Nitrous and .90 racing

GRIGGS · 09-24-2009, 04:49 PM

Just wondering how ya'll(that's a southern word to all my northern friends, except Lynn, she knows how to use it) feel about different power adders and running the .90 stuff. Just a little curious.
Mike Griggs

Chris Williams · 09-24-2009, 05:03 PM

Not sure why you'd want to... To run T/D, T/S, OK, but not sure why you'd want that much complexity when a simple normally aspirated car with anything more than 750 hp can run the .90 number respectably.

The key in .90 is consistency/predictability, the more exotic/complex you go, the farther you go from that, IMHO.

GaryGoFast · 09-24-2009, 05:15 PM

Mike, you wanna be able to dump and half the balls to be able to take the stripe? Seems like the only reason to have it.

Keith 944 · 09-24-2009, 08:08 PM

used to be legal in ihra, i remember a yellow chevelle running 10.90 at 170. and n.o.s. was paying contingency. like it or not? i didn't really care, but would of had a system on the car myself.

Bryan Gillespie · 09-25-2009, 04:37 AM

You mean NOS is not legal ? oops

BKSG1198 · 09-25-2009, 06:33 AM

Bryan,
I thought your air bottle looked a little funny....was wondering why it was blue and you kept putting a torch to it...haha!

Rob K.

S/G 386N · 09-25-2009, 07:32 AM

I have wished I had it a couple times. At some tracks where track prep is poor, cough cough, Indy, cough cough, my car will sometimes launch left or right a good amount. If this happens, I can almost guarantee it's going to slow me down about .02. I have wished I had it to catch up. After this happens and I'm sittin there on the stop, I wonder if I should just turn the delay box off, thus opening the stop, and taking off to catch up. But it's always by the time I make a decision, I'm already off the stop and on my way. Usually not with a good outcome.

Michael Pliska · 09-25-2009, 09:15 AM

I have wondered about this rule too. About 22 years ago I asked an NHRA official and was told that they didn't want it used to make big top-end speeds to take the stripe (this was in the era that S/G cars were running around 133 mph). Many of us had mid-low 9 second cars with a throttle stop coming on in 2nd gear, so we had an override button with as much acceleration as most N2O systems. I remember helping a big-name S/G racer from the area when he broke a trans and needed to change it between rounds, and I saw the hidden N2O system in his car (solenoids were hidden in the lower A-pillar area, tubes apparently ran into the intake through a larger hose disguised as a vacuum hose). I looked at him and laughed, never said another word about it.

In the Alston Super Series (which included standard .90 classes as well as 7.90, 11.90 & 12.90), there was no prohibition on it in the non-NHRA .90 classes (I checked specifically). There were a few users, such as doorslammers running 7.90 class. I put a system on my 11.90 car for a race at a non-factored track that was known for very high corrected altitude readings. The car would barely run 11.90 at that track, and I planned to use it if the air got too bad. I did use it one pass in the worst part of the day, and it looked like I was on my way to a loss (car would have run a 12.00 or so), but I gave it a tiny shot and took the stripe. A couple of guys went to the tower and tried to protest (I had previously cleared it with both the division director and the track).

Regards,

GRIGGS · 09-25-2009, 03:10 PM

Come on Derek!!!! You know you want to say it.

Villain281H · 09-27-2009, 09:55 PM

Okay Mike I'll take the bait.

I can't understand why superchargers and turbochargers are allowed, but nitrous isn't?
They allow power-adders that the engine should be built to handle (drop in compression ratio, etc) at a cost of a couple thousand dollars at least, but a simple $500-600 nitrous system that could put an 11 second car into the tens and therefore possibly allow another competitor into the world of divisional and national racing is not allowed??

Spraying to take the stripe I can understand somewhat, but until you realize you may be getting into more trouble using it for that versus leaving it alone (assuming the car will get close to the 10.90 standard before adding the bottle), the argument doesn't hold much weight in my opinion. I've seen a few racers do it, and so far my record trying it is 1-3. I'd rather dial the car honest and do my job than second guess the finish line. Unless the traction is subjective, I leave the juice off when bracket racing.

Now granted I'm probably in the minority with a 3600 lb SBC street car, but for a $9K pump gas engine that runs 11.40-11.50 @ 115 mph in the heat, a little shot of the bottle would allow me to participate in the "entry level" pro-tree class (keep in mind NHRA used the term entry level meaning no double entry at nationals, no national championship, etc). I know people have a lot of time and money in their cars regardless of class, but I think more could participate.

Just an opinion from an "outsider" who'd like to race!

Derek

09-24-2009, 04:49 PM	#1
GRIGGS Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 92 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nitrous and .90 racing Just wondering how ya'll(that's a southern word to all my northern friends, except Lynn, she knows how to use it) feel about different power adders and running the .90 stuff. Just a little curious. Mike Griggs

09-24-2009, 05:03 PM	#2
Chris Williams Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 401 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nitrous and .90 racing Not sure why you'd want to... To run T/D, T/S, OK, but not sure why you'd want that much complexity when a simple normally aspirated car with anything more than 750 hp can run the .90 number respectably. The key in .90 is consistency/predictability, the more exotic/complex you go, the farther you go from that, IMHO. __________________ Chris Williams 6304 SC, TD, ET

09-24-2009, 05:15 PM	#3
GaryGoFast Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York Posts: 804 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Nitrous and .90 racing Mike, you wanna be able to dump and half the balls to be able to take the stripe? Seems like the only reason to have it. __________________ Gary Federico S/St, S/G 1814

09-24-2009, 08:08 PM	#4
Keith 944 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dela-where? Posts: 2,195 Likes: 1,163 Liked 1,885 Times in 578 Posts	Re: Nitrous and .90 racing used to be legal in ihra, i remember a yellow chevelle running 10.90 at 170. and n.o.s. was paying contingency. like it or not? i didn't really care, but would of had a system on the car myself.

09-25-2009, 04:37 AM	#5
Bryan Gillespie Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 456 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nitrous and .90 racing You mean NOS is not legal ? oops

09-25-2009, 06:33 AM	#6
BKSG1198 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 2,638 Likes: 96 Liked 1,298 Times in 396 Posts	Re: Nitrous and .90 racing Bryan, I thought your air bottle looked a little funny....was wondering why it was blue and you kept putting a torch to it...haha! Rob K.

09-25-2009, 07:32 AM	#7
S/G 386N Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Fishers, IN Posts: 103 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nitrous and .90 racing I have wished I had it a couple times. At some tracks where track prep is poor, cough cough, Indy, cough cough, my car will sometimes launch left or right a good amount. If this happens, I can almost guarantee it's going to slow me down about .02. I have wished I had it to catch up. After this happens and I'm sittin there on the stop, I wonder if I should just turn the delay box off, thus opening the stop, and taking off to catch up. But it's always by the time I make a decision, I'm already off the stop and on my way. Usually not with a good outcome. __________________ JJ Nance '06 Don Davis C5 Corvette

09-25-2009, 09:15 AM	#8
Michael Pliska Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 260 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nitrous and .90 racing I have wondered about this rule too. About 22 years ago I asked an NHRA official and was told that they didn't want it used to make big top-end speeds to take the stripe (this was in the era that S/G cars were running around 133 mph). Many of us had mid-low 9 second cars with a throttle stop coming on in 2nd gear, so we had an override button with as much acceleration as most N2O systems. I remember helping a big-name S/G racer from the area when he broke a trans and needed to change it between rounds, and I saw the hidden N2O system in his car (solenoids were hidden in the lower A-pillar area, tubes apparently ran into the intake through a larger hose disguised as a vacuum hose). I looked at him and laughed, never said another word about it. In the Alston Super Series (which included standard .90 classes as well as 7.90, 11.90 & 12.90), there was no prohibition on it in the non-NHRA .90 classes (I checked specifically). There were a few users, such as doorslammers running 7.90 class. I put a system on my 11.90 car for a race at a non-factored track that was known for very high corrected altitude readings. The car would barely run 11.90 at that track, and I planned to use it if the air got too bad. I did use it one pass in the worst part of the day, and it looked like I was on my way to a loss (car would have run a 12.00 or so), but I gave it a tiny shot and took the stripe. A couple of guys went to the tower and tried to protest (I had previously cleared it with both the division director and the track). Regards, __________________ Michael Pliska 643 S/G

09-25-2009, 03:10 PM	#9
GRIGGS Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 92 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nitrous and .90 racing Come on Derek!!!! You know you want to say it.

09-27-2009, 09:55 PM	#10
Villain281H Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 24 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nitrous and .90 racing Okay Mike I'll take the bait. I can't understand why superchargers and turbochargers are allowed, but nitrous isn't? They allow power-adders that the engine should be built to handle (drop in compression ratio, etc) at a cost of a couple thousand dollars at least, but a simple $500-600 nitrous system that could put an 11 second car into the tens and therefore possibly allow another competitor into the world of divisional and national racing is not allowed?? Spraying to take the stripe I can understand somewhat, but until you realize you may be getting into more trouble using it for that versus leaving it alone (assuming the car will get close to the 10.90 standard before adding the bottle), the argument doesn't hold much weight in my opinion. I've seen a few racers do it, and so far my record trying it is 1-3. I'd rather dial the car honest and do my job than second guess the finish line. Unless the traction is subjective, I leave the juice off when bracket racing. Now granted I'm probably in the minority with a 3600 lb SBC street car, but for a $9K pump gas engine that runs 11.40-11.50 @ 115 mph in the heat, a little shot of the bottle would allow me to participate in the "entry level" pro-tree class (keep in mind NHRA used the term entry level meaning no double entry at nationals, no national championship, etc). I know people have a lot of time and money in their cars regardless of class, but I think more could participate. Just an opinion from an "outsider" who'd like to race! Derek __________________ 1970 Nova Just a street/strip ride..