Ladder For Class Eliminations ?

[Daran Summerton]

I can speak from experience about class at Indy, odd number of cars, the lowest qualifier gets the bye first round. I have NO issue at all with this. However odd number of cars for second round is a coin flip not the second lowest qualifier. Everyone is bagging and don't want to trigger if possible. This NEEDS TO BE IN THE RULE BOOK!!!!!!!


Lowest qualifier is a gentlemans rule --- However, NHRA tech gets involved in the lanes and everyone will flip -- ask me how I know.

The ladder would be great but...... Who's gonna do it? What kind?

[art leong]

Back in the 70's it was always a you pick it situation for the bye run. I remember in 1980, we drove up there first and nobody else would come in. The guy that ran staging got so upset after waiting 20 minutes he gave us the bye run. And the rest is history

[thomas sheehan]

just my opinion......

fastest guy (really doesn't care) - but wants the bye run (because he's the fastest).
2nd fastest guy - doesn't want to run fastest guy (so he wants a ladder - to avoid fastest guy).
3rd fastest guy - (in large class).... see 2nd fastest guy
slowest guy - wants to run one of the other slower cars

I hate the idea of a ladder for class.
I've been in the lanes at INDY for over 30 years.... it's not a big deal!

Just come up to the lanes and flip coins, draw cards, whatever it takes.....
The rules (as they are now) don't support any other way.

Each class will figure it out for themsselves.

again.... "just my opinion"

[Bryan Worner]

Originally Posted by thomas sheehan

just my opinion......

fastest guy (really doesn't care) - but wants the bye run (because he's the fastest).
2nd fastest guy - doesn't want to run fastest guy (so he wants a ladder - to avoid fastest guy).
3rd fastest guy - (in large class).... see 2nd fastest guy
slowest guy - wants to run one of the other slower cars

I hate the idea of a ladder for class.
I've been in the lanes at INDY for over 30 years.... it's not a big deal!

Just come up to the lanes and flip coins, draw cards, whatever it takes.....
The rules (as they are now) don't support any other way.

Each class will figure it out for themsselves.

again.... "just my opinion"

Well said Tommy!!

[Jeff Teuton]

Ladders would stop some the rush to draw, pull or whatever. Good story No 1. Last year or the year before in C/SA everybody was busy avoiding pulling into the lane. Since I was the slowest by 4 or 5 tenths I pulled in and was wondering who wanted the turkey. They the drawing started. The first didn't go according to plan, so then the drawing started again. I just waited for the last one. Someone miscounted. I had no drawing. Hell I thought I would just take the bye. Then someone noticed the paring wasn't to their liking since nobody claimed the turkey. So now we draw again. I think ladders would stop that. Nitro can handle any ladder and solve all that crap. I would donate to the cause and I will be happy to send this immediately to the SRAC as well as Graham Light who has the final say. There will be no bye's for breakage or most anything else unless odd number. Nitro Joe can handle all this. He been doin it for the Hemi guys for some time as well as a bunch of other events. What yall think?

[Andys dad]

Hey Jeff I submitted a request to the SRAC and sent a letter to the Competition department. I just asked that they establish the method to be used. That alone might stop all of the BS, bickering and positioning in the staging lanes. But nothing happened

It is a simple matter to have a ladder from NHRA. They have a list of the cars in each class. I appreciate Nitro's offer but NHRA should do it.

First and foremost the method to be used should not be up for grabs. It should be clearly in the rules - just like lane choice. Whether its a ladder or coin flip or cards or ...

The rules actually do not say anything about what should be done. Hell at Fontana the staging guy was going to use how we pulled up until we pointed out some had been there a long time - we were just off to the side in the back out of his line of sight.

Must be a tough decision since it has been this way forever

[Bernie Cunningham]

Originally Posted by thomas sheehan

just my opinion......

fastest guy (really doesn't care) - but wants the bye run (because he's the fastest).
2nd fastest guy - doesn't want to run fastest guy (so he wants a ladder - to avoid fastest guy).
3rd fastest guy - (in large class).... see 2nd fastest guy
slowest guy - wants to run one of the other slower cars

I hate the idea of a ladder for class.
I've been in the lanes at INDY for over 30 years.... it's not a big deal!

Just come up to the lanes and flip coins, draw cards, whatever it takes.....
The rules (as they are now) don't support any other way.

Each class will figure it out for themsselves.

again.... "just my opinion"

Yea, I reckon Tom has it right too !!!!

I've been involved with many class run-offs with car counts from 2 thru 12. The ladder is too structured because it's pure pleasure to see a slow guy either get a buy or race somebody that he can possibly beat, in any round. If ya the fast guy, why would ya want the bye 1st. rnd. anyhow when ya sitt'en there all hopped up ???

I carry pairs of cards in me console with a joker for the bye (if needed). The hardest part is getting everybody in the same place to draw 'em when there's a bunch of 'em !!!!

Still my favorite system after all these years. Been the slow guy and the fast guy ????????