Re: What horsepower?
 

The reason the FI classes were merged back in is because the HP rating disparity had been reduced to a survivable level. Sure, they wanted to reduce the number of classes, but it had become reasonable to do so as well.

They did work. The fact that the FI cars eventually fell in line close to the rest is a testament to that.

I've been a fan of and an advocate for reducing the number of classes, at least in Stock, but the new cars have shown that there is a need for classes for "factory specials" or whatever you want to call the bogus combinations with absurd factors.

Re: What horsepower?
 

That is pure bunk. You are parsing words. The FI classes were implemented, they worked, and then the cars were brought back into the traditional classes. The FI classes served their purpose just like the FX classes can until the AHFS catches up and it will work for the upcoming motors that Ford has in the wings. The NHRA doesn't have Crate Motor classes, but they are allowing crate motors from Ford and Chrysler.

So what about the car counts. That has nothing to do with how many classes the IHRA has or doesn't have. It has to do with it is the IHRA and the NHRA has always been a bigger draw.

You have every right in the world to voice your opinion and I respect that. But it is no skin off your nose how the NHRA handles this one way or another. It is skin off my nose and it does affect me directly since I have to run these factory race cars heads up where you don't.

Re: What horsepower?
 

This is going to take some time to fix. This is no different than when Pontiac was the sponsor and the EFI Camaros and Firebirds were absolutely killing the fast "old school" cars. We have to hope that through this year's class racing the "egos" will get the best of the HP factor and these guys will race each other and factor themselves. We can never replace the technological advancements that will always keep our old cars behind, but we can continue to work on them to make them faster. I can't wait to see how fast they will be when some guys actually take them apart and "blueprint" all the detail work. The downfall of the Cobra jet is that if you go to the barn for a teardown, the majority of racers are out simply because they can't get it back together in the short time that follows teardowns that go until 9:00 pm. I know how fast Brian Phillips Firebird is and that poor guy got smoked at Indy. Not only can he make horsepower but also hit the tree. On top of all that, he is a great guy. All of us old school guys just need to keep working and hide your results a little.

Re: What horsepower?
 

There is a hugh difference between the GM, EFI cars of the 90's and what we have now, can we say 12.5 to 1 comp in some, not for sale for street use, under rated by as much as 100HP, just to start with. The GM EFI cars didn't roll of the line and Qualify #1 without first doing a stock elim. engine build/ blue print, and at the time they came out they may have been under rated 20 to 30Hp, at most. The reason there rated where they are now is from 15 years of R&D. this current crop of crate engine / factory race cars are running this good with very little R&D in most cases, sure there are a few that have worked on them, there are some that are straight from the dealer they were delivered to and are running a second under or more on these new indexes. So when somebody compares the two they just don't know or understand what is happening!!!!

Re: What horsepower?
 

Ruler, your on the money. Couldn't said it better myself!
Ernie Neal