Comp racers seek to show eliminator is very much alive

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Mike Mans

I know this forum may not be the right group of people to agree with this comment - but after a lot of thought and looking around the pits I would disagree that money is the reason people aren't running Comp. The pits are full of 75'+ race rigs that are all well north of $200k (RV + trailer), there are dozens of new Top Dragster and Top Sportsman cars being built every year (no cheaper to build than many Comp cars), and there is a HUGE growth in the small tire radial world. These fast growing classes that I just mentioned have no better payouts than Comp, have no qualifying money, or perks that unfortunately used to exist in Comp. But - they have some undefined draw to them that the Comp racers committee is trying to better understand to encourage these folks building new cars and growing their racing presence - to look at Comp as a class they may want to compete in. There are a LOT of people out in our sport with plenty of money to compete in whatever class they so choose, but there must be a reason that just isn't well enough understood yet as to why they aren't jumping into this great NHRA category.

Just my opinion,
Mike Mans

You are right on the money Mike!

My chassis builder buddy has built many winning Comp cars.
Nevertheless, lately all he has built are Top Sportsman cars.

Many of the Top Sportsman cars cost more to build than a Comp car, not taking into account the cost of the engines and drive train.

The last Top Sportsman car he built, I could have purchased two rear wheels for the cost of one rear wheel for the Top Sportsman car and the car also has Pro Stock style Strange rear axles, almost 3 times the cost of my Strange axles.

Yet, the car still requires to be towed to the starting line and the same maintenance as a Super Stock Modified or Comp car such as checking valve springs and valve lash every run.

Nevertheless, their car counts are higher.

During a discussion with my buddy, we came to the conclusion that the reason why the class may have more participation is due to the use of electronics.

When you have a computer or device that you can put your opponents dial and yours, and just release a button at the top of the tree to launch, doesn't make sense to me because it takes away the driver element out of the equation.

[BPotts]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

You are right on the money Mike!

My chassis builder buddy has built many winning Comp cars.
Nevertheless, lately all he has built are Top Sportsman cars.

Many of the Top Sportsman cars cost more to build than a Comp car, not taking into account the cost of the engines and drive train.

The last Top Sportsman car he built, I could have purchased two rear wheels for the cost of one rear wheel for the Top Sportsman car and the car also has Pro Stock style Strange rear axles, almost 3 times the cost of my Strange axles.

Yet, the car still requires to be towed to the starting line and the same maintenance as a Super Stock Modified or Comp car such as checking valve springs and valve lash every run.

Nevertheless, their car counts are higher.

During a discussion with my buddy, we came to the conclusion that the reason why the class may have more participation is due to the use of electronics.

When you have a computer or device that you can put your opponents dial and yours, and just release a button at the top of the tree to launch, doesn't make sense to me because it takes away the driver element out of the equation.

I can agree with the cost to build. All race cars are expensive to build. BUT, the difference between Top Sportsman and Comp is you don't continually spend money hand over fist trying to keep up. It's a shoe polish race. Does anyone else see the trend? Stock, Super Stock, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster are healthy because you don't have to have the latest and greatest to keep up. You Just have to be a driver. David Rampy once said Comp is a rich mans class that is running out of rich men.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by BPotts

I can agree with the cost to build. All race cars are expensive to build. BUT, the difference between Top Sportsman and Comp is you don't continually spend money hand over fist trying to keep up. It's a shoe polish race. Does anyone else see the trend? Stock, Super Stock, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster are healthy because you don't have to have the latest and greatest to keep up. You Just have to be a driver. David Rampy once said Comp is a rich mans class that is running out of rich men.

Agree with some of your comments.

Like any other eliminator, it depends on the class you choose to race.
Comp Eliminator allows more creativity than other eliminators as regards to classes and engines to run.

Myself, I believe I am the only racer in the country building a Ford to run Super Modified class and its not a FWD car either, its a RWD car.

Can the Ford engine make the power to run against the Chevy powered cars in the class? I believe so and realize like everything in life, there is a learning curve. As an engineer, I enjoy challenge.

I have been told by many that I am crazy to run a Ford.
Nevertheless, a guy that I admire and respect very much as a racer, Mr. Jim Waldo, said to me, "Many years ago I was told I was wasting my time running the Ford Fairline. That made me work harder to prove others they were wrong".

The results of Jim Waldo's racing career with Ford products speak by themselves and I believe that if Jim had built a Super Stock or Modified Eliminator car, he would have been successful too.