Oil Downs (Beat to Death)

[Curmudgeon]

Oke thought I've had for years is sanctioning bodies are afraid if they slow cars down ticket sales and TV eyeballs would be lost. Do they think its speed numbers that fill the stands,or good racing? Just look at the Daytona travesty. If they were to go to a 4 X 3 engine and slow down to say 160 aerodynamics would play a lesser role and racing be better. With Drag Racing I don't believe the spectator can tell the difference between say 250 and 300 from the stands if not told. If you were able to give them side by side full quarter mile runs without lengthy clean-ups my belief is they'd come away satisfied they had seen a good day of racing. Nobody buys a ticket to watch the clean-up crew in action.

[Marvin Robinson]

Another case of trying to fix the problem where it isn't by taking on the easiest target... the Pros bring in the TV time and the cash, so they will be catered to by NHRA and the broadcasters. The rulemakers are trying to kill a rabbit with an elephant gun with the diaper rules for nearly everyone, when 95% of the problem is coming from the fuel cars, who only represent about 50 teams total, against 200 or so ProStock and ProStock motorcycles, and 3,000 or so Class racers, and 20,000 or more index racers. The best way to NOT solve a problem is to not look at it correctly... addressing the FUEL cars needs to be done, and I see/hear a lot of good suggestions, but the brass at NHRA doesn't seem to want to deal with the problem that way.

[novassdude]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Oke thought I've had for years is sanctioning bodies are afraid if they slow cars down ticket sales and TV eyeballs would be lost. Do they think its speed numbers that fill the stands,or good racing? Just look at the Daytona travesty. If they were to go to a 4 X 3 engine and slow down to say 160 aerodynamics would play a lesser role and racing be better. With Drag Racing I don't believe the spectator can tell the difference between say 250 and 300 from the stands if not told. If you were able to give them side by side full quarter mile runs without lengthy clean-ups my belief is they'd come away satisfied they had seen a good day of racing. Nobody buys a ticket to watch the clean-up crew in action.

Sadly I am afraid you are wrong about most spectators wanting to see close racing. If that was what they wanted pro stock would be the most popular class. Most seem to want things out of control if they crash I think that is a plus to them.
Those of us on here do not look at things like joe blow off the street.

[Curmudgeon]

Sadly, I share your views,Novassdude,about a segment of spectators. I remember the days when stands could be filled for a Pro Stock show. When Jenkins,Sox and Martin ,etc.pioneered P/S it eclipsed the f/cs in popularity through good promotion of the category. What is lacking today is any real coverage of Pro Stock.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Sadly, I share your views,Novassdude,about a segment of spectators. I remember the days when stands could be filled for a Pro Stock show. When Jenkins,Sox and Martin ,etc.pioneered P/S it eclipsed the f/cs in popularity through good promotion of the category. What is lacking today is any real coverage of Pro Stock.

And remember back then the fuel racers were pissed at the pro stock guys stealing their glory ! Pro Stock was far more popular than Too Fool or fuel Ha Ha cars.

[Curmudgeon]

YES-X Tech ! After the fuel coupes got away from altered w/base steel bodies(when they were"funny"looking). Seriously can't see why P/S isn't promoted agressively , the original appeal was how public could associate P/S with their car out in parking lot. What I always wondered , if it wasn't because t/f and f/c sponsors have deeper pockets for ad money (TV spots and event sponsorship).