Lets Root Cause the Detriment of Class Racing

[Mike Volkman]

Pozzi brought up a good point in the AHFS thread that I believe needs expanded on. What are the root causes of why class racing is the way it is now verses 12+ years ago. Just brainstorming so don't shoot the messenger. Just reporting the facts as I see them and are echoed by many of those who were there. Also, is there any of these we can counter or ask NHRA to remove?

Would also like to say that having spoken to Lonnie and Ned, they both want to bring it back to racing as we know it but their hands are tied because 1) they aren't stk/ss guys - never claimed to be - and try to react to what he racers want or were told they want. They also know they need a stk/ss experienced person/people who know what's really happening and can read between the lines. It be no different if they threw me in super comp. Would take time to figure it out and then multiply that by all the classes and their agendas who believe they are most important. Tough job for anyone.

No particular order and a * indicates that there was probably a class racer pushing his agenda in the background. Feel free to add.

1. Bruce retired
2. No one with stk/ss experience who is willing to make the sacrifice so we can play. Try finding someone.
3. *Aftermarket heads, cranks, valves, etc. Some was needed, many not. Needed someone in NHRA to call BS.
4. NHRA people not being consistent in application of the rules. Some divisions allow, some don't.
5.No weight stickers so we can police our own.
6. *The alphabet cars - reminds me of IHRA at the close. What class is he or she in? Use to be class was identified by specific size decal on windows, before it went thru tech.
7. Changing class after tech card was turned in. I saw a racer jump on his scooter in the lanes and had his class changed because of the fast guy in it.
8. Bracket racers coming into class racing and wanting to change the rules to fit their needs. Just saying. We love you, want you and want you to try not to change what has worked for years.
9. *SRAC - members with their own agendas rather than trying to be impartial and what is good for the sport.
10.*Removing shipping weights and only allowing GT car to move 250 pounds from it. More hiding places, less heads up.
11. *Allowing Traditional SS vehicles to run GT when equipped with engine that came in the car.
12. *Bob Dennis - Get well Bob - No slam on Bob. Good guy that we named process after. Claiming a different combo because of a .001 difference in head gasket. Use to be you would claim the best package from what yr/model you had. Use to be basically 4 - 318 combos in SS - now over10.
13. Limited tech and tear down - lots of reasons for this
14. *AHFS - not going down this road
15. NHRA's inability to recognize a "soft" combo and gently, gently, gently bring it back into line.
16. *Stock with SS heads and cranks
17. SS - Separating FWD to RWD GT hp factors/ratings.

I'm sure there are more. Tired of typing. Feel free to add. And lastly, the disclaimer - Thread is not personal to any racer, friend, official, etc. I'm more interested in seeing what we can suggest to be changed.