Hope I do not regret this post and I hope it is taken as just an honest question.

[Andys dad]

Is it un-sportsman like to take advantage of a situation, which is clearly wrong but within the rules? If it hurts your fellow competitors is it OK? Should you still feel the joy of accomplishment when you have been given an unfair advantage? Is there any moral obligation on your part to have the advantage corrected?

[John Kelley]

Originally Posted by Andys dad

which is clearly wrong but within the rules?

Could you explain this ???

[Andys dad]

Suppose NHRA took 100 horsepower off of the '69 427 Camaro by mistake.

Would all of the guys with that combination feel satisfied?

Would the blown Ford guys or the Drag Pak guys complain?

Or

Should the Camaro guys ask NHRA to make it correct?

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Andys dad

Suppose NHRA took 100 horsepower off of the '69 427 Camaro by mistake.

Would all of the guys with that combination feel satisfied?

Would the blown Ford guys or the Drag Pak guys complain?

Or

Should the Camaro guys ask NHRA to make it correct?

If I understand this explanation you're asking me as a competitor to go and complain to the NHRA that they took too much HP off the camaro......and the answer is "yes". Actually I would ask them if it was a misprint then lay out reasons why the HP should be added back to the 427.

If you're trying to compare this situation to the new Fords and Dodges then you're comparing apples to oranges. The 427 Camaro is a well known entity while the "new" cars are just that....new, therefore there are no proven performance statistics to measure the the new cars against.

Just like the Chevy/Pontiac FI cars the HP will catch up to the Fords and Dodges someday, it's just going to be rough for a while.

JimR

[NewHemi]

having now read the explanation of the question, and some of the other answers, my response is to a far more rhetorical question.

I will leave it below, but respond briefly directly to the question.

I think you would have mixed responses from the Chevy guys, and righteous complaints from the Ford and Mopar guys.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What ever makes you believe this to be wrong, should prohibit you from moving forward on it. Then, if you don't move forward with it, there is no question about whether or not to feel a sense of accomplishment..

I am one who loves any advantage as long as I deem it a fair advantage.

If I am willing to take a risk, and do something that others have either not thought of doing, or were unwilling to take the same risk to do, then it is fair advantage.

There is a gray area in lots of decisions, right up until you decide if it is right or wrong. Then you have painted it in one of two brilliant shades of either Black or White..

Once you have applied a moral rule to a situation, then it is up to you to also apply the moral weight of that rule.

Wrong is wrong, even of everyone is doing it, and right is right, even if nobody is doing it.

Some people will do anything to gain an advantage, and that is their right. To me, doing the "right thing" trumps all other choices..

David
The New hemi Guy
________
Big **** mature

[DK FRAZIER]

Well said David !!!

[Andys dad]

I think it has to do with the integrity of our sport and the morality of the racers.

I do not think I could feel good about being that much faster than my competition, without having to invest a lot of my time and effort to do it.

But I guess it is a sign of the times.

In this tough economy there is still plenty of money to be spent by those that are lucky enough to have it. I unfortunately, do not have it at this stage of my life.

If only I had saved all of the money I spent on my current car - I could probably afford one of the new ones.

I just do not think I would enjoy it as much.

I am not jealous - just sad.

[Chris "drooze" Wertman]

Hmmmm.....

There are "honest" reasons to have a New Car however.

The DP #24 was not bought in anyway with an unfair advantage in mind, my Father wanted one, he wants a lot of things and has them, it was something that held interest to him.

Its something he saw intrinsic value in. Not only now but in the future as a collectible item, and something he wanted us to be a part of like the original AFX Cars.

We were not Class racers to start, the whole thing is still a little alien to us as competitors as is many types of "bracket" or dial racing. We preffer something a little different , but such is the state of Racing and there are few if any heads up classes that are "reasonable" to run in that dont run in that format.

I can tell you this, my father would have bought the car regardless if it, a) was rendered "illegal" or disqualified, b)was factored like a beast and not really even competitive becuase of that c)Wasnt even really THAT fast d) on an on, he STILL would have bought it. Thats him youd have to know him when he gets his teeth or head in something, forget it its gonna happen.

NOW that being said, he bought it, what next ? Build it, we did, Next ? Well its a damm racecar ! We didnt make the rule, the factor, none of it, and we didnt put it where it was. AND We for example STILL would have done it no matter what that was, the fact that it got factored low was never a consideration for its purchase or competition.

Its a Drag Pak, a once in a LIFETIME opportunity to be part of that. Thats all.

Will we take pride in beating another car ? Hell at this point well have pride in just getting it down the track competitivley But once it gets "wrung out" well it STOCK ELIMINATOR ! IF, IF win say an event, it wont be because our car is fast it will be because, a)we know our car b)back it up with the proper driving and RT c)have worked JUST as hard as anyone else doing it.

IF by somehow some chance ONLY win an eliminator because we are up against a much slower car in the same class in a heads up run, if our RT is better then yes it will be a full victory from our (or my) viewpoint, but IF ONLY IF Its ONLY because the combo is underrated, well then yes it will have some hollowness to the victory.

I dont think you can say anything about the "morality" or "integrity" of someone driving a DP or CJ because they are, that seems COMPLETLEY Absurd to me, you would have to know THEIR reasons for doing it.

We invested a LOT of money, and a LOT of blood sweat dissapointments and well a LOT, more in 3 months than MANY do in a Year , 16hr days 7days a week 7000 miles thus far and not 1 National we have yet hoped for because of failures on items.

But maybe I completley misunderstood what you were saying, completley....if so and thats not it, I guess Im not 100% clear on a)what you were asking or b)what you are now saying.

B

Originally Posted by Andys dad

I think it has to do with the integrity of our sport and the morality of the racers.

I do not think I could feel good about being that much faster than my competition, without having to invest a lot of my time and effort to do it.

But I guess it is a sign of the times.

In this tough economy there is still plenty of money to be spent by those that are lucky enough to have it. I unfortunately, do not have it at this stage of my life.

If only I had saved all of the money I spent on my current car - I could probably afford one of the new ones.

I just do not think I would enjoy it as much.

I am not jealous - just sad.

[Andys dad]

At the risk of being attacked here -

Drooze -

"BUT you were talking about something to hurt other competitors ? How ? Is it something that you are doing they cant ? If they can too then how is it hurting them ?"

You answered the number one question – it is OK with you

“How?” Come on - you are a smart guy - you know how

“If they can too then how is it hurting them ?” I guess the key words here are "they can too"

I think the phrase here that applies is "if you can't take the heat - get out of the kitchen" or maybe a better one is "put up or shut up"

[Dick Butler]

It has ALWAYS been this way in NHRA class racing. To many the challenge is "finding" this advantage then using it to be a winner. That is their thing. I can see them showing NHRA how far off it is. It is also easier for some than actually out working skilled racers.
I have always felt when these situations occur MANY are upset by its unfairness and a group who can afford to jump on it smile while they us the advantage. The group gets bigger and then NHRA "finds"this issue and slowly corrects it. Then the group with the cars gets upset that their advantage has been taken and just moves on again. Result is NHRA keeps the majjority of people upset about something all the time...
Other side. If they Over factored ,No ONe would desert their older cars, No new blood in the eliminations, no factory hand shakes.No special " advantages for the few.