M.g.

bill dedman · 05-27-2009, 10:39 PM

Ed,

I'm sorry if I have overblown the importance of this situation up to beyond what it logically should be.

Like I said, the probability is, that nothing's going to happen anyway, so it's just a tempest in a teapot, most likely.

If NHRA actually effected this change, I'd probably just keel over..... LOL!

I was 25 when this present (First Red Light) system was enacted (1963.) Many years later, I was made aware of the lopsided way this system treats the racers by a friend who is obviously a LOT smarter than I am, because I'd been watching it for probably at least 30 years and had never seen anything wrong with it; it was what it was. Nobody complained.... so, I thought it was fine.... I raced my sedan delivery Stocker under it and it never occcurred to me that every time I ran a quicker car, I was being deprived of my right to pressure HIM into a red light, if I'd already red lighted... I GAVE him the round.... and was never the wiser. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, obviously!

But, the more I thought about it over the years, the more it seemed to need to change to give equal treatment to both cars... since they weren't GETTING equal treatment.

But, the amount of inertia that exists in the scheme of things where NHRA is concerned makes Mt. Everest look like a molehill, so it just kind of struggled along for years, with no one doing anything about it.

That's where we are, now.

Be that as it may, I'll never get over feeling that any car that leaves first on a handicap start, whether it's a W/SA car or an A/SA car, is not getting a fair shake on the tree with the current system. Both cars need to have the SAME CHANCE to red light, regardless of what the first car does. As it stands, they don't, if the first car leaves too soon.

If that isn't making the first car to leave a victim of the system, then I don't know of a better way to express it.

Thanks to everyone for your comments; this is a good example of what this board is for, I think... to give EVERYONE a chance to voice his/her opinion on issues like this.

You don't need to be a woman to be a good gynecologist, and you don't need to be racing to have a valid opinion about issues like this.... The racers have another board for discussing "racer-only" issues. I think ANYONE with an opinion should be welcome to discuss it here; otherwise, what's the other board for???

So, thanks for listening; I don't think I have any other information or personal opinions relative to this situation.

Bill

05-27-2009, 10:39 PM	#23
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: M.g. Ed, I'm sorry if I have overblown the importance of this situation up to beyond what it logically should be. Like I said, the probability is, that nothing's going to happen anyway, so it's just a tempest in a teapot, most likely. If NHRA actually effected this change, I'd probably just keel over..... LOL! I was 25 when this present (First Red Light) system was enacted (1963.) Many years later, I was made aware of the lopsided way this system treats the racers by a friend who is obviously a LOT smarter than I am, because I'd been watching it for probably at least 30 years and had never seen anything wrong with it; it was what it was. Nobody complained.... so, I thought it was fine.... I raced my sedan delivery Stocker under it and it never occcurred to me that every time I ran a quicker car, I was being deprived of my right to pressure HIM into a red light, if I'd already red lighted... I GAVE him the round.... and was never the wiser. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, obviously! But, the more I thought about it over the years, the more it seemed to need to change to give equal treatment to both cars... since they weren't GETTING equal treatment. But, the amount of inertia that exists in the scheme of things where NHRA is concerned makes Mt. Everest look like a molehill, so it just kind of struggled along for years, with no one doing anything about it. That's where we are, now. Be that as it may, I'll never get over feeling that any car that leaves first on a handicap start, whether it's a W/SA car or an A/SA car, is not getting a fair shake on the tree with the current system. Both cars need to have the SAME CHANCE to red light, regardless of what the first car does. As it stands, they don't, if the first car leaves too soon. If that isn't making the first car to leave a victim of the system, then I don't know of a better way to express it. Thanks to everyone for your comments; this is a good example of what this board is for, I think... to give EVERYONE a chance to voice his/her opinion on issues like this. You don't need to be a woman to be a good gynecologist, and you don't need to be racing to have a valid opinion about issues like this.... The racers have another board for discussing "racer-only" issues. I think ANYONE with an opinion should be welcome to discuss it here; otherwise, what's the other board for??? So, thanks for listening; I don't think I have any other information or personal opinions relative to this situation. Bill __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 05-27-2009 at 10:41 PM.