Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comments

[Ed Carpenter]

I can tell you this much. Money 💰 talks. In D4 a few years ago we had 6-8 Comp cars show up. Now we have 25-30 and Ennis is coming up and we probably will have 35-40. A qualifying bonus program was installed and there’s a pot of cash 💰 waiting the top-10 at the end of the season. It’s all about the money. More money more racers!

[Jim Whitehead]

(1) Let’s start with increasing the car Quota at Nationals.
(2) Let’s go back to Tech and Looking at cars.
(3) We need to work with NHRA to help improve sportsman racing.

[1347]

I have mixed feelings on raising entry fee. I know class racing isn't for the budget minded, but an extra 100 on top of 6+ dollars a gallon for fuel is a hard hit at this time. I also oppose dropping 3rd round money.

I would rather increase the quota where you have to qualify to get in, that would bring more money in, and would bring the performance back into a performance based class if you have to step it up to get in.

I would also like to see points or money awarded to #1 qualifiers and setting the record. Also I still can't understand why no one has asked why we can't get records published in ND even if its only twice a year. I did send a couple emails last year but they never got answered.

[Larry Hill]

What "Rights" do we have as members of NHRA? Not trying to stir the pot but if we have any kind of "Rights" as members it would be good to know what they are, and how we may use them to help direct NHRA in a positive direction from the racers viewpoint. It would be good if Linda Louie, VP and general counsel of NHRA, could give us members a list of "Rights" as members of NHRA 501(C)(6) tax status. If we as members know the rules it will make it so much more easy to work within that framework.

We all want a successful, fair, and transparent sanctioning body.

[MRE 7171]

Please Do Not raise entry fees and start paying more for all rounds and start at 2nd round like it use to be, we don't all get to the final round, but would sure like to know that if I get to the 3rd round I could pay "some" of my expenses

[Paul Wong]

Originally Posted by GUMP

This could also be fixed by getting rid of all the outdated slow cars that nobody but old people can relate to....

I actually think the fans love huge handicaps for the record. If we make a class with all the same cars we will look more like Super Comp.

I am a well know abuser of working hard on slow cars but class sure gained a lot of fun when parity was shown when a good slow car was brought to the table. I'm not referring to my under factored truck or any of the other vehicles that have received major gifts, but cars that have had serious effort put into them.

The system will work if there was more INCENTIVE.
Points for records
Points for qualifying position
Even the defunct national performer award. I took horsepower to win that more than once.
Make a 64 car qualified field and leave Indy 128.

[MikeMoller]

1. If you are torn down for a 1.20+ pass, and everything checks, and the run is also under the National record NHRA should give you the National record.
2.Split the qualifying into two calls, one for slower cars and one for faster cars..Handicap qualifying runs using the index, little better show for the fans.
3. Entry fee should include at least one crew pass, or at least a discount since when most of us get eliminated we go home-don't stay for the whole event yet crew fee pass assumes we stay.

[BILL TAYLOR]

Originally Posted by 1347

I have mixed feelings on raising entry fee. I know class racing isn't for the budget minded, but an extra 100 on top of 6+ dollars a gallon for fuel is a hard hit at this time. I also oppose dropping 3rd round money.

I would rather increase the quota where you have to qualify to get in, that would bring more money in, and would bring the performance back into a performance based class if you have to step it up to get in.

I would also like to see points or money awarded to #1 qualifiers and setting the record. Also I still can't understand why no one has asked why we can't get records published in ND even if its only twice a year. I did send a couple emails last year but they never got answered.

There are several things that keep me from running Nationals. The wasted week, the price, being treated like fill-in, and the "combos". Would it really hurt their budget to give out a few more Wallys? Bill Taylor B/S 1005.

[countrypuppy4865]

1. I think it’s going to be tough to increase entries. I think the idea of making it 64 qualified field and accepting 80 for quota then use additional money to go to purse. However, any idea here will have its drawback. You have qualified field people will complain they can’t qualify. You increase entry it will be too expensive. We may need to start some polls that require name car number and membership to vote on some of these topics.
2. -1.30 is fine and one review is fine. By giving points for records and qualifying, that would give incentive and help the ahfs work. How about green hat like the pros get for #1 to go with points? Of course $$ would be nice too but would almost need a sponsor to do that which has been done at divisionals.
3. Indifferent on all class winners getting in I can see both arguments. Fwd car comes in wins class going -.50 and qualifies but #129 is a competitive C/SA that’s -.90 but doesn’t get to race. On the other hand the fwd car did win class.
4. Shipping weights. This has a major effect on a lot of people. There are plenty of shipping weights incorrect for a variety of reasons (paper cars, wrong info submitted, or just errors) NHRA accepted the weights so it’s not racers faults for following the guide. Making changes to weight would force some out of their current classes. To me if you do away with it there’s no more arguing what weight is correct and what weight isn’t. I would be willing to bet not many cars would move a significant amount. Ones that have shipping weights that are close to correct probably can’t get light enough to move two classes from their current class. Let’s take a popular car for example 69 Camaro 350 255hp combo. Minimum in F is 3110. I’m not very familiar with the weights of these cars personally, but just from talking with others most can’t get near that minimum. Another argument is a heavy driver may only be able to fit the heaviest class and he may want to run a little another class up. Or vice versa, a very light driver may not want to add a bunch of weight.

Regardless of the outcome of any of this at the end of the day you have to play by their rules, but if changes are made it should be because the vast majority wants the changes.

[B Parker]

Most class eliminations are being done at Divisional's this year. And if it's at a National with a small quota you would get to run in the eliminator anyway. Indy may be the only race that this could affect those solo combo's. But the last 2 years at Indy every class winner qualified. Don't see the need to change this.

I know several will not be in favor of raising the instant hit to 1.30 under. How about it stay's at 1.20 unless it's a mine shaft race and then it goes to 1.30 under.

The index's are soft and have been for several years now. I know we don't want to discourage any new racers and those that for whatever reason can't get their car to go faster. The index's should really get lowered by 2 or 3 tenths. But to not discourage those that can't get their car to go that fast at least look at 1 tenth lowering. It would also help bring the AHFS up to date with all the enhancements NHRA has given most of us the last 15 years. BP