Beard and other IHRA guys
 

seriously looking at running some IHRA this year with the camaro. Since i have yet to run an IHRA race, i'm looking for a little input. How do they handle the divisional points? mostly wondering about in division/out of division since distance wise it makes sense for me to run some D2 and D4. But I am unsure about which division to claim, and how their points system and special programs work

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

I'm at PRI & don't have the rulebook to confirm, but as far as I recall:

* Must claim your division at the first race.

* Must attend a minimum of 4 in-division events to retain points at end of year.

* Best 5 of up to first 8 attended count towards year end points.

* Points are similar to NHRA and include bonus points for in-division races.

* Summit All-Stars take each division champion and last year's winner for end-of-year run-off.

* Moser Axle Mania takes top 4 points earners from from all divisions in each class to be seeded on their ladder. But no word yet if they will do it again in 2011 or come up with another sportsman program/format.

* No points at Nitro Jam events. Just all divisionals, which one in each division is also a Tournament Of Champions qualifier.

* Don't know if Virginia and Maryland sportsnationals will count for points. May not because it sounds like a sportsman-only national event.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

gotcha, so the "doubles" count as two events correct?

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

If your running for division points you need to enter in four in
division races for points to count so pick a division that you
can make four races, with div 2 double races it helps

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Points are best 5 out of 8. You must *attend* 4 In-Division races to be eligible for points/awards, etc. Can only claim a max of 4 Out. Points are very similar to NHRA with the extra "little points" for In-division races. (see the rulebook, linked off the bottom of http://www.ihra.com/competition/) Immokalee usually counts as a Wild Card race (counts as In-Division for everyone) Since that's a double-header, it *really* frees up your schedule, no matter what Division you're running.

Top 3 in each Div qualify for the Tournament of Champions (Free entry, $10K to win plus contingency, Gold Card, etc.) You can also qualify for the TOC by winning any Nitro Jam (Nat'l event) or designated TOC-Qualifier Pro-Am. First race you go to, ask at the Tech trailer for the Special Programs signup sheet. Summit Allstars (just requires the proper decal. All div. Champs plus previous AllStar winner for $5K + Gold Card), Moser Axle Mania Shootout (product and series decal + axles, Top 4 in each class, plus a Wild Card). Details listed in the back of Drag Review. You can find new and archived issues at www.ihramag.com

Anything else, just holler!

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Yes, 2 seperate races for the travel expenses of one! Just gotta bring enough to cover entry for both.

Ha! Beat Beard off the line! :p

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Doubles are two separate races. You can enter one or both. Saturday is typically 2 Qualifying runs then race, then 1 run Sunday and race. Some races may have Gamblers following the main event.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

thanks Michael. So are all the doubles "wild card" races? and the doubles count as 2 in division races correct? Is there anywhere online to find a good contingency list?

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Only Immokalee is a "wild card" double header for any division. All other divisionals are either your in-division or out-of-division claims.

No contingency list yet. Most sponsors haven't even had their budget meetings yet! Only confirmations I got at PRI are

* Prestolite: (Mr. Gasket, Accel, etc.) basically the same as last year, but spark plugs can now be any Accel plug.

* RJS is also returning.

I was installing some stuff at the track in Immokallee last year and they still added some afterwards. It makes it difficult to coordinate when manufacturers have late budget meetings and IHRA has such an early start.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Immokalee is the only Wild Card.

Again, doubles are completely separate races, each with its own entry fee, payout, points, etc. They just happen to be at the same track on the same weekend. Race both races in a double-header, and you'll get two points claims -- If it's outside your Division, then each race will be an Out. If it's in your division, then they're both In. If it's specifically Immokalee, then both races are In, regardless.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Contingency postings are at http://ihra.com/contingency/ but they don't have 2011 listed yet. Usually takes awhile. Since we have a couple races *really* early in the season, they have in te past paid retroactively as sponsors sign up after the fact, but we'll have to check with them. Somebody was hinting around this summer about the possibility of a better looking contingency list for next year.

A neat feature in IHRA is the Contingency *payout* section. You can see what all you (and other drivers) have claimed at each race. I print a sheet out for my claims after each final round, and mark them off as I receive checks.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

It seems that IHRA is doing a very good job of making things as racer friendly as possible. I like that. I think I may claim division 4 if I can make Immokalle, then Baton Rouge would fill out 4 in divisions, and I can pick and choose from there.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

If you are going to run IHRA, here's a heads-up.

Last 10 years in IHRA, I had used my NHRA number (1046). In 2009 I went to my first IHRA points meet and claimed division 3. Since my number started with a 1, I was told that I had to run D1. Mike Volkman confirmed this when he went to the trailer to renew his number, he was told he had to have a new number (that started with a 3) to run that division.

Don't take this the wrong way... this is not a big deal......BUT.... I believe it was a stupid rule that someone new (in charge) had just dreamed up and didn't realize the inconvenience to the average racer that wanted to use his same number.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Tom..good thing Mike has a sister-in-law that makes some good lookin letters!

Seriously, how did you get away with running your same number all this time, pretty sure that has been a rule for several years...

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

I know it was a rule in 05. The easy way out is to change your NHRA number in the offseason to a 3 number then you will have the same number.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Emily/Herb

I didn't get away with it... I ran D1 every other year. I chose to run D3 this year (since pittsburgh was now D3). I was then told I can't run D3 with a D1 number.

I thought that was stupid. I can run any division in NHRA with any number.

It's not a big deal..... NHRA realizes it, but IHRA made a fuss over it.

I just stayed in D1! (last year).

My point to the author of this thread was to pick his division BEFORE he picks his comp number.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Tom,
I've ran IHRA on a regular basis since 2002. You have always had to have a number beginning with the division you represented unless you were Top Ten in the World.
Many years ago your # was based on what class you ran in.
Stock began with a 9
Modified began with a 4
Hot Rod began with a 8
etc.etc.etc.
I know it has'nt changed since 2002 though.
Chip Johnson

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Chip

I never said it changed... I ran D1 all these years (with a D1 number). I tried to run D3 this year and was told I can't (unless I get a new number)....

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Tom I just moved to Atlanta from Division 1 NHRA, I will race NHRA in division 2 this year, can I keep my division 1 number?

Thanks,
Glenn

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Tom,
So you are telling me I can run NHRA points in division 1 with my division 2 #?
Thats hard to believe. I'll bet you are wrong on that.

Also about your first post. I must have mis understood. When you said something about a stupid rule that someone NEW in charge JUST DREAMED up. I assumed you thought it was a new rule or something.

Oh well my bad
Chip

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Chip

I am not wrong about NHRA.... Living in pittsburgh, I ran nhra D3 several times over the last twenty years (with my D1 number). Never had to change it.

Also, I checked and found an example from 2010 ( mike loge finished #51 in D6 with a D7 number - #7360)... I'm sure there are several more.
(including Jim Harrington winning D2 in 2006 with his D1 number #1984).

Also.... I like IHRA..... love it!..... and one of the nicest things they did was when I went to one of my first IHRA points meets... I signed up for IHRA right at the race, got my comp number right at the race (beaver springs 2002 i believe), and they were very easy to deal with.... asked me what my NHRA number was and gave me the same number (it was available)....... I'm not sure who the new (head) guy is now at the IHRA races, but the fellow that we were used to seeing wasn't around in 2010.

This was why I thought it was stupid (so nice about giving you the same number, and now telling me I got to change it). I thought maybe the new guy had something to do with it. I'm probably wrong about that. (I do believe you that it has to be the same as your division).

And believe me...... you can claim any NHRA division with any number from any other division!

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Glenn

Yes you can use your D1 number.
As I said earlier.... I ran D3 several times with my D1 number.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

Here in Div 6 when you get a new NHRA number they make you take one starting with a 6, I guess after you have a number you can claim another division if you want. But I know for a fact they will not let you have an out of division number to start with.

Re: Beard and other IHRA guys
 

That was one of the first meetings I was ever in when I worked for IHRA. I think they were running out of numbers and/or had the issues with people having to have different IHRA & NHRA numbers. Why does the first digit have to signify the CLASS?! Bader's got something like "GT/BA" written up on the board and says, "Well, how are the staging lane people supposed to know what class that is?" 'If they don't know that's Super Stock, they don't have any business working there!' Got past that one, but then for a year or two we were stuck with having the Division number circled, then a dash in front of your competition number... good grief! And you thought Production cars had a lot of stuff on the windows! LOL

Since the points system is now tied into the membership database, I'm sure it'd be a lot easier to keep everything straight.