New class structures
 

Just a few thoughts.Probably not feasible but what the hell

Top Fuel:
428 CI max 2 engines per race
1 Mag
1 Spec pump
80% nitro

F/C
400 CI max 2 engines per race
1 Mag
1 Spec pump
No more Bat Cars-Body reverts to specs of 70s bodys w/spoilers allowed for safety.

Here's something different.T/F and F/C 28 car fields.That means 3rd rd bye.but the new rules should cut down on time consuming oildowns.


Pro Stock
358 CI
FI
Manufacturer engine Ford/Ford GM/GM Mopar/Mopar

PSB-No changes

Alcohol Dragster no more-Lower cost of Fuel makes them switch to T/F
Alcohol F/C-Same as Alcohol Dragster

Comp becomes top sportsman classes at nationals-No T/S or T/D

S/C-S/G-S/St run all nationals-Entries depend on track curfew schedule time frame.

S/SS-80 car fields when no class and 100-120 depending on that curfew schedules.

Last but not least.No a$$holes shooting shirts into stands.no Evel Knevel wannabes
riding on front wheel.(unless they fly off and smooch their mugs on the asphault.

Please feel free to add any suggestions.Some changes really need to be made to save our sport.

Bill D. your suggestions are welcomed too.Gary also,as long as Bush,Republicans and the 2%ers are left out.

Re: New class structures
 

It's a really good start as far as the pukers go I like the changes you mentioned not sure if it would be necessary to decrease the cid, but what the heck why not I guess. As far as PS I don't think that would go over very well, that was tried one before with the PS trucks which I thought was a very cool class. The only problem was NHRA and the fans that only like racecars that prolapse half way doing the track didn't think so and we all know what happened to that class.

Re: New class structures
 

Okay Ed I like your fuel ideas. Some people like running alcohol though, and I love comp ts/td is okay but I enjoy comp alot better. Ideas are good though would be cool 28 car fields.

Re: New class structures
 

Ed I like it....1 thing...how about 408 inches for Pro Stock with small blocks being 200Lbs lighter?

Re: New class structures
 

Here's something different.T/F and F/C 28 car fields.That means 3rd rd bye.but the new rules should cut down on time consuming oildowns

What I would like is to see 20, 24,28, or whatever, fields, and instead of a ladder like they have now, with possible predetermined outcomes (1 and 2 can't meet till the finals etc) after first round it becomes the low et of each round meeting the high et, 2nd lowest meets second high, etc. If there is a bye in elims, the car with the lowest et average for the race gets it.

Re: New class structures
 

Just get rid of the damn delay boxes for Top Sportsman and all the electronics/timers for the .90 cars. If ya cant drive......take up golf.

Re: New class structures
 

In Ed's idea, if the Pro Stock seem to "run out of motor" they can be switched to 1000 foot also. Possibly the PSM?

Just thinking like Ed is.

Re: New class structures
 

Your Pro Stock proposal sounds like Australian Pro Stock

http://www.draglist.com/draglist/cat...EAR%2CMPH+DESC

Re: New class structures
 

The NHRA needs to wake up in Pro Stock, EFI is the answer. Carbs are a thing of the past. A raised hood, and injectors. The cars will actually look more like a stock appearing vehicle.

Re: New class structures
 

Very interesting concept proposed. I would also suggest blower size reduction and same cid for both fuel catagories. Like bringing bodies back to something looking like an automobile again. Would also suggest a reshuffling of Sportsman ranks. Could put S/C into Comp , bring back Street/Modified Eliminator to include some full bodied cars from Comp and the S/G and S/St cars . Sticking point would be whether or not to allow current stumble starts of .90 cars. Any changes would need to be phased -in so as not to bankrupt competitors and parts manuf/suppliers ,

Re: New class structures
 

Holy Moly,10 posts and everybodies in sync.Maybe there is hope for us after all.Keep it up.

Re: New class structures
 

Actually some pretty good Ideas.

Average fans (more importantly prospective fans) need to relate to the cars more.

Cost needs to come down

Less down time

I like it.

Re: New class structures
 

Once the "new" rules are in place, put a 2-year moratorium on any performance-affecting rules changes. I get tired of seeing NHRA shooting down effective new combos as soon as they display their effectiveness. Case in point; Brad Perssonnett struggled for YEARS to engineer an effective turbocharged powertrain for his Pro Mod, and never won a race. As SOON as he won ONE RACE (the Indy U.S. Nationals) there was a lot of talk about reducing the size of his turbos... ONE RACE.

I think he may have won another one since then, but I read where NHRA actually did reduce the size of those turbos like from 90's to 88's... after he won two races.

I think that's ridiculous; where are these people when a 2008 supercharged Mustang AA/SA goes 145 mph in AA/SA???

There are some more turbo Pro Mods in testing, right now for this new season, but if NHRA defeats them with new, restrictive rules before they ever hit the track, I think it will put a damper on new development.

There needs to be a period of time when people can count on the rules staying the same for awhile, to give them a chance to work on their combinations. Two years would make sense, to me.

The AHFS, such as it is, would be exempt from this...

Re: New class structures
 

On this we agree. But even a full year before a change would be a move forward.
I was tossed for an infraction (to little deck height). a month after they tossed me they changed the rule. I never got even a hint of an apoligee. After I spent $300 correcting the supposed infraction.

Re: New class structures
 

Ed... Let me get this straight. You want to eliminate TAD/TAFC and combine them with TF & FC. You want them to toss their $80-100 grand operation into the toilet and start from scratch. Their motors are completely different. Not to mention their pit crews. There's only so many T/F crews out there. BTW, I would just love dragging my stuff around to these races because the big sponsors would stay with the cars/people they already have leaving everybody else with absolutely no chance of winning. Pro Stock would encompass the same thing.
You want everyone with the exception of sportsman racers and the richest people in drag racing to en cure no out of pocket money just the low end of the professional ranks to foot the tab. Oh, I get it, you were kidding right.

Re: New class structures
 

Hey....Thats a GREAT idea. Why didn't I think of that ! lol

Re: New class structures
 

No,I was serious as a heart attack.A lot of the dragsters are injected fuel combos already.
In TA/FC after Frank,everybody else is racing for R/U at a race and #2 in the country.
You'll probably lose some teams.How many competitive teams are in T/F now?How many in F/C?Backing down the fuel cars will open up the amount of cars to fill 28 car fields and maybe make the racing closer and what NHRA wants,more entertaining.After all we're in the entertainment business now.
The budgets would get smaller with the backing down of power and the use of only two engines per race.
Uh,alcohol cars aren't pros,they're supposed to be the top of the sportsman ranks.
I assume that you're either an owner/driver/crew member on an alcohol team.Sorry if you took offense to what I proposed,because it will never happen anyway.
BTW speaking of incurrung expenses.The rest of us lowly sportsman pay into your purse
money.I think we deserve a tip of the hat for that.Your welcomed.

Re: New class structures
 

Both Alky class were design as a minor league system to replenish the major echelons of our sport but now due to the high cost of competing or moving up mostly caused by multiple team ownership with crazy budget, it's no longer possible for them to have a chance to move up as the gap between AA/FC and A/FC has reach unsurmountable proportions. This way someone like Frank Manzo could move up(Parody: just imagine if LeBron James was still playing High School Ball instead of moving up to the pro's, of course he would dominate). Let's nominate Ed as Chairman at NHRA, he wouldn't have to show up but only once a month and could probably cure most of NHRA malignant cancer. You got my vote, maybe have Terry help with the CJ & Challenger Classification. CR

Re: New class structures
 

LOL....you dont want me to go there....they would ALL be in S/S with the correct HP factor.

Re: New class structures
 

Yes I would.And my first action would be to retire Danny and make a certain fellow from the mountains of East central Pa. national tech director.And Graham's new job would be getting coffee every morning for the new director.

Re: New class structures
 

Seriously Terry why doesn't NHRA classify DP's and CJ's in a class such as FA/SA for Factory A/SA problem solved. This way present A/SA would still be able to compete with no ill effect on their combination. I sure miss the PURE stock idealogy of 1972 . I know that Jeff Teuton and many others could make a Little Red Wagon run 1.50 under if they wanted to, you can't beat dedication and Mr Teuton goes to the front of the line in that department. I love to see new blood and new cars but it shouldn't be to the detriment of others who have toiled for years on some combimation to be overtaken over night by an injust HP classification. Say what you want about generation 3 and 4 of Camaro they were all street cars(Body in white but no powerglides and 650hp+ like some power plant available in new cars not even registrable with any DOT departments) 305 to 350 cu. 145 hp to 330hp . You could have at least five different classes without harming any old combination. Come on NHRA wake up.

Re: New class structures
 

How should I know.....I havent worked for NHRA since 1975 ! I gave them up and worked for IHRA for over 22 years. The question is how did NHRA put them get in the guide in the first place and with such a F##KED HP rating. As Jeff goes and dont take this wrong its called MONEY ! They are a bunch of good guys and Jeff is among one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet but how many could dent their car a couple of days ago and have it looking new already and ready to race? Owning your own dealerships (as in several) with body shops has its advantages.

Re: New class structures
 

How can Danny retire you have to work to be able to retire for someone other than your self! Bruce should go also as he is just a Danny yes man!

Re: New class structures
 

We're getting away from the intent of the subject.This was started to figure out how to make the classes more racer and fan friendly,not an extension of the DP/Mustang
fiasco.
There were some posts for alternative ideas.Let's hear some more.

Re: New class structures
 

No Problem Ed, I'd rather talk about drag racing anyway.... :)

Your Top Fuel and Funny Car ideas can include a return of 1/4 mile racing, and if those figures you listed will slow them down a bit, then that would be cool...don't ya think?

As For Pro Stock, I like your addition of FI, but (since I haven't forgotten about Buddy Ingersols '87 Buick Regal GNX), I'd like to see Turbo Charged V6's included in that too.

I'd like to see T/S & T/D go away tpp(we don't really need Super Comp & Super Gas on steroids do we?), and MODIFIED ELIMINATOR come back! I miss those B/SM Mustangs & Mavericks, duking it out (as well as those also cool C/SM Chevy II Nova's...didn't Garley Daniels drive on of them?).

As for our classes, I'd like to see our .30 added back! If singleton runs for class have to run against other cars/classes, then they do it off of dial in's not indexes (with breakouts involved)...under Glendora's new rule, only those with the money to severely outrun their indexes will likely win with this inconsiderate new "no-breakouts" rule. Moreover, if rwd stockers can have wheelie bars, then fwd cars can have them too...geez with my front end staying level, I might gain a tenth on my 60ft's...Imagine that??? Oh, and one more thing, if you race an engine that was both built with a carb and f.i., then you would be able to run either combo consistent with the specs for the original set-up...meaning I could ditch my f.i. system on my '86 engine, and replace it with an oem early '80's carbureted one instead (with the appropriate wiring harness to boot)...then I could ditch my Calmap, and go back to my screw drivers and wrenches....THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!! :)

I'd finally like to see a Div. 8 (and possibly a Div. 9) added to reduce the geographic sizes of Div's 4, 5, 6, & 7, with more focus on reducing the lower 48 states geographic sizes, and allow those northern most Div.s to have a lower American base to encompass the bordered Canadian Provinces.

Bring back the acceptance of Aviation Fuel to the Sportsman classes!!!

Now what do you think of those ideas Ed....btw, considering how we differ on other things, I'm honored that you singled me (and Bill D.) out in your request for input here.

Re: New class structures
 

no tad/tafc
stk/ss no 4 or 6 cyls, no fwd cars
TF AND FC
1000 CI
100% NITRO
BIG BLOWNER

PRO STOCK
1000 CI
FUEL INJ.
FLAT HOOD
TURBO (2)

lets see where the real drivers are
track to short to bad
maybe one race a year bonneville salt flats

ed you want the teams to spent more money on new rules
but you do not have the money to spent on your car

Re: New class structures
 

No six cylinder cars Huh Vic.I'm gonna kick yo ***** grandpa.:>):>)

Re: New class structures
 

I like the idea of one or two more divisions.You Div. 4 and 5 guys are really in a bind
having to do allthat traveling just to do divisionals.Maybe the board could take a slight pay cut to pay for the setting up and maintaining the new division operations.
Did I really say that?

Re: New class structures
 

You did! And it's about as likely to happen as a fair red light rule....

Re: New class structures
 

I think to help the fuel cars start by requiring the same block for the whole race maybe go to a smaller fuel pump and limit blower overdrive.
Pro Stock It may be time to go to fuel injection. Other than that I feel Pro Stock is fine.
Alcohol classes I have no idea what to do with them. Maybe they need to be included in the one block rule. When I started following drag racing the alcohol cars were not having to go thru engines every pass and you seen alot more cars showing up then. They need to real in the cost.

Re: New class structures
 

Take away the blowers all together in the alky classes or go back to the old 6-71's. . No nitro injected either. The class is called "Alcohol". The NHRA blower rule is causing all of the destruction and oil downs.