Consensus By Professional Engine Builders

[Larry Hill]

Look at live timing of the new cars in a heads up race. Notice the mph difference at the 1/8 mile. Nothing, not even positive thinking, will make up a three to four or more mph. Most of the new cars run 200 lbs or more heavy. Look at Jeggs vs. Fletcher at A/SA in St Louis or Chicago during final eliminations.

Its a physics problem. The laws of physics do not change.

[Chuck Rayburn]

Larry,
Let's do a simple physics example. If you take the weight of one of the faster A/SA cars and divide it into its known flywheel horsepower, you get a weight to flywheel horsepower ratio. In order to level the playing field, this ratio should be applied to the new/unknown combo. For example, if the fastest 426 Max wedge goes across the scales at 3500lbs. and makes 630 hp at the flywheel, you get a ratio of 5.55. If you want to get a ball park "level playing field" weight of the new car combo, you multiply the known ratio by the known flywheel horsepower and you get the "level playing field" weight. If the new car makes (this is a conservative estimate) 750hp, the "level playing field" weight comes out to 4160 lbs. It appears that the new cars in A/SA are a bit light in the weight department.
I have to ask, do you think these guys are going to be able to control the mix of ego and adrenaline when they get to the track? If I owned one of these new "smart cars", I'd be lobbying NHRA for a FX type category...by the time their egos get done with them, those cars will be 4000 lbs. by this time next year. Like you said, the laws of physics don't change.