New AHFS 2011

[Bernie Cunningham]

Mike, that's my exact problem with the current 'setup'. I know it happened last year and I have a hard time believing that it doesn't affect the AHFS twice !!!

[Mike Carr]

True. I don't what, if any, amendments will be made for 2011.

Using my scenario of -1.20 and -1.40, last year, it would have received one hit, the standard 3.25% hit for ANY run, regardless of how quick. This year, -1.40 will receive a 7.25% hit. So in that sense, it would be better this year. IF they use a 'quickest run/most severe penalty' rule. Time will tell, I guess.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Bernie Cunningham

Mike, that's my exact problem with the current 'setup'. I know it happened last year and I have a hard time believing that it doesn't affect the AHFS twice !!!

Bernie, are you saying you think a combination should be hit twice if two different cars go 1.25 under on the same weekend?

[RJ Sledge]

If he's not, won't, I will. Hell yes, if two like combinations run far enough under at the same race/weekend that ENGINE combo should be hit twice.

RJ

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by R J Sledge

If he's not, won't, I will. Hell yes, if two like combinations run far enough under at the same race/weekend that ENGINE combo should be hit twice.

RJ

The problem with that is both cars are running "unadjusted" by the AHFS for that weekend. It's not like one car earns the AFHS adjustment, they get adjusted, then the second car goes out and earns another adjustment.

As much as some combinations need to be reigned in pretty quickly, two hits in one weekend is pretty unfair.

Example: Car 3xxx goes to Bowling Green and runs 1.25 under, while car 2xxx, the exact same combination, goes to Atlanta and goes 1.27 under. Either run would earn 4.25% under the new AHFS system. It certainly wouldn't be fair for them to hit that combination for 8.5%, because both cars were running in the "pre 4.25% AHFS adjustment" condition. It's not like one earned them 4.25% on Friday, they had to add the weight Saturday morning, and the second car went out and earned another 4.25% after adding the weight, or having to move up a class.

No, hitting the same combination twice in one weekend is too heavy handed, regardless of the combination. Yeah, most of the new cars need a lot of HP added to them, but it needs to be done fairly.

[RJ Sledge]

Alan you use the word "Fairly".......you kidding of course? What is fair about these combos that are "Fairly"?, rated at least 150hp under what they should be rated? Whats fair about that? If the AHFS is the answer (sic), why not let it work both ways? If a combo gets too much hp placed on it, then according to the AHFS, they could get hp taken off by not running so fast. It is suppose to work both ways, whats good for the goose.......now I think thats "Fair". You can't make a good agruement out of being "Fair" to the new cars, since this problem would not of come up without the total loss of what ever integrity the decision makers had. As Bernie said "just follow the money"

Fairly......yeah I got your Fairly!!

Later RJ

[Alan Roehrich]

RJ,
Just because the factories and NHRA did something wrong to us, that doesn't mean we have to sink to their level. That's the same reasoning some people use to justify the new cars.

How many times have you heard "well, GM had those under rated LT-1 cars, and then they got the LT-1 approved in the 98 Firebird, so we should get to screw the GM guys"? Or "payback is a beeyotch, you GM guys got over on us, so now we're going to get over on you"?

Do we REALLY want all of class racing to sink to THAT level? I don't.

We race an old school 69 Camaro in A/SA and AA/SA, so we have as much to lose to the new cars as anyone. But I wouldn't think it was fair if our combination got hit twice in the same weekend, so I'm not going to say it would be fair to anyone else, just because they race a new car. I can't bring myself to sink to that level.

Besides, let's be honest here. The AHFS is meaningless when it comes to the new factory race cars. All the factories have to do is change one or two blueprint specs every year, and they have a whole new combination. They don't even have to actually build cars anymore, they just have to put parts in the catalog and sell them. It's a new combination every year at the stroke of a pen. Anytime they get hit too hard, just get out the old pen and the catalog, and call NHRA.

[Jeff Teuton]

RJ, you are off your pills again.

[RJ Sledge]

Alan

I appreciate your and everyone else's passion and involvement with Class racing. I myself hate to see it come to an end as I have known it for 50 years. There have been changes both good and bad and in most cases I believe it made the sport better and stronger.

However, with the latest issue at hand, I believe that its just about over for the older car combos, especially the AA-H Classes. With the new Factory involvement (which I think is a positive move) it has become foolish to think that an older combo has any chance in a heads up/class run. Maybe this is what NHRA wants, all things do change, so maybe this is it.

I just find it hard to believe that with the way NHRA rules and the Factory cars dominate, that it will be possible to ever get a fair shake in the future.

I know that there are people who are writing, emailing and calling NHRA with the concerns of most Class racers, but it is a very small percentage. I appreciate you effort. Most of us just sit and do nothing, thinking its a waste of time and "Oh, somebody else is already contacting them". So in the end we get what we deserve.

I hope thats it not too late for NHRA to make the playing field level or at least not so one sided. I am 66 and I still enjoy most of everything associated with Class Racing. Merry Christmas to everybody

RJ