New cars, old cars and horsepower ratings.

[Myron Piatek]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

I agree with most of your post but I do believe the Big 3 can influence class selection if they were inclined to do the right thing for the sport.

Absolutely. But which of the big 3 will "do the right thing" and be at a disadvantage to the others if the rest don't follow suit? Everybody is always looking for an advantage.

[Marvin Robinson]

Alright, here is my take on the suggestions so far....

I think a good solution is emerging among the comments, especially when you combine idieas from Bad Banana, Capt Cobrajet, Jeff, Sammy, 442Olds and X-Tech who are all kinda in the same framework, and Myron, who also addresses the marketing side (which the Big 3 are primarily interested in). Just trying to give credit where it is due

1. Factors need to be examined and adjusted ASAP. I would suggest reviewing these by going thru this year's runs and making the adjustments over the Winter.

1a. New cars need HP, older cars need WT break. (You could do one or the other, but a combo is probably the most fair, let old cars lighten up some, and add HP to the newer ones. 1/8 mile performances from this year are probably the fairest assessement)

2. FI/Computer cars need to run in their own classes, the TOOLS to make adjustments are in a different league from the carbureted cars and they definitely have an advantage in ease of adjustment and precision over the older cars - level 'em out by letting them compete with each other in class eliminatons.

2a. Supercharged cars need to be in their own class - period.

3. Readjust the indexes so they are more realistic. (Something on the order of .5 seems to make sense to me... cars should not routinely be .8 - 1.2 under.)

4. More classes and crate motors are not a good solution, this would dilute classes and make the eliminator even more difficult to monitor and manage... not what we need.

5. Better media coverage of the S/SS would give manufacturers the exposure they crave.

Old idea, not likely to get much play, but a joint NHRA/Racer committee should be looking over this stuff on an ongoing basis, and have seasonal meetings to assess and make changes, with racer representation in the form of divisional delegates to vote. The actual number and structure of this body would need to be "discussed" and agreed on....

These measures seem to cover most of the bases fairly and are doable, if the will to do so is there on the part of NHRA At the very least, they suggest a workable framework for improvement.... just one racer's opinion

I think if these measured are done realistically, we could make S/SS much better for everybody....

[KRatcliff]

I think you are overstating number 2. Anyone that has spent as much time on a carb car as I have mine is just as fast. Look at Tracy Pedigo for example. His car makes slightly more HP per cubic inch than mine does.

[Greg Hill]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

No sir, Don't like it. Don't like it one bit.

Billy as I said in my post, this is not an ideal remedy, but the fact is that two things have already happened. NHRA has let these crate motors into stock in the newer cars and they have given them ridiculously low hp ratings. Do you think NHRA is going to change how they rate these new cars? Why is it okay for the new cars to be able to run these motors that were never available in them and not for the old ones?

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Greg Hill

Billy as I said in my post, this is not an ideal remedy, but the fact is that two things have already happened. NHRA has let these crate motors into stock in the newer cars and they have given them ridiculously low hp ratings. Do you think NHRA is going to change how they rate these new cars? Why is it okay for the new cars to be able to run these motors that were never available in them and not for the old ones?

Greg, at what point in time does Stock get watered down to the point that realistically we are a flat hood and 9" tires and dems da rules? We are already ET-2 for crying out loud. i can actually understand why the manufacturers did what they did, because they can't build drag race type cars anymore. The Feds won't let them. Too many regulations and requirements. Better off to build some one-offs and sell them as what they are, not for street use. Now the way they are rating them is another story. NHRA has always given new cars a softer rating to encourage racers to build them. Now, with the AHFS in play I feel that NHRA should be doing just the opposite and factoring them on the high side until they are on the track. At that time, after some cars have actually raced, they should be reviewed just like all other combos and lowered if needed.

[KRatcliff]

Factoring them on the high side will assure that no one will build them. Just look at how many of the late model LS3s for example have been built.

[Chad Rhodes]

It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out an average multiplier for any engine family rating, and start all new combos of the same family using that same multiplier. By engine family I mean LS, or 3 valve N/A etc, and by multiplier I mean factored hp vs factory hp.

[Dennis Banach]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

No sir, Don't like it. Don't like it one bit.

Hey Billy, How about new cars with old motors?
I would love to see you in lets say a 2010 Camaro with the 230 and a PG!

As an incentive to update to newer body styles put all of the old combos back to the original HP maybe 10 % less!

I like all of the stockers both new and old but but I think NHRA wants to give the class a fresh look!

A quick look on the net shows many "salvage title" new cars for a lot less money then some of the new "Crate motors"

This way guys could run a combo that they put so much hard work and time into and still be able to sell the old car to a bracket racer or put it back on the street.

Crazy idea but this is what happens when I think out loud !

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by Dennis Banach

Hey Billy, How about new cars with old motors?
I would love to see you in lets say a 2010 Camaro with the 230 and a PG!

As an incentive to update to newer body styles put all of the old combos back to the original HP maybe 10 % less!

I like all of the stockers both new and old but but I think NHRA wants to give the class a fresh look!

A quick look on the net shows many "salvage title" new cars for a lot less money then some of the new "Crate motors"

This way guys could run a combo that they put so much hard work and time into and still be able to sell the old car to a bracket racer or put it back on the street.

Crazy idea but this is what happens when I think out loud !

That combo is already legal to run in IHRA Stock GT

[Mickey Whaley]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

No sir, Don't like it. Don't like it one bit.

Billy how many new cars are in your class?