Readjustment letter to NHRA

[Ron Ortiz]

Dear NHRA and the individuals who make adjustments and horsepower determinations.

It appears to me that somehow you have been influenced by either corporations, friends, organizations, or people who can benefit your well being in unconventional ways. I would really appreciate it if you would return to the original concept of level playing fields. I believe it would be alot more fun and competitive to allow Stock Eliminator players to let their vehicles perform the way they should be, all out. Since there has been quite a few complaints and disagreements concerning proper factors and ratings, the soloutions that you have provided us appear inadequate. Realizing that there is some bias amongst competitors seeking an edge, there still is a sense of fairness amongst them. Each one wants the sports to thrive and progress, and each one will accept fair rulings.

In the interest of the sport, and its future, the following suggestions are being presented to you, by me, an average competitor with a limited budget, who has been the fastest and one of the slowest in his respected class during the past 20 years, a technical official, a vendor, and a spectator.

1) Utilize the data from all runs from the starting line to the finish line to determine overall performance of vehicles while calculating external factors ie weather, wind, altitude etc.

2) Recognize sand bagging from the calculations and factor in the corrected ET.

3) Eliminate the trigger.

4) Calculate the data from above and readjust the horsepower rating system totally.

5) Let tech perform their duties.

Thank you for your time and the opportunity to offer a possible soloution.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA #2102

[Bob Pagano]

While your letter is to the point I dont think they will get it. We all know the HP factors are a joke so you need to get a majority of the racers to sign on. One letter will not make a dent in their minds. We as a group must announce our dissatisfaction with the horsepower ratings and how the bogus ratings came about. Its not about the index, its the hp ratings. Well 2 cents aint worth much but somehow we as a group must get the point across.

[Jeff Lee]

Ron,

You might want to soften up your opening statement to the addressee that run's a large corporation....

"It appears to me that somehow you have been influenced by either corporations, friends, organizations, or people who can benefit your well being in unconventional ways".

Your first sentence has the reader of your letter saying "F-You" and then it hits the trash can!

[SS Engine Guy]

Jeff, I appreciate what you are saying and you are probably right, however, I think it was a well written letter that addressed valid points and concerns of a member of an "association".

Well put Ron! Not telling the truth is part of why this economy is in the shape it is right now. Sometimes the best way is to call it like you see it.

[Jim Wahl]

Good job Ron! I would sign it. Jim

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by SS Engine Guy

Jeff, I appreciate what you are saying and you are probably right, however, I think it was a well written letter that addressed valid points and concerns of a member of an "association".

Well put Ron! Not telling the truth is part of why this economy is in the shape it is right now. Sometimes the best way is to call it like you see it.

I've never been accused of being subtle but there is a way to approach things to get things done, not just piss a guy off. It may be "well said" for some but it will not affect any of the changes the author and many others may want.

[SS Engine Guy]

If an observation by a member of an "association" pi$$es someone off enough that he disgards the letter then that person does not belong in a position to even be reading the letter. Unprofessional to say the least but that is the way this whole deal has been handled.

[Mark Yacavone]

[QUOTE=Jeff Lee;

Your first sentence has the reader of your letter saying "F-You" and then it hits the trash can![/QUOTE]

It's already there. They had someone come in from vacation, just to toss it .
They wouldn't want you to expect them to work for their salaries next year.

[Bobby Fazio]

I don't really see any other way you can write the letter. A point needs to be made. I would sign it.

[Natebrod]

I understand that NHRA has to start somewhere with their hp ratings but it seems to hit the brand new cars pretty hard right off the bat when they use the manufacture's hp rating from the get go. Not enough new cars are racing to appeal to the youth of the sport. Since my family races Super Stock we can put it in a GT class with a combination that can be competitive but I really think that it would be beneficial to be able to use an engine that comes in the car from the factory to appeal to the younger racers that want to get into the sport.

Those were some long sentences.

I guess what I'm getting at is that the NHRA needs to do some more research into the newer combos that maufactures are putting out to make them more competive right away instead of making a few guys suffer for a coulpe 5 years to correct the hp factor to make them competive.

I'm new to paying attention to hp factors but from what I have seen it seems to be a system that benifits people that can build a car every 2 years to dodge getting hit with too much hp.

Nate