INDY (still the best.... but....)

thomas sheehan · 09-03-2012, 08:19 PM

I'll start this off by saying I love racing at INDY.

but.....

Here were two common complaints from numerous (stock and ss) competitors at this years race.
NO.. NOT THE WEATHER.

#1 - Trying to get 170+ racers paired up for class eliminations is a complete joke. Who dreamed this "ladder" system up for class. It just doesn't work at this race. The NHRA crew can't handle it... just send everyone down their class lane and let the racers handle it like they did for the last 50 years. if you think it worked so well.... you weren't there.

#2 - The "Artificial Cooling" police were on high alert (in the staging lanes). Anyone "caught" with ice bags were told to leave the lanes, or get them off. No "chillers" allowed in the lanes either. Chillers I can understand... but ice bags have been around for years. If someone screws up and leaves ice on (and spills it on the track), dq 'em. Don't bust everyone's balls for cooling an intake like they have done before.

ps... you could park on the road just outside the lanes and cool all you wanted (chillers or ice)!!! Now, guess how many cars want to run up there and line up in the lanes while everyone else gets to cool down back outside the lanes. This will cause major backups just outside of the lanes.... major issue!

Ed Wright · 09-03-2012, 08:49 PM

Tom, how about all the frigging bald spots? Worst starting line I've been on in some time.

thomas sheehan · 09-03-2012, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Tom, how about all the frigging bald spots? Worst starting line I've been on in some time.

Ed.... yes there were some. I just went around them.... no problem...lol

Don Whitmore · 09-03-2012, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas sheehan

I'll start this off by saying I love racing at INDY.

but.....

Here were two common complaints from numerous (stock and ss) competitors at this years race.
NO.. NOT THE WEATHER.

#1 - Trying to get 170+ racers paired up for class eliminations is a complete joke. Who dreamed this "ladder" system up for class. It just doesn't work at this race. The NHRA crew can't handle it... just send everyone down their class lane and let the racers handle it like they did for the last 50 years. if you think it worked so well.... you weren't there.

#2 - The "Artificial Cooling" police were on high alert (in the staging lanes). Anyone "caught" with ice bags were told to leave the lanes, or get them off. No "chillers" allowed in the lanes either. Chillers I can understand... but ice bags have been around for years. If someone screws up and leaves ice on (and spills it on the track), dq 'em. Don't bust everyone's balls for cooling an intake like they have done before.

ps... you could park on the road just outside the lanes and cool all you wanted (chillers or ice)!!! Now, guess how many cars want to run up there and line up in the lanes while everyone else gets to cool down back outside the lanes. This will cause major backups just outside of the lanes.... major issue!

Tom...I agree.

@ your #1: The lanes on class SS elim day were nuts...never seen it like that - plus, once cars were paired and got in line, you had a SS/DA pair followed by a SS/JA pair followed by whatever...making it hard for the fans to understand and follow.

@ your ps: Traffic outside the lanes equally crazy...cars backed up down around the oval.

KRatcliff · 09-03-2012, 10:08 PM

Maybe I am missing something, but the class ladder didn't appear problematic to me. I didn't hear anyone in our class complaining about it at all. I think our group liked it ok, but someone might chime in with a different opinion.

The cooling police didn't say anything to us in Stock, but they came with riot gear during Super Stock class. Ed gave us a heads up about it and saved us a lot of grief.

I haven't been to that many national events, but I was very disappointed with the starting line. My car never spins and it was so bad that the left side gave way and I nearly crossed the center line my first round of class. They had to tip me over to get me unstuck from my seat after that run.

I am not sure this was the starting line problem, but there seemed to be a lot more killer stick shift cars at this race than others I have been to. Yeah, Stubbs, I am calling you out! Ha!

boostedf22c · 09-03-2012, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Tom, how about all the frigging bald spots? .

No kidding. What the hell was up with that?

Ed Wright · 09-03-2012, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas sheehan

Ed.... yes there were some. I just went around them.... no problem...lol

I had nobody to spot me, could not seem to miss them until first pass the second day, (Q 3) when it hooked, hit wheelie bars and shifted before the tree, then swallowed #4 intake valve when I clicked it off. Not my week. LOL

travis sturgell 3339 · 09-03-2012, 10:42 PM

the problem is nhra forgets that stockers and super stockers are trying to get every bit of horsepower out they can. plus dont see what you have to drive through to get to the staging lane

Wade_Owens · 09-04-2012, 12:52 PM

A tech official jumped on me about not being pulled far enough up. I told him I always check in to let them know I was nearby and ready and couldnt help it that you couldnt get past the cars with their asses stuck out in the road. I had already checked, my guy wasnt in the lanes yet, why add to the mess? If I had pulled past other cars, it would have created more congestion, then what? The bottleneck was way worse this year than it had been for some reason and caused some of the officials to be more "edgy" than normal.

As for the ice, if you leave any on the start line, dq them. You can shake some of it off before you hit the water box. The Emmons gang can show you the dry hop technique if needed! But, only allowing it before the lanes will REALLY cause some to be late for pairings.

My .02 cents, which aint worth squat....

Wade O

KRatcliff · 09-04-2012, 01:46 PM

It looks like the rule book reads differently than what the cooling police were enforcing. Note: the staging area is the staging lanes.

Under General Regulations Section 20 Page 5

Fuel/Air: Any method of artificially cooling or heating fuel prohibited (i.e., cool cans, Freon, wet rags, etc.), except as noted in Class Requirements. Cool cans, wet towels, etc. are permitted in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and E.T. classes. Wet towels, rags, ice, etc. must be removed before vehicle leaves staging area. Ambient-temperature air only; cooling or otherwise changing the conditions of the intake air is prohibited. Spraying of intake with any artificial spray or coolant prohibited.

09-03-2012, 10:08 PM	#5
KRatcliff Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 765 Likes: 75 Liked 524 Times in 141 Posts	Re: INDY (still the best.... but....) Maybe I am missing something, but the class ladder didn't appear problematic to me. I didn't hear anyone in our class complaining about it at all. I think our group liked it ok, but someone might chime in with a different opinion. The cooling police didn't say anything to us in Stock, but they came with riot gear during Super Stock class. Ed gave us a heads up about it and saved us a lot of grief. I haven't been to that many national events, but I was very disappointed with the starting line. My car never spins and it was so bad that the left side gave way and I nearly crossed the center line my first round of class. They had to tip me over to get me unstuck from my seat after that run. I am not sure this was the starting line problem, but there seemed to be a lot more killer stick shift cars at this race than others I have been to. Yeah, Stubbs, I am calling you out! Ha!

09-03-2012, 10:42 PM	#8
travis sturgell 3339 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Paris Illinois Posts: 16 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: INDY (still the best.... but....) the problem is nhra forgets that stockers and super stockers are trying to get every bit of horsepower out they can. plus dont see what you have to drive through to get to the staging lane

09-04-2012, 12:52 PM	#9
Wade_Owens Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 578 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: INDY (still the best.... but....) A tech official jumped on me about not being pulled far enough up. I told him I always check in to let them know I was nearby and ready and couldnt help it that you couldnt get past the cars with their asses stuck out in the road. I had already checked, my guy wasnt in the lanes yet, why add to the mess? If I had pulled past other cars, it would have created more congestion, then what? The bottleneck was way worse this year than it had been for some reason and caused some of the officials to be more "edgy" than normal. As for the ice, if you leave any on the start line, dq them. You can shake some of it off before you hit the water box. The Emmons gang can show you the dry hop technique if needed! But, only allowing it before the lanes will REALLY cause some to be late for pairings. My .02 cents, which aint worth squat.... Wade O

09-04-2012, 01:46 PM	#10
KRatcliff Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 765 Likes: 75 Liked 524 Times in 141 Posts	Re: INDY (still the best.... but....) It looks like the rule book reads differently than what the cooling police were enforcing. Note: the staging area is the staging lanes. Under General Regulations Section 20 Page 5 Fuel/Air: Any method of artificially cooling or heating fuel prohibited (i.e., cool cans, Freon, wet rags, etc.), except as noted in Class Requirements. Cool cans, wet towels, etc. are permitted in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and E.T. classes. Wet towels, rags, ice, etc. must be removed before vehicle leaves staging area. Ambient-temperature air only; cooling or otherwise changing the conditions of the intake air is prohibited. Spraying of intake with any artificial spray or coolant prohibited.

09-03-2012, 08:19 PM	#1
thomas sheehan Photographer Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,717 Likes: 24 Liked 75 Times in 29 Posts	INDY (still the best.... but....) I'll start this off by saying I love racing at INDY. but..... Here were two common complaints from numerous (stock and ss) competitors at this years race. NO.. NOT THE WEATHER. #1 - Trying to get 170+ racers paired up for class eliminations is a complete joke. Who dreamed this "ladder" system up for class. It just doesn't work at this race. The NHRA crew can't handle it... just send everyone down their class lane and let the racers handle it like they did for the last 50 years. if you think it worked so well.... you weren't there. #2 - The "Artificial Cooling" police were on high alert (in the staging lanes). Anyone "caught" with ice bags were told to leave the lanes, or get them off. No "chillers" allowed in the lanes either. Chillers I can understand... but ice bags have been around for years. If someone screws up and leaves ice on (and spills it on the track), dq 'em. Don't bust everyone's balls for cooling an intake like they have done before. ps... you could park on the road just outside the lanes and cool all you wanted (chillers or ice)!!! Now, guess how many cars want to run up there and line up in the lanes while everyone else gets to cool down back outside the lanes. This will cause major backups just outside of the lanes.... major issue! __________________ Tom Sheehan SS GT/NA 1046

09-03-2012, 08:49 PM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: INDY (still the best.... but....) Tom, how about all the frigging bald spots? Worst starting line I've been on in some time. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA