Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich
I also drove in G/S. And I did redlight first, more than once. It was MY redlight, I did it, and I lost.
It's a rule that has been the way it is for decades, it hasn't hindered the growth of the sport. It's a minor annoyance, at the most. .
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You lost BECAUSE you had a chance to red light, and you did,
When did your opponent have HIS chance to red light??? Oh... he didn't.
Answer the question and you'll have the answer to what is unfair about this system.
The second car has the advantage of NO REDLIGHT JEOPARDY if the first car bulbs. Nobody can deny that, and as small an advantage as you seem to think it is, in the final analysis, it IS an advantage. Pretty much everyone seems to agree on that.
(It could easily happen in the final round for the Eliminator money, at Indy.)
Now, tell me the justification for that advantage. What is it about that unfair rule that appeals to you. I won't even suggest that it's because, as the sometimes pilot of a AA/SA car, it would benefit you a great majority of the time....
When the Christmas tree was in its infancy (1963-'64), there was no software to deal with a worse red light program, but thanks to progress in things digital, that is no longer true. It's fixable, now....
I'm sure that paying for the software to implement the change, wouldn't put much of a dent in NHRA's annual budget, which includes about a million dollars in salary for the top two honchos, but they'd probably choke on it, anway.
And, for that reason, alone, it will probably never happen.
On a couple of issues you raised, yes, I ran a class-legal Stocker, a 220 hp 283 Chevy 1957 sedan delivery for about 5 years (1966-1971), part of the time, with a partner (Div. V racer, Harry Sparks.) Harry still races in Stock Eliminator.
Here's a picture of the car in question. (see below.)
You seem upset that I don't CURRENTLY run a Stock-Super/Stock car.
In my defense, I would say this: This rule (the first red light rule) is universally enforced in both Class racing and in Bracket racing. My Bracket cars are subject to its B.S., just as if I were running Class-legal racing with them.
Ed doesn't seem to get that.
Does that give me the right to post on here (Class Racer) about my opinions regarding this antiquated anomaly????
The Moderator, Ken Miele, has created this BB for people who don't currently race. He has NEVER said, "Well, if you're not currently running a Class-Legal car, then your subject matter is limited to subjects that don't apply to those cars." For current racers, with a Permanent number, there's a separate BB.
So, there's only THIS to consider: The ethics of posting subject matter that is pertinent to what you DON'T race, and the ethics of doing so, as regards how it may have "unintended consequences."
This red light business is a fairness issue (obviously) and what is fair in Brackets as far as starting line protocol/rules is concerned, is fair for both Brackets and Class racing.
If you don't see it as an "ethics" issue, then you have no concept of fairness in racing, and it's not surprising that you are not disturbed by the lack of a level playing field that the "First red light" rule brings to the starting line.
IF it can be made more fair, with a reasonable amount of effort, I think there's no reason not to do it.
Who will be harmed by this change.? I can't think of a soul, except maybe the very top class car that will never leave first. Can you? Oh... I forgot; you're a sometimes AA/SA racer...
