Shipping weights

JeremyDuncan · 02-13-2022, 11:47 PM

My two cents, I am not in favor of ditching traditional SS and Stock shipping weights. Yes the old GT shipping weight rules were obtuse( vehicle shipping weight +/- 250lbs ÷ engine factored HP to get Power to Weight & and even if a car fit a class it couldn't always get to run at the bottom or minimum of that class if it didn't fit the bottom of the class) but the traditional SS and Stock shipping weights rules are much more straight forward. Find your car's combo power to weight. See what class weight break it fits and you run one class lighter or one class heavier. Simple.

I think If you do away with shipping weights than there will be a whole lot more of dodging going on. Jumping to classes to avoid potential heads up. It certainly will be easier to do.

Also some combos will receive a big advantage. For example the 4th gen LS1 Firebirds in SS. Auto Ram air cars fit F,G,H at 319hp. Flat hoods H,I,J at 305. You telling me that ever Ram air car is not going to switch a flat hood and get 14hp off their combo the first day that shipping weights are done away with? I am sure there is others that will benefit also. Not exactly fair to other competitors running against those combos.

Finally I think it would cause more of a problem with people lighten their cars then running super heavy. Exotic materials (Carbon Fiber, Titanium, Aluminum, etc) aren't cheap and like most relaxing of the rules done in the past by NHRA will drive the cost of keeping a competitive car up dramatically.

02-13-2022, 11:47 PM	#32
JeremyDuncan Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 264 Likes: 1,168 Liked 354 Times in 79 Posts	Re: Shipping weights My two cents, I am not in favor of ditching traditional SS and Stock shipping weights. Yes the old GT shipping weight rules were obtuse( vehicle shipping weight +/- 250lbs ÷ engine factored HP to get Power to Weight & and even if a car fit a class it couldn't always get to run at the bottom or minimum of that class if it didn't fit the bottom of the class) but the traditional SS and Stock shipping weights rules are much more straight forward. Find your car's combo power to weight. See what class weight break it fits and you run one class lighter or one class heavier. Simple. I think If you do away with shipping weights than there will be a whole lot more of dodging going on. Jumping to classes to avoid potential heads up. It certainly will be easier to do. Also some combos will receive a big advantage. For example the 4th gen LS1 Firebirds in SS. Auto Ram air cars fit F,G,H at 319hp. Flat hoods H,I,J at 305. You telling me that ever Ram air car is not going to switch a flat hood and get 14hp off their combo the first day that shipping weights are done away with? I am sure there is others that will benefit also. Not exactly fair to other competitors running against those combos. Finally I think it would cause more of a problem with people lighten their cars then running super heavy. Exotic materials (Carbon Fiber, Titanium, Aluminum, etc) aren't cheap and like most relaxing of the rules done in the past by NHRA will drive the cost of keeping a competitive car up dramatically.