2011 ahfs

[Toby Lang]

Mark,

You're right about them adding divisionals and altitude tracks to the mix.

I understand that you and a lot of other people like to go fast. As you know, I have to run against the 340 Mopars. The 340 is a good combo, right? I believe you run a 340 also. It must be a good combo if you chose to build one as you like to go fast.

When was the last time the 340s got hit with HP? I could be wrong, but I don't think they've been hit since I've been running Stock. Then last year they made it even easier to protect the combo by making the triggers softer. With the new AHFS rules the 340s will probably never be hit. Awesome.

My car isn't slow, but it isn't fast either. I did go an 11.07 in F/SA in the first round of class at Phoenix in 2006. Then Mark Dickerson went 10.98 at 103 MPH to beat me in the final.

Diamond Jim is freshening the Whale motor this winter. He's going to try some new things. Hopefully it will pick up some.


-Toby

[Jason]

Originally Posted by CWhitney

Why doesn't NHRA just factor all the new cars with right HP. Then we would't be in this mess!

Only with new cars that are not yet accepted will this possibly happen. Once a car is in the classguide and has been given a horsepower rating it cannot be corrected because with the AHFS, NHRA's hands are tied. The first word in the AHFS is Automatic. That means the system has to do the figuring with on track data only. There is no wording in the AHFS that gives NHRA the power to correct what is blatantly underrated. Nowhere does the AHFS wording say that NHRA can add enough horsepower to correct a bogus combo on its own. The only change they can make is to give a combo less horsepower than on track performance shows via the AHFS.

[MikeFicacci]

How about making the AHFS quarterly instead of twice a year?

Races 1-6
7-11
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18-23

[Super Sport]

Originally Posted by Jason

Only with new cars that are not yet accepted will this possibly happen. Once a car is in the classguide and has been given a horsepower rating it cannot be corrected because with the AHFS, NHRA's hands are tied. The first word in the AHFS is Automatic. That means the system has to do the figuring with on track data only. There is no wording in the AHFS that gives NHRA the power to correct what is blatantly underrated. Nowhere does the AHFS wording say that NHRA can add enough horsepower to correct a bogus combo on its own. The only change they can make is to give a combo less horsepower than on track performance shows via the AHFS.

And who's fault is that?

[Mike Crutchfield]

Originally Posted by Barry Polley

Nice post Mark. You can come run T/S or T/D with us?? Kidding......

Thanks for the info Kent. Is it possible for us to see what data is being used for the changes implemented? Are they taking into consideration sub sea level conditions also? Maybe I missed it but where there surveys done on Class Racer or another site? I know it is too late for changes or opinions so I will stop here.

Barry
As far as I know, no nation wide surveys were done. Each division SRAC member gets input from there S/SS racers from emails or conversation at the races or phone calls. Emails are the most effective way to express your ideas and there is a written record. The problem with web site surveys are you get input from non-racers so in most cases these sites are used only for up-dates. The surveys NHRA conducted last year was met with almost no response. Keep in mind you can send your input to the S/SS committee direct by email or letter and it will be considered. If you do this I would suggest you copy you SARA member so he can refer to it later if it is considered.
A lot of the ideas I have read on this site including creating new classes were sent to us by other racers and discussed and were passed over by the NHRA committiee for a variety of reasons. Some of the main reasons were that they just don't have the help to get into a complicated system and don't have the budget to create and maintain it and the new classes were not wanted because of more pay out for the sponsors. I can tell you that the first proposed change was to make it so automatic that it would have been like comp. were one run by one person could have ruined a class combination forever and posted and effective on the following week.
Contrary to what most people believe NHRA is just like any other business, they are victums to the economy and they operate and make decisions in the best instrest of there business where we like it or not. I can't say I would do it any different if I was in there shoes.
What our role should be is to be sure we can keep them well informed with as much information to the needs of S/SS racers. That is what the SRAC council did with this policy. I would like to invite anyone with fresh ideas for future rules and policies to send them in email form to your division SRAC member. But keep in mind the door on AHFS is closed for a while (or as I said earlier) unless they change there mind.

Thanks
Mike Crutchfield
D2 S/SS SRAC Member

[Kent Hanley]

From what we have heard NHRA is reviewing the altitude adjusted indexes and we should know more shortly. As for the survey I know there we several including one I took through the staging lanes at the D1 LDRS Atco fall race.

Reminder the SRAC reps represent all racers including the racers that run the new cars. (No I don’t own one)

I think some racers are asking why wont NHRA single out the new Fords and Chryslers and put them into their own class??

I say some because there are those that based upon the NHRA rules went out and spent a lot of money on one of these new combinations.
Therefore their argument is, “why penalize me when I was just following the rules.” Which makes sense.

My PERSONAL guess is that:
1. How would you write the rule since some are carbureted, some are super charged ECT it’s not like the FI cars when they hit the track.

2. Is it fair to the racers who went out and spent the money on a new car based upon the existing rules?

3. Ford and Chrysler are 2 great manufactures who are investing lots of money in to our sport. Their investment is much more than in Stock and Super Stock. They sponsor cars and teams in TF, Funny Car and Pro Stock.
As we know fans come to see the Pros and with out these manufacture involvement I just wonder what sort of Pro fields we would really have.
So my personal guess is and this has never been said by anyone at NHRA to me but it makes common sense, “why bite the hand that feeds you”.

So instead of singling out a couple combinations (even if you could write a rule that would) modify the current AHFS to aggressively adjust the out of line combinations.

This is my opinion and I know this could get the entire keyboard racers all fired up and I don’t plan on debating it online.


Kent

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Kent Hanley

From what we have heard NHRA is reviewing the altitude adjusted indexes and we should know more shortly. As for the survey I know there we several including one I took through the staging lanes at the D1 LDRS Atco fall race.

Reminder the SRAC reps represent all racers including the racers that run the new cars. (No I don’t own one)

I think some racers are asking why wont NHRA single out the new Fords and Chryslers and put them into their own class??

I say some because there are those that based upon the NHRA rules went out and spent a lot of money on one of these new combinations.
Therefore their argument is, “why penalize me when I was just following the rules.” Which makes sense.

My PERSONAL guess is that:
1. How would you write the rule since some are carbureted, some are super charged ECT it’s not like the FI cars when they hit the track.

2. Is it fair to the racers who went out and spent the money on a new car based upon the existing rules?

3. Ford and Chrysler are 2 great manufactures who are investing lots of money in to our sport. Their investment is much more than in Stock and Super Stock. They sponsor cars and teams in TF, Funny Car and Pro Stock.
As we know fans come to see the Pros and with out these manufacture involvement I just wonder what sort of Pro fields we would really have.
So my personal guess is and this has never been said by anyone at NHRA to me but it makes common sense, “why bite the hand that feeds you”.

So instead of singling out a couple combinations (even if you could write a rule that would) modify the current AHFS to aggressively adjust the out of line combinations.

This is my opinion and I know this could get the entire keyboard racers all fired up and I don’t plan on debating it online.


Kent

the problem with any AHFS system is that there is a way around it for the most part. If you have a combo that will run 1.50 under, and you back it down to run .99 under ( by whatever means you chose you avoid the hits. Then you step it up just enough to win heads up rounds, and the hits will come much slower. Also remember that it takes 2 fast passes to trigger, not just one.

[Bob Pagano]

2. Is it fair to the racers who went out and spent the money on a new car based upon the existing rules?

Is it fair to all the cars that have 50-60-70 thou in their combo's Bad choice of words....Put them ALL in FX and in one year they will be ready for whereever.

Thanks Mike and Kent. With all the latest engine combos from Ford and Mopar being submitted to stock and superstock it will be a while before things get back to the norm. Talk about a runaway train.

[Craig Couris]

Unless there is something here I do not understand, where is the incentive to improve your combination? I believe this is going to tear the very fabric that defines the Eliminator.