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Chuck Norton · 08-29-2017, 11:41 AM

Ed, it would be highly presumptuous of me to make a response on behalf of a highly respected racer such as Sean Cour (or anyone else in the Cour family) but I can share the perspective of some other successful racers that I've known over the years. Most of their philosophies of Stock/Super Stock racing have roots that reach much farther back than the modern version of the AHFS but some of the reasoning is still applicable.

Val Hedworth and Paul Dilcher were masters at sitting on the last tenth or two of any car's potential for as long as it took (sometimes a season or more) to mislead an unwary competitor into a critical mistake at a critical point in eliminations. I recall a night in 1972 at a Stock/SuperStock combo at KilKare Raceway in Xenia, Ohio, when Val played that card in the final round against a legitimately legendary figure in the sport. "You came all the way from the west coast and I came all the way from the east coast, What do you say, let's just make this round a no break-out run?" We kept that time sip under glass for years!

Likewise, racing Cal Method in a head's-up pairing is like trying to draw to an inside straight flush. Anyone who thinks they've seen everything that Cal has brought to the show, is in for a shock when the scoreboard lights up.

These racers would NEVER compromise the basic tenet, "Don't drag your d--k in the dirt for the sake of boosting your ego." Qualifying position is great but the paycheck for that day's work is difficult to cash.

Those are only a handful of such racers that I have known. There are plenty more out there and some of them are probably pitted only a few feet away.

I agree to some degree with your statement that Indy is the "pinnacle of the sport" but I would add a single word. How about "WINNING Indy is the pinnacle of the sport" and if holding a tenth in qualifying could potentially provide an edge at some point in eliminations, wouldn't it be worth it? And, if you don't need that edge on that particular day, you still have it in your pocket.

Highest regards,

c

08-29-2017, 11:41 AM	#12
Chuck Norton Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Covina, CA Posts: 473 Likes: 104 Liked 81 Times in 18 Posts	Re: AHFS info for INDY Ed, it would be highly presumptuous of me to make a response on behalf of a highly respected racer such as Sean Cour (or anyone else in the Cour family) but I can share the perspective of some other successful racers that I've known over the years. Most of their philosophies of Stock/Super Stock racing have roots that reach much farther back than the modern version of the AHFS but some of the reasoning is still applicable. Val Hedworth and Paul Dilcher were masters at sitting on the last tenth or two of any car's potential for as long as it took (sometimes a season or more) to mislead an unwary competitor into a critical mistake at a critical point in eliminations. I recall a night in 1972 at a Stock/SuperStock combo at KilKare Raceway in Xenia, Ohio, when Val played that card in the final round against a legitimately legendary figure in the sport. "You came all the way from the west coast and I came all the way from the east coast, What do you say, let's just make this round a no break-out run?" We kept that time sip under glass for years! Likewise, racing Cal Method in a head's-up pairing is like trying to draw to an inside straight flush. Anyone who thinks they've seen everything that Cal has brought to the show, is in for a shock when the scoreboard lights up. These racers would NEVER compromise the basic tenet, "Don't drag your d--k in the dirt for the sake of boosting your ego." Qualifying position is great but the paycheck for that day's work is difficult to cash. Those are only a handful of such racers that I have known. There are plenty more out there and some of them are probably pitted only a few feet away. I agree to some degree with your statement that Indy is the "pinnacle of the sport" but I would add a single word. How about "WINNING Indy is the pinnacle of the sport" and if holding a tenth in qualifying could potentially provide an edge at some point in eliminations, wouldn't it be worth it? And, if you don't need that edge on that particular day, you still have it in your pocket. Highest regards, c __________________ Chuck Norton