How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side

[Jeremy]

A. run 1/4 race's.
B. a lot less classes.
C. one race in 3 days.
D. run class at more races.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

A. run 1/4 race's.
B. a lot less classes.
C. one race in 3 days.
D. run class at more races.

1/4-mile I can understand. Racers need to petition IHRA and the tracks and let them know what they want.

One race in 3 days? What do you do with the other two days (for Divisional races)?

Personally, I *would* like to see them go back to having 1 Qualifying run on Sunday morning. We used to gain several cars on the last day of an event, and with the lower car counts these days, I don't believe it'd be a time issue.

you still have to go 7-10 rounds to win

Correction, they are typically 5-6 round races. Factor that into your budget, as your chance of winning a 5-round race is much higher than a 7-round race. Look at the big picture... entry fees vs payout, number of days off work, number of races in a weekend, number of rounds in the race, etc, etc... the return on investment can actually be quite good.

[Chris1529]

I agree that they need to go back to having a qualifying run on Sunday. With the low car counts, time to finish the race shouldn't be an issue until car counts improve.

They should race 1/4 mi at the 1/4 mile tracks. They should run the classes 1/4 mi that can run it safely. I don't think it is that hard to switch the timing system back and forth.

IHRA does have too many classes. They need to re-align their classes (esp fuel inj) and hp factors with N. I think they could make the rules a little more restrictive for the crate motor cars then put them in with regular stock at the appropriate weight break. I mean use dual plane/stock replacement legal or factory aluminum intakes and require vacuum carbs. No one racing NHRA wants to come race at alot of the IHRA races where the crate morot cars are the top ten qualifiers. Also, IHRA needs to require 9" slick in stock. If A/S and B/S big block Camaros and mustangs can hook on 9" slick, then we don't need wider slicks in IHRA!

Also, the IHRA SS guys that run NHRA usually run in a modified class, so why do they run in production at an IHRA race? What is the difference?

I think that IHRA needs to lower entry fee's until contingency and/or corporate sponsorship of payouts improves. Paying $135 at a pro-am to race for $1000 (S) or $1100 (SS) is not a good return on investment. Maybe instead of the IHRA making the tracks foot the bill for all the IHRA staff to put on the race and make payouts, the IHRA could use nationwide membership fees to subsidize the pro-ams and sportsman portions of the nitro jams.

[Dave Ribeiro]

Michael & Chris,

Both had great ideas; I think the 9 " standard tire rule is a good one.
With the bad economy , two day races make good sense ( with a time shot on Sunday ) ... 1/4 for 1/4 tracks makes sense also , 1/8 mile where they have too ... IHRA, needs to update the HP factors & combine some of the classes where they can ...

Yes, we need to keep Ego's on both sides out of making this thing work , Sportsmen racing as we know it could end ... Some how
we racers need to come together & make this thing Work .. It won't happen over night , but we need to start somewhere & this maybe it ... I would like to see a Racers panel , whom could talk to IHRA about ways to make Sportsmen Racing Better for everyone .... Just a thought .... Keep them coming & don't let the Jokers get you down, nothing pleases them ....

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Chris1529

They should race 1/4 mi at the 1/4 mile tracks. They should run the classes 1/4 mi that can run it safely. I don't think it is that hard to switch the timing system back and forth.

This was done once, at San Antonio, where they ran T/S and T/D 1/8th (the locals that made up the car count wanted to run 1/8th) and everything else ran 1/4. Another track a couple years later wanted to do so as well, but it didn't happen.

No one racing NHRA wants to come race at alot of the IHRA races where the crate morot cars are the top ten qualifiers. Also, IHRA needs to require 9" slick in stock. If A/S and B/S big block Camaros and mustangs can hook on 9" slick, then we don't need wider slicks in IHRA!

1) This one's been rehashed many times... what fast NHRA car is getting outrun by a crate motor car?
2) Aren't most guys running 9" radials to begin with?

[Richard Grant]

Dave has an excellent suggestion about a Racer's Panel. A compliant heard over and over again is that NHRA doesn't listen enough. IHRA could take the lead in this area and change to fit the racer's suggestions. Since any panel could be subverted to one persons agenda, a vote of a classes members should follow any proposed change.

[Myron Piatek]

If Crate Motor cars are combined with "regular" Stockers, I'm pretty sure there would be more complaining because they would be running heads up. There are enough issues with trying to equalize regular Stockers as it is. At least seperately, they handicap race and there isn't any advantage/disadvantage to complain about. As Mike pointed out, there are fast crates and there are fast regular Stockers - even if you don't count the new factory cars. Qualified fields from both sanctions were compared here and the results showed a pretty even mix throughout if they were combined.

[Kegracing]

Some good answers and good questions here... I am glad. I was worried that Wade would just get a bunch of BS stuff...

I have raced for a long time now (no where as long as Dave Ribeiro! ), some years much more than others... Started out as N, living in Kansas. Not really anything with I on it close 20 years ago... Moved to North Carolina, and started racing I... and N... at the same time! I was more sportsman friendly. Biggest thing was the tech officials. While I knew some nice guys at N races, the IHRA crew just seemed thrilled to have you there. They tech'ed me just as safely, but were just a happy lot doing it for most part. Money was not really that much different 10-15 years ago. And as Beard said, you still have to win.

Now I have my car set up for I, with a crate motor. No fear of top 10 qualifier, unless there is less than 10 cars! It is under the index, and I can take my kids and go have fun. I have parts for a Pontiac motor, but not the time and MONEY to put it all together right now. Work way too much... have to remind myself that I am blessed to have a job sometimes... Car is built legal for both N and I, and may get the other motor together some day.

I am happy to be able to class race some. Guess what... I am going to try to bracket race a little this year too. With my class (yea, crate motor) car.

Couple of comments on the differences. Slicks... most everyone runs 9" radials. I have both. I do keep bias tires for bracket racing and run them on hot tracks. Cheaper and last longer. I have a set of MT 29.5x9 and a set of MT 28x10.5. Tread face, and section width of the tires are within 0.2" of each other on 8" rims... 9" tire is the widest! The 29.5 grows and rubs on my car in 1/4, so I keep the shorter tire on the car. MT does not have a 28x9 or I would use it... Go measure them next time you have a chance, or stop and measure mine at the track... That is really not an issue. Not a performance advantage anyway.

Classes are really not a big deal, other than for the handful of "fast" cars, looking for a heads up run. Even in N, with limited classes, you really do not see that many heads up runs. Case in point, when there are several, we get a post started on here telling everyone to watch! If it was that common, we would not make a big deal of it.

Bottom line, we need a place to race, and the tracks have to make a living. If we want to make it better, then we are going to have to just try to support them, and let them have a chance to get it better. I am disappointed with IHRA on the contigency side, and really would like to see them do a better job of it. But, I am not going to sit at home because of it. Hell, with all my used, 10 year old, 2nd hand parts, I am not going to get to claim squat anyway!

Hope to see some more of you at the races. Crandall will be my first points race this year, and I cant wait!

Ken Graham

Stk 412

[Blingmaster]

Ego Alert: Worrying about contigency payouts as a excuse not to show...Rember you have to win first and you cannot win un less you show up...IHRA is trying to facilitate as many racers as possible..The BS about to many classes you still have to go 7-10 rounds to win so what is the difference who or what is beside you. I say hats off to IHRA for their effort to save our sport without enhancements... My .02 DD

[Trevor Weiss]

Just out of couriosity how would it kill car counts when it has ben said that more people go to races that have "Class"? I personally would rather race heads up than bracket race.