Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

Just to set the record straight, Brian Seaberg , Steve Horton, and a couple of other guys were racing the same 302 2 barrel Fords for years before NHRA reduced the HP ratings back to factory numbers. Seaburgs Comet was a P&Q/SA car at that time. In fact, I had considered building a 79 Fairmont 302 2 barrel 4 speed combo in the early 2000s, but at that time, NHRA had bumped pretty much all the 302-318 sized 2 barrel smogger engines to 200 HP, so building my 85 Mustang 302 4 barrel just made more sense. Over the recent past, NHRA dropped the 302 2 barrel engines down to 180, 170, and eventually 165HP, before reducing them down to their factory HP ratings, which varied from 129-145 depending on year and car model. Unlike many other more mainstream combos, at least these low HP Ford 302s are actually wearing their factory issued, correct part number heads, intake manifolds and carbs, not a bunch of NHRA approved, superceded "not worth a thing performancewise" aftermarket aluminum heads, intakes, and carburators.

Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

Thanks Rory. good post.

Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

IF anyone involved in the technical dept had clue none of this would have happened ... none of it. It is insane you can write a letter and get a 200 hp combo to 133 and someone would approve it affecting over 200 combos and not even think "hmm maybe I should research this" Well here ya go this is what happens longtime racers with long standing combos like me and Ron get screwed. If shaw finds one combo I can follow him around get him hit .... 200 combos affected I'm dead I WILL NEVER win class at Indy again.
Anyway thanks pat c you've probably got next years #1 qualifier on your desk or in your inbox ...

Captain

Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

Thanks, Rory
I was going to mention those guys, but forgot.
Also, let's not forget.
Gary Summers was already setting stick shift records with the Mustang II when it was in the 170 range. It wasn't long after that the West Coast brain trust reduced them all to factory net HP.

Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

Dwight, As you know, the Mustang II is a completely different platform.
At one time, the 72 Chevy 350 had five different factory, depending on the body style. There's a good argument for this, but it does seem a bit strange when the Corvette is rated less than the Nova.
In my opinion, NHRA came up with the AHFS so they'd have a computerized system that didn't require human forethought and intervention. That would take a few competent people, like in the old days.
Now we see how easily it can be manipulated.
So, it depends on how you want the game played, as far as certain body styles being hit. I'm still on the fence about that.

Here's one that bothers me. GT S/S was supposed to be for 1980 or newer cars.
Now, any year is okay.
So, if you have a 66 Chevy II stick car in regular S/S , and the HP gets too high, you just run it in GT. You don't even have to claim a 64 or 65 283 /220, which was the original intent of GT.
Does this make any sense to anybody?

Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

Mark, I understand what you are describing in that different body-chassis considerations sometimes has an effect on the factoring decisions, but in the case of the '76 302, they hit the Maverick-Comet and the Granada-Monarch (different platform), but passed on the Mustang II. Puts wrinkles in my brow.

Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

Good point. Hit possibly the worst one and not the best.
Goes to what I was alluding to..Incompetence

Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

Re-thinking my comment.
I was meaning to say was not many would be built for the national stage.
How many Tri- 5's do you see being built since they have been brought back?
Let's face it. Most guys that can afford the 5-6 points meet / National event entry game, can afford to build a fairly late model, 10 second car that does a big wheelie for the camera.
I didn't think about the independent S/SS association races.
Yes, you are probably right that several would be built for that venue.
But NHRA doesn't get much of a piece of that action, so there's no interest there.

Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

:):):) Hey Billy...so... after all...the "smoke" with regard to top several qualifiers...it didn't seem to be that much in final results (?)...NEVER in anyway to take anything away from...incredible their.. accomplishments...in a word...AWESOME...just am "old" (a touch or two...maybe more than you !!!...lol) guess I'm missing something...or just haven't got up to speed on current thought process (?)...the qualifying "thing"...how that seemingly has become...well...litterally as important as the actual race results (?)...my faded memory suggests that only a few times...whether National Event level or points series stuff...do the...top 5 qualifiers or so...actually prevail/win...again willing to accept a spanking...if...I'm out of bounds here...as Ricky Ricardo used to say "splain to me Lucy"...lol...believe me...I sincerely have lots & lots of regard for you & Mark (and others)...who have done/accomplished so much...with so little...me...accomplished...not too much...with a lot !!! lol...BUT...I have ownership (55+ years of it) of more than my fair share of the 8 million "stories" (not all fit for public consumption) in the Naked City...and...that's the whole truth...nothing...but the truth...!!!...would you be kind enough to just "tune me up" a bit (bring me into modern ages)...about this whole qualifying deal ???...maybe just time to put away shoe polish for the windows...:):):) thanx Billy...always wishing you continued good health...success...imagine that !!! Drake

Re: Just a jealous "cheap shot"
 

A class trophy at Indy is an important thing to a lot of people including me.
Just asking for a level playing field.
Pete