Oil Downs (Beat to Death)

[Bill Edgeworth]

It appears they are no longer talking about the new smaller engine the NHRA was supposedly working on. Did they scrap the idea in favor flames, oil downs and explosions to keep all the nitro head bangers happy?

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Bill Edgeworth

It appears they are no longer talking about the new smaller engine the NHRA was supposedly working on. Did they scrap the idea in favor flames, oil downs and explosions to keep all the nitro head bangers happy?

Unless NHRA restricts the blower case size, blower boost, fuel pump, nitro percentage, grear ratios, etc. or a combination of these the smaller engines that were once talked about would still blow up and spill their guts all over the race tracks. Maybe even more so because the teams would lean on them even harder to gain an edge. I dont understand NHRA's reasoning (i guess none of us do !). If it were less expensive to campain a nitro car they would have more cars showing up to race instead of one or two well funded teams that seem to own/buy the championship each year. The rest seem to just take up space on the ladder. The races would be a side by side race instead of seeing who can blow the tires off the most. Talk to Bruce Litton (Top Fuel owner and driver) some time when you have the chance. He is a great guy and holds nothing back.

[Peter Ash]

Maybe all they really need for the Pro's, is a one engine rule, same as the one chassis rule that JF b!tches about! Might help?

[Curmudgeon]

Oke thought I've had for years is sanctioning bodies are afraid if they slow cars down ticket sales and TV eyeballs would be lost. Do they think its speed numbers that fill the stands,or good racing? Just look at the Daytona travesty. If they were to go to a 4 X 3 engine and slow down to say 160 aerodynamics would play a lesser role and racing be better. With Drag Racing I don't believe the spectator can tell the difference between say 250 and 300 from the stands if not told. If you were able to give them side by side full quarter mile runs without lengthy clean-ups my belief is they'd come away satisfied they had seen a good day of racing. Nobody buys a ticket to watch the clean-up crew in action.

[Marvin Robinson]

Another case of trying to fix the problem where it isn't by taking on the easiest target... the Pros bring in the TV time and the cash, so they will be catered to by NHRA and the broadcasters. The rulemakers are trying to kill a rabbit with an elephant gun with the diaper rules for nearly everyone, when 95% of the problem is coming from the fuel cars, who only represent about 50 teams total, against 200 or so ProStock and ProStock motorcycles, and 3,000 or so Class racers, and 20,000 or more index racers. The best way to NOT solve a problem is to not look at it correctly... addressing the FUEL cars needs to be done, and I see/hear a lot of good suggestions, but the brass at NHRA doesn't seem to want to deal with the problem that way.

[novassdude]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Oke thought I've had for years is sanctioning bodies are afraid if they slow cars down ticket sales and TV eyeballs would be lost. Do they think its speed numbers that fill the stands,or good racing? Just look at the Daytona travesty. If they were to go to a 4 X 3 engine and slow down to say 160 aerodynamics would play a lesser role and racing be better. With Drag Racing I don't believe the spectator can tell the difference between say 250 and 300 from the stands if not told. If you were able to give them side by side full quarter mile runs without lengthy clean-ups my belief is they'd come away satisfied they had seen a good day of racing. Nobody buys a ticket to watch the clean-up crew in action.

Sadly I am afraid you are wrong about most spectators wanting to see close racing. If that was what they wanted pro stock would be the most popular class. Most seem to want things out of control if they crash I think that is a plus to them.
Those of us on here do not look at things like joe blow off the street.

[Curmudgeon]

Sadly, I share your views,Novassdude,about a segment of spectators. I remember the days when stands could be filled for a Pro Stock show. When Jenkins,Sox and Martin ,etc.pioneered P/S it eclipsed the f/cs in popularity through good promotion of the category. What is lacking today is any real coverage of Pro Stock.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Sadly, I share your views,Novassdude,about a segment of spectators. I remember the days when stands could be filled for a Pro Stock show. When Jenkins,Sox and Martin ,etc.pioneered P/S it eclipsed the f/cs in popularity through good promotion of the category. What is lacking today is any real coverage of Pro Stock.

And remember back then the fuel racers were pissed at the pro stock guys stealing their glory ! Pro Stock was far more popular than Too Fool or fuel Ha Ha cars.

[Curmudgeon]

YES-X Tech ! After the fuel coupes got away from altered w/base steel bodies(when they were"funny"looking). Seriously can't see why P/S isn't promoted agressively , the original appeal was how public could associate P/S with their car out in parking lot. What I always wondered , if it wasn't because t/f and f/c sponsors have deeper pockets for ad money (TV spots and event sponsorship).

[Bill Edgeworth]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Unless NHRA restricts the blower case size, blower boost, fuel pump, nitro percentage, grear ratios, etc. or a combination of these the smaller engines that were once talked about would still blow up and spill their guts all over the race tracks. Maybe even more so because the teams would lean on them even harder to gain an edge. I dont understand NHRA's reasoning (i guess none of us do !). If it were less expensive to campain a nitro car they would have more cars showing up to race instead of one or two well funded teams that seem to own/buy the championship each year. The rest seem to just take up space on the ladder. The races would be a side by side race instead of seeing who can blow the tires off the most. Talk to Bruce Litton (Top Fuel owner and driver) some time when you have the chance. He is a great guy and holds nothing back.

Good points.
Watching it on TV yesterday The Snake was talking about one of the T/F explosions saying it looked like a $20,000 to $60,000 explosion. At that rate not to many people can afford to push them that hard.
It would not be that hard to limit boost or fuel flow. I know in some types of open wheel racing, not sure which class, might be Indy lights the sanctioning body issues their own boost regulators and takes them back at the end of the race. I know this is done to “dry” air in a turbocharged application but something could be done in a blower application without breaking the bank. As simple as an NHRA issued fuel flow/pressure regulator.
Why not? They make the Pro Stock guys all use the same ignition