New Super Stock weight breaks for 2017

[Michael Beard]

What an absolutely ridiculous joke. The unequal application of the rules is actually *planned* a year ahead. Good for them. While it's nice that they've added lower weight breaks to accommodate super go-fast guys, they added EVEN MORE classes to Super Stock.

** Apparently it's perfectly fine for sticks and automatics to be combined in Factory classes, GT Truck, Modified Stock, Modified Truck, and Modified classes, but not in the regular GT or traditional SS classes. If it's proper for one, then why not the other? OR if it's not proper for one, why is it for the other?

** In the GT Truck, Modified Stock, Modified Truck, and Modified classes, the automatics get a 5% or 250# weight break (whichever is less) -- yet the Factory classes do not. If it's proper for one, then why not the other? OR if it's not proper for one, why is it for the other?

** Apparently NHRA feels that the factories are building the next generation of "unsafe at any speed" cars and engines, because NHRA has planned to continue into 2017 the idea that GT cars up to an 11.49# weight break will require a roll cage, but ALL Factory cars (even 12.50# and up) will require a full roll cage, -5 firesuit, etc. What will the insurance company say when a 'traditional' car running 10.00 gets into an accident. "Why didn't this car adhere to the higher level of safety standards that these other cars going as slow as 11.00 are required?" Why are the chances of rollovers and spontaneous combustion dramatically increased when a carburetor or 10+ year old throttle body is replaced with a specific late model year/model of throttle body, or when a 1970's era small block is placed in the engine bad of a professionally built late model factory race car? I'd love to see the studies and reports on that one!


There are many people working within NHRA who are good people, have plenty of common sense, and want to do well by both NHRA and their customers. Even the new President Peter Clifford said in a recent interview that he's had ideas to help NHRA for 18 years. 18 years. I've heard similar things from others. It seems to be a common thread that, "Oh, no, you can't make changes. No, no, no, things take time. Don't rock the boat." So who is the person or persons within the organization that is setting up all the roadblocks? The roadblocks need to be FIRED, and the good, passionate, common sense people within the organization need to be freed up to do their jobs.

[Dick Butler]

Micheal, I hadn't realized the combination Stick and Auto with wt breaks. I have to agree if its good for one set then all should be fine with it. What I see is the had writing on the wall that soon All SS, GT and FS cars of the same wts could be rolled into the same class based on wt breaks....That would cut the number of classes to 1/3 real fast.

[james schaechter]

I would hope that they (NHRA) eliminate or reduce the weight subsidy for automatics. That rule is out of date. I know automatic racers would never complain about it and they make up the majority of racers out there. That being said, if it was close to parity at all, you would see more stickshift combos in those classes

[Andys dad]

I did not see any mention of the FSS classes ..

But is is highly likely I had a senior moment.

Ron

[SS3718]

Originally Posted by james schaechter

I would hope that they (NHRA) eliminate or reduce the weight subsidy for automatics. That rule is out of date. I know automatic racers would never complain about it and they make up the majority of racers out there. That being said, if it was close to parity at all, you would see more stickshift combos in those classes

Jim,
Do you think sticks and automatics should be combined without a weight break to automatics?

I agree with Mr. Beard. What's good for one, should be good for all! Nobody cares, except for a select few, that sticks/autos were combined in the new classes with stick indexes being adopted. I bet if they combine ALL sticks/autos and hit all of the auto indexes that there would be a lot more discussion and displeasure on the topic! Just my $0.02!

Nick

[james schaechter]

Originally Posted by SS3718

Jim,
Do you think sticks and automatics should be combined without a weight break to automatics?

I agree with Mr. Beard. What's good for one, should be good for all! Nobody cares, except for a select few, that sticks/autos were combined in the new classes with stick indexes being adopted. I bet if they combine ALL sticks/autos and hit all of the auto indexes that there would be a lot more discussion and displeasure on the topic! Just my $0.02!

Nick

I think in Superstock the weight break is relevant in any class that they have to compete heads up. The best auto stuff is fast and expensive just like the best stick stuff. The weight break that exists in the modified classes is extremely biased towards automatics now. Maybe it should be an incremental change to placate the 95% and see how it goes. I understand Michaels point. His argument about the safety requirements are valid, but separate from the stick vs auto one.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by james schaechter

I understand Michaels point. His argument about the safety requirements are valid, but separate from the stick vs auto one.

Correct, they are separate arguments.

And for the record, I don't care which way a ruling goes. If FGT doesn't get a weight break for automatics, then neither should GT/Truck. Or if GT/Truck does, then everybody should.

Likewise, if they feel my 10.50-10.80 car is unsafe without a full roll cage, -5 firesuit, competition license, SFI flexplate & shield, then by all means, make it a rule that all cars 10.99-quicker meet those higher requirements. Sure glad I wouldn't be the one fielding THOUSANDS of calls and e-mails from Stock, Super Stock, and bracket racers if they made *that* announcement!

Equal application of rules. Period.

[Bryan Broaddus]

I think the weight breaks are great since it will revitalize some of the older Big Block high HP combinations that had no place in GT. It will separate the front wheel drive cars from some of the tanks since there is still a 2670 lb minimum.
Love to see a 426 in a GT car or Boss 429, L88 427, SOHC 427. Now it is possible in GT!! Bring on the EFI cars for a real Muscle Car race!!

[Tony Janes]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

What an absolutely ridiculous joke. The unequal application of the rules is actually *planned* a year ahead. Good for them. While it's nice that they've added lower weight breaks to accommodate super go-fast guys, they added EVEN MORE classes to Super Stock.

** Apparently it's perfectly fine for sticks and automatics to be combined in Factory classes, GT Truck, Modified Stock, Modified Truck, and Modified classes, but not in the regular GT or traditional SS classes. If it's proper for one, then why not the other? OR if it's not proper for one, why is it for the other?

** In the GT Truck, Modified Stock, Modified Truck, and Modified classes, the automatics get a 5% or 250# weight break (whichever is less) -- yet the Factory classes do not. [I]If it's proper for one, then why not the other? OR if it's not proper for one, why is it for the other?

** Apparently NHRA feels that the factories are building the next generation of "unsafe at any speed" cars and engines, because NHRA has planned to continue into 2017 the idea that GT cars up to an 11.49# weight break will require a roll cage, but ALL Factory cars (even 12.50# and up) will require a full roll cage, -5 firesuit, etc. What will the insurance company say when a 'traditional' car running 10.00 gets into an accident. "Why didn't this car adhere to the higher level of safety standards that these other cars going as slow as 11.00 are required?" Why are the chances of rollovers and spontaneous combustion dramatically increased when a carburetor or 10+ year old throttle body is replaced with a specific late model year/model of throttle body, or when a 1970's era small block is placed in the engine bad of a professionally built late model factory race car? I'd love to see the studies and reports on that one!


There are many people working within NHRA who are good people, have plenty of common sense, and want to do well by both NHRA and their customers. Even the new President Peter Clifford said in a recent interview that he's had ideas to help NHRA for 18 years. 18 years. I've heard similar things from others. It seems to be a common thread that, "Oh, no, you can't make changes. No, no, no, things take time. Don't rock the boat." So who is the person or persons within the organization that is setting up all the roadblocks? The roadblocks need to be FIRED, and the good, passionate, common sense people within the organization need to be freed up to do their jobs.

It is simply a expensive bracket race. Dick you have become a fan not a racer.

[Dick Butler]

Originally Posted by Tony Janes

It is simply a expensive bracket race. Dick you have become a fan not a racer.

We agree on the description.
Maybe just a little more than a "fan".................................................. ............