Where are the lower class cars?

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

I thought the need for speed was the reason most went racing. For me, personally, anything slower than G/S just isn't much fun. In an age when you can buy 12-13 second production street cars, and "bolt-ons" will yield 10-11 second performance, why is anyone surprised that slower cars are falling out of favor?

Alan I respect your needing to run G/S et's or better, but I like the competition drag racing allows...plus not having to be concerned with speed limits, and unsafe drivers/roads. That's why I race...I'm too old for human drag racing (track), and I didn't do very well with horses...real horse power, and the way they race turning in circles, I refuse to do that, because if someone tries to purposesly wipe me out, there's going to be problems...what Richard Childress did to that Bush guy would only be part of it...if you can't beat someone in a clean and fair race, then you shouldn't be racing...my .02!

I race my slower roller for three reasons:

1. It's something completely different than most cars out there.

2. The insuing challenge of doing something only two others have done (on a divisional or national event level), is something I choose to embrace.

3. Since my car is slower, there's less breakage, so my budget is happier.

Trust me though, when I bought this car I was looking at a 4dr Belvedere with a 318 in it. I wish I could've gotten that car too, because I love mopar products (especially Belvedere's, Savoy's, Coronets, and Darts), but I can't afford the bigger engine cars, so I choose to run a small engine/car. It's all about choice....

[bill dedman]

[QUOTE= It's all about choice.... [/QUOTE]

And who wants to deliberately choose a ("slow") car that runs a class that can be unfairly screwed by the first red light rule, most of the time they race (handicapped races)???

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that, just like what happened to Ed F. at his last national event, if you run enough rounds as a first-to-leave car, some faster car who gets a free ride when you red light could possibly go on to win the event. People see that and think, "why me"? As, well they should...

Until equal red light jeopardy is a fact for every car, I think the exodus from the lower classes will continue. It's just one more contributing factor to the disadvantages of running a "slow" car...


I promise not to write more about this; you've all heard my rant, but I couldn't believe that no one had mentioned it...

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

And who wants to deliberately choose a ("slow") car that runs a class that can be unfairly screwed by the first red light rule, most of the time they race (handicapped races)???

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that, just like what happened to Ed F. at his last national event, if you run enough rounds as a first-to-leave car, some faster car who gets a free ride when you red light could possibly go on to win the event. People see that and think, "why me"? As, well they should...

Until equal red light jeopardy is a fact for every car, I think the exodus from the lower classes will continue. It's just one more contributing factor to the disadvantages of running a "slow" car...


I promise not to write more about this; you've all heard my rant, but I couldn't believe that no one had mentioned it...

Ohhhhhhh.

[Bunkster]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

....I couldn't believe that no one had mentioned it...

Like you, I thought it only natural the defective handicap starting system would be mentioned early in this thread.

It's sad that it still exists. Even more sad so few seem to understand fully how unfair it is.

[Tom keedle]

Originally Posted by Bunkster

Like you, I thought it only natural the defective handicap starting system would be mentioned early in this thread.

It's sad that it still exists. Even more sad so few seem to understand fully how unfair it is.

maybe we're tired of hearing about it?

btw,my American was going to be run as a 232 6cylinder car BUT no scattershields available for the application, the 3 speed was about the size of my fist and 4 speeds were not available behind the 6....
next best thing was a 290...

[Tony Janes]

It is not a perfect world. Just a reminder double red lights are not important!

[jmantle]

After running a "slow" car for the last 4 years, I think the worst red light issue is a non issue. Having a clean tree most of the time is more of an advantage. When I ran my super pro car, I was usually the faster car and found the distraction of the car in the other lane was a problem for me at times. The biggest issue I see for the slower cars is the big swings with the wind and weather, just wish for a calm, cloudy day.
Jim Mantle U,V/SA 6632

[bill dedman]

Originally Posted by jmantle

After running a "slow" car for the last 4 years, When I ran my super pro car, I was usually the faster car and found the distraction of the car in the other lane was a problem for me at times. The biggest issue I see for the slower cars is the big swings with the wind and weather, just wish for a calm, cloudy day.
Jim Mantle U,V/SA 6632

I said I wouldn't write any more about this, but when I read something like this, it is more than I can do, not to respond. I apologize to all who are offended by posts that offer more truth than is palatable...

RE: ":I think the worst red light issue is a non issue. Having a clean tree most of the time is more of an advantage."

Are you under the impression that if they (NHRA) employ a double red light system, you will LOSE your valued, "CLEAN TREE?"

You won't; it will still be there, as always.

All it (the new system) would do is force EVERYONE to face the same red light jeopardy, like you always do, when running against a second-leaving car.

Is there anything unfair about that, making the red light rule equal for all cars?

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

i said i wouldn't write any more about this, but when i read something like this, it is more than i can do, not to respond. I apologize to all who are offended by posts that offer more truth than is palatable...

Re: ":i think the worst red light issue is a non issue. Having a clean tree most of the time is more of an advantage."

are you under the impression that if they (nhra) employ a double red light system, you will lose your valued, "clean tree?"

you won't; it will still be there, as always.

All it (the new system) would do is force everyone to face the same red light jeopardy, like you always do, when running against a second-leaving car.

Is there anything unfair about that, making the red light rule equal for all cars?

xxx

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by jmantle

After running a "slow" car for the last 4 years, I think the worst red light issue is a non issue. Having a clean tree most of the time is more of an advantage. When I ran my super pro car, I was usually the faster car and found the distraction of the car in the other lane was a problem for me at times. The biggest issue I see for the slower cars is the big swings with the wind and weather, just wish for a calm, cloudy day.
Jim Mantle U,V/SA 6632

Jim , I don't think it's a non-issue, but I think it's a minor issue.
I do know plenty of people who's partial justification for moving up to A-B-C cars, was it gave the other guy the first opportunity to red light.

That being said, it was never enough reason for me to NOT build a slower car.
In reality , if you can't string together 4 or 5 good lights in a row, you're not going to win much, leaving first or second.

There were several " first" red lights this weekend. I'm surprised we haven't heard about them yet, here.. .But that's another thread, isn't it?