Where are the lower class cars?

Mark Yacavone · 06-17-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

Mark - Class money is the same for every class - that being said if you had 5 in a lower class only one would benefit from the class money for expenses and entries - so they ( the other four ) would still not be able to afford being there .....Or is it that you would like to reopen the single class deal again ?

Jacko,
Yes it is , but if you can afford a quarter million operation, you don't worry about a little bit of class money.
The reason there were singles in class was not the racer's fault. There were just too many factors that kept people from building for the lower / slower classes.
What they did about was just a band aid for what they created.
That being said, if you can qualify no.1 , you should be able to win a combo class about anywhere.
You just don't necessarily need new slicks every month, twice the pistons, rods, rings, ceramic bottom lifters, etc.
Oh, and sorry I disparaged your Homies today and got your dander up!

Chuck Beach · 06-17-2011, 03:33 PM

It's a lot of things but the bottom line is if you can afford to build a 'new' factory car then you have the money to race it. And if you have spent the time and money to build one then you are going to race it. Most new cars fit in the upper classes and are fast. Hence top qualifiers.

Jack Matyas · 06-17-2011, 03:43 PM

Mark - My dander is fine ..........And as you know I raced lower class cars for almost thirty years so I fully understand but its not the NHRA's fault either that racers started liking fast ( as in speed ) cars .And you're right - a slow class car can easily win the combo deal along with the pewter Wally and whatever money .

One last thing - a racer can run a late model LT1 FI combo in A - B - C - D for a lot less than your quarter mill budget . Just ask Santangelo or Simmons who are competing this weekend at Bristol .

Billy Nees · 06-17-2011, 03:54 PM

Little cars don't like Bristol.

Dave Ribeiro · 06-17-2011, 05:00 PM

Billy ,

You are dead-on , heat & no - factor for hauling all that weight ..
Slower & Heavy cars don't like the Mountain ... Good luck to everyone.

Michael Beard · 06-17-2011, 07:01 PM

You ain't kiddin'... even with the turbo, Moller was more than .60 slower at Bristol than zMax. I was at Bristol for the K&N Spring Fling a few weeks ago, and was about .70 slow just in the 1000'!

In similar air (DA and correction factor), Farmington Dragway (which is around 1100-1200' physical altitude if I recall) was still .15 quicker than Bristol in the 1/8th mile alone. I made a jet change at Mooresville the following week and found .05 or so.... but not .50.

Mark Yacavone · 06-17-2011, 07:34 PM

Maybe I shoulda said "RWD turbo"
Going from Speedworld to Vegas, I could go the sames times with the 4 speed and about .10- .15 slower with the automatic. Neil Smedley's Firebird was the same way.
SW is just under the correction factor, as is Bristol . LV is at least 6-700 ' higher.
Maybe Bristol is uphill to the 1/8th . It sure looks it.

Bob Mulry · 06-19-2011, 07:12 PM

Billy,

You tell him................

Bob Mulry
J/SA K/SA L/SA

Owen S Quirion · 06-19-2011, 07:21 PM

Billy, Not everyone knows the thrill of making something slow go fast with work and inginuity. That's too old school for some.

Ed Fernandez · 06-19-2011, 07:23 PM

Me too.I usually agree with many of Alan's posts.I think he missed it this time.Just my opinion.
Like the Hawk says "It's not what you drive,it's how you drive it"
Alan,go stand in the corner for 20 minutes..

06-17-2011, 03:33 PM	#2
Chuck Beach Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 664 Likes: 12 Liked 58 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Where are the lower class cars? It's a lot of things but the bottom line is if you can afford to build a 'new' factory car then you have the money to race it. And if you have spent the time and money to build one then you are going to race it. Most new cars fit in the upper classes and are fast. Hence top qualifiers. __________________ Chuck Beach 3340 STK

06-17-2011, 03:43 PM	#3
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,931 Likes: 407 Liked 2,052 Times in 400 Posts	Re: Where are the lower class cars? Mark - My dander is fine ..........And as you know I raced lower class cars for almost thirty years so I fully understand but its not the NHRA's fault either that racers started liking fast ( as in speed ) cars .And you're right - a slow class car can easily win the combo deal along with the pewter Wally and whatever money . One last thing - a racer can run a late model LT1 FI combo in A - B - C - D for a lot less than your quarter mill budget . Just ask Santangelo or Simmons who are competing this weekend at Bristol . __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO

06-17-2011, 03:54 PM	#4
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,496 Likes: 3,600 Liked 7,770 Times in 1,741 Posts	Re: Where are the lower class cars? Little cars don't like Bristol. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

06-17-2011, 05:00 PM	#5
Dave Ribeiro VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsburg, Va.---USA Posts: 1,827 Likes: 1,612 Liked 56 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Where are the lower class cars? Billy , You are dead-on , heat & no - factor for hauling all that weight .. Slower & Heavy cars don't like the Mountain ... Good luck to everyone. __________________ Dave Ribeiro 1033 STK

06-17-2011, 07:01 PM	#6
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Where are the lower class cars? You ain't kiddin'... even with the turbo, Moller was more than .60 slower at Bristol than zMax. I was at Bristol for the K&N Spring Fling a few weeks ago, and was about .70 slow just in the 1000'! In similar air (DA and correction factor), Farmington Dragway (which is around 1100-1200' physical altitude if I recall) was still .15 quicker than Bristol in the 1/8th mile alone. I made a jet change at Mooresville the following week and found .05 or so.... but not .50. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

06-17-2011, 07:34 PM	#7
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,818 Likes: 2,909 Liked 5,126 Times in 1,954 Posts	Re: Where are the lower class cars? Maybe I shoulda said "RWD turbo" Going from Speedworld to Vegas, I could go the sames times with the 4 speed and about .10- .15 slower with the automatic. Neil Smedley's Firebird was the same way. SW is just under the correction factor, as is Bristol . LV is at least 6-700 ' higher. Maybe Bristol is uphill to the 1/8th . It sure looks it. __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

06-19-2011, 07:12 PM	#8
Bob Mulry VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Coarsegold, CA Posts: 1,016 Likes: 57 Liked 320 Times in 102 Posts	Re: Where are the lower class cars? Billy, You tell him................ Bob Mulry J/SA K/SA L/SA __________________ Bob Mulry 7516 STK A & M Motorsports

06-19-2011, 07:21 PM	#9
Owen S Quirion Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Captiol District of New York Posts: 71 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Where are the lower class cars? Billy, Not everyone knows the thrill of making something slow go fast with work and inginuity. That's too old school for some. __________________ BF/S 1985 Grand Am 3.0 V6

06-19-2011, 07:23 PM	#10
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Where are the lower class cars? Me too.I usually agree with many of Alan's posts.I think he missed it this time.Just my opinion. Like the Hawk says "It's not what you drive,it's how you drive it" Alan,go stand in the corner for 20 minutes.. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

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