We need a new "instant" trigger!

[david ring]

Unlike my students, I ask a dumb question every know and then, so would someone please explain to me why the trigger at a points or open is different from the trigger at a national event?

[Bruce Noland]

Billy,
I'm not sure about a bigger hit. I think if a racer speeds past the -1.30 mark twice in one year (not each ahfs period of six months) then the second hit at 3.25 should get his attention. We still have to consider the track conditions and air.

Dave,
The Division races get a bit of a break because nhra wants people to show up at those races to set records. It's just another way to entice the racers to race at division races. And probably a fair way to do it.

[Billy Nees]

Bruce, I guess where I am going with this is, don't you think that it will take too long to get the new "underrated combos" brought into line with exsisting combos?

[Mike Carr]

There are so many things that need changed with the AHFS system, I wouldn't know where to start. But I'll answer Billy's question first, with two possible answers.

A) For the first -1.40 under run a car makes, give them the current 3.25% adjustment. That would give it a quick smack now. For each successive run a racer makes of -1.40, up the percentage. Maybe 4 or 5%, with no regard to the "factoring session, first half or second). However, if a racer was to go more than 1.40 once, there is a good chance he/she may not do it again...sandbag or whatever. So:

B) Or, the opposite could be applied. Make the first hit more severe (4 or 5%) to possibly get said combination in line quicker, than they could revert back to the 3.25% for each successive hit, or even leave the higher 4-5% hit in place for successive hits. This would probably be better for what Billy is suggesting. The only bad thing is, if a racer with a combination not considered to be soft could get hit if there is Class Eliminations at a race with mineshaft air. For example, an A/SA 69 Camaro 427/425-425. Many would not consider this a soft combination. But, if Bobby DeArmond or anyone was to go -1.40 in Class, it gets 14 HP and 112 pounds (at 3.25%), that probably isn't deserved? It would help bring in line the soft combos, but could also hurt undeserving ones.

Another thing I was thinking about over the weekend (I may be wrong on this). Once a car currently goes more than -1.40 under, it gets 3.25%. But that's where it ends, right? It doesn't go any higher? So if a racer was to run -1.43 under while still holding some, he/she could then later say "Well, since I'm getting hit anyway, I'll go out and go -1.65 under and won't get hit anymore than going -1.43". Shouldn't there be a scale? Example: Runs of -1.400 to -1.499 get 3.25%. Runs of -1.500 to -1.599 get x-percent, Runs of -1.600 to -1.699 get x-percent and so on? Similar to the CIC in Comp Eliminator. I do agree with others, that any comination running more than -1.40 under should have to pass a teardown, to make sure that it was legal.

Just some thoughts...

[X-TECH MAN]

Its RE-DICK-U-LESS to have ANY combination run 1.40 + under in the first place. Wack the indexes first as 99% run better than .5 under to begin with. If they do not then its time to work on your car a little. Then use a lower trigger and hit it hard with at least 5%. At 5% even at 425 HP an A/S car would gain approx 170 lbs. Whats that slow one down???? 1.5 to 1.7 tenths? Worst case...if the A car has to go to AA he can take out 170 lbs.If nothing changes most of us will be 90 + years old and/or dead before some of these combos are taken care of. WAKE UP.

[Billy Nees]

Terry, don't muddy the water by bringing up the indexes. I'll take your answer to mean, yes we need to increase the percentage of the instant hit.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Terry, don't muddy the water by bringing up the indexes. I'll take your answer to mean, yes we need to increase the percentage of the instant hit.

Billy....Yes, the instant hit needs to be increased (min 5%) but look at the indexes also. Im not trying to muddy the waters here. Its insane for any class car to run under so much (1.15 to 1.4 +) to begin with. Its just that everyone has become used to that much under the current soft indexes. I know the argument is some cannot aford to spend that much on thier combo and still run stock eliminator but in reality its not that hard to run .5-.6 under the current indexes the way the rules are today. If the indexes were lowered then make the trigger around .6 under.