How would you SAVE CLASS RACING ???

[LXguy]

Well, here are some perceptions from the outside looking in...

Some of these are probably complaints about racing in general, but I thought an "interested outsider's" opinion might be helpful.

I'm interested in this kind of racing, more because of the challenge of getting the factory parts to run than in the actual eliminator, but anyway, here are some things I've noticed.

The rules and the way the eliminator is run are clear as mud. I've only been drag racing since 1998-discovered my life-long love at the age of 30. But I have been serious about it in the intervening period. My car won the 2003 Pure Street title with the NMRA (that's a true heads-up, no breakout eliminator).

It is VERY HARD to get into this sport because the way the rules are written, even someone who is very interested can scarcely figure it out. The rulebook is written by people who already know the rules for people who already know the rules.

Seriously, imagine you're a newb who's never seen a Stock race in person. Try to figure out what kind of tree the class runs (.500 full? .400 Pro?) -Its in there, but hidden. How often am I going to run heads up vs. bracket? Who knows!? How can you build a car if you don't know.

As best as I can figure out there's nothing in there at all about class eliminations versus the standard index format.

If NHRA wants people to spend the real $$$ required to get into this class they need to talk it up, and present the way the classes run in an obvious place. It won't ever be basic, but if someone cant figure out how it works, they're not going to get involved.

Next, the grey areas are a mile wide. I understand its class racing, but give me a break. Half the fun is figuring it out. Is building a car really just about writing a blank check for "guru dollars" to one of the engine builders with a good reputation? Seriously?

There are a hundred other things. What do I have to do to run a '74 Challenger as a '73 exactly? What do I have to do to run a '71 Dart as a '70? Its not so much that I want an answer, but I want to be able find the answer in the godforsaken rulebook.

Class racers are closemouthed SOBs. I've been there and I know you want to protect your hard work and research, but there's ALL kinds of things you can share that only make the difference between someone being able to field a car and not.

If you've been doing it for 20 years, helping out a newbie is helping out the sport you love. It seems many racers are so worried about racing against someone they've helped, soon they might not have anyone to race at all.

Once people feel they've got no chance to win, their interest drops to zero or below.

Some other basic facts that may or may not be useful:

.400 pro tree is much more interesting to racers and spectators of my generation.

The no trans-brake rule is just plain stupid. The net effect is that now you need a guru converter to go with your guru motor, heads, and carb.

The holy grail is to have a class where people can easily run there cars at non-NHRA races and events (note that there is a BIG difference between this and dumbing the class down enough for people to be able to run generic bracket cars in the class).

Bracket racing is only for the benefit of the people doing it. Spectators (and thus sponsors) don't give two shakes about bracket racing. It is not accessible to casual fans. However, people are easily fooled, and index racing with a heads-up start appears to most people to be a heads-up race. This form of racing is making serious money for tracks in my area, much more than their regular bracket programs.

Anyways, here I am, interested, with a pile of parts and some classic Mopars, but having real problems convincing myself to actually put one of them together to run Stock. especially when I can run an 11.00 index class for 10% of the cost with no teardowns, cheaper entry fees, not bad prize money, and no motorhome required.

My .02

Steve