It's Time to combine

[Evan Smith]

Combine! With today's converter and automatic technology, there is not really a gap in performance, save for a few odd-ball cases.

Evan

[Andrew Hill]

I think there are a lot of people out there with automatic LS1s that wouldn't be happy about racing heads up with their stickshift counterparts, spotting them 230 lbs in B. This is one of the biggest examples, but there are some more like that. If they combine the sticks and autos, they need to make them the same HP, but then that would screw all the guys with powerglides. It sounds like a lot of work, so I doubt NHRA would want to do it.

[442OLDS]

In 2013, it will be OK for anyone running a 3 speed automatic transmission to run a 2 speed trans and if you have a 2 speed you will be able to run a 3 speed.




With rules like this,might as well run everyone in the same class with the same horsepower rating.

[Marty Knox]

Originally Posted by 442OLDS

In 2013, it will be OK for anyone running a 3 speed automatic transmission to run a 2 speed trans and if you have a 2 speed you will be able to run a 3 speed.

With rules like this,might as well run everyone in the same class with the same horsepower rating.

What about sticks? Will I be able to run a 4 speed if NHRA says my car (67 El Camino/230) only came with a 3 speed? You could get a 3 speed with overdrive with a 6 cylinder - how is that different than a 4 speed?

[Tony Janes]

What index will the combined cars get, the stick or automatic?

[Jeff Lee]

As I suggested a few posts down, Personally I wouldn't care if they took the slower or quicker or meet in the middle.

[Jeff Lee]

According to Nitro Joe's Stats (from 6/13/12 issue)

Stock / Stick racers: 115
Stock / Auto racers: 836
(RWD classes counted)
Only 13.76% of NHRA racers are Stock / Stick RWD

Super Stock / Stick racers in SS/A through SS/O: 29
Super Stock / Auto in SS/AA through SS/PA racers: 221
Only 13.12% of NHRA racers are Super Stock / Stick RWD

Super Stock / Stick racers in GT/A through GT/M: 31
Super Stock / Auto racers in GT/AA through GT/MA: 260
Only 11.92% of NHRA racers are Super Stock GT / Stick RWD

RWD classes that differentiate between transmissions counted; i.e., not showing SS/AH or Modified. I also didn't show SS/AAA or SSA/A or the truck classes because I don't even know what transmissions are allowed in these classes.

Also realize these numbers are higher because many racers, both stick & auto bounce up or down a class.

Bottom line, less than 14% of all Stock or Super Stock racers use a manual transmission.

[Ernie Neal]

Originally Posted by rx dealer

It's time for NHRA to combine the index for Auto and Stick classes in both stock and super stock. I'm running a stick car in super stock and i ran against an auto car in time trials, we both run in GTE. my index is 10.50 and his is 10.65 !! fair? Hell no and i have seen worse!

1. combine both auto and stick index
2. no weight breaks or penalty for auto or stick
3. keep it simple and fair

Thanks...Luke SS 311

Luke,
I somewhat agree with this. My son mentioned this at indy when he said we run about the same as the GT/CA cars but qualify much lower. I told him, the only way we could run with them now is the difference in the horsepower factor. It seems like 3 years ago they stopped hitting the horsepower on the sticks when an automatic car triggered it. I'm glad for that. With torque multiplication, trans brakes and radials, autos have taken the lead.
If you look at indy qualifing sheets this year, we are near the top in GT stick. The same guy built all the engines in my cars and the class winner in GT/CA
I say back off the GT stick indexes .1 and see if we stack up any better. Joining stick and autos will do away with sticks.
Why do you think a regular superstock runs GT? Answer: GT index helps them protect their horsepower factor, because it's lower.

Ernie Neal
SS 354

[Mart Jeltema]

./,

[Ed Carpenter]

Originally Posted by Ernie Neal

Luke,
I somewhat agree with this. My son mentioned this at indy when he said we run about the same as the GT/CA cars but qualify much lower. I told him, the only way we could run with them now is the difference in the horsepower factor. It seems like 3 years ago they stopped hitting the horsepower on the sticks when an automatic car triggered it. I'm glad for that. With torque multiplication, trans brakes and radials, autos have taken the lead.
If you look at indy qualifing sheets this year, we are near the top in GT stick. The same guy built all the engines in my cars and the class winner in GT/CA
I say back off the GT stick indexes .1 and see if we stack up any better. Joining stick and autos will do away with sticks.
Why do you think a regular superstock runs GT? Answer: GT index helps them protect their horsepower factor, because it's lower.

Ernie Neal
SS 354

That's why everyone running the 283/220 in a Chevy II runs GT/I,J instead of SS/J,K etc because the GT hp is 230 vs SS at 237.