Lets Root Cause the Detriment of Class Racing

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by dannyboy

Get a committee:

Are you running for Congress? Form a committee!
We've got ENOUGH committees!
What has our SRAC committee done for us?
We NEED somebody who knows combos and can read a (rule) book!

[Charlie Yannetti]

Once everyone understands, and accepts, the the SRAC is nothing more than a group looked upon by NHRA as an "Appeasing Committee", we can all be over it..

This was the supposed replacement of Len Imbrogno, the way I see it, and it failed.. some reps do take it seriously, but I find it to be nothing more than a clique of non-communicating members.. and actually the NHRA fall guys, or girls.. got a problem, they say??.. bring it to your SRAC rep.. Yup, that always works, RIGHT??

It's a shame that the Rule By Committee thing has settled into NHRA Tech, where fairness and common sense no longer exist, unless the committee likes you..

As I've always said about the Left Coast regime, kick 'em all out, and replace them with REAL RACERS.. many of the issues raised in this thread would be easily rectified..

JUST SAYIN'!!!!

[GTX JOHN]

Well, this is probably not the right post to respond
to this.

Last week when we had class in Bakersfield, we put iron
heads on both our Stockers. The only thing the aluminum
heads do for us is take some weight of the nose of the cars.
Even with the 30 pounds off the car the Aluminum heads (We have
the best ones money can buy) slow the car down about 5 to 7
hundreds. Plus, they are very fussy about temp. and consistency.

But the "X" iron heads we have are too valuable and scarce to
run all the time. We will probably never find another set good
enough to turn into competitive stocker heads. I have destroyed
most all my good "X" heads over the last 50 some years. I look constantly
for them and often travel to the big automotive swap meet nearly every month
down in California.

Fortunately, we have three finished sets of top-quality Aluminum heads
as they are no longer produced and getting harder to find as
well. However, we have some hope of finding more as they are only
some years out of production = Not 50+ years and even back then
only a two-year production deal.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

But the "X" iron heads we have are too valuable and scarce to run all the time. We will probably never find another set good
enough to turn into competitive stocker heads. I have destroyed
most all my good "X" heads over the last 50 some years.

Imagine how many sets of "good X heads" you would still have if there were some knowledgeable people in place doing tear downs and it was no longer a mandatory process to have to make stock heads into Stocker heads?
Do you think they would crack if they weren't ground so thin? ;-)

[GTX JOHN]

The heads I have destroyed have been from going down
the racetrack a lot of passes for nearly 60 years! Things do
break periodically on race cars despite the care they receive.

We run several similar stockers generally 15 times a year
not counting testing and have been since my boys could
drive (They are 33 and 40). It is not from any modification/grinding
or any other form of cheating that was done in preparation of them that broke them.

These heads we mostly find (when we ever do) are beat up from 50 years of driving in a car
on the road and have been rebuilt numerous times by not the best of shops.
With only 4 bolts around the cylinder, they tended to blow
head gaskets and overheat on the road. The heads tend to be very crack prone from
usage and the quality of the castings.

I do not know you Sir and you certainly do not know a DAMN thing about
my race cars! If you get out to Vegas = I would be happy to show
you the destroyed heads and broken pieces anytime you want to
inspect them.

My cars were torn down numerous times thirty years ago or more and were
NEVER found illegal or bounced for anything! Once we were torn down
3 races in a row back then due to "experts" complaining incessantly about our cars.
I guess the techs back then were not any good either!

[Billy Nees]

John, you've got to re-read my post. It took me a long time to figure out just how to word it so that I would NOT be accusing you of anything more or less than anyone else is doing. I've got a bit more respect for you than that.
Also, I put my "like" under your post before you edited it. If/when I get out to Vegas, I will definitely look you up!

[GTX JOHN]

Now this is simply a weekend hobby for us
and we are the furthest thing from experts.

That being said it is our experience on our Small
block Mopar heads = the port configuration (shape)
with its insuring effect on velocity are what actually make horsepower
Not bigger hogged out in size ports (Read thin walls) with impaired
velocity. That and paired with proper valve shape and seat configuration.

But as I stated above = I am not an expert like you are Sir and many others
on this forum and that I have great respect for and have learned a lot from.
I have never claimed either her or anywhere else. to know very much about this Hobby.
However, I do know intimately my nearly a dozen race car and exactly how they are built by us.

After the torment and repeated harassment, we received last week
(Most of which I never even elaborated on except the first of several incidents) =
I am seriously considering retiring from Stock/Superstock after the World finals.
This was after another similar threatening violent incident at Vegas Nationals.
I truly do not feel safe at the track anymore at my age and health. After discussions
with the official and numerous witnesses, I have come to the conclusion that unless
violence is threatened or undertaken toward their officials - they have zero interest in
hearing about it.

I can mail you the head right of my car after that race for your inspection and you can see
for yourself why we do not win class or heads up races very often anymore!

Again, with all due respect Sir: You do not know a DAMN thing about my race cars or
or anything about me none of which you have never even laid eyes upon.

[GTX JOHN]

Withdrawn

[Blackgar]

As long as competitors insist on new classes being formed to fit the combo that they are running stock & super stock are dead. everybody wants class money paid but manufacturers cant afford to pay 150+ classes. Can we run & win class if they were combined, not gonna happen with injected cars, but i would rather take my chances with combining classes back to the original 54 classes & still have a class to run. Wake up people, every sanctioning body that has tried to be everything to every body is history now