IHRA vs NHRA

[Jim Wahl]

Bo, if you want to have some fun, come on down to our SSSSA big dollar race at Orlando Speed World November 1, 2009. Love to have you! Jim

[Just Observing]

NHRA must not be too bad. Mike Lyons was a IHRA all star qualifier and skipped the race to go to a lowly NHRA points race! LOL

[Just Observing]

Originally Posted by boster58

Maybe he is running for the championship and the points race was more important to that goal ?

Bo Kenney

Could be.....I don't know. I am sure Mike will be along to answer.


BTW IHRA had 2 racers skip the all star race. James Paul also skipped, but he at least he wasn't at a NHRA points race.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Well went to my first NHRA race and I have to say I was pleasantly suprised at the way it went. After years of racing IHRA and hearing how hard the NHRA tech guys were I was really nervous about tech, I wasn't sure exactly how much of my tech card I was supposed to fill out and was waiting to get reprimanded by the tech official for not doing it right. Well to my suprise the gentleman simply explained what all I had to fill out, no rolling eyes or digusted sighs I was very relieved and thanked him for his help. The race for the most part ran on schedule, plus they raised alot of money for Mr. Hessers' family which I thought was a very good guesture. So..... I guess I have to say my experience was better than I'd expected and will have no reservations about attending another NHRA race. Thanks to the NHRA staff for their help. Joe

[Paul Plummer]

Great thread, glad someone started this one. Here is a great example of the difference between the two sanctioning bodies when viewed from this stock eliminator racers perspective.

Spent a lot of money and worked my tail off to build an NHRA stock eliminator car. Being naive and not one inclined to bend rules I actually built a rulebook legal car. Had one of the best stock eliminator engine builders in the country put my combination together minus the $8000 cylinder heads and intake manifold that I latter discovered was the key to running 1.5 or more under the index. (Do not be fooled, no amount of suspension tuning or chassis set-up will make up 70HP-100HP)

My rulebook legal car ran .6-.7 under the C/SA index. NHRA then drops the indexes by .3 tenths and now I have a car that runs .3-.4 under - what's your address, I will just send you my entry fee and save all of the traveling expenses.

I don't blame NHRA. I did not do my research and at this stage of the class racing game, I was the dumb$%s that didn't realize the rulebook was just a suggestion. I learned why a class motor really does cost $20K minimum to be competitive.

So here were my choices - 1) spend $8000 on a set of ported and covered up stocker heads/intake and sweat bullets pulling through the gate at every event wondering if I will be torn down and found illegal.

2) Continue class racing and consider each event as a great way to test my car on a really well prepped track all the while letting my fellow racers think that I am sitting on the bottom of the ladder sheet on purpose!

3) Quit trying to class race with a rulebook legal car and either hit local week-end bracket racing or sit in my garage and watch my car's battery charge - after the first week-end this becomes a toss-up. I do think watching batteries charge edges out week-end bracket racing from an excitement standpoint.

4) Try to work with NHRA to fix some of the issues or at least get the car refactored - "I will not elaborate on my three years of frustration on this subject".

5) Call IHRA and see if I can get a crate motor approved for the Buick.

Here are the results - 3 emails, a couple of phone calls with the National Director of tech, Mike Baker and three weeks and I have a crate motor approved for my car. Instead of spending $8K on dinosaur iron, I actually get to take advantage of some of the new and readily available parts all the while being able to run my original old survivor Stage 1 Buick car in stock eliminator.

For the uniformed, the bottom end is still the same as for stock eliminator you just get to add a spec aluminum head, intake and Holley 850. For $4500 you can convert your stocker to a crate motor car, pull the car through the gate legally and have a fighting chance to be competitive - basically my index is tenth slower than NHRA and I get better and newer parts - no brainer!

If you decide you are done with the crate motor class or want to sell your pieces and parts or quit racing, you actually can get some of your money back because people are always looking for good untouched aluminum heads, intake manifolds and Holley 850's.

Remember 3 phone calls and 3 weeks and IHRA approved the combination. Another thing, they are actually nice to you on the phone and look for ways to get you to the track.

[Ryan Horensky]

I would have to say there are a number of reasons some NHRA racers do not race at more IHRA events. In my personal situation, IHRA races are farther to travel to for the most part. I live in Northeast Pennsylvania and am 1.5hrs from Maple Grove, 2.5hrs from Englishtown, 3hrs from Atco, 2.5hrs from Cecil County, etc. Many of us in the northeast are fairly close to NHRA tracks, but not as close to IHRA tracks. I grew up with my dad racing mostly NHRA with very few opportunities to race IHRA at the time because of geographics. I have raced at a few IHRA events and had a great time. I attended the divisional at Beaver Springs when it was held there and also The Empire Nationals when it was held at New York International. Some NHRA racers do not like the crate motor classes, because there isn't as many opportunities for heads-up racing for the tradfitional classed stock and super stock cars. To me...this doesn't matter as much as it does for some. There is also the 1/8th mile vs. 1/4 mile argument. I grew up racing 1/4 mile. Many are used to racing 1/8th mile. Some racers literally won't race 1/8th mile period. I have raced 1/8th mile, but definetly prefer 1/4 mile. This was the big reason Peter Biondo and Kyle Seipel did the "1000ft compromise" at Bristol. Generally, there are more 1/4 mile tracks in the north and more 1/8th mile tracks in the south. I guess it depends what you like and are used to. As far as NHRA racers looking down on IHRA as a sub-par racing organization....I don't think this is the case, whatsoever. I had a great time at the IHRA races I attended and hope to make it to Budds Creek for the National Event at the end of the season.

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Paul Precht

...Running IHRA was less of a challenge for me.

Although not negative that's the key difference. IHRA is about encouragement, not discouragement. Tech isn't an issue until it's an issue. With NHRA it's an issue before it even starts....unless you have $$$ to sway influence towards personal advantage. Of course if participation tanks that could change.

[tim worner]

It's time to go racing. IHRA

__________________
Tim Worner SS 1747

[Nitro Joe Jackson]

here is my 2 cents.........
I dont care if it's NHRA, IHRA, East Coast deal, Buckeye SS/Stock Series, Mike Carr's Tri-State, Southern Series, Tri-state MN series, ect as long as everybody helps support all the SS/Stock series out there everyone will have a place to go race and it's totally up to every driver where they feel better playing at, I never trashed anybody for picking one series over another one as long as we have racers supporting them to keep them floating that's all that matters.

[Bobby Zlatkin]

I used to have that NHRA only mentality. But, living in NC with an IHRA track in every direction, it was stupid not to try it. I was never made to feel so welcome at a race before. It was really fun and now I'm hooked.

As for the CM classes. I like the concept. Same as any other stock combination. Specific casting #'s to use (heads, Pistons & carbs), technical specifications to adhere to.
Only real leway; manifold choice.

My only real problem with them (CM classes); the indexes. When 13 of the top 15 qualifiers are CM cars, it seems obvious to me, the indexes are too soft. Even with the .05 hit they got this year. That was just a token hit..

I think that's the turn-off a lot of 1st class NHRA racers have. When they go to a IHRA event and find themselves qualified mid pack.