Vote: Heads-UP in S/SS

[Lynn A McCarty]

Everyone has the software on their computers if they have Excel. You data entry all the runs into a statistical bell curve. First you would have to clean up the data so that it is all meaningful. It doesn't have to be perfect.

1.) Correct all runs to the same correction factor for Temp/Press/Humidity
2.) Throw out all triggers (since they are meaningless for the new data)
3.) Organize "like" engines. If there is an argument of the "likeness" then compare them separately to the group.
4.) Run a statistical curve for all of Super Stock and one for all of Stock
5.) Compare each group to the overall curve.

We have a saying for Continuous Improvement. Once you get the data into a reasonable form, you Plan-Do-Check-Act. Just because it wont be perfect is not a reason not to improve what you are doing. This is why they call it "tend analysis" We are looking for trends with a scientific basis, not perfection. A logical thinking human still must make the calls. This gives him a much better tool to make intelligent judgments.

John is correct Comp needs it just as bad or worse than us. Run a heads up class that if you run too fast you automatically get factored? What if they did that in funny car or Pro Stock? It is ridiculous.

Tony is right, it would be more difficult to start, but once written it would be so much easier on NHRA, Racers, and overall fairness. NHRA has an IT department that I am sure could implement mechanics of this easily. First we would must accumulate reasonable data. You guys all know comparing runs corrected only with actual altitude or runs at 1500 feet below sea level is unworkable. So lets stop doing silly things like that.