Random thought about the *HRA

[Ron Ortiz]

So what about you D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6 and D7 drivers think about this. Do you think that your surrounding racetracks would go to 1,000 ft for "operational purposes".

Ron Ortiz
U/SA just trying to help our sport

[Dick Butler]

Interesting math discussions. Interesting thoughts on track length. *HRA s might discuss this one as it saves time, space, etc. Runs sportsman class cars through faster to shorten the event time they require. Kind of like fewer lights on the tree.

A shame there are no logical people to discuss "Class racing" as apposed to the Dial in component. That might help the fan interest too but little interest to *HRA.

[Ed Wright]

Many people refuse to run 1/8th mile. Look at the IHRA 1/8th mile car counts.

Many of us liked running off records as well. Mattered if you were fast. We lost most of the slow guys to bracket racing when that crap came along. Same thing would happen if your idea was used.

[Ron Ortiz]

Gees Ed why all the doom & gloom. It is not up to us racers to change the distance, it is track operators who will make the change for operational purposes.I'm just looking at all the cars that run 1/4 and the other cars that run the 1/8. Just a way to cross them over to preserve car counts. IHRA car counts are low, yes, but so is some NHRA races down also. Not counting NHRA limiting car count fields.

Here is another question for you Ed, why are tracks converting over to IHRA, what happens when your home track goes to a different distance, will you abandon them and park your car due to your stubbornness.

Running off records was done in the past. But what if the record holder in your class was like a Bob Shaw and his Caddy. Think you can go 2.25 under your index. That will put a stop to your racing.

Here in FL we now have 4 IHRA tracks and 1 NHRA track, where it used to be 4 NHRA and 1 IHRA. I did not have any control over this situation.

Regardless of sanction, we as races better be prepared for what might be coming and voice our opinions, remedies, and concerns to the proper people.

Just a random thought.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA I want to race.

[Dan Fahey]

Ed...you got to stop taking your cranky PILLS

D

[Ed Wright]

Maybe you weren't racing then? More often than not, I was running off my own record.
We were allowed to run one tenth under, I always could. Somebody over two seconds under? Just leave on time and
push them out. Maybe a little more serious racers back then, and two rounds worth of points for an et record, guys were much more likely to set records then. A two second under guy was no more dangerous than a one tenth under guy, unless it was a heads up. I would not be in a class that low anyway. Would not be a problem for me.

As for IHRA car counts, been to several with 8 to 12 SS cars. Never at an NHRA race.
I don't know how they keep going. This Tulsa track didn't stay with them very long, due to extremely low car & spectator counts. Back to NHRA now.

And, yes, I would park mine rather than run 1/8th mile. Racers have a little say when they stop showing up for 1/8th mile races. I know many that feel the same way.

Originally Posted by Ron Ortiz

Gees Ed why all the doom & gloom. It is not up to us racers to change the distance, it is track operators who will make the change for operational purposes.I'm just looking at all the cars that run 1/4 and the other cars that run the 1/8. Just a way to cross them over to preserve car counts. IHRA car counts are low, yes, but so is some NHRA races down also. Not counting NHRA limiting car count fields.

Here is another question for you Ed, why are tracks converting over to IHRA, what happens when your home track goes to a different distance, will you abandon them and park your car due to your stubbornness.

Running off records was done in the past. But what if the record holder in your class was like a Bob Shaw and his Caddy. Think you can go 2.25 under your index. That will put a stop to your racing.

Here in FL we now have 4 IHRA tracks and 1 NHRA track, where it used to be 4 NHRA and 1 IHRA. I did not have any control over this situation.

Regardless of sanction, we as races better be prepared for what might be coming and voice our opinions, remedies, and concerns to the proper people.

Just a random thought.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA I want to race.

[Ron Ortiz]

I started racing in 1968, so I've seen a lot of changes, right up to where we are now. It was the heads up runs I was referring to with 2 second under cars, not the handicapping.

I've seen low car counts at a lot of places, including NHRA events.

I know you won't run the 1/8 mile races, but what about 1,000 ft, you know, the crossover I'm talking about. Understand that I too really like the 1/4, but with insurance and the likes, and with 1/4 mile tracks running the 1/8 instead, it just made me think of an alternative, that's all.

You can park your car or you can run it, it is your car.

And BTW, who came up with 1/4 to begin with.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA trying to judge distance

[Bob Don]

Origin of quarter mile drag drag racing:

We've even read interviews with CJ Hart, in which he acknowledges the influence of quarter-horse racing. But Leslie Long's recollections from Santa Ana suggest a more random reason. "When they finally started to have standing starts at Santa Ana, the cars had to move away from the fence (where they had previously lined up for rolling starts). The distance that was left was a quarter mile. So it was really an accident there-it just happened to be the length of the runway."

Leslie's version is backed up by an interview with Wally Parks from Westways magazine, published by the Southern California Auto Club (which also sponsors the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum). In that interview, Parks said specifically that the quarter mile was not from horse racing, but from test runs and races at airport runways. That distance allowed room for the cars to accelerate and decelerate without running out of pavement. Publicity in Hot Rod (edited by Parks) and other magazines helped establish the quarter mile as the standard for drag racing.

Full article:

http://www.hotrod.com/features/histo...acing-origins/

[Jim Bailey]

I suppose, if the NFL shuts down, I'll watch Arena Football. Then again, maybe not...
Even the Nitro Cars should be running a quartermile.

[600ci]

my sponsor's like 1/4 mile records helps sell products to the public and
thats what matters to them
3x record holder