Submit 2014 Rule Change Requests

[rseibenick]

When they combined the FWD classes, everbody said it was to cut down the # of stock classes . The FWD classes went from 10 down to 5 . The total of stock classes was 27 after they were combined, stick and auto. 2013 , now we have 32 NHRA stock classes. Don't need to roll the FWD classes in with the RWD just to cut the # of classes down. We already paid our dues in helping NHRA reducing the # of classes. The 100lbs that were added to the FWD stick cars , did not even get the auto cars close to running with the stick cars in these classes. No way you can refactor the FWD cars fairly to compete with the RWD cars.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by rseibenick

No way you can refactor the FWD cars fairly to compete with the RWD cars.

So, FWD cars are not subject to the same rules of math and laws of physics as RWD cars?

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

So, FWD cars are not subject to the same rules of math and laws of physics as RWD cars?

Well, as a matter of fact, they're not! It's a FWD,RWD thing.
When NHRA redid the FWD thing, I proposed giving the FWD cars a 3lb. break and rolling them into the RWD classes. The numbers worked but the problem became not having low enough weight breaks to merge them in. It only worked for the higher classed FWD stuff. The lower classed FWD stuff(I can say that) couldn't get light enough to fit the existing RWD classes.
I don't have a problem with consolidating some classes but I have to agree with Ron in re. to the FWD stuff, they've paid their dues already.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Well, as a matter of fact, they're not! It's a FWD,RWD thing.
When NHRA redid the FWD thing, I proposed giving the FWD cars a 3lb. break and rolling them into the RWD classes. The numbers worked but the problem became not having low enough weight breaks to merge them in. It only worked for the higher classed FWD stuff. The lower classed FWD stuff(I can say that) couldn't get light enough to fit the existing RWD classes.
I don't have a problem with consolidating some classes but I have to agree with Ron in re. to the FWD stuff, they've paid their dues already.

If you cut the weight breaks to 1 pound in the upper classes, you'll have room to add a couple of lower classes, and still cut the total number of classes.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

If you cut the weight breaks to 1 pound in the upper classes, you'll have room to add a couple of lower classes, and still cut the total number of classes.

I agree with you but as I don't have a dog in this fight, I'll let the upper classed racers figure this one out for themselves.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I agree with you but as I don't have a dog in this fight, I'll let the upper classed racers figure this one out for themselves.

It's just a suggestion, as an alternative that might be easier than merging sticks and automatics.

It would make it more difficult for us to avoid the new cars with our older car, however, it would also make it more difficult for the new cars to avoid each other. That would make the AHFS work better. But then, so would running class at every event (including LODRS events). Which we could do by running it as part of qualifying. One qualifying shot, then class, so everyone gets a shot in each lane.

[Pistol Pete]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

For the love of every thing that class racing is, why would you ever suggest that?

Alan
I enjoy racing class, don't get me wrong, but in all honesty, does anyone win money
for a class win ??? I guess it's just a prestige thing.

Now let's take your class G/S. More then likely your first rd. is your Trophy Run.
How many rounds was the most you ran in class ?? And at what race was it ??

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Pistol Pete

Alan
I enjoy racing class, don't get me wrong, but in all honesty, does anyone win money
for a class win ??? I guess it's just a prestige thing.

Now let's take your class G/S. More then likely your first rd. is your Trophy Run.
How many rounds was the most you ran in class ?? And at what race was it ??

I'm not running G/S anymore. When I was, there were three cars within 100 miles or so, and it was good racing, despite both of them being faster than I was, by a considerable margin. The other two are still here. We sold the G/S car because of the economy at the time, and to focus on one car. We often wish we had not.

If you're worried about money, you're in the wrong area of drag racing, probably the worst possible area of drag racing to be concerned about winning money. But class racing is all about running for class. If it isn't, then why bother at all? It's way too much money to spend on a "bracket car". I'm in the middle of a new engine for SS/EA. If I didn't care about class, I sure as Hell wouldn't even consider doing the things I'm doing, or spending this kind of money to run the ET and MPH we want to run. For the A/SA car or the SS/EA car, I could go a second faster for 1/2 the money if we weren't running class cars. I'd have 1/4 the work load. Running Stock and Super Stock, for me at least, is about striving to go fast within the rules, and running class or heads up and doing well is a huge part of the reward. Despite struggling a lot recently. Winning the regular eliminations is a great thing, too. But if we focused on pure bracket racing, I'm sure we could do well at that. For less money, and probably win a fair amount of money.

Even considering purse or prize money in class racing is absurd. You can't possibly hope to win enough for it to matter. Between the entry fees and fuel to go to a race, if you won, you might make $500 or so. Before you paid for everything else. You can barely hope to not lose too much money.

If you're racing Stock or Super Stock to win money, your name better be Bertozzi, Biondo, Rampy, or Fletcher. Knowing all four real well, we know we ain't them. Yeah, there are other good racers besides them.

The best possible thing for Stock and Super Stock would be to run class at every event. Running class was the primary reason for the classes to begin with. We've strayed too far from the roots.

[Pistol Pete]

Alan
All of your points are valid.
And Yes i remember when winning class got you into Sunday's Elim's.
Then, a few years later they took Class Winners & maybe what 16 cars
that qualified under the index. So they would have a total of 48 or 64 cars
for the Eliminator.

I ran SS back in the mid 70's & it was a beautiful thing to Win your class.

Your prob 100% correct, that NHRA got away from there roots of class racing.

Sure, your not going to make tons of money racing S/SS unless like the names
you'd mention, but some of those guys Race For A Living & have Big Sponsors.

Today's Class Win should at least give you free oil or even a free candy bar, along
with your Wally.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Pistol Pete

Alan
All of your points are valid.
And Yes i remember when winning class got you into Sunday's Elim's.
Then, a few years later they took Class Winners & maybe what 16 cars
that qualified under the index. So they would have a total of 48 or 64 cars
for the Eliminator.

I ran SS back in the mid 70's & it was a beautiful thing to Win your class.

Your prob 100% correct, that NHRA got away from there roots of class racing.

Sure, your not going to make tons of money racing S/SS unless like the names
you'd mention, but some of those guys Race For A Living & have Big Sponsors.

Today's Class Win should at least give you free oil or even a free candy bar, along
with your Wally.

Again, if you're looking for money, or hoping to get NHRA to share the wealth, forget it.

You're not going to make ANY money class racing. We had a good year in 2010, and we did not win enough money to talk about.

Yes, it would be nice if winning class got you something. And if you deal with the right people and have the right parts on your car, it will. But NHRA has not increased the payout for eliminations in years. To think they're going to pay for class, or to think class should not be contested if they won't, means you may be playing in a class you apparently don't want to be in.