Where are the lower class cars?

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

Richard - Lets try this one item at a time
1) - There are just not enough cars to run class at every national event
2)The .3 reduction was for everyone- not just the lower class cars .
3)Again the factors are for everyone
4)So you want more money with lesser entry fees - how will that work ?
5)You want it both ways - on one hand you say you can't run fast without the factors and on the other you want to run fast without penalty .
6)Fewer tracks and gas prices affect everyone .

And yes , the NHRA ( and any other sanctioning body ) must make wise decisions but they must be good for everyone including them .

Somehow even with writing this there are those who have their own agenda and I feel like I'm pissing in the wind ............pretty strong words even from me !

Ok Jack, I'll give you a different spin on your six responses to Richard:

1. True there aren't enough cars to run class at every national event, but since NHRA has chosen to increase our national event entry fees, membership and competition number fees, and allowed the manufactures to place more restrictions on how contingencies are earned, I'm not suprised as to why...over and beyond there still having some divisions that are geographically too large in America to make it more palatable for many racers budgets and time (starting with mine).

2. Those who can afford faster class cars probably have extra money to spend on the parts/work they can do to make their already faster cars more so, much easier than a slower roller likely can, so although the index change affected us all, faster class racers can more easily deal with it.

3. I'll agree with that one, but again see above.

4. I'm not sure how you get more money with less entry fee costs? Based on what I have to pay now for a national event entry, as opposed to the contingencies available for me to claim, I'm paying more for less...circa 1999 when I paid less than $200 bucks to race in a national event, and was able to enjoy winning $500 in class contingency money. Today's entry fees for national events are nearly double what they were then, and the best I can do in class is $50. What's fair about that?

5. I want the factors back the way they were, and my car isn't nearly quick enough to be concerned about any penalties. Since that won't likely happen, I'll be greatful again for a growing IHRA presence out west.

6. I'll agree with you on the first part of your statement, but again refer to my response #2 for the second part. Since most racers have more in their engines (money wise) than I do in my whole car, if I could afford to campaign a car like yours, I would still be racing (even inspite of the higher gas prices, that although are still high, are better than they were 1-4 months ago).

I wish you well too with your car, and I'm glad you're able to continue racing it. Since my budget isn't as good as yours is (thanks in a large part, to the lack of caring about MADE IN THE USA, by many around us), I do the best I can with what I have. This year so far has been much better for me with regards to the level of racing I could do, and thanks to IHRA's apparent greater caring for us class racers, now I can enjoy major league racing levels, without having to spend major league (enhanced) dollars....