Wondering what stock racers think

[James Perrone]

Stop the Indy nonsense
If you 120. Under You Get The Horsepower
It’s the only race that would fix some of theSOFT combos

[Tom O]

I agree with Tim Stickles (post #16) , No index change, and Bill Bogues ,hp trigger/hit at 1second under. In my opinion time& work on car/combo =$$$$, of witch I have niether. I'm gonna change my National event sponsor/entry to Riff-Raff racing.

[Alan Roehrich]

Lowering the trigger will only result in more sandbagging.


Look,there is only ONE way to make the AHFS actually work worth a damn, the way it should. And the slow guys will NOT like it.



In order to make the AHFS actually work right, you have to actually truly reward performance. If you're not paying real points and real money for qualifying, class wins, and records, no one in their right mind is going to go out with their favorite combination and get it really hit, unless they're hold WAY more than they're getting hit for.


If you don't want to make performance the focus of the class, and make it pay, then you shouldn't complaining about the AHFS anyway.

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

The indexes were lowered 3 tenths several years ago and it hurt the car counts. Some of the low budget guys parked their cars after that enhancement. I don't think lowering the indexes is a good idea. The smart move is for NHRA to better monitor the performance of the cars that consistently run at the top of the sheet and apply good sense in the factoring.

Agreed! Great post.

[nhramnl]

I have never understood the logic behind lowering indexes. As others have said, it eliminates the poor guys who don't have a lot of money, but want to experience the pride of making their low-buck stuff capable of running the index, and therefore, able to compete. So a guy runs 1.10 under; who cares? If somebody else runs 1.11 under, he qualifies below him. It has always seemed to me like NHRA has deemed 1.0 second under to be some kind of arbitrary "threshold". The only remotely justifiable argument for lower indexes is that it "keeps out the riff-raff", and I consider that to be nothing more than arrogance on the part of the racers who feel that way. Indexes will NEVER eliminate sandbagging.

[Jim Wahl]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

The indexes were lowered 3 tenths several years ago and it hurt the car counts. Some of the low budget guys parked their cars after that enhancement. I don't think lowering the indexes is a good idea. The smart move is for NHRA to better monitor the performance of the cars that consistently run at the top of the sheet and apply good sense in the factoring.

This is the best and most common sense answer to this question. We lost over 25% of our fields when this was done before. Guys and gals who run .10 have every right to come out and enjoy class racing. Lower the index and the gamers will continue to play games! Jim


.

[jmantle]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

The indexes were lowered 3 tenths several years ago and it hurt the car counts. Some of the low budget guys parked their cars after that enhancement. I don't think lowering the indexes is a good idea. The smart move is for NHRA to better monitor the performance of the cars that consistently run at the top of the sheet and apply good sense in the factoring.

Makes too much sense but I totally agree. The AHFS should apply to every pass made down the track, including Indy and national opens. If you can run 1.80 under, you should get horsepower. I agree the AHFS isn't perfect, but at this point in time it's all we have.


Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Gary Parker

I am just wondering how stock racers feel about lowering the indexes. We have been given many upgrades yet the indexes stay the same. There are many that can run a second under and have to detune at races. The AHFS was designed for new cars and under rated combos. It does not take into the fact of people who work hard , test and spend lots of money to make their car go fast. So what do the people who race stock ... 1 or 2 tenths. Most everyone can run that far under. .. Thanks.
Gary Parker

Gary, Probably won't sell an index reduction at the present time. Some of the IHRA guys want to cross over. 4-5 tenths would be a big hit for some.
How about this? Raise the hp hit threshold on more tenth...Then STOP, STOP, STOP the loosening of Stock tech rules. Racers will always find the 'trick of the week" anyway. They don't need any more help from NHRA.
Oh, I just noticed you addressed Stock racers..Oh well.

[Gary Parker]

The only remotely justifiable argument for lower indexes is that it "keeps out the riff-raff", and I consider that to be nothing more than arrogance on the part of the racers who feel that way. Indexes will NEVER eliminate sandbagging.

Really...I saved 3 years to have my engine fixed so I could go back out and race. I started with a camaro that ran 4 to 5 under .worked my *** off testing on a very limited budget to make my car faster. We are a performance based class. If you knew me you would know I would like as many people at the races as possible. It has been said that lowering them would keep people away. I know personally I am not going to some because I triggered it once by .005 when the air got real good overnight at Epping. Now if I had a heads up run from another fast car in the class it could happen again. what do I get for all my hard work is horsepower. I also never mentioned 3 tenths, I do agree that is too much. And yes it would be wonderful if we had someone like Famer to have a better handle on factors. Traction problems really have to do with your dial. would not matter the index. I am wondering how many stockers are out there that can not run a tenth under. It does not always cost money to pick a car up. But it helps. Trust me I have one of the smallest budgets there is. I hope the riff raft come race with us. All are welcome by me

[nhramnl]

Originally Posted by Gary Parker

The only remotely justifiable argument for lower indexes is that it "keeps out the riff-raff", and I consider that to be nothing more than arrogance on the part of the racers who feel that way. Indexes will NEVER eliminate sandbagging.

Really...I saved 3 years to have my engine fixed so I could go back out and race. I started with a camaro that ran 4 to 5 under .worked my *** off testing on a very limited budget to make my car faster. We are a performance based class. If you knew me you would know I would like as many people at the races as possible. It has been said that lowering them would keep people away. I know personally I am not going to some because I triggered it once by .005 when the air got real good overnight at Epping. Now if I had a heads up run from another fast car in the class it could happen again. what do I get for all my hard work is horsepower. I also never mentioned 3 tenths, I do agree that is too much. And yes it would be wonderful if we had someone like Famer to have a better handle on factors. Traction problems really have to do with your dial. would not matter the index. I am wondering how many stockers are out there that can not run a tenth under. It does not always cost money to pick a car up. But it helps. Trust me I have one of the smallest budgets there is. I hope the riff raft come race with us. All are welcome by me

You missed my point, but that might be my fault. I was not in any way saying that I agreed with the "riff-raff" logic. I completely disagree with it. But it is a reality that we have to contend with. Like you, I have a very limited budget and in the past have resorted to things like used and factory rebuilt parts (think rebuilt roller lifters). What I was trying to say is that a lot of "checkbook racers" think that because they can go 1.25 under (often with a car they know nothing about), they don't need to think about the poor guy who's spending every dime he can afford to run a tenth under the index. They qualify well, not because they work hard and understand the theory behind what they're doing, but because they can just buy whatever they need to do so. Again, I don't see how lowering the index does anything but hurt the guys who use brains and sweat to make their car fast enough to run the index.