What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Some friends and I were bench-racing and trying to figure out what the most vehiclularly diverse class is? Example: A/SA- Mostly Camaros, Novas Mustangs all big block with only a few others mixed in.
I am in E/F and you got small block Dusters and Camaros and Big Block Chevelles Buick etc.

Just curious what the make up is and how much variety there is.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

I would guess F and G. You pretty much see everything there.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Just get a U Stock calendar. Until the broad based ford gift it was hard to find the same car in the class.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

U/S no doubt about it!

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

I may be there some day...

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

The lower classes, N through V definitely have the most unique cars. From station wagons, 4 door models, V8, V6, inline 6s, 4 cyl., turbos, etc. No cookie cutters in those classes !

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

What engine puts a 78 Camaro into U/SA ?

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

From what I just saw, the 305 that's rated at 145hp, and factored at 180 should do it. I'm not sure about the legal weight limit for that class, but there's only three engines available for that car in that year...the 350, the 305, and the 250 inline six (which I think would make that car a V/S(A) car). Good luck if you decide to build/race that combo....

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

305 - 2V rated at 180 hp @ 3770 lbs. In '78 type LT. It's in the guide.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Let's see ..The 302 Ford weighs about 900 lbs less..Same size engine, little bit smaller cam and carb.
Gee, I don't know..What do do ?, What to do?

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

I agree...the lower stock cars (N/S to U/S)

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Hey Teddy, lighten up! Joe had his stuff long before the 302 welfare scandal broke.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

You guys are hurting my feelings with cutting off the lower classes at "U" and "V."


Ellis V. Buth
1976 Pinto Station Wagon W/S
1981 Fairmont Sedan (W/SA?) (Project Car)
1989 Mustang GT (Project stocker as well)

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

V and W aren't as "diverse" as U.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Lower class cars are way Cool! I remember the first time I saw Ellis Buth's Pinto SW at Indy, it was love at first sight. I remember first going to IHRA races with my brother in the early 80's. I loved seeing the Pintos, Vegas, Corvair, Old's 88, and inline six cylinders in Stock. I got a kick watching the long head starts. Three of the killers in IHRA stock back in the day were Ray Head's 60 Impala 283 2bbl, Randall Campbell's nova wagon with a inline six, and J.T. Allen's malibu with a 200 V6. Those three guys won more than their share of races.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Some clown even runs a 4500 pound old 60 Chevy station wagon in U/SA

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Yeah, I know who you mean. He's just not right.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

^^ I agree

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Billy Boy, Being a bit facetious here...and more directed to Tim, who apparently hasn't started on a 305 yet.
So, to anyone who has not...Pick a body style with a 302 that hasn't been used yet, protect that combo, and you should be good for about 10 years, with that NHRA gift.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

With all the data available to NHRA it just makes me wonder how they don't see the error they made with the 302 Fords. All they need to do is look at the qualifying sheets, the records set and where the numbers were before their adjustment to know they made a mistake.

There is a lot of diversity in U without the help of miscalculated HP combinations, but if it weren't for NHRA's HP Committee, where would all the fun be.

Why look at numbers (60', 330', 660' etc.) from previous runs during the year to determine possible miscalculations when you can just turn an ear to the whiners and make your changes. And let us not forget the racers who cry that it is a performance based category while they lift to protect their precious combos.

The U class is the most diverse, period.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA what ever happened to SS/U

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

NHRA NEVER makes "errors"-------------------------that they'll admit to.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

O/SA Heavy car to Turbo car.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Here is a different question, how many combos have been refactored from U to a faster class, example. 96 Chevy Truck. Lots of cars, that will give you a different perspective of the diversity.

Bob, we're not talking bout heavy weights now.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA diversity is only other choices

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

NHRA has done their best to make U/S a less diversified class with the big gift they gave the 302 Fords. For me it was easy, add 300 lbs of ballast and run in V. The Fords never used to be competitive but nobody at NHRA has been able to explain why they got such a big HP reduction.

Jim Mantle U/VS/A

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

So If it's not a cadillac or chevy truck it is bogus?? They go 2 sec under and they are heros. A Ford goes 1 sec under and it's the end of life as we know it.
Yes the 302 is soft, but isn't that what stock is about? pick a good combination and flog it. In the 9 months that we have had this combination it has had 3 converters,2 revisions of one,three transmissions,two camshafts,two revisions of the heads,two shortblocks. Twenty carbs, Two AHFS hits. We test every week. Tested last night.. Testing today.
Still not as fast as the cadillac. But it's an evil Ford ... Burn it at the stake

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Don't take it personally Mike, we'll get Ron back on his meds.
but there is one big difference, the Caddy and the Truck were combos that weren't in the guide and were assigned a factor when they were put in. Kinda like the new COPOs, DPs and CJs. The 302s were an existing combo that were given back(in some cases) over 30 HP in one shot.
But I can't complain, I'm on the Welfare now too! My 307 got back 3 HP! All in one shot! I'm gonna be runnin' the BIG numbers like BJ!

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Been there, done that, thanks Mr. Graham

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Ya know, I should probably make myself perfectly clear here. I personally believe that what NHRA did with the 302 FFFords, whether it was a mistake or not, was good for Stock Eliminator and the Sport. It brought a significant number of cars(and in some cases Racers) that wouldn't have been built into the game.
I have another thread on here somewhere bringing up Mr. Clifford and what, if anything, he is going to do with the Sportsmen. A few months ago, Dwight Southerland, Mark Yacavone and I sent a letter to the NHRA about De-factoring an awful lot of the 70s and 80s cars that were just arbitrarily given unrealistic factors at the time that they were put in the guide. Kinda like the 302 FFFords. As far as I know, we've not received any kind of a response to it. But if a half-a-dozen 302s were built, wouldn't it be safe to say that some kind of equal response could be expected from other combos?
Seeing as Dwight wrote the letter, I'll leave it up to him as to whether he wants to post it but if Mr. Clifford is looking for a way to involve more young people in the sport, I think that this could be the best "entry level" way to go.
I also realize that this probably doesn't belong in this thread but my finger is too tired to start a new thread now.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

I guess U/S is most diverse (12 cars) all different according to Nitro Joe. R/S has 10 cars - all different. - I guess that makes us second?
Keep working - only a couple of months till the tracks open!


1051 stk

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Mikey, Just to be clear, I for one, never called them bogus ..They made how many millions?
I did say it was a gift, and one should never look a gift horse in the mouth..or in this case, a little cow.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Billy, I fully agree with you on this point. It's too bad NHRA didn't go farther.
A customer of mine wanted to build a 304 AMC. 2 more cubic inches, same 1.08 carb, heavier rotating assembly, 180 HP. Told him to go and look for a 302 Ford.

Jim Mantle

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Whoa there Mr. Graham, to quote you. "So If it's not a cadillac or chevy truck it is bogus?? They go 2 sec under and they are heros."
I'm not just referring to the Caddy or Chevy P/U, I'm also talking about the Banana Olds from AL, the Buick "factory" car that McKay (rip) had, Senia's Cimmaron, Mercury Turbo. All of them could absolutely bomb the index.

Quote, "A Ford goes 1 sec under and it's the end of life as we know it."
As far as the Ford being a 1.0 under car, that's plain out right BS. I watched Gary Summers from behind let off so early and still run under 1.0 it was ridiculous.

If you read my post I stated it was miscalculated not bogus. But when a combo comes in from a faster class and immediately becomes #1 by a huge margin, that is an error. Is it soft, no, it is more like a pillow wrapped in Charmin.

Seeking out a good combo is fine with me, I did it many years ago myself. I commend you for working hard to get it faster. But I am not sympathetic to your defense. Must be nice to have so many options on carbs and trannys. I'll just try to avoid your Ford in the lanes at the races while having a frosty beverage with you.

I consider "bogus", the HP ratings when the new Cobra, COPO, and DP initially came out. NHRA did right by separating them.

Billy, whether it be meds, no meds, or hallucinogens, the picture is still clear.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA speaking of hallucinogens

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

i know they need to look at the hp on 1980 305s also.. i have a fortune in mine and can not qualify any mello yellow events cause i cant run the numbers.. really hurt me when they reset the indexs back in 2009, 10, 11 whenever it was..i took a 4 year break cause of it

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Class diversity is neat in a way but follow this post and see how all the guys subject to it respond once their "diverse combo" becomes #3 or 4 fastest by a "more diverse" combo. They all deserve major credit for their choice of combo and hard work. I know their frustration at being outshined by the new kidwith the newer combo. Such is the defect of using perceived HP. Always subject to new " decision" of HP not reality of HP.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Dick, coming from a "Junior Stock" background, I'm surprised that you can't get your head wrapped around the allure of the, let's call them the non-rollbar classes.
They're the closest thing to "Junior Stock" we're ever going to have and from the looks of it's popularity, 45 years after NHRA put it to rest, I'd say that it was(is) the most popular eliminator that there ever was.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Yes non roll bard classes...
Like Pure Stock. 😀
Well most of them!
D

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Billy, sorry The Jr. Stock era was lucky because there were a limited number of motors to factor, limited parts, and lots of competitiveness to WIN class, Run fast, Set records. Very few guys ran 1000 feet to save their car hp rating. Major problems of dial in due to running off records but....
If picking a HP today to take advantage of these classes is peoples thing, so be it.
Next year the "new Kid"(302), Cadillac, Vega Cosworth or Turbo Sunbird will make many feel second class again even though they worked hard to run their favorite. Too many possible combinations out there to predict and NHRA just might MAKE a new one.
Show me a one combo class in stock that cannot be killed by an outsider and I would be interested in Jr. Stock again.

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible! Frank Zappa

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

Cosworth Vega, I don't of anyone ever running this combo but Jim Cassels was playing with his nearly stock Cosworth at SGMP Saturday looking for the V/S IHRA index.


Billy, give me a call one evening this week if you have time, 706-577-4272.


Thanks

Re: What is the Most diverse class in stock eliminator?
 

I agree completely Billy! Just some people were saying stuff like "all the lower classes N to U" or "N to V" which I took to mean that's where the classes cut off in general.

In NHRA, W is not diverse really...the cars are unique but the engine is almost always the 2.3 (140 CI) FORD except for a couple of guys running the 2.0. I haven't checked the stats in a couple of years to see if those guys are still running the 2000 or not.


I've always wanted to build a "U" car because of the diversity and competitiveness of the class. Maybe one day!