I need to vent !!!

tommy d · 08-19-2012, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louie conkey

I know I said "no more National Events" & I'm entered for Indy. (An old habit)
I seldom post on this forum, but I'm breaking down tonight & adding a few comments:
I pay my NHRA fees to be a "Class Racer". NHRA now presents a racer who is the single competitor in a class represented at a national event with a combo race, which includes all these single cars. We pay to run a national event "class race", not a "combo" winner-take-all bracket race. The single trophy is an insult to the car owners/drivers who have researched, developed & campaigned their unique combinations.
Due to my feelings on this matter, I will have a petition with me at Indy to present to NHRA. If you agree, please find me there or I'll find you to sign my petition.
The Class Racer traditions in NHRA is long standing and of historical importance to the traditions of this racing body. I think we have let NHRA do this to us and I'm not happy about any of this.
Of course, mentioning what I'm not hapy about open a few cans of worms. Consider the mandatory subscription to "National Dragster" to be spoon fed a constant diet of the John Force & Don Schumacher's boys & girls. And consider that we pay an ever increasing fee for insurance coverage we have never seen in policy form and probably have never used or needed....
I know most of this has been said before, but I feel better now.
SEE YOU AT INDY, PROBABLY IN "TEAR DOWN"... LEW

Sorry, but the "tear down" comment......thats funny! More like I'm nervous for ya" but still funny!

tj310 · 08-20-2012, 09:48 AM

How many of the inspectors at Indy are volunteers ? ---Trevor

Evan Smith · 08-20-2012, 11:21 AM

Lew makes a valid point, but I will respectfully disagree. I have singled for Class a few times and the trophy means nothing to me. I would rather race someone and lose than single for a trophy.

I've gone home with those and my friends ask "how many cars did you beat" and when i say i singled they look at me like I'm crazy. That ain't racing! The few bucks you get now for a class win is virtually irrelevant as well. I agree it is not the racer's fault for showing up and having no one to race, but you should have to actually race someone to be considered a winner. There is something to be said for tradition as well, but I suppose in these economic times that NHRA doesn't want to hand out dozens of trophies over the course of the year to "singles."

Whether the combo race is the right thing to do or not is not my decision, but it is still racing.

Evan

D.Johns · 08-20-2012, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan Smith

Lew makes a valid point, but I will respectfully disagree. I have singled for Class a few times and the trophy means nothing to me. I would rather race someone and lose than single for a trophy.

I've gone home with those and my friends ask "how many cars did you beat" and when i say i singled they look at me like I'm crazy. That ain't racing! The few bucks you get now for a class win is virtually irrelevant as well. I agree it is not the racer's fault for showing up and having no one to race, but you should have to actually race someone to be considered a winner. There is something to be said for tradition as well, but I suppose in these economic times that NHRA doesn't want to hand out dozens of trophies over the course of the year to "singles."

Whether the combo race is the right thing to do or not is not my decision, but it is still racing.

Evan

This is my sentiments. Getting a Wally without actually racing someone is a hollow victory and not to exciting to tell the kids and friends about.

Just win the whole thing and problem solved on getting a trophy

boostedf22c · 08-20-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan Smith

I would rather race someone and lose than single for a trophy.

I agree.

Joe Schaechter · 08-20-2012, 12:52 PM

I want to race someone in the same class each time I attend Indy but I realize it isn’t always possible – not everyone can have a E/F/G/SA! A few years ago before the combo classes had been created I purposely moved my car a class down so I could race another similarly classed car (J/S back then). While visiting with another stock eliminator racer in the tech line I shared my plans for which class and why I chose it and he couldn't believe I wouldn't just stay in I/S and take a single for the class win. To me it was way more fun to race for class even though I lost that year. I agree with Lew that the current combo class takes some of the fun away but you could argue that we were our own worst enemy when some would go out of their way to find a single versus racing someone. Ultimately I feel fortunate to be able to race in such a challenging class and would like to see NHRA take steps to promote and strengthen it. Manufacturers are interested - just take a look at the A/S -A/SA challenge. It is the bureaucracy of sponsorship programs with NHRA that makes it hard for them to participate in my opinion.

art leong · 08-20-2012, 02:51 PM

I really don't want to go down this road again. But
For all you guys that don't want a trophy for singling. It's simple just do away with racing for class. Just run the eliminator. If you run someone in your class there is no shoepolish anyway. So that should make you happy. Right? As long as you have the faster car.
I ran another car in my class at E'town in the 90's. He said exactly that. "that he would rather run another car instead of running a single" We staged I ignored the tree and watched his fender. Them he told me I shouldn't have made him look so bad. He could have gone in another class, but I was the bad guy.
If you have a fast car or an oddball combo (or both) it isn't your fault that nobody shows up in your class. And you shouldn't be forced to run other cars with no runout.
That being said I personally like the combo class deal. This year I was snakebit with unusual problems (my time in the barrel). But when I got to use just enough to surprise a $100,000 plus car with my $15,000 Neon. It was great fun even though I almost lifted too early.
I'm looking forward to next year.

rseibenick · 08-20-2012, 07:06 PM

When I built my car in 95 , there were 7 cars in my class. I lost a few times for the class trophy and then worked harder on my combo so I could beat them. Now there are only a few in my class and they may or may not show at Indy or other National events where they have class. If they show up great , then we will run for the class win. If they don't , I would still feel good about running a single for the class win and the Wally .Then I would run the combo race and try for the contingency $. I then would try to get in the eliminator and try to win rounds and go as far as I can. At least for my $355 plus dollars , I would have a Wally and hopfully win the $ in the combo race. Just my feelings.

08-20-2012, 09:48 AM	#2
tj310 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dresden On. Canada Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: I need to vent !!! How many of the inspectors at Indy are volunteers ? ---Trevor

08-20-2012, 11:21 AM	#3
Evan Smith Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 400 Likes: 7 Liked 115 Times in 5 Posts	Re: I need to vent !!! Lew makes a valid point, but I will respectfully disagree. I have singled for Class a few times and the trophy means nothing to me. I would rather race someone and lose than single for a trophy. I've gone home with those and my friends ask "how many cars did you beat" and when i say i singled they look at me like I'm crazy. That ain't racing! The few bucks you get now for a class win is virtually irrelevant as well. I agree it is not the racer's fault for showing up and having no one to race, but you should have to actually race someone to be considered a winner. There is something to be said for tradition as well, but I suppose in these economic times that NHRA doesn't want to hand out dozens of trophies over the course of the year to "singles." Whether the combo race is the right thing to do or not is not my decision, but it is still racing. Evan __________________ Evan Smith 1798 STK

08-20-2012, 12:52 PM	#6
Joe Schaechter Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Moline, Illlinois Posts: 194 Likes: 1 Liked 13 Times in 4 Posts	Re: I need to vent !!! I want to race someone in the same class each time I attend Indy but I realize it isn’t always possible – not everyone can have a E/F/G/SA! A few years ago before the combo classes had been created I purposely moved my car a class down so I could race another similarly classed car (J/S back then). While visiting with another stock eliminator racer in the tech line I shared my plans for which class and why I chose it and he couldn't believe I wouldn't just stay in I/S and take a single for the class win. To me it was way more fun to race for class even though I lost that year. I agree with Lew that the current combo class takes some of the fun away but you could argue that we were our own worst enemy when some would go out of their way to find a single versus racing someone. Ultimately I feel fortunate to be able to race in such a challenging class and would like to see NHRA take steps to promote and strengthen it. Manufacturers are interested - just take a look at the A/S -A/SA challenge. It is the bureaucracy of sponsorship programs with NHRA that makes it hard for them to participate in my opinion. __________________ Joe Schaechter 3168 STK

08-20-2012, 02:51 PM	#7
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: I need to vent !!! I really don't want to go down this road again. But For all you guys that don't want a trophy for singling. It's simple just do away with racing for class. Just run the eliminator. If you run someone in your class there is no shoepolish anyway. So that should make you happy. Right? As long as you have the faster car. I ran another car in my class at E'town in the 90's. He said exactly that. "that he would rather run another car instead of running a single" We staged I ignored the tree and watched his fender. Them he told me I shouldn't have made him look so bad. He could have gone in another class, but I was the bad guy. If you have a fast car or an oddball combo (or both) it isn't your fault that nobody shows up in your class. And you shouldn't be forced to run other cars with no runout. That being said I personally like the combo class deal. This year I was snakebit with unusual problems (my time in the barrel). But when I got to use just enough to surprise a $100,000 plus car with my $15,000 Neon. It was great fun even though I almost lifted too early. I'm looking forward to next year. __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS

08-20-2012, 07:06 PM	#8
rseibenick Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 160 Likes: 24 Liked 20 Times in 7 Posts	Re: I need to vent !!! When I built my car in 95 , there were 7 cars in my class. I lost a few times for the class trophy and then worked harder on my combo so I could beat them. Now there are only a few in my class and they may or may not show at Indy or other National events where they have class. If they show up great , then we will run for the class win. If they don't , I would still feel good about running a single for the class win and the Wally .Then I would run the combo race and try for the contingency $. I then would try to get in the eliminator and try to win rounds and go as far as I can. At least for my $355 plus dollars , I would have a Wally and hopfully win the $ in the combo race. Just my feelings.