Heads up races

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Harry 6674

Thats the way it was when we ran off the records. Thats the way it should be now. The rally racers used to have to reach the finish at a precribed time, not so in real drag racing.

When we ran off of records, more than 1/10th under was a break out. The records were stiff enough there was not near as much of it as we see now. Final round at national events was no break out, but if you ran under that was your new record.

Here in Div 4, qualifying at our points races is usually that way. Everybody is handicapped off their indexes, which also gives us some practice for eliminations. It's interesting.

[Harry 6674]

During the 70s when we started running off indexes was when the sandbagging really started because of easy index numbers. Running off the records meant if you couldn't set the record you didn't lift. I couldn't set records so I run it all out. Once in a while the record holders would back out some to keep from lowering the record and you could sneek by.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Harry 6674

During the 70s when we started running off indexes was when the sandbagging really started because of easy index numbers. Running off the records meant if you couldn't set the record you didn't lift. I couldn't set records so I run it all out. Once in a while the record holders would back out some to keep from lowering the record and you could sneek by.

Those years remember people going the Suffolk Va. To set records in classes they wouldn't run in during the season. Do a body switch or a cam change. So the competition would have a tuff go of it. It was worst then than comp is now with the cic. a lot of stuff went on back then. Sandbagging isn't a new thing.
When they went to the indexes it got rid of a lot of the sandbagging. But some of the soft combos dominated.
That was real racing. If only NHRA would have properly torn down the faster cars (there was a big discrepancy division to division). And kept up with factoring.
It would have keep costs down. How much can a valve job and a shave cost? But the racers screwed that up.

[Paul Merolla]

Originally Posted by Jimi B

How are the eliminations in Stock and Super Stock ran at the Sportsnationals? Are they heads up with a handicap for your index?

Where else can you get an all heads up eliminator in Stock and Super Stock?

As far as I know, that ONLY happens at Pat Joffrion's CIC race at the Cajun Sportsnationals...and it's not the regular eliminations, but a separate race for fun. I really hope he's still doing it when I finally get my car done.

[Jimi B]

I just read something about heads up racing on the sportsnationals page, and it got my hopes up. I would love no break out racing. I am working on a set up that will probably qualify real well, but not be consistent. Its sort of a starter for me for class racing. If I can get a record or 2, maybe win class at Indy, and maybe a/some number 1 qualifying spots, I will think about building a something more consistent. I love class racing, but to me I cant justify running a class car if I am not going to be a contender heads up. Might as well run a .90 class. I definitely understand why people do, I just cant justify it.