The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Why is it that the fast guys are the ones who want to lower the indexes?

Lets have some fun, and let the real racing begin. Here is a very simple answer to this nagging problem.

1. Leave the indexes alone. The only thing they do is set the minimum performance standard for all classes

2. Eliminate the "trigger". There should be no trigger whatsoever. If someone wants to run it all the way out, they should be allowed to do so, without any penalty. Remember this is a performance category. This would also be beneficial as a safety thing since there is so much blatant braking at the finish line. (you should try running a slow car and see all the smoke at the top end by the fast guys) ( the only thing they get is a warning, over and over again) ( they ought to bounce a person automatically if there is smoke from the tires at the finish line)

3. If there is no trigger, then the fast guys are going to be on top, then all the individuals who keep saying that you need to try another class or get off the keyboard and work on your stuff, can do so themselves.

4. If you think someone is illegal because they really fly, then protest them for a specific thing or shut the hell up. Maybe you should work on your stuff.

5. During this time NHRA should be recording all incrimental times and be getting ready for the BIG Refactoring Party at the end of the year.

5. After about a year of this everything should be about panned out. The cheaters will have been caught, the crybabies will have had their tears dried up, the classes will be leveled out, the slugs will be gone, the bad asses will still be bad, the fields will be smaller, the sponsers will be happy, NHRA will have more time for the Pros, and you all will get what you wanted.

By the way when is NHRA going to give the sponsers a break on their contingency program?
And to all you fine individuals who keep pursuing the lowering of indexes, Screw All Of You.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA Bunch of self serving assholes.

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Hey Ron,

Where were you last Sunday? I finally make it out and I don't see you. I figure you were hiding. So I looked in the bathrooms, under the stands, under my truck, even Jim Wahl's trailer, but couldn't find you. I was going to check under Wahl's hood, but it was glued shut, and he had this giant animal with big teeth tied to it's bumper.

I also didn't bring any food, and made my son starve, all because I kept telling him about this legendary U/SA racer who makes famous snacks and how he feeds the whole track.:p

Oh, good post by the way. (Is it 5 o'clock yet?).

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Jim's slicks threw you off, you were trying to look in the wrong end of his car!

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

No, not this time. I spent a whole day around his black car trying to figure that out, until I realized his slicks were mounted on the wrong end:rolleyes:.

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Good post. Just 1 thing. Its hard to tell who goes fast because they work hard and spend money and those who just have a soft factor. Who will make that call. If I don't go fast, I can cry for hp off. If I go fast then i get hp and have to add wieght. I have worked very hard and spent a good amount of money on parts and testing. Now I go fast and should wait for the nhra big re factoring party. So I will run the same times as the guy that didn't work on his stuff or spend any time and money. Its a catch 22. I don't have the answer. Here's an example. Most feel Bill Hawks mustang(sorry bill) is the fastest b car out there. Yet he is smart and does not show it. Now the 396 camaros are going to get hp. (most likely) yet they can't run with the fords now. Anyway, I just like racing and hope it all works out. Gary Parker 1617 H/SA

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Gary, that wasn't a large animal with big teeth, it was Scott Helms with his shirt off! He kept screaming for beer and fried chicken and was scaring all the little children.Jim

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Well Said Gary !!!

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Excellent post Ron.

Who cares how far a car runs under, yes get rid of the trigger. What purpose does it serve anyway. Ladder would still look relatively the same & the beginner will still want to class race cause he can run the number. Lowering the index only hurts them not the guys at the top. We need more competitors,not less.

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Oooschh!! That's ugly. I think I'll park in the sticks next time. Or maybe that's why the Summerton's didn't invite us for lunch in fear that Scott would leave a bad impression on Andrew:eek:.

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Just what will lowering the indexes .2 do? Nothing! All it will do is run off the guys that are on a budget or have a combo that is "bad". Roy Dean & Harlan Updike have been running stock for years....they run about .1 to .2ths under...their good racers on a budget. My Dad is the same way...he has a car that in NHRA trim can run 15.40's on a 15.80 index...most of the time. But with the cost of fuel I'd say he'll be out once or twice this year. I make good money he dosen't so I foot part of the bill sometimes (he dosen't know that) just so he can race...this is an expensive thing we do & lowering the indexes don't help anybody! Hey think of it this way IF ya draw one of these guys in the late rounds you have pretty much a by run! Be carefull what ya ask for ya just might get it...& if we have 30 stockers show up It won't take long till their is NO stock!

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

I too don't see what lowering the indexes will do to help anyone. It's a bracket race if you are not racing someone in your class and if you are it's a duck walk if you are a second under and they are just barely running the index. Make no difference to me but I can think of a couple of good racers that will be staying home.

Re: The answer to indexes, and performance.
 

Gary Parker, you have a very valid point, and I see where you arer coming from. But with the recording of all incrimental times it would be easy to filter out that problem. The guys with the fast cars lift early and still can predict their 1/4 mile ET times due to the incrimental factor of their previous runs and that particular run. By lifting they protect their HP factor, and still know how fast they are. But with the incrimental recording, so will NHRA know.

If the trigger is eliminated, everyone can run it out the back door. Sure, we'll see who the really fast guys are, but it does'nt matter if they are. This will put the whole Stock category where it needs to be. Lifting on a run to protect yourself is an embarrasment to the sport. Stock is a performance based category, let it be a performance category.

Lets say someone is really flying. The others in his class are told to work harder on their combos if they want to keep up. It takes money to do that, you are not going to get under the hood and start tweaking stuff and pick up that 2 tenths needed to keep up. No, your going to have to open up that wallet and get better stuff. Sure, spend $5,000 to pick up four hundreths, maybe add another $3,000 for another two hundreths. Hey, I've got a message for all you out there with that I've got money attitude, work on your stuff, pick another class, or go home. First get your nose out of the clouds, remove your head from your rectum, and spend that money by protesting the guy that is flying. Is he legal to be going that fast? Probably not. If he is though, maybe you might want to look around and buy some intelligence and applicability techniques, because that probably is the difference, not the money.

After about a year everything will pan out. The legal fast guys will be on top where they should be, the illegal ones will be out, NHRA will see the data and make the corrections to bogus combos, and the fields should be getting pretty level.

And what about the ones that are'nt fast like myself? Well, I need to start my application theory, start working on my stuff harder, spend my little bit of money wisely, and most of all, avoid liked classed cars in eliminations.

Bottom line, eliminate the trigger and lets have some fun again.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA Please send cash.