True meaning

[Dwight Southerland]

I personally would like to see eliminator participation based on class winners. If it is desirable to allow more cars to make a bigger field, add the class runners-up. Then pair them for first round according to their fastest times and try to match cars that run close to the same ET. The "qualifying" board would have the cars listed in order by ET, not how far under the index. After all, NOBODY is going to race off their index. Maybe some of the big-ego whiners would understand racing smart instead of racing checkbooks.

[House of Darts]

Wow! What refreashing ideas. I have garaged my SE until NHRA gets their act together. What kept me involved in SE is the variety of cars. Look at any old photos of Sportaman racers and you will see some real combos from Stock to MP to Gas. It gives the newcomer a desire to shoot for someting different. Look and see that most of SE is won in classes above G. I run a lower class and I can kill the record if I want to. I can be competitive. So what is my incentive to race SE? Could it be the fees? Or the 3-4 days for an event to run? The tech? Or the sand baggers? Or whatever? Of all the sportsman classes I have ever raced, SE is the best. NHRA does not make it easy. IHRA seems to be better at it. If I want to bracket race I pull out my bracket racer, pay $50-$75, tech is 15 mins., get 2-3 qualifying passes, race all out and be consistant w/in .2, collect some $ and glory, be home by 9 PM and be happy with the day. There is way too much complaining on this site. This is a symptom of a larger more serious problem. We are racers and we are not happy with the present format. A dedicated effort is required NOW to resolve many issuses. A review of the rules that were and are for SE and the changing times must be attacked now. Although I have never met Dave Ley from Div1 he seems to understand SE. He has put together a series of races for S/SS and those that participate are happy. I assume that there are others like Dave in other DIVs. that can pull this sport together Drag racing is the only sport where the sexes and all age groups and participate together. I would hate to lose such a competitive sports format! I support your commentary.

[Bryan Worner]

I thought all you winers (not just you Dick) were complaining how you didn't want "sandbagging" or 1000 ft. racing!! Now you have a rule where you get rewarded for being one of the 128 fastest cars......not a .5 second under class winner.....and you are against it??? Which side are you on?

To be a class winner, your car should be fast! With today's indexes and low horsepower ratings.......as most of you have been stating on here for the past 2 years or so......a class winner should be able to qualify in the top 128! Indy is the only race where this usually comes into play......so I guess if you don't have a capable car you should speed it up or stay home......that is if you want to complain about it!!! Or, if you are a true "performanced based racer" you should go to Indy, let 'er rip and hope for the best! Isn't that what you were all crying for??? Now you got it and your crying!

I'm sure you'll have some great class racing as always at Indy, and the fastest car won't always win class. But I'm sure those cars that have a fighting chance will qualify!

I'll agree with one thing Dick said......class wins need to be rewarded......like they used to! I remember when you could win $2000 or so, now it's $800, if you're lucky, or unless you own a brand new car.

Good luck to all!

[Dick Butler]

Bryan, Thanks for your comment on rewarding Class wins. My point is if you continue to degrade the winning of class by not rewarding the winner of reasonable sized class to run eliminator then why would others reward it? Why would it be a goal? Why will they even be needed with rules on parts and specs?
If fast racers in their class or NHRA wants to correct the problem of Bye run classes they dont want in Eliminator then Consolidate it so you get Class winners who WIN by beating some cars. Winners who HAVE to work to be fast in the other classes. Winners who give some crowd appeal to Class racing day, not just a two car bye down the track and take a meaningless trophy.
FIX the overall issue of TOO many Classes dividing up the cars so TOO many Bye runs or No Show classes. Then the Class racing can be rewarded and maybe become more popular with spectators then more sponsors and etc etc... could happen. If you doubt it thats fine but IT IS PROVING it is NOT valuable NOW as it is so what is there to lose by trying another approach (which worked before the numbers of classes was doubled)
IT IS THE TOO MANY CLASSES WHICH IS MAKING PEOPLE PUSH FOR THE QUICK 128 successfully.

[Bruce Noland]

Art,
You are in a very small minority of racers who think they can keep this idiotic drum beat going. Regrettably, I'm going to add one more post to the beat.

I seriously take objection with your "God given right" comment! You are over the line now! People work very hard on their cars to go to Indy. I didn't qualify on my first two attempts at Indy. But that made me work harder and it took ten trips to get my car fast enough to win class and to EARN a good spot on the sheet at Indy. It's my favorite trophy - so don't run this phony "God given right" stuff on us. That spot on the sheet and class trophy took ten years of hard damn work and I'm not going to sit around and watch you malcontents run it down. There are hundreds of people who have been on this very same path and will be on it in the future and you will not get away with dumping on our achievements.

You guys don't even show up at Indy and you're out here taking a big dump on this site. You can see from Evan's response how the whole thing went down and you can also see that the majority of the racers agree with the new rule. So don't come out here and dump your angry garbage on us. You guys can go fast enough to win class and beat the bump but you want to stage this phony protest like you have been cheated. All you are succeeding in doing is making people angry.

[Matt Welker]

I'm with you Bruce, Winning Class at Indy is what S/SS is all about and they will always be the most special Wallys on my shelf. The eliminator is just a bonus. Bring your best and have the real possibility of being torn down to prove you are legal. Six D/SA cars this year, win or lose, I can't wait to compete.

-Matt Welker
D/SA 1741

[Jim Wahl]

Woah! Bruce,
Slow down, take a break. Maybe you should get some sleep. You have taken poor 'ol Art way out of context.
He and I are all for Class racers and Class winners, that is the whole point of our posts! But we are not a bunch of "sheeple" feeling comfortable just following yours and NHRA's dictations without any explanation. The rule the way it was sent to NHRA I could understand, but NHRA's extreme interpretation is not acceptable to me and many others. It is my right to voice my opinion, that is what makes this site and others like it great. If you plan on squashing everyone who doesn't agree with you then you will only arguing with yourself before very long. I was a moderator on LS1.com for a few years and I found you must have an open mind and take a break every now and then. Now might be the time for you to do just that. Jim

[Bruce Noland]

Jim,
At my age I am one of the most well-rested guys on this site.

I took nothing out of context - Art's post was very specific. My post stands.

Now you have resulted to personal remarks. I have no dictates and I'm certainly not in concert with nhra so I think you are taking your anger out on me and others. Your scortched earth tactics have failed and you certainly haven't gained any sympathy for your cause.

Now go turn the wick up on your steamer and come ready to race at Indy. I hope you and Art are planning to come to Indy this year. It would be shame if you pulled a no show after all this BS.

[Urraco]

I agree with Art 100%. If you dont win class you should be in the trailer, period.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

Art,
You are in a very small minority of racers who think they can keep this idiotic drum beat going. Regrettably, I'm going to add one more post to the beat.

I seriously take objection with your "God given right" comment! You are over the line now! People work very hard on their cars to go to Indy. I didn't qualify on my first two attempts at Indy. But that made me work harder and it took ten trips to get my car fast enough to win class and to EARN a good spot on the sheet at Indy. It's my favorite trophy - so don't run this phony "God given right" stuff on us. That spot on the sheet and class trophy took ten years of hard damn work and I'm not going to sit around and watch you malcontents run it down. There are hundreds of people who have been on this very same path and will be on it in the future and you will not get away with dumping on our achievements.

You guys don't even show up at Indy and you're out here taking a big dump on this site. You can see from Evan's response how the whole thing went down and you can also see that the majority of the racers agree with the new rule. So don't come out here and dump your angry garbage on us. You guys can go fast enough to win class and beat the bump but you want to stage this phony protest like you have been cheated. All you are succeeding in doing is making people angry.

Bruce now you made it personal. I won't be at Indy this year because I don't have enough credits to get in I don't race a cookie cutter car. So building it took longer than planned. I "WILL" be there next year.
I don't think you realize that I above almost all people am not crying for my own purpose.
How many times have you qualified number one? I know it's nowhere near as many times as I have.
And with all of nhra's rule changes I think the number one qualifier gots in the show, whether they singled or not. Or maybe you'd like to change that rule also..
How many times have you been in the winners circle at Indy? I have been. I didn't drive but I was a real an integral part of the operation "not a name on the side of the car"
I qualified number one with a "fast car" and have qualified number one with a "slow car"
I'm 60 years old retired and first nhra race we won was in 1975.
So "buddy" before you knock my credentials. You should open your eyes before tapping your fingers