National Records ?
 

I remember back when it seemed to me that it was sort of a badge of honor, to have lettering on your car, proclaiming that it was a nat record holder. And it looked especially cool if the car had held a nat record for several years in a row. :cool:

Since I'm a long time Pontiac guy, the 1st car that comes to mind is the '71 GTO raced by Mick Leiferman, back in the '70's. Not only was he RU @ Indy 3 years in a row, but the car was a nat record holder 5 years in a row.

I'm sure that whatever your favorite brand is, you can probably remember some of your favorite cars, from years gone by, that were nat record holders & had lettering proclaiming it, for all to see.

But, nowadays, some of the cars don't even have contingency decals, or sponsor names. With street tires & wheels, some cars would look like a street car, or a car show entry.

I recently looked up a list of current Stock nat record holders. It was VERY disappointing. For most of the classes, the record is "Minimum". And some have apparently been that way since as far back as 2010. The latest records I saw mentioned were set in 2018. Don't know how long since that list was updated. The last Pro record, on that site, was made in Nov of 2019.

https://www.nhra.com/stats/14-mile-r...ock-eliminator

Apparently, there are now more reasons to NOT set a record than there are to be a record holder. I suppose that with all the hp "hits" NHRA has waiting for quick cars, most wanna fly "under the radar" as much as possible, so that their combo will remain competitive, for as long as possible.

With the very soft minimums that NHRA lists, there are LOTS of cars in many of the classes that could set the record , at any time. I assume that the cons involved with setting a record, now exceed the pros.

For me, & anyone else here who don't fully understand the entire system, would some of you guys who know, & are willing to share, please explain this & add any comments/opinions you have about it.

Re: National Records ?
 

Back in the "good-old-days" there were incentives for setting and being a record holder. Today, not so much.
IMHO, the guy that wins Class at Indy is the "Record Holder".

Re: National Records ?
 

Setting a record should be everyone's goal in class racing. There is no prize, other than to prove your legal. For me it was many years of working toward that goal, and proving to myself and my peers that I passed teardown. It's unfortunate that NHRA does not post the record holders in ND like they did years ago, as that was another incentive for many.

https://www.nhra.com/stats/national_records

2020 National records were set by Jeff Teuton, Bill Dyer, and Kelly Lane in Stock.

2020 National records were set by JB Clegg in Super Stock

Congratulations to the 2020 national record holders!

Sean

Re: National Records ?
 

Add Dick Simon U/SA

Re: National Records ?
 

Thanks for the newer list ! Got the older list by Googling. Thought since it had the Pro records from late '19, it must be current.

Why are the old records reduced to minimums, so quickly ?

Re: National Records ?
 

Looks to me like if you set a record now you risk getting a hit on the engine. With the price of lead these days and getting horsepower I assume most that can are not interested. Don Jackson

Re: National Records ?
 

I was involved in a car that set a few national records in the late 70's early 80's. I still think records are worth attaining and I too was shocked to see so many at "minimum". I know if I ever get things worked out I'd go for a record, just something I've always wanted to do.

Re: National Records ?
 

Is there a set rule as to how long they will leave a record on the books, before they erase it & go back to a minimum ? :confused:

2 years ? 3 years ? OR ??? :confused:

Re: National Records ?
 

A few of the records in Stock were set in 2018, so let's see how much longer they stand.

Re: National Records ?
 

I believe a record is erased and set back to a minimum after 2 years.

Re: National Records ?
 

National Opens seem to be the best place to set records since runs at such events don't go into the AHFS data base.

Re: National Records ?
 

NHRA really needs to rethink about National Records for sportsmen racing. I bet I’m not the only one that feels there should be an incentive or inducement for setting an E.T. Or MPH record. Something like 20 points for an ET record and 10 points for establishing a new MPH record.

Re: National Records ?
 

So, as ridiculous as it sounds, if a guy wanted to, he could just keep setting a new record, just barely below the min, every time NHRA goes back to the min. That's assuming nobody else wanted to go thru the process, for that class.

Does this sound correct ? :confused:

The last Pontiac Stocker I was aware of that held a record was the '71 455HO powered Lemans of Scott Underhill. The record was 10.75, set 7/20/14. At that time, I don't know how many E/SA cars could have set it lower, if the owner had wanted to do it. Don't have a clue how long he held that record, or who had it next.

Re: National Records ?
 

OK so here’s the scenario, you are leading the national championship points by one round the guy behind you has to go five rounds to even get a point instead he decided to borrow Joe blows car that can easily set a record and does so. He just won the national championship when he was five rounds behind you. do you still think that’s a good idea?

Re: National Records ?
 

I would try to borrow Bob Shaw’s El Camino....

Re: National Records ?
 

Well both drivers had the opportunity to set records. There should be some incentive for performance.

Re: National Records ?
 

I agree there should be some incentive but the whole points thing could really rattle it up

Re: National Records ?
 

Used to be 200 points (2 rounds worth) And MPH records were 100. Resetting your own record was half the points.

Re: National Records ?
 

They should put the records back in National Dragster. Taking them out was a slap in the face to all class racers.

Rod Butcher

Re: National Records ?
 

Records are made to be broken, not to expire.

Re: National Records ?
 

I'm sure someone could develop an intelligent system and granting points for records without wreaking havoc on the standings. First year would absolutely rattle things up but could have long term benefits on class racing.

Example: Allow a racer the ability to set two records a year for points. Limit that one has to be set in the first half of the year and the other in the 2nd half of the year. Forcing racers to set records early in the year to maximize point totals eliminates people from waiting until the end of the year to see where they are in the standings. Benefit could be that record book fills back up and, in a couple of years, records become very difficult to set and become very meaningful again. Maybe it even gets manufacturers involved with wanting to be associated with racers that own the national record?

One could even get more creative and limit that record runs for points can only be done at divisional events where AHFS is in place. Whether right or wrong, the AHFS would be exercised more under this format, under-factored combinations brought back in line quicker, and tighter racing overall.

I don't know what the silver bullet answer looks like, but I suspect that it requires understanding the effects 2-3 years down the road and not getting too hung up on the here and the now.

Re: National Records ?
 

Eddie Rezac

Re: National Records ?
 

They would not have to put them in every issue.Just once a month or so would be fine.

Re: National Records ?
 

How about even giving bonus grade points.

Re: National Records ?
 

^^ this

ND has plenty of room to print a grainy full page black and white photo from 1959 but cannot reserve one page at least once every 3 months to list the current records ??

SMH....

Re: National Records ?
 

Has anyone ever contacted NHRA either via the editor or above that and asked why it was removed? What if any steps would it take to try to get it in ND again? People to call? Email? A petition?

Re: National Records ?
 

In early October 2018 I spoke with Kevin McKenna (a writer for ND and a member of this forum) about this very issue after we raced in the finals at Bowling Green.
I even asked if it was possible we could get just one page in Nat. Dragster every 3 months ?
While Keven is in no position of authority to approve it, I think Phil Burgess ( the Nat. Dragster editor ) needs to hear from the class racers.

Re: National Records ?
 

Maybe someone can initiate an email campaign, This would be the place to start it. Not sure if there is anywhere else better to reach out to class racers from all divisions to spread the word. At least until we get a NO answer lol

Re: National Records ?
 

Lets do it!

Re: National Records ?
 

Back several, several years ago Rich Oakes and I would get on the phone and jazz one another about who was going to set the SS/CX record and when.. Miss those days.. RIP Rich...

Re: National Records ?
 

I suspect one if not the main issue (last item) here is event available time, shortage of Tech inspectors and the biggy, money (added cost), but then I'm probably wrong.

Re: National Records ?
 

That’s how I met Paul Wong > we set record back forth several times. I see my USA record was last one set before the WuFlu, was good run first set record in 86 set reset 11 times since ... not sure I got one more in me (IF I could go fast enough) ! Was cool last time Osbourne Tools paid $$$(500) only time I ever got cash ... used to get points name in dragster for years. > Was once a revered badge on the side of a car ... now all it get you is cost of $150 gaskets & possibly HP penalty 😢😢😢