Quote:
Originally Posted by Run to Rund
In part due to popularity, Chevy HP factors are competitive. Now, take the 400 Olds that Sam Murray held the D/S record with, back in 2006. He had to use all the tricks that others are now using to get competitive, and hasn't been since. . .his friend Jerry MacNeish holds it with a Z28 Camaro. After Sam, Curtis Coulter held D/S with his big and heavy 69 Mercury, closer in HP factor to being competitive today, but probably still not close enough. Moral of the story is that if you run an "oddball" or less popular combination, there won't be the data or the incentive for NHRA to help you out. The natural result is that "everyone" will run a "popular" combination so their investment will have a chance of paying off with wins.
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Actually, popularity does as much or more to hurt a combination. These cars, the first generation Camaros, can be a good example. Look at what "popularity" has done to the 396/375 combinations, most of them have been hit pretty hard. The 350/255 has been hit pretty hard as well. I'm not saying those combinations are ruined, I am saying there are other combinations that are in the same classes, that have lower numbers, that are stronger, but are less likely to get hit, because they are being protected more by having fewer people running them.
If you have a rare combination, at least you can exert some control over your "destiny". You don't have to worry about 40 other cars any number of which can go out and either get you instant HP, or get you an adjustment. If you have one of a kind, or one of a very few, there's a lot less chance of it getting bombed, and you can always keep providing data of your own and writing letters asking for a break.