NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

I was at Joliet last weekend watching all the heads up racing. There was enthusiasm in the air.

Beginning of this year, I tried to sponsor a SStock/Stock combo where we ran practice Friday, heads up on Saturday, usual bracket on Sunday? I was consummately turned down.

Why is it they want 2 or 3 days of boring practice? NMCA has stolen the limelight that used to be in NHRA. There is absolutely no good reason for it. We could run one practice run and the rest is still practice only you are running heads up. If you don't want that just use it as a practice run, then resume the regular bracket race on Sunday.

I for one probably need the practice more than anyone, but 2-3 days boring. Girly men need to man up ;-)

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

Did anyone question NHRA' motive for running 8 cars at the Englishtown Nationals in
the 11.50 Heads up bracket ???

Will this be S/SS way for the future ????
No tear down for 1. No fuel check, No weight check.

1/2 second intervals, 1 second intervals.?????

Makes ya wonder what's in store in years to come.??

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

You actually contacted Promedia to sponsor a Stock/Super Stock shootout within their events -- good for you, I told them years ago that they need to attract more class racers and perhaps if you keep pushing it could happen.

Nitro Joe did it with NSCA years ago, started off very well attended events and Joe did a great job keeping it all together....it did help that Tony Dipillo owned the organization but the class shoot out sort of fell by the way side.....not sure why.

The NMCA organization is exceptionally well funded, well ran and I believe has more contingency sponsors than LODRS..............all you guys that seem to be disgruntled with the way you're treated now, I recommend contacting the management at ProMedia and see what you can put together for 2014. Might just be beneficial to both parties

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgpD...e_gdata_player

No Jim it wasnt them. It was the Pontiac race in Norwalk. I thought heads up racing against other Pontiacs with small blocks, big blocks would be eye opening for Pontiac guys at the level of performance. Besides I also thought it would be something to attract some fast cars and not the usual boring 3 days of practice. They have one weight per cubic inch deal and it is the most popular.

You want to make points races popular, then some testosterone supplement is needed. Bracket Racing at the end is OK, but what is wrong with really adding to the over all enhancement of our racing experience? It wouldnt be that hard.

Thanks for the heads up (ha) Jim, I will call them. If the Pontiac guys dont want to do it maybe we can get something else going. It makes zero sense to me why NHRA doesnt do it, or we dont do it ourselves. Alex's race in 2001 we all ran heads up against the index, it was so cool, then we could bracket race on Sunday as usual. It is so simple, I guess it makes too much sense.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

I race NSS in this series. They are very professional and a lot of fun to race with.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

That is so cool! I love those wagons! Joliet NMCA had tons of high performance manufacturors. Nothing short on investment money, this is where stock and super stock started, it was so cool.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

Don't everyone get all bulled up, but bracket racing killed the fan appeal. It is, what it is. I remember in the 70's, drag racing was America's Number 1 motor sport. Not any more.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

I ran the NMCA last year at Bowling Green with my Pure Stocker.
Thinking about doing it again this year with the Stocker T-Bird.

Both cars fit the EFI index class. (1/2 second index spacing--.500 Pro Tree start)


I've often wondered how nice it would be if there was a Class Racer "showcase" race that the NMCA/NMRA would have where we could show those fans these type of cars.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

This is a great idea, I bet there's some stick shift stockers that could run in Mean Street or have there own event. I was at Joliet as well and they put on a great show.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

now you guys are thinking...............the management at NMRA / NMCA are open to a lot of things and they are approachable. My recommendation is to contact Steve Wolcott @ ProMedia and see if there is something that can be done -- the ideal track for this (at least to start the experiment) would be Norwalk. At this time, both NMRA & NMCA hold events there and well.......its.....Norwalk.

Good Luck

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

Unfortunately they don't allow any real manual transmissions in Mean Street. just T5s, Tremecs, etc.

I do think Promedia is missing a big opportunity by not having a S/SS class.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

What's a "real manual transmission?"

What big opportunity are they missing out on?

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

Enjoyed every second of it. Wish they ran 10.0 and the 8.50 Index class as well. Never thought of those index classes as replacements for S/SS but maybe for S/G and S/C. Probably never happen, but one could wish.

8.50 does have a minimum weight which is 2800 lbs but most of the cars are much heavier than that.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

G-Force, Jerico, etc.

For what a Mean Street racer spends in breakage, spares, etc, they could easily buy a Jerico or G-Force and never touch it. Did I mention you have to run a diaphragm style clutch also? Even with all the obstacles the top running Mean Street stick racers do a great job with what they are forced to run.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

The class I am most impressed with is the NMRA Coyote Stock.


Those are production line Mustang GT engines that are pulled and sealed.

Ford provides the flash tune on race day so every driver gets the same tune.
The difference in performance in that class comes down to chassis tune and driving skills.

I also believe the NMCA and NMRA are missing out on at least showcasing the Stock/Super Stocks at their events.
I still believe the fans would love to watch the class cars pulling the wheels. They may not understand the staggered starts tho.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

Kind of like S/SS in NHRA, it boils down to one major issue; give the racers less classes, give the fans more heads up runs!
Sure wish there was some of that NMCA action on the west coast. Looks like a lot if fun to watch; if not participate in.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

Good luck with that Jeff. Too many want to crawl off into a class nobody runs, then say "I'ts not my fault nobody else runs my class." They don't want a heads up, and want a trophy & contingency money for driving down the track by themselves for a class "win".

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

Check out the NMCA West events!

http://www.nmcadigital.com/

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

I am not sure that is true. Both the NMCA and NMRA put on a good show. The NMCA's nostalgia classes pretty much have Stock/SS covered without the associated hassles of tech.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

I agree the Nostalgia Super Stocks are fun to watch.
Too bad a driver has to own a REALLY old car to paticipate.

Hard to believe my antique 27 year old '86 T-Bird is too new to be nostalgic.:rolleyes:

And yes, they put on a really good show.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

It's not hard to believe at all.

As one of the initial group that raced in NSS I remember why it was started. It was founded to honor the early to mid '60's factory race cars and bring back the hey day of super stock racing not late model cars like yours but you can race yours in the NMCA...they have several classes your car could fit into.

JimR

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

That's the thing though, late model? In 1968 was a 41 Willys a "late model"? Same 27 year difference. Some perspectives have changed over time.

Re: NHRA/NMCA heads up vs bracket
 

I remember in 1987-1988 when the original NMCA was formed.
I was a Buick guy then with '70-'72 GS's.
We thought those '64-'72 Muscle cars were OLD !
There were alot of 17-18 year old cars running in that series.

Those cars were 24 years old at the most .

Now the 1989-1997 cars are the same age.....to put this in perspective.