How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side

[Kegracing]

Some good answers and good questions here... I am glad. I was worried that Wade would just get a bunch of BS stuff...

I have raced for a long time now (no where as long as Dave Ribeiro! ), some years much more than others... Started out as N, living in Kansas. Not really anything with I on it close 20 years ago... Moved to North Carolina, and started racing I... and N... at the same time! I was more sportsman friendly. Biggest thing was the tech officials. While I knew some nice guys at N races, the IHRA crew just seemed thrilled to have you there. They tech'ed me just as safely, but were just a happy lot doing it for most part. Money was not really that much different 10-15 years ago. And as Beard said, you still have to win.

Now I have my car set up for I, with a crate motor. No fear of top 10 qualifier, unless there is less than 10 cars! It is under the index, and I can take my kids and go have fun. I have parts for a Pontiac motor, but not the time and MONEY to put it all together right now. Work way too much... have to remind myself that I am blessed to have a job sometimes... Car is built legal for both N and I, and may get the other motor together some day.

I am happy to be able to class race some. Guess what... I am going to try to bracket race a little this year too. With my class (yea, crate motor) car.

Couple of comments on the differences. Slicks... most everyone runs 9" radials. I have both. I do keep bias tires for bracket racing and run them on hot tracks. Cheaper and last longer. I have a set of MT 29.5x9 and a set of MT 28x10.5. Tread face, and section width of the tires are within 0.2" of each other on 8" rims... 9" tire is the widest! The 29.5 grows and rubs on my car in 1/4, so I keep the shorter tire on the car. MT does not have a 28x9 or I would use it... Go measure them next time you have a chance, or stop and measure mine at the track... That is really not an issue. Not a performance advantage anyway.

Classes are really not a big deal, other than for the handful of "fast" cars, looking for a heads up run. Even in N, with limited classes, you really do not see that many heads up runs. Case in point, when there are several, we get a post started on here telling everyone to watch! If it was that common, we would not make a big deal of it.

Bottom line, we need a place to race, and the tracks have to make a living. If we want to make it better, then we are going to have to just try to support them, and let them have a chance to get it better. I am disappointed with IHRA on the contigency side, and really would like to see them do a better job of it. But, I am not going to sit at home because of it. Hell, with all my used, 10 year old, 2nd hand parts, I am not going to get to claim squat anyway!

Hope to see some more of you at the races. Crandall will be my first points race this year, and I cant wait!

Ken Graham

Stk 412