Just an idea to combine classes.

[Jack Matyas]

Billy -- Good morning and Happy New Year -- as soon as I'm done typing this I'll be sure to call Sunny and bitch her out as there is no doubt she forgot to remind you to take your meds this morning ..................

[GUMP]

I think that the first step should be to combine sticks and autos.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by GUMP

I think that the first step should be to combine sticks and autos.

I absolutely DISagree with that! Keep things as diverse as possible.

[greg fulk]

Bill how about going to 1lbs weight breaks first....? I'm not sure why we have 1/2lb breaks anyway. The FI classes were 1bl breaks.

[Billy Nees]

Just looking for a civil discussion and thought I'd throw that out there seeing as some like the Top Stock idea drawn out through the whole eliminator. It would definitely increase the "performance" aspect of the eliminator. I doubt if it would help at all with the "contingency" issue.

[Evan Smith]

Billy,

How come you wouldn't want to combine sticks and autos? There are so few sticks that even if there are some fast ones it wouldn't cause a problem with someone "owning" a class. Look at Nitro's stats, by percentage, it looks as if there is between 1-8 percent sticks depending on the class.

While I like the heads-up stuff, unless NHRA sweetens the reward for going fast (points and/or improved contingency program) there is no reason to "force" more heads-up competition by combining any classes.

Evan

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Evan Smith

Billy,

How come you wouldn't want to combine sticks and autos? There are so few sticks that even if there are some fast ones it wouldn't cause a problem with someone "owning" a class. Look at Nitro's stats, by percentage, it looks as if there is between 1-8 percent sticks depending on the class.

While I like the heads-up stuff, unless NHRA sweetens the reward for going fast (points and/or improved contingency program) there is no reason to "force" more heads-up competition by combining any classes.

Evan

Evan, I'm just doing a little bit of personal fact finding. I agree that NHRA should "sweeten" the rewards no matter what and I'm sorry to have to think that won't happen.
I wouldn't want to see the classes combined for the simple fact that; 1. I think doing that would hurt the stick numbers even more and; 2. If the number of classes were lessened but kept seperate (stick and auto) I think you would probably see a resurgence in the sticks.
Prozac is a wonderful thing.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I absolutely DISagree with that! Keep things as diverse as possible.

Billy As you can plainly see there is no way of changing this without severly hurting someone.
Why do some people think if the number of classes are cut that payout will go up?

PS I have a bridge for sale. Only Slightly Used.

[JRyan]

Dick,

MOST racers could give less than a S**T if they get points for anything. In case you hadn't noticed, there aren't a whole lot of people contending for points Nationally or at the Division level. Billy posted a reasonable thought that may be a little off to some, but then you went ahead in your usual way and made a complete cluster out of it.

Let's not combine Sticks & Autos. There are lots of classes where because of low counts in the class, the STICK guys have never found it necessary to buy THE GOOD STUFF to go fast. If they do, you'll see the STICK advantage show up in many more classes. Remember, there are some high HP Stick cars now running radials, so there goes that perceived advantage for the autos.

It ain't broke folks. If you want to hurry the demise of Stock/SS to the point that only the elite can play, go ahead and combine a bunch of classes. When you reach the point where only a few feel it is worth it to play, you'll have completed the demise of the whole class system. NHRA will just say GOODBYE!

[Dick Butler]

JRyan,
It is interesting someone always comes up with a point of fear that no one will be able to play if the classes were combined, no one would come to race, No new racers would build cars.
You and others act as if Combining classes is an Alternative to Eliminations. If you fall in a class with 10 cars tomorrow intead of 2 cars today , no one says you are not elgible for eliminations if you qualify JUST LIKE TODAY. But NHRA has a car count showing up at meets with greater numbers of same class to make the "show".(Fewer BYE run classes)
Making Class racing a bigger part of the racing can just give more fun as TOP/STK, TOP/SS do. Most who ran this declare it to be " the most fun I have had in years"
It is Just combined classes and stick and Auto HEADS up. An example of Combined classes for more "racing"
My opinion from Being in Bigger classes all my life and organizing TOP/STK and TOP/SS in Div 3 . It may return when larger numbers of cars to fit are available.