Index Change Rumor
 

I heard a rumor that indexes will be lowered by .20 next year for stock and superstock along with a few other things. Can anyone more connected confirm?

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Probably only preseason pot stirring but only time will tell.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

If true so be it. It's all a matter of perception. So the new fast will be -.80 instead a second under or more. Can't control it so why worry about it is my attitude.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

I heard this only applies to pontiacs.

-DW

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Hopefully this rumor can turn into reality. Then leave the triggers of 1.00 and 1.20 where they are.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

It’s not a rumor .......

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Cant see how that would help our classes. I know some that quit when the indexes were lowered last time. Probably raising the trigger would be a better idea. Not everyone in our class is a millionaire and it should not be a millionaire club.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Nor should it become so easy, it becomes like spec bracket racing...

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

To promote more heads up races we will be on 1 lb classes.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Is this cast in stone or just a rumor as well?

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Believe me it is not particularly easy now. At Least not for me. The classes are already gray hair classes for the most part. I remember when I first started racing a class car many years ago. It took a while to figure it out and be able to run under the index. By making it even more difficult to compete will not help the growth of the class or its sustainability. We are already dropping like flys and not many new faces showing up. Rampy just retired stating that the risk is not worth the reward and he is the best of the best and one of the very few that had some sponsorship in Sportsman. Plus lots of others that are just too old or have health issues that bring them to retire. For sure we don't want it to turn in to Comp eliminator.

Mark Yacavone do even race anymore? I didn't see you on the Q sheet that you posted a few pages back.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Good.....I hope its true but 4 tenths would be better with all the crap you are allowed to do these days !

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Then make the triggers around 8 and 6 tenths !

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

That would be the reason/way to kill off the older cars in a faster way😀

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

I don't think this is the case anymore. The U.S. Nationals qualifying sheet in Stock says different. A lot of "older cars" ran very good; well over 1 second under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2019#indextop

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Remember that is the cream of the crop at Indy. Most don't run like that any where but at Indy. That's the reason that they take the AHFS off at Indy. Like I said in a previous post the classes and indexes should not be based on the elite of the class they should be based on the class average. This is sportsman not pro stock.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Typical end of year discussions by nhra staff from what I have heard. Nothing has changed, yet. In the past, most changes for the following race season were made by the time the SEMA Show rolls around.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

#3 Q

BTW...stay tuned to this station..Don't touch that dial!




https://i.postimg.cc/ZqX5MSzh/20181020-204212.jpg

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Did I miss something? Has the forum title been changed to "Street Outlaw Forum"?? :confused:

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Mark, you should know better than that. Keep it LEGAL and it won't be easy.

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Ya know, it's a funny thing but a bunch of the "cream of the crop" don't show up at Indy!

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I see your point but it's a little too late for that, doncha think?

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

I guess that will depend on the weather.

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It doesn't matter how old or new your car is its how deep your wallet is. As a school teacher I race on a limited budget and if this change is made I'll be done with stock. I love to race but chasing stock eliminator has gotten way out of hand. Just my 2cents.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Does anyone test and work on their cars any more or do you prefer to get on here and just complain that you must be a millionaire or cheating to have a fast car. Believe me when I tell you no one that I know has a lower budget than my brother. Yet he has always one of the fastest cars in whatever class he runs. Now if you want to say he must be cheating I prefer you tell us at the track and not on the keyboard. BP

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Looks like you can run 2/10's under, with a good, proven combination.
What's the problem? There are Mopar guys here that could get you two more tenths over the phone.
Of course you still won't survive too many heads up runs, but you knew that going in, didn't you?

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

All I can say is keyboard warriors never lose!!!

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The less knowledge that you have, the more expensive a fast racecar is...

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

I would prefer they adjust the AHFS rather than lower the index's. I understand you need to play the AHFS game but it would be nice to see it reflect the increase in ET's over the last 13 years. Just take a look at Indy's fast cars in each class back then and compare it to this year.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

I work on my car all the time and probably spent more than I should of to get the car back out. I never said anyone is cheating nor did I say you have to be a millionaire to race, it has just gotten a little out of control.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Or, is it just to keep the newer cars in stock? what ever the reason, NHRA pops its head up to make changes to the "entry level class" Makes no sense, 9in tires on 9 and 8 second stockers, who enjoys 150mph cars going by them at the top end? Said no one. Thanks

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I do !!!!!!!!!

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If they lower the indexes 2 tenths, it will STILL be the same cars that qualify at INDY.:)

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

My post was not intended for you just a general post. I've raced Chevy's most of my life for several different reasons. The main one has alway been parts availability and prices for them. I still think for reasonable money you can have a competitive Stocker. Look at all the 98 and 99 Camaro's and Firebirds that are out there for sale. Twenty five grand can buy you a really nice car. Yes Twenty Five grand. It is almost 2020 and twenty Five thousand unfortunately is not a lot of money. BP

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Yes Barry, it is and NO, I don't have a problem with you.. Ya know NHRA keeps harping about how they want to get "young blood" into this sport. How easy to come by do you think 25K is when you're a 20-30 year old with a college loan, a new bride and dreams of buying a house? Or a 30-40 year old with a mortgage and young children? Or a 40-50 year old with college age kids and still paying on that 20-30 year mortgage?
And NHRA and Racers alike can't figure out why the majority of Racers that have the time and money to go to 4-5-6 Divisional and 4-5 National events are 60-70 even 80 years old and retired?
Enjoy your 25K "cheap" Racecar now because we are going to fast become extinct and then you can turn your 25K "cheap" Racecar into yard art cause you won't be able to find anyone to sell it to.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Even if you get a deal on a reasonably fast race car, you have to have the time & money to maintain that level. This becomes harder if indexes keep getting lowered. All that does is steepen the learning and financial curve needed, which can get discouraging to start or even maintain a racing program. Slower cars can still be competitive in regular eliminations by (not easily) achieving the current "minimum performance standard" (index), but they have to accept the odds in possible heads-up runs.

There are several opportunities for "fast" cars - qualifying, class eliminations & regular random heads-up runs, without discouraging the slower cars. There has to be a balance for Sportsman racers because too much emphasis on having to be among the fastest brings it closer to a Pro-like atmosphere ($$$) and it's obvious that many can't maintain that level there even with sponsorship. Pro's barely have full fields. Luckily. Stock & SS still, usually, do.

IMO National events are detrimental to Sportsman racing because of the low quotas and high investment in grading points. While a local racer may still not be able to afford to enter a "local" national, the "Baby Gators" trend may be helpful by providing for a greater number of cars to run heads-up for class.

Sure, Stock & SS is "performance based". But even from the start when you could be competitive with a street legal car off the showroom, it was more creativity within the rules and driving skill, not necessarily money. They are, after all, "Sportsman" classes.

Can't help but wonder if this is even a possible a rumor or someone just doing their annual "pot stirring" to see who they can get fired up.

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

While I can see the logic in lowering the indexes I don't see anyway it won't lower car count at the divisional races.

I for one expect to be struggling next year to get an old SS/BS car to run the current index in the heat. Lower the index much and you will only see me at the local test and tune.

Bill Lamb
4340

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

NHRA should provide a way that those Stock
Racers who love the challenge of having the fastest Class car can do so with out getting penaltized. Dropping 2-3 tenths from indexes does not solve the core issue.

Steve Teeter. STK 6380/6283

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Nhra

Re: Index Change Rumor
 

Billy have you noticed most of the new young blood that have started racing Stock are in new 100,000 plus cars. Or they are second or third generation class racers. I don't know anyone under thirty whose remotely interested in getting involved in our type of racing. They would be nuts to. Why spend the money it cost to buy or build a car. Then buy tow equipment. Tow how many hours away and pay the entrance fee and now need a place to stay for several days. With no chance of getting your money back. There is nothing cheap about our type of racing. If your going to start drag racing why wouldn't you go to the local track with a car pay 1/3 the entrance only race for the one day and have a chance to win just as much. With almost no set of rules other than safety. It's just not the same car generation we had years ago. The only new blood NHRA seems to be interested in getting involve in class racing are with the new cars. They changed the rules that helped bring the cost to where it is. Then chased most of the sponsor's off that paid money. And if that wasn't enough now let only 50 cars in each class at national events. Unless of course your in a new car that you can race in Factory Stock. Our class is a pain in the #ss for them. Our type of racing has a shelf life that we can agree on. And at my age I don't really care about what my car is worth 5 to ten years from now. Not sure how long that is but as you said look at the ages of us guys racing. But even more important look at the ages of the guys and girls involved in it from the NHRA side Do you see many young people getting involved in that side of it. The money is about the same as it was when I started racing stock in the seventies. What does 25k equal to money in the seventies? BP