What Made NHRA Legitimate to the Racer

[Mike Volkman]

I'm not sure of the point being made. Are you saying that NHRA can't tech and create level playing fields because they are struggling to stay alive? Unsure of the connection.

They have no sponsors anymore and have literally made those who did help us angry with their practices. Look at the behaviors between NASCAR during covid and NHRA. Big difference.

I see it as repeated poor or ineffective decision making in many areas starting at the top by non-racing people. We pay them to race in their organization. In class racing they have the inherited responsibility to not only enforce their rules but to also bring parity to the class. Unless I'm way of base here this is the feel received from many racers, I'm just a little more vocal.

Take the Factory Stock cars - they constantly are forcing changes in pulley sizes and weights in an attempt to level the field. I see this as inconsistency in decision making. Only applies to FS?

Here's the point. I just told Em that I've been here doing this since I was 8 years old when Tom Sheehan and I got yelled at for using the outhouse roof's shingles as Frisbees. That's 54 years. I've seen alot. They were yanking a head off Carl's car after he won a race at the local track following a stock race. I got to clean the bolts and thought it was something special.

Racers race in class racing, and they may complain about being torn apart, but there was integrity to the sport and in my opinion, the down fall to class racing will not be the economy or electric vehicles or any other of the changes we are going through in the world. The down fall for "the true class racer" will be these 2 issues.

In an aging population of racers, my hope is that either NHRA will come to realize they have a problem which needs addressed or Bo, Jason, Ken, Tyler and whomever can get together and create a series that has some validity to it with real parity and tech. Other than that it is no different than the local bracket or association races. I will still support all types of racing organizations in hope something changes until I get tired of it and then as with things in life, with you're done, you're done.

I know that the SRAC members wanted feedback on the AHFS and received very little. Unsure as to why?

My thoughts are majority rules. I'm not a my way or the highway type of guy. If everyone wants no tech and no parity then so be it. I even went as far as to tell NHRA and SRAC, that SDS would pay for "Survey Monkey" to canvas all stock/ss racers who have raced in the last 2 years and get their opinion with majority winning. This way it removes everyone's personal agenda. Survey Monkey is a established company and not one of these put your mark here surveys with multiple voting, etc.

Just my opinions.

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by SDS Inc

I'm not sure of the point being made. Are you saying that NHRA can't tech and create level playing fields because they are struggling to stay alive? Unsure of the connection.

I guess that I am hoping that this relaxation is temporary. I'm sure that the schedules that we see are being driven by finances. The daily overhead for NHRA has to be pretty substantial. It is my hope that things will settle down soon and things can go back to normal.

I carry gaskets with me to every race.....

[Mike Volkman]

Gump - it's not temporary. The AHFS hasn't been worth a hoot since at least 2008. Not sure that a phone call from the division Monday following the race wasn't more effective because you went fast - continually and had opponents covered by xx rather than a 1 time hit.

Other:

Tech went south when Bruce left. Bruce would tell you that he didn't like something and better have it fixed by next race.

AFHS group at NHRA has no one who is qualified in understanding/building/racing competitively in s/ss. Wesley, Dave, Travis, Bob are not a part of. New guy Lonnie is technical and on AHFS but hasn't been around s/ss racing. Does understand that two identical 350 engines, same Dart head with same runner volumes, one carb, one fi, and very close deck and cc specs should not be rated 400 pounds difference at a 10# weight break. Hope he is a fast learner and doesn't drink the cool-aid.

As far as NHRA struggling financially. I here this all the time and know they have sold off properties etc. Is this a result to improve the bottom line or is there an actual need that they and therefore we, are in a bad way?

Where is the transparency and communication?

[Jeff Niceswanger]

Originally Posted by GUMP

I guess that I am hoping that this relaxation is temporary. I'm sure that the schedules that we see are being driven by finances. The daily overhead for NHRA has to be pretty substantial. It is my hope that things will settle down soon and things can go back to normal.

I carry gaskets with me to every race.....

What was their excuse before Covid? This no tear down policy has been expanded every year since the mid 2000's. Remember when they always tore down at the All Stars? Show up with your head off ? Random tear downs at multiple National events, not just Indy. After those went away at least you still had the 30 cars or so at Indy. Then half that amount, then half that amount, then throttle body's only, now NOTHING....
NHRA has changed so much since we began. I remember thinking if I can just go a couple rounds, I will be running in front of my friends, as back in the day 2nd,3rd 4th rounds could very well be in the middle of the day, usually Saturday's. And that call you got from National Dragster after winning an event. And the nice article and personal things that came out in the articles. Remember the free coolers we all received when Powerade came on board? When you needed parts, just head for the Midway, or even if you needed a new ring and pinion installed ! I bought metering rods up there one year, how ridiculous does that sound now?
And those pesky payouts. Good God, what an embarrassment. I kept them to myself, as when I told people those payouts I would get those " Wow, your an idiot" .. looks. All us old guys remember the challenge to be #1 qualifier and receive enough money to pay your fuel bill to and from the event. I could go on and on. We all know the backsliding our (now your) association has gone through in the last 10 years.
All that is just icing on the cake, but without teardowns and policing you have no basic ingredients for the cake. End of story.... You then have bracket racing with unpoliced very expensive class cars..

[Nick Heath]

Originally Posted by SDS Inc

If you never raced Indy in class where you were covered by a tenth or played the game so you didn't line up with the fast guy you won't understand.

Michael, I think you've nailed every post in this thread. I do slightly disagree here. I don't think you even need to have raced Indy in class to understand. Someone walking through the pit area and staging lanes on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday of Indy, with their eyes open, could understand. They'd see the parade of cars with chillers, the small crowds pushing their cars from nearly US 136 all the way to the starting line, the pit area thrashings to change motors or adjust clutches or fit new slicks, the commotion around the teardown barn, the starting line celebrations when all those efforts result in a class victory.

But it's hard to witness and understand those things from a corporate office that's 2,116 miles away.

Originally Posted by Jeff Niceswanger

What was their excuse before Covid? This no tear down policy has been expanded every year since the mid 2000's. Remember when they always tore down at the All Stars? Show up with your head off ? Random tear downs at multiple National events, not just Indy. Then at least you still had the 30 cars or so at Indy.Then half that amount, then half that amount, then throttle body's only, now NOTHING....

I certainly remember my dad getting "invited to a little party at the teardown barn," running ~.50 under the old indexes, at the Brainerd nationals, less than 2 years after setting the national record...