FS cars exempt from HP?

[Dwight Southerland]

As a point of interest, the 1969 Chev 350-255 was the first engine to get an other-than-OEM hp factor, and that happened in 1970. A lot of that move was due to racer complaints, although Farmer was in charge at that time and executed through his authority an attempt to level the playing field, so to speak. New technology always throws additional factors to contend with into the mix. NHRA will respond in some addtional ways to deal the new cars; it will be interesting to see what they do. Everybody has a dog in this hunt.

The new cars bring excitement and more general interest into the sport and that is good. I hate that it is so-o-o-o-o expensive to proliferate the excitement.

[Rich67stang]

5 Pages of comments, and nobody addresses the simple problem. If FS qualify on the same sheet as ANY other class it MUST follow ALL of the same rules!!!!!! otherwise there is NO need to be on the sheet. You can twist the facts anyway that helps you justify breaking the rules.

[Mickey Whaley]

Originally Posted by Randall Klein

1969 making about $1.60/hour I bought my first new car, "69 Nova 396/375 for $3250; the dealership had 6 427 COPO's at ____price (can't remember), but they had 1 ZL-1 that was about $7200....the ZL-1 was a $4000 option

Surely the 427 steel COPO's were around $4000

No roll bars then, Lakewood slapper bars, Hurst shifter, Scheiffer clutch, Hooker headers, Firestone 7" slicks and raced like crazy while going thru college at Cornhusker, Kearnry and Flightland

Kind of different from $90K entry fee plus another $what

Hey, I like 'em too, but a damn shame racer's heart and soul cut out in those classes with the older cars that are rendered non-competitive and de-valued and parked

Well said

[Mickey Whaley]

Originally Posted by Rich67stang

5 Pages of comments, and nobody addresses the simple problem. If FS qualify on the same sheet as ANY other class it MUST follow ALL of the same rules!!!!!! otherwise there is NO need to be on the sheet. You can twist the facts anyway that helps you justify breaking the rules.

That is the point!

[Kegracing]

Rich,
Maybe I was not clear enough. Below is quoted from my earlier post...

"BUT, I do not agree with letting the FS cars qualify on the ladder with NO worry of HP. Because of the bye runs, this is unfair, and no way to defend it... math here, not just heart strings!"

I will agree again. And use math again... as long as they can play this game to qualify without fear of HP, why would you not try for #1, or where ever looks best for the bye run opportunities?

This is not about the cost of new cars, etc. Not about technology, being jealous, etc. Not even about heads up runs... Once the shoe polish goes on the window, it is just a race.

They are just being given an unfair advantage. This is just ANOTHER instance of NHRA hurting the future of the sport. It feels like they continue to try to drive the average working man out of the sport???

Ken
Stock 412

[Ed Wright]

With all the hoopla about all the excitement over the new cars (usually coming from guys running them), did anybody notice the stands at Indy when they ran? LOL

[Michael Beard]

if there was an internet back in 69, there would have been just as many complaints.

Were those complaints justified? Just because people complain about something doesn't mean it's automagically wrong, OR unfounded. We saw it with the fuel injected cars, and it took their own separate classes and 10 years to factor them some semblance of properly. It would stand to reason that if mistakes were made in the past that we would try to not repeat them.

Throughout the myriad of threads regarding the new factory cars, the overwhelming complaint is not with the cars, the car owners, or even the factories. Ultimately, the primary issues revolve around HP factors.

NHRA has set the precedent with its baseline factored HP of the factory cars, so it is unlikely they will change. Also based on precedent, it is reasonable that they would create separate FX classes to allow them factor themselves without bludgeoning traditional Stockers heads-up in the meantime. While it doesn't address qualifying (bye runs), it's a start.

if they were to give this new class hp, it would take to long to see what the car potential is.

Presumably, potential remains in these combinations, particularly since they are so new. It would stand to reason then that their HP factors (S/SS) should be higher and/or the Factory Stock indexes lowered. Each would allow the cars to "stretch their legs" without fear of factoring. A quick glance at Indy and Reading qualifying indicates that the Factory Stock indexes are a MINIMUM of .30 soft. Moving their indexes several tenths would STILL have them dominating qualifying.

Yes, the new cars are cool. VERY cool. VERY impressive. Factory Stock is even cooler. I'd like to have a race for them. As I've stated before, no has asked that they be factored unrealistically high and rendered uncompetitive, but neither should they be factored unrealistically low. There exists a great deal of space inbetween that could be palatable to ALL parties. Enjoying and appreciating the factory cars is not mutually exclusive with realistic administration.

Standard disclaimer: I run a 'factory' engine in SS/GT. Despite better specs all the way around, it is rated 50 HP *less* than my Crate Motor was. My wife told me to build this engine!

$.02,

[treekiller]

Shoe polish people. Nobody has to sell or park anything. Such a simple fix but everybody including the guys who are getting their a$$e$ kicked don't wanna change it. Get out of the 70s

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by treekiller

Shoe polish people. Nobody has to sell or park anything. Such a simple fix but everybody including the guys who are getting their a$$e$ kicked don't wanna change it. Get out of the 70s

This has nothing to do with what we are talking about, its the fact that these cars can run -1.50 something qualify #1 and there is no repercussions come Monday. If I do the same thing with I/SA car I have to face the music so to speak.

[Mickey Whaley]

Originally Posted by treekiller

Shoe polish people. Nobody has to sell or park anything. Such a simple fix but everybody including the guys who are getting their a$$e$ kicked don't wanna change it. Get out of the 70s

Please tell me the simple fix? Just asking?