NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I think that this post needs its own thread........



Maybe FS1 is starting to see the handwriting on the wall..................

PRO STOCK......................Only 13 cars with 2 byes in eliminations

FUNNY CAR......................Takes 3 cars that are over 2 seconds off the pace to make a full field

TOP FUEL.....................Also take 3 cars that are over 2 seconds off the pace or NO TIME to make a full field


Maybe NHRA's plan is working which is having less race cars in the eliminator. The only problem for NHRA is the PRO's are the ones staying home........

IF and I do mean IF anybody at NHRA can grow a brain they can also see the handwriting on the wall.....

The only way to save the NHRA is for them to remember their roots and start supporting Sportsman Racing and not trying force us out......

Bob

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Bob, I think that you are right!

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I think they would see major improvement in just a short time if they mandated methanol only for fuel and go back to 1/4 mile for all classes.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

They tried that once before and outlawed nitro but the fans blood lust forced them to return.........

Not enough crashing and exploding.........

Bob

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I think NHRA might be paying some of the under funded fuel teams to fill spots to get full fields. Maybe they should do the same for pro stock. Lets face it the NHRA that we have known for so many years is falling apart at the seams. The people that are running the organization know nothing about racing. You can tell by the constant changing of the rules. Now they are severely limiting the quota of sportsman classes that are healthy and want to race. Comp eliminator is all but dead. Same with pro stock. The rule changes that went into effect this year for Pro Stock have been a flop and only hurt the class and the parody that they had with the carbs. That was a dumb move. NHRA has been making it almost impossible for sponsors to participate in either contingency or full sponsorship of race teams. The manufacturer midway is a ghost town now compared to what it use to be. They were selling lawn mowers at the Gators on the midway. The future does not look very bright on the horizon.

on the bright side the TV coverage seems to be a little bit improved and the all access is a good thing. Maybe a bit over priced though. To grow the sport and viewers you have to give them a good value.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Funny, so many wanted to tell me I was stupid for thinking the small under funded Pro Stock teams would be hit hard by all the changes. Not seeing a bunch of new teams lining up to jump in the fuel injected wars. Maybe next year they'll force them to go to supercharged small blocks, and a 4 car field. :rolleyes:

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Unfortunately guys, there is NO master plan. They are just winging it. ....

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I really like pro stock I was am still am a huge ReherMorrison fan. I was so disappointed when they gave it up 10 years ago. Reher said the cost then was stupid. I hate to say it but pro stock is doomed. Need to go to cars like Stephen Bell and be done with it. Then they could have 32 car field with 50-60 showing up to race.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Master plan??? I hope it includes big bucks bracket racing. That seems to work very well for the racers and the promoter.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

mountain motors
dump top fuel
pro mod
fuel altereds (wild wille)
dump top fuel
3 exhibition rounds between the pros of late model S/SS
funny car take it or leave it
pro mod
etc
etc
Trump can make drag racing great again

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Just moving the chairs around on the Titanic.......

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

But the Titanic had a good bar and an orchestra. NHRA is like my Dad, couldn't carry a tune in a bucket but still wanted to play guitar. Painful.

Dale

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Dale,
That's darn right cruel with Fathers Day in a few weeks!

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

That's what IHRA did...

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I was going to say same thing.

To have new pro teams you have to sportsman racers,used to the way it worked was had sportsman racer that dominated a class AND WAS ABLE TO WIN ENOUGH MONEY between purse and contingency and seemed like they would move up to pro class or would keep moving up through sportsman classes.

Drag Racing has competition from many things now,one thing is kids sports they don't have a normal season anymore they play practically year round,so the family is tied up with that, younger racers most don't want any rules or restrictions,some don't even want to race just make passes to see how fast they can go,don't have a clue about RT judging by their 1.600-1.900 reaction times,in ways it is almost like some parts of drag racing have went backwards,like before or when was first organized.

Mike Taylor 3601

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I don't get how that statement is accurate? I would replace "younger" racer with "stock eliminator" racer. Considering none go to any "money" event all they ever want to do is make passes and run heads-up like it was in the 50s-70s. There is a potential $100,000 to win race for Junior racers in Kentucky in October. I bet the packages per round is going to rival if not surpass that of what you see at any points/national event this season.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I have seen exactly what you're talking about among younger racers. I'm a young racer myself at age 29.

I came to this forum probably through Google just looking for tech answers and questions. But now I've got my mind on ultimately building a stock or super stock(or GT) car out of my bracket car. I have a huge respect for class racing especially S/SS BECAUSE of the rules. I was raised by an engine builder, drag racer and machinist and I myself love engineering and I love a challenge! So I've set myself on the challenge to build a car that can at least run the index for whatever combo I finally decide to go with and do better over time. Rules and restrictions come with a higher cost to be competitive as I've already begun to realize in my build. Fortunately I'm doing well enough financially to get my foot in the door, but the same is not true for a lot of other potential class racers in my age group or younger. Much cheaper to run quicker ET's with basically no rules in super pro or pro bracket than it is in stock/super stock.

Yes there's slower classes that are a bit cheaper to build, but I wouldn't say those classes are too appealing to most younger folks.


But on another positive side of it, went to the 2 day bracket opener up here at pacific raceways and there was certainly a decent amount of younger competitors that I've seen at the track many times before and are there to compete. Hell, there was a young man driving a S/G car in S/Pro and by the look of him he may not have been a day over 16 years old. Awesome! Another cool thing (in my opinion) was how few foreign cars were present, maybe a couple in sportsman.

So there's at least a little hope for the next generation right?

I could say so much more but this has been a big enough wall of text as it is!

Can't comment on NHRA administration however, just don't know enough about the situation!

Jesse Kauk

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I am talking about NHRA purses and contingency,I had chance to win as much,as much if not more 30 years ago at NHRA and IHRA points meets, now called NHRA Lucas oil divisionals and IHRA pro ams.

Bracket racing, yeah there are all kinds of big bucks races and is tough racing, wasn't knocking any of that.

Mike Taylor 3601

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Anybody else paying attention to the outlaw races out there? Recently at South Georgia Motorsports Park the had a race called "Lights Out" that netted over 60,000 spectators! That's right, SIXTY THOUSAND spectators (they were climbing over the fences to get in when the gates closed)
to watch all sorts of big and small tire, turbo, supercharged. N/A race cars do battle for unbelievable amounts of money. Is this the way of the future? Jim

.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I always thought the master plan was to separate you from your wallet. (and it's working because I'm a willing participant!)

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

They sure hooked me last year. It's silly but it sure was fun!

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

They got me too, my wife better be Glad we got young children or I would be your with Fletcher.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Warren Johnson has it right, if there is no way to make money I'm staying at home.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

And where did that get IHRA?

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Same here.
I got so hooked on class racing last year, I went and built another Stocker.

I'm a glutton for punishment I suppose...

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Bringing Top Fuel back

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

After watching the way the N.H.R.A.treated the TA/FC cars they showed they really did not care very much.

For years this class was stepping stone to move up but it appears those day's are over.

Anyone remember the last time the TA/FC guy's saw an increase in the payout?

I am old enough to remember what happened to classes like Junior Stock and Modified Production years ago.

I have never been able to figure out many of the moves the N.H.R.A. makes.

Jim Hill

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

As far as the IHRA, when I spoke with Bill Bader Sr. he confirmed Feld was using the IHRA to launder money from the monster truck side which was very profitable. Bill had contacted them and said he would help by bringing product and series sponsors, everything but money, they declined so he eventually sold his 25 % stake in IHRA.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Jim, you know I consider you a friend but I have to call you out when you post ridiculous crap like this. If you're too lazy to use Google Earth and simple math to figure out the true seating capacity of a track, you could, at the very least, go to the track's website which plainly proclaims their seating capacity to be 3,000 people.

I know, I know; you're going to reply by saying you're just repeating what you heard. There are a lot of problems with that approach. One is the fact it makes you look like an idiot. The other is the fact it detracts from all the other events which DO draw more than ten thousand people.

Before you ask, the answer is "Yes!". I really DO know the actual seating capacity of every drag strip in the country.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

So I have said this before a number of times and it falls on deaf ears but there just isn't as many people (family members included) who want to sit around with little to nothing to do for 2-3 days at a time as there used to be. There's a better way to handle things- like setting your runs within a couple of hours so there is free time to enjoy the things the host city has to offer. Gee, it's a shocker to think that there are less people with families that wanna go watch the never repainted 30 year old stocker that runs 11's or the 71 pinto Super Gasser, while waiting to run at 10, then 11, then 4, then cancel; over going to Disneyland or grabbing a wine tour in Napa, etc. etc. etc.

I know people will say there isn't enough time to fix something between runs. Tough ****. Bring spares, be prepared- maybe NHRA could let you run after another category. It's not really that big of a deal.

Until you convince the real sponsors (the family members) that its good, you can change rules until you are blue in the face, or add maybe another 30 or so SS classes to ensure there is no heads up drag racing; it will continue to wither away. By the way, doesn't it usually cost more to build another combination than to improve the one you have??? The prices paid to not heads up are larger than most realize.

As far as the outlaw races go, this is really happening and the train is leaving the station.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

The interesting part about outlaw racing it is basically the same as class eliminations or the factory shootout. Heads up racing to the finish line,
not stock eliminator dial in racing with the occasional heads up race.

Make eliminations all similar to Factory supercar shootout, F/S &F/SA combo stock shootout for example or hemi challenge. Heads up, multiple combos and 1st to the stripe wins. That is what brings the fans out to see at the outlaw races.

If 8 cars show up at a national event in the same class, run them off sunday heads up in their own eliminator, if not enough cars, they can just run regular (dial in )eliminations.

One of the biggest races is the World cup in Maryland and they have many different classes competing including N/A FWD 4 cylinders heads up, some 9 second cars and the fans love it. Honda dominates but you see some toyotas and hyundais in there.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Bret, I really don't care what you claim the "seating capacity" of SGMP is. It could be 3,000 or 30,000. That has nothing to do with spectator "standing" capacity. I don't need to Google Earth the track either. You see I, unlike you, have actually RACED there many, many times and know the layout pretty well. Was I actually at the track for said race? No. I got the numbers from many people who either work at the track or regularly race there who actually WERE there. The track manager, and the VP Gas salesman were also two of he people who confirmed the number. There were 20,500 tickets available on Saturday and Sunday. All were sold out each day. I was told by one police officer who works most of he races, that they ran out of tickets and closed the gates which didn't set well with the hoards who were parked all down the road leading to the track from Cecil and Adel prompting the call to police to stop the people from coming over the fences. trying to stop them proved futile and they wound up just letting them in. Have you seen pictures of the race? It looked like Woodstock! Every square foot of pavement and grass on the rather large complex was inhabited by cars and humans. I will try to find the pictures for you since you were not successful yourself.
Please do not call me an idiot. Anyone who is familiar with the SGMP complex knows that those numbers are not impossible at that facility. Still doubt it? Call Ozzy Moya and ask him yourself. Jim


.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

[QUOTE=One of the biggest races is the World cup in Maryland and they have many different classes competing including N/A FWD 4 cylinders heads up, some 9 second cars and the fans love it. Honda dominates but you see some toyotas and hyundais in there.[/QUOTE]

What ever you do, do not post that these kinds of races draw many thousand spectators (which we know they do) or Mr. Kepner will call you a liar or an idiot! Jim


.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

There is no minimum ET requirement to qualify in an NHRA pro eliminator. If the numbers of entries allows it you can qualify by idling down the track on every run.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

*sigh* Oh, well; I tried. It really doesn't matter that I've raced at SGMP and announced there multiple times.

You say you've got pictures? Do you have THIS one? If so, please explain to the world how SIXTY THOUSAND PEOPLE showed up in the 1,362 cars visible in this image, (with supposedly no place to put any more):

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psnbmerm1l.jpg

You might also point out the 57,000 "standing spectators", (since there is only seating for 3,000), because they seem difficult to find. Of course, individual people standing in five square feet each means only 8,712 people can fit in one acre so you'd need at least seven acres completely filled with humans every three feet. Oops! Too bad SGMP's entire spectator area...INCLUDING the grandstands...is only three acres!

Oh, wait! I forgot you'll just say, "That photo isn't from 'Lights Out 7'!", even though it's the photo the event promoter posted on his site.

Well, I guess that means THIS photo, (which I'm sure you already have), is also worthless. It shows SGMP from "Lights Out 7", (Hey! I took it from the LO7 website so it is what it is!), versus a track just down the road which seats an honest 44,500. Notice the difference in cars parked? Notice a slight difference in grandstand size? Nah. Of COURSE you don't.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps0fz5j9ex.jpg

Please don't put words in my mouth, Jim. I never said "Many thousand spectators". I'll only call you an idiot when you state a drag race had SIXTY thousand people. LOL!

No matter how hard you try, you just can't beat MATH! LOL!

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I'm really not sure why you have such a hard on for me lately but I'm not playing any more. Going back and forth like this only makes both of us look stupid. Here, let me try this, I'm lying about what I was told and so was everyone else I spoke to. Now, how's that? This isn't worth it! I didn't piss in your Wheaties and I promise I never slapped your mama! Give it a rest Bret! Your right I'm wrong, you're always right and I'm always wrong. You are the Shell Answer Man of Drag Racing and I am Barney Fife. Now, are you happy? As your President Obama says.....Wahl out! (mic drop). Jim

PS... I've never seen those pictures before and can not confirm anything about them. I'll just have to believe you because you say so.



.


.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I just saw this and I can't resist. You actually want me to believe you counted every car in the parking lot??? You really need to get a life Bret. I mean really!
Also I have to assume (yeah I know) that the claim for the spectator count was for all four days? Not just one day. I never said there were 60,000 there on Saturday or on Sunday. But whatever. Take it up with Ozzy. Don't kill the messenger! Jim


.


.


.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

What other stocker did u build? Anybody can just put letters on their windows! Are talking about the car u had at Indy that ran 13.20 on a 12.15 index? That's a stocker!? LOL!!!! Sorry man,I just don't see your point.I apologize for busting your balls and I saw your multi part plan for this build but I still just don't understand what you are trying to accomplish or prove.

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

Al also has a Pure Stocker.
Also consider him a friend and shared a lot of good information.

Maybe you should have read his post better.
He stated his intentions...clearly!

I don't understand your dirge!

D

Re: NHRA and the Master Plan
 

I read the post just fine Dan.And as far as Al and his"pure stocker" and for that matter pure stockers,crate motors and all the other ihra classes that all run ihra"stock eliminator" frankly i think they are a joke...it should just say pro et....run what ya brung....put some letters on the window and call it what u may! I think Al was confused and thought the Indy pts meet was an ihra race! But then again their are alot of REAL racers on here I have alot of respect for and then u have the other over opinionated, no race,dreamers like you Dan and your buddy Al!