4-wide Pro red lights

[bill dedman]

Originally Posted by Chad Rhodes

Bill, I understand your points and I'm not arguing the premise. I'm arguing the method. Over the first thirty years of this sport there was a lot of evolution in how to run a drag race, as you've illustrated. However over the last two decades, any changes or innovation in how to run a drag race have come from bracket racing. Double entries, buy backs, run for the money/gamblers races, etc (some for the better, some for the worse) have all come from the grass roots. Even the outlaw street car and newer index classes have come from local bracket racing and local promoters.

that's why I suggested that route, going to NHRA isn't going to do any good. The local racers would be your only hope.

Chad, sed... (see above)

"over the last two decades, any changes or innovation in how to run a drag race have come from bracket racing. Double entries, buy backs, run for the money/gamblers races, etc (some for the better, some for the worse) have all come from the grass roots. Even the outlaw street car and newer index classes have come from local bracket racing and local promoters."

Chad,
Read what you wrote here and tell me what, if any, of the things you've enumerated, have been embraced by the NHRA and included in their national events (or, even, at points races) ????

If I read your post correctly, I understood you to mean that if I got the double red light rule accepted and put in practice at some local (Bracket?) tracks, then it would stand a chance of being accepted by NHRA and maybe, become a part of their M.O. at NHRA races.

Is that correct? I think that's what you meant.

If so, tell me what past events you're basing this on. Have you EVER seen a buy-back, at a national event. OR at a points race? Or a "gambler's race" at an NHRA national event???

"Double entries" (I am assuming you're referring to running two cars; one in Stock and one in Super Stock,) came about when the few "Touring Pros" that populate Stock and Super Stock pointed out that they could not make it by racing in just one Eliminator; they needed a chance at least, to win in two. The acceptance of that didn't come from "local races..."

You contend, as a part of your argument, that "Even the outlaw street car and newer index classes have come from local bracket racing and local promoters."

Do they run these at NHRA national events? I haven't seen any...

No rules-changing activity of any kind that has gone on at the national level of NHRA events that I am aware of, has come from local racing protocol.

NHRA has ALWAYS had a bad case of "not invented here." You are surely aware of that.

Well, they did "invent" the double red light technology as practiced at the 4-wide Nationals. I can only hope that it filters down to the Sportsman ranks, eventually.

This is a message board, dedicated to the idea of the free exchange of ideas and information. Not only that, but this PARTICULAR message board was specifically set up for input from people who are not current racers. In that vein...

It is entirely appropriate that subjects such as this are posted ffor everyone's perusal and comment. Your suggestion that because my car is a Bracket car, and I don't own a class racer, that fact would disqualify me as a contributor to this board on a subject that didn't afffect me directly.

Well, that's just not true, and the hope from this corner is, that IF NHRA ever DID choose to enact a double red light rule, that the practice would filter down to my local track and I, and others, could benefit from it.

It's not going to happen the other way. In this case, the tail doesn't wag the dog.

In fact, it's probably never going to happen at all... I realize that.

But, that doesn't mean we can't talk about it.

Again. thanks for listening.