NHRA Fastest 128 cars

[Jack Matyas]

Kenny - Santa has always known who has been naughty .............By the way -- build a GT500 --next time you speak with Evan ask him about my Ford background .

Alan-- You're right on the money ! ! ! the faster car is way more deserving .

Jim -- $100 for the class trophy -- you've eaten way too many Gator burgers .Better lay off that stuff.

[Jim Wahl]

Ok, but I was told by NHRA many years ago when I tried to get an additional trophy for a sponsor that NHRA paid right at $100 each for the Wally. Are you guys saying NHRA lied to me?

I don't eat gator burgers, I eat gator tail! Jim

[Terry Cain]

Let me get this straight,
2 cars in the class.

during qualifying
Car A has run a best of 1.0 under
Car B has run a best of .75 under

For class, Car A red-lights. Car B wins class and will probably not make the field (bump is usually .9+ under.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by TCain

Let me get this straight,
2 cars in the class.

during qualifying
Car A has run a best of 1.0 under
Car B has run a best of .75 under

For class, Car A red-lights. Car B wins class and will probably not make the field (bump is usually .9+ under.

On the flip side, and with all due respect Terry, under the previous system, let me get THIS straight:

Car A competes for the class win against 4-5 other cars, runs 12.50 or quicker, and runs more than .85 under, does NOT win class, however, does qualify as one of the 128 quickest cars.

Car B singles for class, runs 15.0 or slower, and barely runs 0.51 under the index, and does NOT qualify as one of the 128 quickest cars, but in fact is 168th out of 180 cars.

Car A is sent home with a DNQ, Car B bumps into the field as a "class winner".

We went to Indy last year, and I hung my head in shame as we posted a DNQ with a weak engine. But there were cars that were over 2 tenths slower than us who got in, and guys in our class who were faster and got sent home. We didn't get in on time, I can accept that, and I bear the responsibility for that. But the guys who got in on time and then got bumped by cars 3 tenths slower got cheated I think.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

On the flip side, and with all due respect Terry, under the previous system, let me get THIS straight:

Car A competes for the class win against 4-5 other cars, runs 12.50 or quicker, and runs more than .85 under, does NOT win class, however, does qualify as one of the 128 quickest cars.

Car B singles for class, runs 15.0 or slower, and barely runs 0.51 under the index, and does NOT qualify as one of the 128 quickest cars, but in fact is 168th out of 180 cars.

Car A is sent home with a DNQ, Car B bumps into the field as a "class winner".

We went to Indy last year, and I hung my head in shame as we posted a DNQ with a weak engine. But there were cars that were over 2 tenths slower than us who got in, and guys in our class who were faster and got sent home. We didn't get in on time, I can accept that, and I bear the responsibility for that. But the guys who got in on time and then got bumped by cars 3 tenths slower got cheated I think.

Whenever this argument comes up it some people like to use the slwer indexed cars as an example of the unfairness of the system.Us poor unwashed throgolites either cant afford or are unwilling to spend our retirement money to get in a pissing contest with some (not all) of the upper indexed cars.So we build the slower cars because they are maybe 1)cheaper to build and maintain 2)are less class populated 3)and fun to drive,especially when putting out some of the toterhome,stacker,filet mignon crew.Not all are but there is an element of them with more money than common sense.
I personally could care less about what NHRA does in this situation because I'll probably never attend Indy,but I think class winners shold get first preference.


Ed F,
Possibly 1.00 under in good weather
with a 30 mph tail wind.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

Whenever this argument comes up it some people like to use the slwer indexed cars as an example of the unfairness of the system.Us poor unwashed throgolites either cant afford or are unwilling to spend our retirement money to get in a pissing contest with some (not all) of the upper indexed cars.So we build the slower cars because they are maybe 1)cheaper to build and maintain 2)are less class populated 3)and fun to drive,especially when putting out some of the toterhome,stacker,filet mignon crew.Not all are but there is an element of them with more money than common sense.
I personally could care less about what NHRA does in this situation because I'll probably never attend Indy,but I think class winners shold get first preference.


Ed F,
Possibly 1.00 under in good weather
with a 30 mph tail wind.

No Ed, actually the point I was making was there are very slow cars that are almost able to run 0.5 under the index as you buy them off the used car lot for $3500, and people buy them because they can race them and NEVER have to face a heads up race.

[Greg Hill]

Look at the entry list for stock at Indy this year. May not be a problem in stock, however super stock is a different thing.

Greg

[Alan Roehrich]

I'll say this, and I'm done with this thread.

I seriously doubt Wally Parks, or any founding member, EVER intended that cars that could barely run a 1/2 second under the index be able to avoid actually racing for a class win or qualifying and have a free ticket to single into the U.S. Nationals, or any other event. I just cannot look back into history and see any evidence there was an intent to allow anyone to actually be able to avoid actually qualifying or racing.

It seems to me that people are assuming that because Stock has so many classes that NHRA intended to have enough classes to allow people to not have to race other people for a class win. I don't think so. They have enough classes to allow a large variety of cars. Not to allow people to avoid competition.

Do I think a class win at Indy should be special? Yes, I certainly do. You should get a BIG Wally, a decent amount of prize money, and at least your name, if not your name AND picture in the Dragster. But I do not think you should get a free pass through qualifying if you single for class and do not even come CLOSE to qualifying on time, and 3 tenths is NOT close. And you certainly should NOT bump out a car that is 3 tenths faster than you. MAYBE they should allow you in, but not at the expense of a car that actually ran fast enough to qualify.

This is ANOTHER reason to lower the index 2 tenths. Then leave the trigger for a single for a class win at 5 tenths under.

It's called RACING, you have to QUALIFY, and to WIN, you have to RACE. I'm thinking they changed the rules because people started taking advantage of the rules, and gaming the system. And I'm glad they did. I'd sure as Hell NOT be proud of making the field at Indy by AVOIDING having to race another car and barely running a 1/2 second under. It's one thing to build a car for a class where there are not a LOT of other cars in the class, it's another to build a car for a class where the odds are you won't ever see another car in your class.

It's a SAD day for the sport when people WANT to build class cars and NOT have to race. It's even sadder when they are rewarded for it, especially at the expense of people who actually race other people. It'll be a shame when class racing becomes like the children's sports where people feel it's bad to keep score and have winners and losers.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

No Ed, actually the point I was making was there are very slow cars that are almost able to run 0.5 under the index as you buy them off the used car lot for $3500, and people buy them because they can race them and NEVER have to face a heads up race.

If getting into Indy is that important you you then build one of these stealth combos like someone we all know who has a history of finding these obscure cars and builds them then snatches up #1 qualifying money.Or do what the $$ guys do and sink a small fortune into you're current combo just to get your
$190 class win Wally.You were the biggest instigator for the AA/SA class and your signature shows G/S as your class.How come?
My budget allowed me to build what I race at a comfort level I can live with.I'd love to have a S/C Rambler
or 390 AMX but i built what I could afford.

Ed F.