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bill dedman · 03-27-2009, 03:33 AM

I don't know whose idea it was to muddy the water by assigning a dffierent horsepower rating to an engine, depending on what chassis it's in, but that ranks right up there with... with... well, I am at a total loss for words to compare this idea with anything else, because I've never seen anything so ill-advised in my 54 years of scrutinizing NHRA rules.

Sure, a given SBC in a Corvette, which presents less frontal area, more efficient aerodynamics, and has better weight distribution because of engine setback, may perform better than that same engine in a Chevelle hardtop, but the fact is, the combinations are endless, and trying to level the playing field between the myriad combinations using this method is a task that would never be finished, and in the meantime creates more problems than it solves.

The smartest thing they could do is dump this piece of genius and simplify, as best they can, a very difficult task, to the extent that they can. Car classification is hard enough when it's accomplished in the most basic way possible. Adding a totally impertinent set of parameters to an already complicated process is just an unnecessary complication that in the scheme of things, doesn't actually improve the classification procedure in any way, shape, or form.

All it does is increase the complexity of an already complicated situation.

The guy who thought this would work, and got NHRA to use it, deserves the DARWIN AWARD for all time, along with the ones who "bought it."

Just my 2-cents...

Bill (a not-very-complex guy)

03-27-2009, 03:33 AM	#76
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Bob Shaw is a bad man I don't know whose idea it was to muddy the water by assigning a dffierent horsepower rating to an engine, depending on what chassis it's in, but that ranks right up there with... with... well, I am at a total loss for words to compare this idea with anything else, because I've never seen anything so ill-advised in my 54 years of scrutinizing NHRA rules. Sure, a given SBC in a Corvette, which presents less frontal area, more efficient aerodynamics, and has better weight distribution because of engine setback, may perform better than that same engine in a Chevelle hardtop, but the fact is, the combinations are endless, and trying to level the playing field between the myriad combinations using this method is a task that would never be finished, and in the meantime creates more problems than it solves. The smartest thing they could do is dump this piece of genius and simplify, as best they can, a very difficult task, to the extent that they can. Car classification is hard enough when it's accomplished in the most basic way possible. Adding a totally impertinent set of parameters to an already complicated process is just an unnecessary complication that in the scheme of things, doesn't actually improve the classification procedure in any way, shape, or form. All it does is increase the complexity of an already complicated situation. The guy who thought this would work, and got NHRA to use it, deserves the DARWIN AWARD for all time, along with the ones who "bought it." Just my 2-cents... Bill (a not-very-complex guy) __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 03-27-2009 at 03:37 AM.