Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

I'd rather have a guy that's late than one who uses a liberal interpertation of the rules,especially if he is in the same class as me.Nice try blowing off the fact you got vacation time to "work on your car.

Ed F.

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Yep Charlie you right, I gave you a round that time for sure (I looked it up in my log). You know I can live with this new rule, if it isn't changed, it still is a bad rule. What I don't understand is why you can't seem to be able to live with FWD cars? Our classes are here to stay, we have already had our cut. Will you be able to live with what enhancements are coming for you? One pound classes? Combining sticks and autos? FWD is here to stay, get over it! Jim

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

You missed the point. I said "what about the guy who travels 1200 miles and nobody else shows up in his class" ?
If that guy runs 1.5 under or .51 under it's a moot point, if nobody shows up in his class, he's the class winner. Period. And for that, he should have the honor of being allowed to race Indy.
Indy has more presitge then any other race in NHRA. It has always been run like this. And I think Chip "The Legend" hit the nail right on the head. Those that can check book there way to a 1.00+ under still can't be assured they are a class winner so this is tere solution.
And just so you know, I raced a A/FS (that's front wheel drive, stick) that ran as quick as 1.70 under. I think that would have been close to #1 qualifier in Indy the years I raced that car. My D/S Stocker was good for as much as 1.30 under. I'm sure that would be a top ten at the least. And now I have a SS/H that's run only .78 under. So I've seen both ends of the spectrum and it doesn't change my opinion one bit.
One other thing, and maybe somebody that knows can help. I believe in D/S there was only one entrant in Indy last year. So looking at a non-FWD car, if this lone D/S car didn't run fast enough to qualify under the new rules then he also is penalized and sent home. I think if you take a look at all the classes you'll find numerous lone entries at Indy for many years back. I'd bet many are stick cars.
Without a doubt, this new policy will create a field of Camaro's (or whatever the toy is in town). This is NOT good for our class!

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Try this on for size.
Say there is 12 cars in a class and a .75 under car with a bye, some luck and exceptional driving wins the class.
Guess what, with the new format he will be handed a ticket home instead of a place on the ladder!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Jeff and Bill, What Charlie is saying is the rule should only be enforced on FWD cars not RWD. That way when he races again with a LEGAL engine and the car only goes .80 under he will still be alowed in. Read his post. I mean everyone know those pesky cars are the route of all evil. Jim

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

You guys have got it all wrong when it came to how the 128 car Stock and S/S fields at Indy use to work.

Qualifying was to see who got in the empty spots AFTER Class Winners were seated. The rule then changed making it necessary for Class Winners to run at least .5 under the index (unless there were two or more cars racing in your class) to be automatically seated in the field. Those who did not win their class were merely fill-ins for the rest of the 128 car field based off of their qualifying times. Class Winners were not bumped in. Class Winners were seated and it was the quickest of the qualifiers who lost in class eliminations who were bumped in. If you were not qualified quick enough after losing class, you were the one who went home.

Looks like all that has changed.

Travis


(Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Good post, Travis. The class winners were not the bump-ins, the non class winners were.

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

First off, unfortunately I do not race NHRA S/SS classes. I am someone that has been a fan and follower of "stocker" racing since the early 60's. Growing up in central Kentucky, door cars have always been my following. We just didn't have many dragsters and funny cars to follow in our area. But the stockers (409s,427s,413s,421s etc) were great excitment. I always dreamed of being able to race Stock or Super Stock at the US Nationals. As years pasted and choices were made, I never seemed to get to that point. Being a class "Winner" at the US Nationals was a very special honor. I can remember being at Beech Bend after Dickie Ogles won his class with the Stagecoach and the respect everyone had for them. I can see both sides of this and really don't have an answer. Travis has an excellent point, how it all started. If I had a car that would run 1.0 under and lost in class and didn't get into the field because of a Class Winner that was .51 under, I would be upset. If I had a .51 under car and was able to win a class by out driving a faster car and won and didn't get in I would be upset too. One point I do see hear is that if the S/SS guys don't stick together, you'll be on the out side looking in. I just returned from a race at Route 66 yesterday that cost me $1500. to attend and when looking on the internet coverage, the lower class got very little mention or pics. All organizations cater to the "big boys" and we are at their whim. Mark Y. I hope I didn't say anything to get me kicked off here. Just ramblings of an old guy that loves stocker racing.
Jim Netherland
2007 NMCA Nostalgia Super Stock World Champion
B/NSS 67 Buick GS 400

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Used to be Bob!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: if wally was'nt dead this woulda killed him
 

Had they pulled that illegal piston, would they have found it was too light? Gas ports? Ring lands to thin? I always have to wonder if a guy would take the effort to cheat .020" on one part, why would he stop there? I mean, once the piston is illegal, why stop on one area? And if .020" doesn't matter, why would you do it? You have to special order pistons that are not to the rules, don't you? Did the manufacturer place their stamp on the top or did you take care of that issue?
And if FWD was incorporated as a regular stock class, would that mean some ofthese fast FWD cars would be in your O/SA class? Is that the issue?