Pros to race to 1000'
 

NHRA has limited the fuel cars to 1000'.Wonder what they'll do about et and speed records?

Ed F.

Re: Pros to race to 1000'
 

I wonder what exactly it is they think they're going to solve. Yeah they might ultimately end up shutting off 20 mph sooner, but is there really that big of a difference between 300 and 320 mph? 300 is still a LOT of speed.

Also, whoever thought of that idea is a fool if they don't think that the guys that really want to win races and are in the hunt for the championship aren't going to try and run to the 1000' mark harder than they were before and end up just grenading the motor sooner. I know if this rule were to apply to Stk and SS as well that guys would already be on their creepers pulling the rear ends out and putting a lower ratio in. Racers will be racers.

Just my $.02

Re: Pros to race to 1000'
 

They are saying Top Fuel & Funny Car only.

Re: Pros to race to 1000'
 

320 more feet of shut down? I dunno. Enforcing a gear ratio rule would be an easy deal to do I would think. Jim

Re: Pros to race to 1000'
 

We'll see how many fuelers don't make it to the top of the hill at Denver next week end with 320 more feet of shutdown and 20 less mph.

Re: Pros to race to 1000'
 

Gear's would work to slow them down. How about NHRA looking at ALL shut down area's making the sand traps work instead of taking away from the NHRA fan's by telling them they can only race to 1000' I thought only stk/sstk guys knew how to shut off at a 1000'(lol)

I agree somthing has to give in our tracks and their safety.


Jeremy Waibel

Re: Pros to race to 1000'
 

To me it's like Al Gore's Global Warming Theory...or our 'supposed' oil crisis our government and speculator's have us in............this is in my opinion, a BIG over reaction. I understand the concern, but lets look at the length of proper shut down areas, gear ratios, blower's, etc...........why change mid-season?!?! Not to mention, now the tracks have the added cost of putting lights for ET and MPH at 1000' for 2 classes that will only run at the track once per/year?!?! This sport has some of the best technical and engineering minds in it...and the best solution they could come up with so far is race to 1000'???

Why not have an on board computer deploy the 'chutes in say 5.5sec. (or whatever) from the hit of the throttle, if the driver doesn't pull them manually? Larger dia. 'chutes? Use the Rev Limiter?

Not to mention, WHY start at Denver of all tracks. Fuel cars always run slow on the mountain...and the shut down is up hill........of course, they tend to blow up a lot there as well.

As a Class Racer and ticket holder for the Lucas Oil Nationals at BIR (another track with a LONG shut down), I'll be PO'ed if they only race to 1000' come that August event.

Re: Pros to race to 1000'
 

I'm thinking a series of nets that would cushion the impact, instead of one that is 'supposed' to stop a car on a dime. That might limit overall damage also??

I do, however, remember Don Gay Jr's raging inferno that nearly cost him his life years ago at the Mile-Highs. He did make it all the way up the hill.

Re: Pros to race to 1000'
 

just take the blowers off of em. same noise,same flames, same dog and pony show. just much safer.

Re: Pros to race to 1000'
 

It sounds as though the drivers are the one's that pushed this...maybe they see a big difference between 300 and 320. In the interview on espn 2 Jim Head indicated there was a huge difference in 20-30 mph? It also sounds like this just may be temporary until they can develope a better way to stop runaway cars. Hopefully that is the case and something good will come out of it...afterall NHRA was formed to give hot rodders a "safe" place to race.