If an advocate could be found - what would you say?

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

I'd like to see the NHRA lower the index of throttle stop classes by 1 second. A high 8 second dragster was fast in the early 90s but in 2019, almost unheard of and most are killing at least 1 second and many far more in a class that is dominated by 7 second dragsters. Same can be said for SG and S/ST, most there too are killing at least 1 second.

I'm interested in somebody listing their opinion on the improvements that would be beneficial to EVERY NHRA Sportsman Racer.

Not that I've agreed with everything else you have said, but I definitely do not agree with this. That is just needlessly pushing out the racers, however few they are, that can't run 1 second quicker than the current indexes.

I can't think of a single benefit from doing it. It wouldn't be any more fun for me in the cockpit to go 7.90, and spectators aren't a concern nor would they be able to tell the difference.

I definitely don't go NHRA racing for the money, but a round 5 semi-final loss at a LODRS race not breaking even on the entry fee is pretty ridiculous. There's a balance somewhere.

I actually kind of like the idea of having to qualify for your spot on the ladder in the Super classes. That would be fun! (Until I failed to qualify, of course)

[GTX JOHN]

So Far............................................... ..........

ONE and ONLY one person has contact me to communicate
with the NHRA Sportsman Racing Manager (Charles Myers)
about any of these issues!


John Irving

[Bruce Noland]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

So Far............................................... ..........

ONE and ONLY one person has contact me to communicate
with the NHRA Sportsman Racing Manager (Charles Myers)
about any of these issues!


John Irving

I'm not surprised at all. Talking to nhra employees has not provided much in the way of results.

After looking at some of the replies here.... I believe the Chuck Rayburn rule applies..

[GTX JOHN]

Charles is my friend and I can vouch for his sincerity.......
He WILL do whatever he is able to accomplish for Sportsman
(be it large or small).

Exactly what can it hurt to let him know our feelings and wishes?

OR

Perhaps I have missed the point of the intended original purpose
of this thread in the first place.........Maybe it is just a p*ssing at the
Moon contest!


John Irving

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

as I stated in one of these threads, NOTHING is perfect except for my wife. I'm sure if you polled every NHRA Sportsman Racer in the lanes at every event as to things they'd like to see changed, you'd get 100s of suggestions if not more and the responses would vary depending on the class they compete in. I agree with Dan's comment below, as my son was not allowed to enter the MG National event on Tuesday morning despite 9 withdrawals IIRC due to the weather on Tuesday that didn't show on Monday when he tried to get in.

I'm pretty sure most would like to race for more $ but they don't want to pay more to enter but raise the quotas to accommodate those not willing to put the time, expense and work in at divisional events to accumulate the necessary grade points to run in the Pro's show, I say NO!!

What would I like see changed?...I'd like to see the NHRA lower the index of throttle stop classes by 1 second. A high 8 second dragster was fast in the early 90s but in 2019, almost unheard of and most are killing at least 1 second and many far more in a class that is dominated by 7 second dragsters. Same can be said for SG and S/ST, most there too are killing at least 1 second.

I'm interested in somebody listing their opinion on the improvements that would be beneficial to EVERY NHRA Sportsman Racer.

I agree that the .90 indexes should be lowered. Maybe not a full second but at least .50. that would put them on the stop for less time and the big bog at the starting line would not be so noticeable and seem like more of a heads up class. The ship has sailed on those classes as far as being a heads up category in the present format.
One thing that would be beneficial to all sportsman racers that want to attend some national events would be to give some preferential treatment to the home division racers. I too traveled plenty of miles and burned a lot of diesel to get 6 grade points and could not get in the Gators that is less than 200 miles from the house. It just does not make sense to have racers traveling thousands of miles to take the place of racers that are in the home division and have run every divisional race that is offered in their home division. You can only claim points from a limited amount of national events any way. Another thing is the provisional spots should never be counted toward the quota. we would all like to see the quota raised to allow more racers to participate and also there would be more heads up runs and more cars for class eliminations at the races that they do run class.

[Bruce Noland]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Charles is my friend and I can vouch for his sincerity.......
He WILL do whatever he is able to accomplish for Sportsman
(be it large or small).

Exactly what can it hurt to let him know our feelings and wishes?

OR

Perhaps I have missed the point of the intended original purpose
of this thread in the first place.........Maybe it is just a p*ssing at the
Moon contest!


John Irving

I don't think it would hurt to talk to your friend but you must realize we've been down that road before and I wish him great success. The purpose of this thread is not to offer thoughts directly to nhra but to an interested sponsor/advocate who has a serious investment in Sportsman racing.

[Jim Caughlin]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Charles is my friend and I can vouch for his sincerity.......
He WILL do whatever he is able to accomplish for Sportsman
(be it large or small).

Exactly what can it hurt to let him know our feelings and wishes?

OR

Perhaps I have missed the point of the intended original purpose
of this thread in the first place.........Maybe it is just a p*ssing at the
Moon contest!


John Irving

As I stated earlier on this thread, we went through this whole routine before where Len Imbrogno who was going to be the NHRA intermediary/advocate for the sportsman racers. I talked to him more than once during his tenure, personally I think he was a pretty good guy and believed that he could make a difference. I can't speak for him and why he resigned but I've got a good guess. Good luck to the new guy, might want to give Len a call some time and find out what you're in for...

Jim Caughlin
SS6019

[Dan Fletcher]

I could be wrong, but I understand the "new guy" has already decided to resign after an extremely brief tenure...

[Mike Jones]

wow!!