Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich
Not many people grasp the concept Ed.
I said two years ago that what would happen is the factories could literally have "paper engines" that they never even had to assemble as prototypes or even make anything but blocks, cranks, heads, and intakes for.
With the new rule, the factories could actually let a racer go through their catalog and create an engine out of part numbers, then the factory can submit the "engine" with an arbitrary low ball power rating.
This new rule means it does not cost the factories more than about $500 to create a "new engine" any time they want one. They pay a guy to fill out some tech sheets and submit them to NHRA. And all they have to do is make ONE change in the cam or piston specs, and it is a different "engine". And they don't even have to make a single part.
Even if NHRA said "send us a piston", the factory could just say "we're buying them from XYZ pistons, we'll have them send you one" and have "XYZ pistons" make a dozen, and submit an "original" and their "race version" to NHRA.
Pandora's box is wide open now. Who knows what will come out next.
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Alan, I think your pretty dead on with this, however I tend to look at both sides of the argument.
Back "in the day" factories got involved and the war was on. It got so wild they eventually spawned the FX classes then funny car. Very innovative times. For YEARS everybody on here or involved in class racing bemoaned the fact that S/SS is being abandoned and "wouldn't it be awesome if factories got involved again".
Well, they have.
And in a big way.
I'm not disagreeing with you, I think you hit it dead on. I only look at the bigger picture and see while there are certainly downfalls with paper cars and engines flying into the guide, there will be other larger benefits. Just being on the radar screen so-to-speak is huge! The fact that they are building cars and engines FOR COMPETITION right at the factory is eye popping if you look back say 10 years ago.
Once the big set ups are commonplace perhaps the smaller combo's/engines will be given more attention too.
The old combo's will be "playing against the house" and we know who wins there....that said though, there still hasn't been a runaway in wins for the new stuff on national or div level.