Factory experimental

[George Wright]

[bill dedman]

It looks to me like the ONLY problem with this whole MESS is: "Are these engines correctly "factored" by NHRA?", so that there's not another debacle that takes YEARS for the AHFS to resolve, like it did with the LS-1's.

That was an inexcusable, totally preventable, (and deliberate, I think), faux pas on NHRA's part, and could (and probably will) happen again with these Cobra Jets. It's the one thing that NHRA can "do" for these manufacturers when they (NHRA) want to give them a pat on the back. Unfortunately, it invariably comes at great expense to the rank-and-file....

Having said that, and with that scenario fresh in mind, I don't understand why anyone would think it necessary to create a new class ("F/X") for these cars when they will fit so very well in existing Super Stock classes.

That's what they did in '68 with the then-new Cobra Jets, when they won there... Only the 'cammers were put into F/X (oh, and Bil Hoeffer's Weber-carbed 289.)

I think that the only real problem that these cars are going to create will come about if they're severely under-factored, (DUH....) but of course, that would also be a problem if they were put into Super Stock, too. But, the type of performances that Bruce has alleged they can produce wouldn't be so overtly out-of-line in Super Stock, as they are almost guaranteed to be in Stock.

If they are correctly "factored" (and I have my doubts), then they should be fine in Stock; if not, make them Super Stockers; there are lots of cars in that Eliminator that will not be intimidated by the blowers and 4-valve technology they possess. They are, in fact, small motors, after all... just GOOD ones!

The problem is, of course, getting it right the first time... you don't want to have to move a car out of one Eliminator, into another, after it's originally been classified. That would be unprecented, and undoubtedly wouldn't happen. The Cobra Jets (and their competitiors) are going to have to live with wherever they are put, initially, it would seem. Get it right, NHRA!

I'm delighted to see both them and the Dodges in the fray. I think it's a wonderful opportunity to give Sportsman racing some badly needed media exposure; I just hope it doesn't come at the expense of long-established racers' programs that have been many years and many dollars in the making.

We'll know a lot more in about two week....

Thanks for listening.

[junior barns]

and still went 10.20"s

Unless I got lucky; I was just kidding!!

[Bruce Noland]

Bill,
You're right. The Horsepower rating is the real problem. I think Evan agrees the Horsepower is soft.

[Ed Wright]

If NHRA or IHRA wanted to, they could take one to a chassis dyno and see what they make at the tires. The LT1 and LS1 cars made more at the rear tires than the factory flywheel ratings. Should be off about 15% with a stick car. My everyday driver is an untouched '98 WS6 (ram air) LS1 automatic Trans Am convert. It makes 326 at the tires. A decent stick version makes closer to 340. What are they finally factored at now?? Even if they started off with the rwhp numbers, it would surely be closer than what Ford (or any mfgr) rates them.

Won't make everybody happy, but would be closer than advertised hp for sure. Could save a year or more with the AHFS handling it. Might cost somebody an hour's worth of time. You would want an untouched vehicle, not one that could have been de-tuned by the mfgr or racer before be presented for testing. NASCAR uses a Dynojet just like mine for spot testing cup cars after races to keep the different brands competitive with each other. Simplest thing it the world to do. The numbers can't be skewed by the operator as with many other brands.

[goinbroke2]

Maybe nhra decided to drop them into Stock instead of coming out with a new F/X class because....well...mopar is now owned by fiat and basically broke and gm ain't far behind. The camaro was delayed because of an interior part couldn't be supplied because the supplier went bankrupt. When will the camaro be out...WILL it be out...will gm and mopar spend on dragracing when the braindeads in congress could get wind of it?

Let it run and then bitch...how can everyone be so upset when it hasn't even been in competition yet.






Oh yeah, it's a damn ford!

[Bruce Noland]

This isn't about a specific OEM - it's about a fair classification process. Sure some combinations will come up soft but I can't remember one being as far off as this car. Nothing personal at all. These cars may have some problems in the beginning, but you have to look at the caliber of people who are working on them. Then you know the best performance is right around the corner. John can straighten out anything with wheels. Let's watch.

[goinbroke2]

"Let's watch. "

That's what I and others have been saying all along.

[Jack Matyas]

Bruce -- We finally agree on something -- "Let's Watch" . You're absolutely right about the caliber of people working on these cars -- smart people with all the right resources .Stock is no longer for the "Faint of Heart" and certainly not for the "Backyard Sportsman" as it was when we started -- they can compete just not at this high level . Things have changed as we go into '09 -- hopefully for the better !

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

Bruce -- We finally agree on something -- "Let's Watch" . You're absolutely right about the caliber of people working on these cars -- smart people with all the right resources .Stock is no longer for the "Faint of Heart" and certainly not for the "Backyard Sportsman" as it was when we started -- they can compete just not at this high level . Things have changed as we go into '09 -- hopefully for the better !

So 27 pages in it comes down to the fact that Stock is no longer for the "faint of heart" and the "back-
yard sportsman" which I guess translates to if you want to run AA to C if you dont have $$$$ coming
out of your *** go home little boy and let the real men play.Before the Mustang it was heading in that direction already,this accelerates the situation.
Just an observation from one of the unwashed masses.

Ed F.