Has anyone changed their mind about AA/SA index?

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by Joseph Teuton

Hey where did everyone go??

I'm back now, been in the shop insulating my glove box. I think I can work on my class and cooth, but where can I find this culture thing at?

[Chuck Rayburn]

Originally Posted by Jim Bailey

Norwalk AA/S index informal survey -

Brian / Ryan McClanahan - change to 10.70
Jim Bailey - change to 10.75
Gene Jordan - change to 10.80 ( really doesn't care )
Randy Wilkes - change to 10.80

There , that's a start !

Jim,
Given that both our combos are considered the same combo with respect to the AHFS, the welfare you are asking for puts me in an awkward position. If NHRA was to soften the index any at all, it is inevitable that I will get the combo hit. I can deal with the extra weight, can you?
The bar for performance in stock and superstock is 1.00 sec. under the index. Our combo is there already. I've been to five races this year and have run .9 under at all five. The index is not too hard. Of all the indexes, I think that NHRA got this one right. On a really good day a decent AA car can and has run .9 under. (Sorenson, Pond, Myself and McClanahan.....for starters.)

[Jim Bailey]

Chuck, I completely understand your situation, and I respect the performance level of your car. I also relize there is some geography playing into this equation. But as in all other stock classes, isn't the object to protect your combo? I know many guys that have spent years doing just that, and they are very smart about it. You can hit it to qualify well or to win class ( as Wann often does ) but then you have to practice a little restrain to lower your average. I run my car pretty heavy so I have some room and I still have my 4 barrel if necessary. It's nice / fun to run our stuff flat out all the time. And in the best of conditions we're protected by the mineshaft rule. But let's not let our egos get in the way of our wallets. Furthermore, I don't think nhra's gonna give us different east coast / west coast index.

[Mickey Whaley]

I still say 12.00 index then you can let off at the 330 ft mark to protect the combo

[Chuck Rayburn]

Originally Posted by Jim Bailey

Chuck, I completely understand your situation, and I respect the performance level of your car. I also relize there is some geography playing into this equation. But as in all other stock classes, isn't the object to protect your combo? I know many guys that have spent years doing just that, and they are very smart about it. You can hit it to qualify well or to win class ( as Wann often does ) but then you have to practice a little restrain to lower your average. I run my car pretty heavy so I have some room and I still have my 4 barrel if necessary. It's nice / fun to run our stuff flat out all the time. And in the best of conditions we're protected by the mineshaft rule. But let's not let our egos get in the way of our wallets. Furthermore, I don't think nhra's gonna give us different east coast / west coast index.

Jim,
You know, we have a class race here in the fall at Vegas. You should come. I'm more or less tethered to home for a few more months due to a minor health issue so I can't make Indy this year. You could get a taste of our great air and a better idea of the validity of our past performance.
I don't see a downside to leaving the index as it is. Why would you want to introduce playing the "protect the combo" to the class when it doesn't exist, yet?

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by Mickey Whaley

I still say 12.00 index then you can let off at the 330 ft mark to protect the combo

I like it, that's how drive now! Lol Nah I typically don't start scrubbing et till 1/8 mile.

[Mickey Whaley]

Originally Posted by HR9121

I like it, that's how drive now! Lol Nah I typically don't start scrubbing et till 1/8 mile.

is it true some cars can go more than 1.20 under and not get HP and all you guys want is 2 tenths, well of course you should get 2 tenths it should be 10.80 and those other cars should be responsible to get the HP like the rest of the class or just give us the 3 tenths back and make everybody responsible for their own fate

[Jim Bailey]

Chuck, I've always enjoyed running all of my race cars at the same venue as the hitters. It's the only way you can see where you stand with your combo. I was excited to be at the Grove last month with Shaul, but he broke. I really enjoyed meeting and racing with Brian and Ryan at Norwalk last week. I came within a red light of running them heads up which would have been a blast! A West Coast swing is definitely on my bucket list. I have tremendous respect for all you guys performances out there, especially at Vegas. I'm sure there is a learning curve to run at altitude. My program is about going rounds, lots of rounds. 11 per race weekend. 7 on race day. Playing the combo protection game allows me to run my car softer and still qualify better at most of the races I attend. I can't run my car on " tilt " every pass. Not only will it not make it to the finals, financially it's not worth it. You want the index to remain at 10.60 that's fine, I'd prefer it be a little softer at 10.70. If it doesn't get changed, guess what ? I don't really care.....until one of the new showroom Drag Pacs, Copos, or Mustangs come out in AA trim and run 9.50s all day long at 70% throttle. And it's not far off.

[ALMACK]

" NHRA adjusts AA/S and AA/SA indexes
After reviewing the request to adjust the AA indexes, and consulting with Sportsman Racers; the NHRA Technical Department will increase the indexes for Stock AA/S and AA/SA to 10.70, for 2016 and beyond. Part of the decision to change the indexes were due to the new Factory FS cars no longer permitted to run either class. "


http://www.nhraracer.com/content/gen...556&zoneid=132

[Greg Hill]

Still a very tough index. It will give the guys that come to Indy an extra tenth to help them qualify.