[Robert Swartz]

This is a very interesting and engaging topic. I find it even more interesting, since most of the ones debating this, have won open,divisional, and national races, likely within both major organizations. On top of that many have or do currently hold national records within said organizations. And many of you have no doubt built numerous cars, both for yourselves and others. I respect your thoughts and opinions.

Now what about the rest of us. My concern, if you kick the indexes by .5 to 1 second. I can live with that, it's going to make those of us starting with new combos, have a more difficult road to getting a car to a "competitive" level. My definition of competitive is getting the car to run the index or a little below. Once that barrier is breached, your real work begins. I am going to approach it from a "bracket racer" mentality. The index gives me that option.

When the index system was born in the 70's. That was it's purpose. To allow us to build cars. How many on here were part of the old system? I well remember how, when we ran off the national records, how much you had to work on a car to get it to run. Having the ability to set a record, wasn't something you took lightly. Back then I was young and didn't have the drive to do it, myself. I worked with a couple of people that did and we worked alot!

The flip side of the old system. Some combinations of cars, just couldn't run, period. Or, you might have a good car in your part of the country, some guy 1000 miles away, gets a couple solid runs in really good air, kills the record. All you have is either A) an expensive, restrictive bracket car or B) a really nice pile of junk that you can't race anymore. The system at present, may be imperfect but I don't see an alternative.

You either punish individual combinations, which could mean seperating cars. One person could run the combo and someone that makes it go faster gets the HP hit. Or, you enact a system that punishes the combination and we're back to the old system. Many cars, probably will get parked.

I realise, no real answers, just my thoughts on the subject. As many on here have stated, Stock and Super Stock are not for everyone.

Robert Swartz