHRA
 

I understand that NHRA has to start somewhere with their hp ratings but it seems to hit the brand new cars pretty hard right off the bat when they use the manufacture's hp rating from the get go. Not enough new cars are racing to appeal to the youth of the sport. Since my family races Super Stock we can put it in a GT class with a combination that can be competitive but I really think that it would be beneficial to be able to use an engine that comes in the car from the factory to appeal to the younger racers that want to get into the sport.

Those were some long sentences.:)

I guess what I'm getting at is that the NHRA needs to do some more research into the newer combos that maufactures are putting out to make them more competive right away instead of making a few guys suffer for a coulpe 5 years to correct the hp factor to make them competive.

I'm new to paying attention to hp factors but from what I have seen it seems to be a system that benifits people that can build a car every 2 years to dodge getting hit with too much hp.

Nate