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The problem is, if we were to decide to take a hit, it makes us less competitive with the combinations in the class that decide not to take a hit. (...) Records don't pay points or money, and they'll never pay nearly as much of either as you can win for winning a race.
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First, that goes back to the long-debated issues of the AHFS and the problems with how well combinations are factored. I've been saying for years now, take the years of data we have accumulated, and refactor EVERYTHING just once, right now, and then you could leave it virtually untouched for quite some time, and nobody would have to "protect their combo" anymore. The whole point of the AHFS is that if it's fast enough to get HP,
then the combo is not factored correctly in the first place. As usual, don't hate the player, hate the game, but until they change the game, people will continue to play the game... which is completely contrary to the performance enthusiast's goals.
Secondly, the point was made in regards to Records based on actually having a solid contingency program, so yes, Records would pay, possibly significantly. And hoping not to paint with too broad of a brush or offend anyone, but realistically the record-setter go-fast guy and the eliminator winner are not always the same guys. Man! Remember the cam wars? (I was born too late, but heard stories) Creating some *serious* incentives for both Class and National Records and then actually *marketing* them? I know, crazy talk...
Re: FWD cars going away... I think this happened for multiple reasons. The consolidating of the classes went overboard, creating weight breaks so spread out to the point that the weight differences would never be seriously considered for the upper-level 'regular' Stock classes. They could've consolidated the classes without cutting them THAT deeply. I think another major consideration, one that affected a significant number of slower RWD classes as well, was the elimination of Deep Staging. That decision was helped along by the "majority rules" thought process... and people wonder why there are so many cars 11-sec and quicker now.
"Careful what you wish for."
I won't rehash it here, but there were plenty of ideas posted earlier this winter about how to *reasonably* consolidate classes. But again, the majority didn't want anything to do with it, so you get something else handed to you.
Also something that I've promoted for years was simple *marketing* of the classes. Announcers have a considerable amount of control over the crowd, and they can leverage that. Presentation is key. I'll say it again: watch Larry Pfister's Horsepower Heaven videos, and love it or hate it, the *presentation* of PINKS All Out drew massive crowds and TV ratings to watch cars no faster and certainly not as unique as S/SS cars. And this conversation is nothing new. I remember talking about it in the '90s. Make the *choice* to market S/SS racing properly, and the sky is the limit.
$.02,