HP Adjustments on NHRA.com

[fredjohnston]

Why does every HP adjustment for the last two years or so include reductions for the big block Mopars? These cars were obviously fast at one point so what's the problem now? Is it because the Mopar racers know how to work the system better?

[Dick Butler]

I agree with Micheal on the main issue. Micro factoring is creating part of the problem. FJ also is correct. Many aggressive racers move to the newer more efficient combinations. Effect the FWD cars get these people. Some by finances tend to keep the car they started with and try to upgrade to compete. Wont Happen. The loop holes in GT rules for construction add to the problem. As for front end wt, motor position, etc that is not there on these cars. Check a corvette motor position compared to a FWD. The Vette is the car and not really used as often as it could due to cost and build restrictions.
Suggestion:1) Add 50 lb for ALL FWD combinations. (If not enough refactor)
Problem is not all racers created with Equal skills or budgets. You have a problem factoring money invested and time dedicated to being #1 in your class.
Many more problems caused by poor factoring of the motors themselves.
ANSWER: Limit the combinations available to race, Limit the chassis being used or create a Spec type combination for those who are tired of the factoring or lack of it.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Dick Butler

I agree with Micheal on the main issue. Micro factoring is creating part of the problem. FJ also is correct. Many aggressive racers move to the newer more efficient combinations. Effect the FWD cars get these people. Some by finances tend to keep the car they started with and try to upgrade to compete. Wont Happen. The loop holes in GT rules for construction add to the problem. As for front end wt, motor position, etc that is not there on these cars. Check a corvette motor position compared to a FWD. The Vette is the car and not really used as often as it could due to cost and build restrictions.
Suggestion:1) Add 50 lb for ALL FWD combinations. (If not enough refactor)
Problem is not all racers created with Equal skills or budgets. You have a problem factoring money invested and time dedicated to being #1 in your class.
Many more problems caused by poor factoring of the motors themselves.
ANSWER: Limit the combinations available to race, Limit the chassis being used or create a Spec type combination for those who are tired of the factoring or lack of it.

Dick, I am a little bit confused with your statement.

First you say that Michael and FJ are correct, however, at the same time, you infer that a FWD conversion car is an advantage and they should be given a 50lbs penalty.

Michael's stated the engine is not a factor between a FWD and a RWD car.
FJ stated that a FWD car is not a factor and stated it is do to lazy racers that don't want to work on their cars.

When you state the engine location on the Corvette, there is more than engine placement when building a FWD conversion car within the current rules, especially when many of them relocate the firewall.

But at the end, like many of your previous posts, you keep pushing for a Spec Car class like you have done for the past years.

[Ed Wright]

Uh, not supposed to move the firewall, right?

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Uh, not supposed to move the firewall, right?

Ed, the Thesaurus shows the synonym for "Supposed" as follows: hypothetical, theoretical, imaginary, invented, believed, assumed, alleged, understood, rumored, said, meant , intended, expected, thought,...

On the other hand, the Antonym for "Supposed" is "Actual"

The current rule is open for creativity and interpretation...

FIREWALL
The lower portion of the OEM firewall may be replaced with steel
of equal or greater thickness than OEM. Chevy Cavaliers, Pontiac
Grand Ams and Sunfires, and Ford Escorts may have firewall
replaced or relocated, provided the measurement from the rear of
the radiator core support to the firewall is 34 inches maximum. For
Chevy Cobalt the radiator core support to the firewall is 33 inches
maximum. For all other vehicles, firewall must be in the original
location. A complete one-piece steel firewall that resembles OEM
must be installed, welded in place, and sealed from the driver
compartment. The firewall must extend to and attach to the floor.
The firewall and mid-plate must be two separate pieces. All motor
plates, mid-plates, etc. must be separate from and may not be
attached to the firewall.

[SS/GSI]

Right or wrong, this platform for AHFS has been implemented in GT and as long as it took NHRA to approve it, will take them twice as long to change it, so get use to it. I my humble opinion I believe that different inclass WB should reflect the vehicle configuration(FWD vs RWD) however I wouldn't even know how to calculate that. HP is HP and yes the FWD cars have an advantage, how much, that depends on the vehicle in question; however I believe the bigger problem is the AHFS system itself and not the drivers, engine combos, or vehicle configurations. If it were up to me, and the car count would allow for it, I would split the class into a "Nostalgia SS Class" (compiled of traditional SS and RWD GT) and "Modified SS" (compiled of FWD GT, Modified SS and FX SS). All that being said I'm just happy to have a National sanctioning body platform to race on and I will support the NHRA because as flawed as they can be from time to time, there is still no better feeling in the world than winning a Wally. C u all @ the Big Go! Let the HP wars begin! LOL

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Michael's stated the engine is not a factor between a FWD and a RWD car.

It's not. HP is HP (again, unless there's an airflow difference). FWD conversion cars *utilize* the given HP more efficiently due to both aerodynamics and chassis. I do believe they have an advantage. It's just not a function of the engine.

[Bryan Worner]

Michael, FJ, Ed, Dick, Kevin: answer me this question??? Of the two GT type cars, FWD and RWD, which car has piled up the most Horsepower on engine combinations? Never mind, I'll answer it for you. The FWD conversion cars! Nobody knows this more than me, with my RWD 87 Camaro, that used to run an LT1 when it was at the factory hp of 275 in SS and GT! Now, because of a FWD conversion car, and a FWD conversion car ONLY, it is at 295 in GT! So I get rid of that combo and go to the L98, only to have it increased in HP from 275 to 287, because of a FWD conversion car!!!

No advantage huh???

And Kevin. I see your combo got 5 off for GT! Don't understand how that happened, because all that hp was piled up in a FWD car! I guess now he can go a second under again!

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Bryan Worner

Michael, FJ, Ed, Dick, Kevin: answer me this question??? Of the two GT type cars, FWD and RWD, which car has piled up the most Horsepower on engine combinations? Never mind, I'll answer it for you. The FWD conversion cars! ( ... )

No advantage huh???

I've specifically stated that they have an advantage. I don't know how I could possibly be any clearer. I just asked why they're hitting HP instead of adjusting weight on the FWD conversions as a whole, since the advantage is not in the engine, but the car itself.

[Bryan Worner]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

I've specifically stated that they have an advantage. I don't know how I could possibly be any clearer. I just asked why they're hitting HP instead of adjusting weight on the FWD conversions as a whole, since the advantage is not in the engine, but the car itself.

Because you can put different engine combinations in the same FWD car!