Norwalk SG DQ

[Jason Oldfield]

Rick,

You'd never be able to police the amount of speed killed unless you also added qualifying, AND gave some distinct advantage to qualifying higher. The good guys would just start running their time runs to 1000', lifting there, and as such posting artificially low speeds. As you know, you can easily predict what your quarter mile time will be from the 1000' time. So, there'd really be no way to accurately determine how much speed has been killed.

I know Jon and race in his series. I saw him this past weekend and spoke to him about the incident. He feels bad it happened, and knows how lucky he was to have not hurt anyone, or damaged anything. He made a mistake (which I made myself at that same track many years ago), and is using it as a learning experience.

All that said, phenomenon or not, my personal opinion is that if smoke comes off the tires, you should be DQ'd, end of story. Stabbing the brakes at the top end is a very dangerous tactic, and simply not worth the risk. I'd much rather lose and come back to race another day, than have all my stuff junked, or worse get to have an extended stay in the hospital.

But, until NHRA starts enforcing the rule like that, people are going to continue to lock up the brakes at the finish line. NHRA's rule now is stupid...basically it states, "If you crash, you're out." Perfect.

[Rick Bailey]

Jason, I'm not so sure if you would need qualifing...... I just think if there was a rule that you you are gulity of dumping let's say 20 mph or more from tt runs or elem runs .... your out of here , just knowing what one is trying to do. I'm thinking the "fear factor" of getting bounced..... may cause guys to think twice before bombing !

[Jeff Beckman]

It is enforced so randomly that it's a joke. Slate Cummings in round 1 of stock at the Chicago national event was dead sideways at the finish line. Al Rienhardt even remarked on the pa it was so bad, but no one did squat. I have contended for years that the rules that are in place need to be enforced. From Brad Plourd hanging out of the cage to Sherman Adcock smoking all 4 tires across the finish line. TJ Coughlin crashing at the Gators, or Ron Erks crash in Gainesvile as well years back. Until we kill a couple of folks they won't do Jack Squat.

But I am with Chuck, you hurt me or one of my many friends, you might wanna keep on going!

[Chuck Westcott]

Hey Jeffery !
Read the rule- It's Stupid as it is written ! Hit the Brakes smokem up and just don't hit anything and cross the Center Line- Your free to next round, Now that's BS--- and as far as I'm concerned anyone that get's DQed' is done for the event in All classes they Run !- No Exceptions Period- ! Sponsors or Not ! I saw TJ Hit the brakes- lock em up and crash- fortunately it was only Him and I'm sure He learned a valuable lesson. But He should of been disqualified for the rest of the event in all classes for displaying stupidity .

[Jeff Beckman]

It's Jeffrey, seriously the intent of the rule needs to be enforced. I was scared for TJ. Glad that all was well.

[luckydog]

Originally Posted by Adub464Q

In the essence of fair reporting, I was at the finish line for said world champ tire smokin round at belle rose. I'm not sure if it was the divisional or the sports national either. I remember thinking that he did not jump on them hard when he went through and was definitely not excessive, but it did smoke them. It happened to him at both the national and divisional at belle rose. I have seen many other cars smoke at belle rose in various classes. I just think it is one of those places that generates tire smoke at the finish line. Just go look at the picture in the bar of Jeff hefler and one of the Emmons, then you'll see smoke. It's a weird phenomenon at that track.

Austin Williams
464Q S/C STK

Norwalk is definitely another one of those places that generates tire smoke. I am not proud to admit that I have locked em up 3 times in my 13 year racing career, every time at Norwalk. I bracket race there frequently and believe that something about the place makes it easier to lock em up there. I have never done it anywhere else.

I agree with what is being said here....you lock em up, you should be disqualified from the event.......NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

[Brad Plourd]

Originally Posted by Jeff Beckman

It is enforced so randomly that it's a joke. Slate Cummings in round 1 of stock at the Chicago national event was dead sideways at the finish line. Al Rienhardt even remarked on the pa it was so bad, but no one did squat. I have contended for years that the rules that are in place need to be enforced. From Brad Plourd hanging out of the cage to Sherman Adcock smoking all 4 tires across the finish line. TJ Coughlin crashing at the Gators, or Ron Erks crash in Gainesvile as well years back. Until we kill a couple of folks they won't do Jack Squat.

But I am with Chuck, you hurt me or one of my many friends, you might wanna keep on going!

Kinda hard to "hang out of the cage" with a Hybrid head and neck restraint on....

[voltdr]

I don't beli eve anyone will "intentionally" lock up their breaks to the point of smoking the tires. However, with all the adrenaline going on at the finish line, it's easy to apply too much pressure and then you are sideways. It doesn't matter if it is due to the track surface or any other condition. If your tires are smoking then you hit the brakes too hard. You should be DQ'd. It happened with my opponent in Pomona 2007. Guy Aquayo, bombed the brakes and crashed behind me at the Winternationals (in a borrowed car). Because he crash after the finish line he was declared the winner. Now that rule has changed. If the rule was enforced, and a few racers were tossed and possible suspensions, it would almost start to police itself for the fear of being on the wrong side of the issue.
Race hard not stupid...........

[voltdr]

I also don't think you can use speed as the determining factor for DQing someone. Below is from this years Sportsnationals. Because of an issue I had on the starting line, my speed was down 31 mph. w/o hitting the brakes. There has to be someone (knowledgeable) watching the race, preferably from 1000' or more down track. Back in the day, SoCal ProGas (where SG was born) used to have a racer watch the finish line to decide excessive braking issues.
BTW........Sorry Bart.





Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
4698 Dan Foley 403V Bart Nelson
E5 ****WINNER**** 0.035 9.376 145.66 0.012 9.455 143.64
S/C Index: 8.90 (+/-): 0.476 S/C Index: 8.90 (+/-): 0.555

[Rick Bailey]

It was said somewhere earler, that they do have guys watching ........ but if no smoke or no crash good to go. The clocks could be the desiding factor for these guys .