Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick Butler
Billy, I think Alan has good points.
When there were 10 good motors in the 50s to race , racers were clumped together and the natural reward was the fastest(------) in the country.Sponsors loved it fans loved it and NHRA loved and USED it.
With 50 years worth of new combinations being created the sport has changed.
Business plan has changed due to the years and the numbers of combinations. The NHRA adopted a plan of accepting EVERY motor, Every chassis and even allowed GT which multiplied the places to fit your dream combination. RESULT:1) Every person who would build to the rule book any car out there can come and PAY entry somewhere.
Result 2) Statistically fewer cars per class and especially across the nation. Naturally harder to be the fastest (_____) in the country or OHIO or anywhere if only yours exists.
Result 3) NHRA cannot fit the large numbers of cars in a location for Class racing of 150 cars and find 100 class winners without a race of cars in a class. Hard on Sponsors, no spectator appeal and time consuming without value to anyone but the participant who gets to bring his comboand make a bye run for a trophy.
Result4) Being the most under the index becomes some peoples goals even if not racing anyone becomes a goal-- More bogus combos appear to stroke the egos of people who desire that result and NHRA provides the opening by not caring about the factor.Their goals are met, Someone pays to ENTER somewhere even if "racing " has been limited to bracket style eliminator.
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When you talk about years ago. You sound like there were no "oddball" combos out there in stock. For one I remember the Hudson Hornets. And I'm sure there were others that wouldn't meet your "pedigree" of a race car. That was before my time. In my time I've seen 4 cylinder Pintos, and 6 cylinder Mavericks FLY. They were not destined to be race cars from the factory. Someone saw the specs and figured it would work.
If you want "cookie cutter" cars go race the .90 classes, or prostock. Leave stock alone.
There will always be soft combo's. But anyone who wants to can go out and build them. But it's a whole lot easier to cry about them than to build them.
Back to Billy's original post. No mater what the number guys will sandbag it. The CIC race at BelleRose was a perfect example of it. If they went back and paid something, had more class win money, and put your picture in dragster it would give people the incentive to go a little bit faster. And then the competitiveness would kick in.