How about severely limiting "Super" class entries?

Ron Ortiz · 01-19-2020, 01:05 PM

I've been involved with this sport since 1968. After my first trip down the quarter and winning the first event I entered, I've been hooked. Started working at Miami Hollywood with just about everything, lanes, scales tower, etc. Got to work with Buster Couch and John Biedenkamp a lot. Was recommended by them for tech advisor of a new track, DeSoto Memorial. Won tech crew of the year. Got to do national events. Always wanted to run U/SA due to low maintenance, less breakage, reasonable index, etc. Finally bought one in 1987. So I've been on both sides of this sport.

The super classes were brought about with the concept that racers could build a race car without a lot of the restrictions that Stock/SS have and use speed parts to go fast, yet be affordable by having indexes that are fairly easily attainable. While performance based eliminators indexes are much stouter. NHRA was bringing in more racers and revenue while increasing its base, it was a great idea.

Then they got faster and faster and discovered the concept of wanting to chase for a better view, so along came throttle adjusters and the dreaded delay, that spectators are not fond of. Understood.

Solution. Super category classes run eighth mile at nationals and divisional. Tighten indexes.

We are all racers wanting to race. Everyone has their own choice of vehicle, motor and class of competition. If sanctioning bodies are looking at $$$, that's the way it is in todays world. We have to work together or come up with a newer format. The first Cajun Sportsnationals under Pat Joffrion to me was the blueprint of how sportsman racing could be. The conflict with the pros freed up both sides. Can a pure Sportsman system survive, I think so, would the pros like it, I think so. Can they both survive separately, I think so, if not then both side will seek out each other with different stances.

As a racer I can honestly say that is was way more fun at National events 20 years ago than now, too many restrictions and circus like now. And that's not counting other topics, fees, parking, schedule, contingencies, etc.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA ...............

01-19-2020, 01:05 PM	#11
Ron Ortiz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Englewood, Florida Posts: 989 Likes: 35 Liked 316 Times in 103 Posts	Re: How about severely limiting "Super" class entries? I've been involved with this sport since 1968. After my first trip down the quarter and winning the first event I entered, I've been hooked. Started working at Miami Hollywood with just about everything, lanes, scales tower, etc. Got to work with Buster Couch and John Biedenkamp a lot. Was recommended by them for tech advisor of a new track, DeSoto Memorial. Won tech crew of the year. Got to do national events. Always wanted to run U/SA due to low maintenance, less breakage, reasonable index, etc. Finally bought one in 1987. So I've been on both sides of this sport. The super classes were brought about with the concept that racers could build a race car without a lot of the restrictions that Stock/SS have and use speed parts to go fast, yet be affordable by having indexes that are fairly easily attainable. While performance based eliminators indexes are much stouter. NHRA was bringing in more racers and revenue while increasing its base, it was a great idea. Then they got faster and faster and discovered the concept of wanting to chase for a better view, so along came throttle adjusters and the dreaded delay, that spectators are not fond of. Understood. Solution. Super category classes run eighth mile at nationals and divisional. Tighten indexes. We are all racers wanting to race. Everyone has their own choice of vehicle, motor and class of competition. If sanctioning bodies are looking at $$$, that's the way it is in todays world. We have to work together or come up with a newer format. The first Cajun Sportsnationals under Pat Joffrion to me was the blueprint of how sportsman racing could be. The conflict with the pros freed up both sides. Can a pure Sportsman system survive, I think so, would the pros like it, I think so. Can they both survive separately, I think so, if not then both side will seek out each other with different stances. As a racer I can honestly say that is was way more fun at National events 20 years ago than now, too many restrictions and circus like now. And that's not counting other topics, fees, parking, schedule, contingencies, etc. Ron Ortiz U/SA ............... __________________ Ron Ortiz 2102 STK