Sportsman Council phone conference Tonight!

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by TS310C

I haven't heard of too many high speed wrecks on the highway from oil spills. LOL

Come to NJ,bumper car capital of the world.

[Rollins_2241]

Rhetorical question: Are any of the SRAC reps for the Super classes driving cars NOT capable of running more than 1.5 seconds under the current indices?

Lowering class indexes accomplishes nothing but locking out otherwise valid entries, a disproportionate number of those being newer racers, who tend to be the lower-HP and budget-conscious. In an era where the economics are already very challenging and car counts are dropping in most divisions and classes, that's the last thing we should do.

[Chris Williams]

Originally Posted by Rollins_2241

Rhetorical question: Are any of the SRAC reps for the Super classes driving cars NOT capable of running more than 1.5 seconds under the current indices?

Lowering class indexes accomplishes nothing but locking out otherwise valid entries, a disproportionate number of those being newer racers, who tend to be the lower-HP and budget-conscious. In an era where the economics are already very challenging and car counts are dropping in most divisions and classes, that's the last thing we should do.

I respectfully disagree. Lowering the indexes means cars are on the stop for a significantly shorter time, which in turn accomplishes a number of things:

1) It reduces the advantage of the big$/bigHP person because the tortoise/hare game is much closer. This then reduces the desire to outspend the next guy.

2) It can help with the leakage from SC to TD (and SG to TS) because the people who want to run faster can still do it in the Super classes.

3) It makes the racing more challenging and fun, because faster means harder to judge at the stripe.

4) It makes the Super classes far more palatable to the average fan who complains about the long "idling" or "coasting" that they do. The shorter the time on the stop, the better.

Finally, I'm not sure the $$ spend to run SC or SG is really causing much of an issue these days. It's pretty hard to find a car that couldn't run 7.90 (or 8.90) in these classes these days. Perhaps that's an issue in Super Street, but I don't think it is in SC or SG.

[Ron Finney]

Chris,

I get what you are saying however that is only a temporary change....Engines keep getting bigger, Pro stock technology keeps trickling down...so in just a few short years the differential will be right back, just faster overall......I think the best idea is to leave it alone....I think eventually it will fix itself.....the fast guys will get bored and move up.....the slow guys want to go faster and eventually do.....then you have parity.....and the best part is it still makes it viable for the lower budgets....which given the economy, isn't a bad thing.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! See ya all this week at the big go!!! Headed back to the Motorhome now.......

[Rollins_2241]

I don't buy either 1) or 3), because the real challenge is in MPH differential, not absolute MPH. Kicking out the slower cars would just mean the fastest cars have fewer chances to face a 20+ MPH closure rate, at which point the tortoise and hare become more equal.

The worst place you can be in a Super race is 10 MPH slower than everyone else on the ladder (funny, that's where I usually am in a 162 MPH dragster (8.20 all out) or 129 MPH door car (10.20 all out)). I can't do anything about my new "advantages" you claim if I'm on the sideline, and I'm fine with continuing to face the challenges I have now - it makes me a better racer, especially when I go back to ET racing. I also do NOT favor speed limits in Super classes for the same reasons.

As to 2) and 4), I can't speak for every racer or fan, but the MPH is only 4-5 slower on the stop than all out - it's the ET that may be attractive to Top racers. And I have yet to hear a fan say "they look weird and broke off the starting line, but I'd be a lot more interested if they looked broke for 2 seconds less".

Even if every point was unassailable, would it be worth closing the door to the lowest-budget racers when the goal of NHRA is to grow the sport?

[Michael Pliska]

As far as .90 class indexes (indices?) I say leave them alone, for all of the reasons said so far. If you want to change .90 racing then do away with timer-based stops, but I suppose that won't have any benefit to the NHRA sponsors

[Chris Williams]

Originally Posted by Michael Pliska

I suppose that won't have any benefit to the NHRA sponsors

Sponsors in Super class racing? Where?

[CBS]

Don't get too wound up on the index thing.....we just voted to put it up for a national Poll...I don't see it passing ( personally I don't care)....so you licensed racers make sure you vote when the time comes....SG and SC only SSt stays 10.90

How about the Scotty Rule.....you Super Street guys....sounds like most of you are against it.....I have only heard 1 that was for it....

Diapers are a good thing no matter what class....Its just a little difficult on some of the class cars to get one in there.....so they have to make sure it's doable....

How about some opinions on 1 double points meet per division....or a sportsnational coupled with a points meet.....

[Ron Finney]

1) I like the two races idea

2) leave the indexes alone..

3) Get the helmets back inside the cages!!!!

That's my 3 cents!