Super Classes Future

[Michael Pliska]

Originally Posted by Dave Steltz

Jeeezzz, I just noticed that I am posting like Jason....where is he ?

I'll fill in for Jason, since we're both engineers who raced S/G in the old days and think similarly

When I brought up the subject of eliminating throttle stop timers last year, people were calling for my head and the thread was locked down. I still think it would be in the best interest of the class to get the costs back down and the spectator appeal back up. In the late 80's and early 90's, many spectators stuck around to watch us even at national events. Somewhere I have some photos of me racing at Seattle and Sonoma, with packed grandstands.

From very limited sample size (I've only been to a few points meets in the last few years) it does appear that TS & TD are growning while SC/SG/SST are shrinking.

If I could afford it I would probably build a TS car, but I still do enjoy the pro tree, heads-up aspect of S/G.

Regards,

[Chris Williams]

Lowering the indexes might help repair the perception of throttle stop racing. If you took a second off the indexes (7.90 for S/C for example), the cars would be on the stop for much less time, and wouldn't probably have to drop down in RPM so far. They'd look much less "stupid" to the uninitiated.

[Michael Pliska]

Originally Posted by Chris Williams

Lowering the indexes might help repair the perception of throttle stop racing. If you took a second off the indexes (7.90 for S/C for example), the cars would be on the stop for much less time, and wouldn't probably have to drop down in RPM so far. They'd look much less "stupid" to the uninitiated.

Why not just institute a rule that says that throttle stops may not be timer-controlled, only by a switch on the shifter? When a stop comes on or off with the gear change, it's a lot less noticeable to the spectators. I suspect people will have their stop come on immediately on release of the trans brake button, and turn back off with the 1-2 shift.

[Dave Steltz]

You know, as much as I like the pro tree heads up aspect of the super classes, the only way that the spectators will ever "get it" is if we get rid of the stops...as long as there is an index and stops are allowed, there will be guys building 8 second cars to run 10.90 and 7 second cars to run 9.90....

If NHRA cared or wanted to care about making spectators happy, they would change the classes to make it so we dont leave at 6000 rpm only to die to nothing and slowly come back...

Non technical guys/gals/kids want to see burning rubber , loud cars and wheelies....

It would be very easy to make the super classes bracket type classes, like TD and TS...

Heck there are lots of cars that when they switch from SC and SG to TD and TS become wayyy cool...so why cant they run like that all the time...

Anyone who doesnt think that this is what "fans"want, go sit in the stands for a round of classes, sst thru TD and sit near some families and listen to the comments....

Its all good....we as racers just have to make up our minds to be happy with whatever we choose to race...