NHRA changes needed for next year-add on

[Dick Butler]

1) Stock needs to have A lighter by 1 lb/
2) Stock needs serious re consolidation of classes to decrease bye runs due to too few cars per class.
3) SS needs a lighter GT class . Start at 6 like SS .OR
4) Consolidate SS and GT classes to reduce classes( pre 80s cars run 50 lb lighter in classes)
5) Trucks and FWD in with regular classes.
6) consider Mod classes to Comp. They are not lb per HP.no tear down. Open rules fit Comp better.
7)..................................

[Chuck Beach]

Look at all the bye runs for class at BRAINERD .... 2 things wrong here:
1) NHRA only allowing 70 entries (which they didn't fill) all national events that have class for stock or super stock should allow a minimum of 150 entries.
2) nothing against BRAINERD, but why do you have class at a track that is so remote or far away from most racers ?? You can't have class run offs if you don't allow or have the car count ....

[Dick Butler]

Bye runs for class should be the exception not a high %. No ones fault just the way the structure has developed with time and spread of cars and classes. Many think racing someone is important to save. Condensing the racers in to fewer classes is "one "way to accomplish this. If some feel running Open events without "any 'heads up is okay then what is next? No more class at all?
Disclaimer: Opinion of hard core class supporter who started when winning class WAS the GOAL.

[KSA4300]

Some pretty good ideas, but I must dissagree with 2 of them. Consolidation in stock would be good in looking at it from the stand point of less buy runs, but what about the classes that already have 10 cars or so. A/B would have a ton F/G, H/I, these classes might have 20 cars per race, which is good if youre fast, got lots of money, or like gettin spanked before 3rd round every race! Youre goin to keep alot of people from havin any fun at even a divisional race!

And the same for superstock, as messed up as the horsepower system is, you cant combine gt/ss. The same motors have different ratings, in different cars, in the same class. Thats a can of worms that nobody wants to get in to!

But I do like the idea of a faster stock class, and faster gt class. You could have some really cool combos in a 6.0 GT class! And a AA/SA class would be neat, but looking at IHRA there really not that popular or much faster than most A/SA cars. But would be a faster, bigger wheelstand, new combo class!

Something I would like to see done, though no one else will agree, is a change in the hp system! Instead of punishing the whole combo/class, make it per driver/car. I know this could have a ton of catches, it might keep the little guy in the race while making for better heads-up racing!

[Harry 6674]

Hey Dick there was a time when you had to win class to run in the eliminations and shoe polish was for shoes. Hard work was rewarded, it's not all about the money in all classes. Damn I mentioned the shoe word again. It rates right with throttle stops a delay boxes with me but I am way outnumbered. Oh well.

[Dick Butler]

KSA Good points about the already Big classes. Could combining be based on numbers currently in class? I think the simpler it is the better.
My thought about HP is all motors get the highest HP rating currently used and everyone is the same.The Hp per body is a false way to rate it. Same motor =Same HP.
If you hook the hp to the driver it would be even worse can of worms in my opinion.
Someone suggested adding wt to winner for the rest of season if they were .1 or.2 faster than runner up?Interesting idea.

[Ray Menard]

No need to reduce classes in Stock & Super Stock. A lot of people have spent a bunch on their combination. The only time it becomes a problem is during Class Eliminations. Therefore, drop Class Eliminations and award the class win to the fastest car in each class during qualifications (no class eliminations). Then, drop the "Heads-Up" rule for same classes during event eliminations.

During event eliminations, assign cars on the ladder based on their qualification ET's. The vast majority of races would look like they're heads-up. Look at any final qualification list, match the cars based on qualification ET's (regardless of class) and WOW, you have a race! Fun for the racers and a more exciting race for spectators.

[Dick Butler]

KSA Good points about the already Big classes. Could combining be based on numbers currently in class? I think the simpler it is the better.
My thought about HP is all motors get the highest HP rating currently used and everyone is the same.The Hp per body is a false way to rate it. Same motor =Same HP.
If you hook the hp to the driver it would be even worse can of worms in my opinion.
Someone suggested adding wt to winner for the rest of season if they were .1 or.2 faster than runner up?Interesting idea.

[larry dowty]

DICK i think NHRA is the thinking in another direction more towards modified type cars no tear down at all, they dont have the time or resources to tear down except at a few races anymore,

[Just Observing]

Originally Posted by Dick Butler

1) Stock needs to have A lighter by 1 lb/
2) Stock needs serious re consolidation of classes to decrease bye runs due to too few cars per class.
3) SS needs a lighter GT class . Start at 6 like SS .OR
4) Consolidate SS and GT classes to reduce classes( pre 80s cars run 50 lb lighter in classes)
5) Trucks and FWD in with regular classes.
6) consider Mod classes to Comp. They are not lb per HP.no tear down. Open rules fit Comp better.
7)..................................

Point #1 Totally agree with

Point #2 Agree with. But only with FI being put back in with the carb cars.

Point#3 Disagree with. This would be a low car count class that is not needed. Just more class singles and another place for people to hide.

Point#4 TOTALLY DISAGREE. There is more than 50 lbs diffrence/disadvantage from a 66 chevy II to a Cobalt/cavalier/sunfire/G5. All this would do will make all the old muscle cars disappear( except for the beloved Hemi's). Talk about no fan appeal. 150 cavaliers and cobalts at INDY with 30 hemi cars. Plus all of the good/soft combo's are 70 and 80 smog motors. Not much appeal for the "show" their, DICK.

Point#5 agree and disagree. SS trucks and GT trucks should be mixed in with the cars with a 150 lbs weight break. Leave the FWD's alone

Point#6 Disagree. The modifeds should stay in SS but classes should be combined so their is not so much jumping around. They have enough advantages over the weight/hp cars as is.

Point#7 My suggestion if a Stock/SS class goes 5+ years without a participant in a NHRA event. It shoud be deleted. Anyone run SS/DX anymore?