Records, Etc @ Gainesville

[art leong]

I only made one run on Friday. But my short times picked up .03 from Thursdays best.
Maybe some of those on here are talking about 2 different days.
It was a little slippery for me on Thursday. But I don't usually have any traction problems

[Rollins_2241]

So Ed, you're saying heads-up cars with well over 2,000 horsepower are using magic converters that somehow hit the track softer than Stockers and Super Stockers factored at far less than half of that? Sounds like you guys are the ones who need the new converters. Or Dan, that it's required by the rules that you run a tall gear?

Bottom line, if you want to win you have to adapt your technology to the playing field. Or you can waste money on parts and diesel fuel, perform poorly, not have fun, and then whine about how it's someone else's fault. It's up to you. Personally, I make my engineering and spending decisions to put myself in position to turn on win lights. I don't race 60 feet, or even bench-race 60 feet. If what I do isn't working I make a change within the limits of my budget.

One thing I find about heads-up racers, as much as I disagree with them on many issues, is that they are very results-oriented, and I respect that. Maybe we handicap racers should learn what we can.

[C and W Racing]

John, I think what most people have a problem with is this race was supposed to be a chance to set records. So there were some that traveled great distances with that in mind. If the intent is to set a record, they expect a track that will give them a shot at doing that. They could back the car down and get down the track, but possibly not set the record that they came to do. I was there to set a record in a stick car and could not get it to leave the starting line at all until I lowered the launch rpm over 600 rpm's from what was the lowest I had in it at any point of the year. Yes, I ended up setting a record, but not anywhere near where it should have been. If the only reason they came was for the eliminator portion of this race, yes, they could have backed their combo down and gotten down the track.
Chuck

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Rollins_2241

So Ed, you're saying heads-up cars with well over 2,000 horsepower are using magic converters that somehow hit the track softer than Stockers and Super Stockers factored at far less than half of that? Sounds like you guys are the ones who need the new converters. Or Dan, that it's required by the rules that you run a tall gear?
.

I'm telling you what I was told. Ask them yourself. Yes, how hard a converter hits and how much torque it multiplies makes a huge difference. I have worked with emough of them to tell you there is nothing special about those chassis. Soft converters and high gears make a big difference. If I decide I want to slow down, I'll follow your advice. LOL

[Myron Piatek]

Originally Posted by Rollins_2241

So Ed, you're saying heads-up cars with well over 2,000 horsepower are using magic converters that somehow hit the track softer than Stockers and Super Stockers factored at far less than half of that? Sounds like you guys are the ones who need the new converters. Or Dan, that it's required by the rules that you run a tall gear?

Bottom line, if you want to win you have to adapt your technology to the playing field. Or you can waste money on parts and diesel fuel, perform poorly, not have fun, and then whine about how it's someone else's fault. It's up to you. Personally, I make my engineering and spending decisions to put myself in position to turn on win lights. I don't race 60 feet, or even bench-race 60 feet. If what I do isn't working I make a change within the limits of my budget.

One thing I find about heads-up racers, as much as I disagree with them on many issues, is that they are very results-oriented, and I respect that. Maybe we handicap racers should learn what we can.

John,

With all due respect, consider the following:

* Converter technology is as diverse as many other race parts, depending on their application. Big block/small block, high rpm/low rpm, etc. have different converter configurations in order to meet optimum performance goals. Even stick cars have many variables in adjustments, power application and materials used.

* Stockers are among the most rule restricted classes in drag racing. There are limits to the "technology" that can be utilized as well as mechanical limits, like tires, cams, weight, etc. Many stockers need the maximum "hit" off the line to get all the weight moving. Often that is where most of the ET gains are because of limits in carburation and/or heads.

* As I've said before on these forums, when one makes sizable investments in membership, entry fees, travel expenses and a vehicle built within the rules outlined by the sanctioning body, it is the OBLIGATION of the sanctioning body and their tracks to provide a LEVEL playing field for the participants. Realistically it is impossible to provide a "perfect" environment because of some extreme weather conditions, seepage, occasional missed fluids on the track, etc. Some cars may also not be "optimized" by their owners as well. But when problems occur on an above average basis and to extremes, somebody is being negligent, and it's not the racers!

* Class racers can change and adapt to certain variables at the track and I'm sure you can too. But going from track to track and not knowing what to expect - blowing the tires off or standing it on the rear bumper - is not something racers should have to deal with on a regular basis. Sometimes it's just not possible to "adjust" for such extremes and then it's a wasted weekend.

* Most important of all, it's a SAFETY ISSUE!

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Myron Piatek

John,

With all due respect, consider the following:

* Converter technology is as diverse as many other race parts, depending on their application. Big block/small block, high rpm/low rpm, etc. have different converter configurations in order to meet optimum performance goals. Even stick cars have many variables in adjustments, power application and materials used.

* Stockers are among the most rule restricted classes in drag racing. There are limits to the "technology" that can be utilized as well as mechanical limits, like tires, cams, weight, etc. Many stockers need the maximum "hit" off the line to get all the weight moving. Often that is where most of the ET gains are because of limits in carburation and/or heads.

* As I've said before on these forums, when one makes sizable investments in membership, entry fees, travel expenses and a vehicle built within the rules outlined by the sanctioning body, it is the OBLIGATION of the sanctioning body and their tracks to provide a LEVEL playing field for the participants. Realistically it is impossible to provide a "perfect" environment because of some extreme weather conditions, seepage, occasional missed fluids on the track, etc. Some cars may also not be "optimized" by their owners as well. But when problems occur on an above average basis and to extremes, somebody is being negligent, and it's not the racers!

* Class racers can change and adapt to certain variables at the track and I'm sure you can too. But going from track to track and not knowing what to expect - blowing the tires off or standing it on the rear bumper - is not something racers should have to deal with on a regular basis. Sometimes it's just not possible to "adjust" for such extremes and then it's a wasted weekend.

* Most important of all, it's a SAFETY ISSUE!

Well said!!

[Rollins_2241]

I hear all of you. I just think we are living in a new era, not only economically but with race car technology. Think back; in the 60's, the cars were "better than the best track". I grew up watching 8mm film of cars smoking tires all the way down the 1320 because they were making more power than the tires and track prep allowed. Then for a while, the tracks and tires were "better than the best cars", and it became normal to expect to stick all the time anywhere, no matter your setup. Now HP and torque-multiplication is increasing so fast I think we're moving back to trying to adapt to the conditions, and tracks do not have more to spend at the local level on prep. I think the heads-up crowd is far ahead of us on that.

Nobody has to tell me about the emphasis on safety issues. I dare say on that issue, I've "given up" more to this sport than anyone posting on here who ain't a ghost. We all need to suit up right, build our stuff right and have the judgment to abort a bad run.

And it will not fix the problem to spread negativity about any track or organization without offering a solution.

I don't want or need to test the limits of every racetrack like a record-setter in a performance class, but I haven't noticed any real difference or decline in track prep showing up in my results lately.

[SS/GSI]

Mr. Rollins, do you currently race Stock, Super Stock or Comp Eliminator? If yes, please state Class, Car and ET vs Index, if not maybe you need to further educate yourself on exactly how "on the edge" a large portion of the cars in these classes are in order to perform at a high level and set records. No disrespect; however until one gets truly involved in Class Racing, it is hard to comprehend. We are looking for thousanths at times not tenths!

[Bill Grubbs]

John,
Come on in...the water is plenty deep...even a cave man can do it.

Come show us how it is done. C/SA is really fun. Look forward to seeing you.

Bill

[Stephen & Horace Johnson]

Originally Posted by C and W Racing

John, I think what most people have a problem with is this race was supposed to be a chance to set records. So there were some that traveled great distances with that in mind. If the intent is to set a record, they expect a track that will give them a shot at doing that. They could back the car down and get down the track, but possibly not set the record that they came to do. I was there to set a record in a stick car and could not get it to leave the starting line at all until I lowered the launch rpm over 600 rpm's from what was the lowest I had in it at any point of the year. Yes, I ended up setting a record, but not anywhere near where it should have been. If the only reason they came was for the eliminator portion of this race, yes, they could have backed their combo down and gotten down the track.
Chuck

congrats on your record!