How would you SAVE CLASS RACING ???

[Jim Bailey]

One Change, and one addition. No Alky FC at the Pro National Events. I'd run Pro Mod instead. Then, Show case Alky F/C and Alky Dragster at the SportsNational Events, No nitro cars of any kind at Sportsmen Events for insurance reasons. The Addition would be, I'd make Bill Bader the Sportsman Series Director.

[Don Carpenter]

Jim,
I think you are on the right track with your idea. (Class) racing as we know it needs to evolve to the the next level. Since the manufacturers don't want to pay for bye runs or support class racing consistantly, why not have a qualified field as in comp and reward quaifiers with points or qualifing bonuses if contingency money is available. No need to consolidate or eliminate classes, qualify against the index and every one will know who has the fastest car in the class. No AHFS during quailifying so records could be set with out penalty. Limit two classes per season so there won't be the( killer combo of the week). I have done some calculations from Nitro Joes stats, and for the most part the average under the index is .7-.8 under in almost every NHRA class. Using those numbers, the event CIC would start at -.710-.800. Permanant HP adjustments would start at .810-..849 =1.25x HPfor that engine family and continue up the scale in .05 increments using the current AHFS tables. This would bring new combos in line in a very short time. For example, the CJ at the current HP would receive 38 HP for a 1.20 under run during eliminations. Of course permanent adjustments should go through tear down before HP is applied. Sportsman races should be run on a divisional level. Each one should be a Sportsnationals, at season end the top ten in each class from each division race at a central location for the national championship.
Of course NHRA is not going to embrace this since they would loose the sportsman dollars at national events. If any one at IHRA was on the ball, they would be capitalizing on the current state of unrest in Glendora. Maybe its time for a new organization!
I firmly believe we need to change the sportsman format if our performance based racing is to survive. Anything else is just a bracket race. And we can do that every week end at home! I know I'm going to hear from everyone on this board that can't run .700 under. My message to you is (INDEX RACING) if you want to compete at the big show! After looking at the Bradenton results, I would be concerened if I had a .90 car with electronics, you might become extinct real soon. As will stock and S/S if we keep riding a dead horse.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong!

PS The new cic rules in comp should also apply to my above proposal, to compensate for mine shaft conditions and end of the year index or HP adjustments. These numbers could all change if we loose the cars that can't run close to .7under that will raise the class average for the event and permanent triggers. Or we could throw out any runs below .65 under to figure new class averages and adjust the triggers accordingly to start with.

[Jim Bailey]

Don: you touched on a very important point. Why should the sportsman racers continue to support the pros? Let the each series stand by it self, and support it self, just like any well run business should. (Just one example; The sportsman racers pay exactly the same insurance surcharge as the nitro teams do !) We all know how insurance and premiums work. Have we killed anybody lately? Does this make sense to anyone? This is just one example, I'm sure there are many more.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Jim Bailey

One Change, and one addition. No Alky FC at the Pro National Events. I'd run Pro Mod instead. Then, Show case Alky F/C and Alky Dragster at the SportsNational Events, No nitro cars of any kind at Sportsmen Events for insurance reasons. The Addition would be, I'd make Bill Bader the Sportsman Series Director.

How about no Alky cars at the SporstNational events either. Leave them for the nationals with all the other prima donas so they can help keep the tracks from rusting. Im not saying this to be funny. These guys belong with the other blown Pro cars. They take to much time to run from the real sportsman racers. Just my opinion here. Pro Mod would be a better spectator draw for Sports Nationals.

[tim worner]

We might want to start worrying about the overall eliminators. Two years ago 60 decals on car this year 35. That's $7500 less but NHRA is still giving out their $1800 to win.