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

[Terry Cain]

Originally Posted by Steve Koppien

i think it time to think let all stock elim engines run roller lifters since their are no coated solid chev lifter im the country to be had and 1800 to 2000 dollars is plain crazy lonnie if you check you will see this is driving cost way to high for average racers think its time for a change

Got my %^$ handed to me on a platter for suggesting it.

[Jim Kaekel]

Got another request....please quit allowing aluminum cylinder heads on cars that never came from the factory with them. If someone wants aluminum heads and mechanical roller lifters, there's a place for them. It's called Super Stock.

[a pontiac]

Why pay extra entry and cut out third round pay out? If Nhra needs more money, increase field size like when Indy was 180 and 128 qualified. Let us turn it loose at Indy. Put the Jegs allstars in Columbus and stop the stupid class final runoffs by 2 fastest cars. Shipping weights are the least problems in S/SS.

[Ed Carpenter]

The biggest problem you have is the rest of Nhra management doesn’t think like Lonnie does. They don’t care……

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

Alright guys,

I sat down with Lonnie Grim, and I have to say it was a very enlighten and pleasant conversation. One of the first things he said to me after I introduced myself was "CUSTOMER" He really does get it. He told me of the importance of making the customer happy. Even if its just a polite hello as we roll through the gate getting parked.

So here we go... the first idea from Lonnie. How would you all feel about a purse increase. The entry fee for national events is 340, how would you feel about paying another $100 with all of the 100 going back to the racer. 64 cars = 6400, They start paying back in 4 round. Double round money in 4th rd, 5th and runner up. The winner would get the rest. If I did my math right it would be another 3000 for the winner on top of what NHRA pays now. I maybe off a little, but you get the idea.

Second... one period for the AFHS. Instant horsepower at 1.30, but you can go fast at a few races but still bring your average down by the end of the season if needed. We did not talk numbers for what the trigger is, but he would love to here ideas from us. He knows Stk/SS is a performance based class and he knows we would like to run fast and not get hammered every time.

Third... All class race winners where class is held would qualify. Say there was a 64 car field at the Gators. All class winners are in and whats ever left would be the fastest under the index, just like years back. Also opening quotas to say 80 cars, but you have to qualify to make the 64 car field. These numbers could be different, I just want give you an idea on qualifying to race.

Fourth... Shipping weights. We all know the guide is full of combos that don't reflect real world shipping weights. But we also know that people have been using the guide to build there combs. Its not our fault that wrong weights were submitted. One idea is to correct all the shipping weights but let everyone move up or down 2 classes. Another idea would be to run the class they wanted as long as the weight is correct for horsepower claimed. These are just Ideas guys... How would you fix the shipping weight issue? leave it alone or try to fix it?

The one thing I got from the time I spent with Lonnie is... he knows we are customers and we should be treated with respect. He is definitely an advocate for the racer. He wants us to have a great experience when we are here. He wants the racer to feel they can say NHRA is a great place to race. He knows it will take time, but he is willing to listen and make changes for the future.

I know we can not make everyone happy, but we need to come together on things we agree on to improve NHRA for the sportsman racer.

Lets talk ideas and please be respectful... I don't want to here NHRA bashing, its a waste of time and does not help improve our sport.

Chime in guys, if you want changes... now is the time, what do you think of the ideas above?

Sure, I owe myself some me-time. Mr. Grimm, we've never met although I hope to meet you at some time. I would hope that anything I have to say here will cause you no offense.


Ya know, just something to think about, I have ALWAYS been a Member of the NHRA. There is a world of difference between a Member and a Customer!


First, I haven't raced at a National Event in a few years by choice so I may not have a right to comment on this but......... I will because I DO support your Divisional Races and am a long-time Member.
At National Events, the NHRA Cash Purse hasn't changed in over 25 years. The NHRA Contingency Program is a pittance of what it was 25 years ago. National Event Entry Fees have gone up significantly as have Membership Fees. Why should I as a Member/Customer suddenly be made to "make" my own purse? I don't like it.

Second, make the AHFS one period? Ok, with a couple of real world suggestions, leave the "triggers" alone. Start using eighth-mile times to help weed out the "sandbaggers" and "welfare recipients" and increase a real Tech Inspection presence.

Third, all Class Winners at an Event where Class is run SHOULD be in! And there SHOULD be at least a few Races a year that have a large enough number of entries to make it a Qualified Field.

Fourth, the shipping weights that are being looked at have been the way that they are for decades. Leave them alone. Leave the "one-up-or-one-down" alone also. Changing this would just be another step towards S/SS becoming ET-2. HOWEVER, if you feel the need to go making changes to the Guides then why don't you have the Tech Dept. start reviewing some of the "revisions and changes (and enhancements)" that have been handed out in the Technical Guide over the years? I mean, the "people have been using the guide to build their combos" from the Technical Guide too. And the Technical Guide gets "manipulated" far more often than the shipping weights in the Classification Guide do.

Mr. Grimm, I will look forward to meeting you and possibly having a nice discussion some day. Good Luck in your position, you'll need it!

Billy Nees 1188 Stock/SS/ET..

[TommyPettigrew3076]

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

Alright guys,

I sat down with Lonnie Grim, and I have to say it was a very enlighten and pleasant conversation. One of the first things he said to me after I introduced myself was "CUSTOMER" He really does get it. He told me of the importance of making the customer happy. Even if its just a polite hello as we roll through the gate getting parked.

So here we go... the first idea from Lonnie. How would you all feel about a purse increase. The entry fee for national events is 340, how would you feel about paying another $100 with all of the 100 going back to the racer. 64 cars = 6400, They start paying back in 4 round. Double round money in 4th rd, 5th and runner up. The winner would get the rest. If I did my math right it would be another 3000 for the winner on top of what NHRA pays now. I maybe off a little, but you get the idea.

Second... one period for the AFHS. Instant horsepower at 1.30, but you can go fast at a few races but still bring your average down by the end of the season if needed. We did not talk numbers for what the trigger is, but he would love to here ideas from us. He knows Stk/SS is a performance based class and he knows we would like to run fast and not get hammered every time.

Third... All class race winners where class is held would qualify. Say there was a 64 car field at the Gators. All class winners are in and whats ever left would be the fastest under the index, just like years back. Also opening quotas to say 80 cars, but you have to qualify to make the 64 car field. These numbers could be different, I just want give you an idea on qualifying to race.

Fourth... Shipping weights. We all know the guide is full of combos that don't reflect real world shipping weights. But we also know that people have been using the guide to build there combs. Its not our fault that wrong weights were submitted. One idea is to correct all the shipping weights but let everyone move up or down 2 classes. Another idea would be to run the class they wanted as long as the weight is correct for horsepower claimed. These are just Ideas guys... How would you fix the shipping weight issue? leave it alone or try to fix it?

The one thing I got from the time I spent with Lonnie is... he knows we are customers and we should be treated with respect. He is definitely an advocate for the racer. He wants us to have a great experience when we are here. He wants the racer to feel they can say NHRA is a great place to race. He knows it will take time, but he is willing to listen and make changes for the future.

I know we can not make everyone happy, but we need to come together on things we agree on to improve NHRA for the sportsman racer.

Lets talk ideas and please be respectful... I don't want to here NHRA bashing, its a waste of time and does not help improve our sport.

Chime in guys, if you want changes..

1. First let us see the salary increases for the NHRA top executives for the past 30 years and figure out the percentage of pay increase they have got over the years . Then ask why they got an increase but the racers purse stayed the same for that long and eatery feels and memberships went up .

2. Instead of increasing the entry to a National event how about they increase the number of cars that can enter to a full field 128 car and increase the payout anyhow even if it means some of the top executives take a SLIGHT pay cut to show good faith for the love of the sport and organization and more important the racers who pay their salaries . Not to mention more T.V coverage of sportsman racers so we have a better chance for sponsors

3. The shipping wright thing only thing I would add is do away with the 170 driver math

[James Findell]

Simple answer in my mind, make NHRA fun again. I don't care if you run a Factory Stock or a Q/SA. I grew up idolizing my Dad and his buddies that chased around this country hoping to race a National Event. National Events have lost their luster for the Sportsman Racer in my mind, which is unfortunate. Sign me up for the first Time Machine Ride back to the mid 1980's please...

[Rory McNeil]

64 cars times $340. entry fee equals $21760. Surely they could bump up the pitiful round money and finalist payout without digging even deeper into the "customers" pockets. If they can`t sharpen their pencils enough to find where all the remaining entry money disappeared to, open up the quotas.
As mentioned, if you want to run solid roller lifters in an engine that left the factory with a hydraulic flat tappet cam, add a second "S" to the class designation on the windows.
As for "getting rid of all the outdated slow cars that nobody but old people can relate to", you mean eliminate the very cars that Stock and Super Stock were based upon? Like cars that were available new to the general public, with a production VIN number, and the same engines, transmissions and rearends as those cars that anybody to drive of the lot? Also, when I look at the typical Stock -S/S racer in the pits, I have to say, the vast majority are "old enough" to relate to traditional Class cars. I can certainly relate more to a 69 Mustang with a 428 Cobra Jet , like I used to drive to work, or my old neighbors SS396 Chevelle, that a 2022 "modern race car", that can basically race in Stock with a Competition Eliminator engine, a 2 speed automatic, and a solid 9" Ford rearend!

[Jim Hanig]

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

64 cars times $340. entry fee equals $21760. Surely they could bump up the pitiful round money and finalist payout without digging even deeper into the "customers" pockets. If they can`t sharpen their pencils enough to find where all the remaining entry money disappeared to, open up the quotas.
As mentioned, if you want to run solid roller lifters in an engine that left the factory with a hydraulic flat tappet cam, add a second "S" to the class designation on the windows.
As for "getting rid of all the outdated slow cars that nobody but old people can relate to", you mean eliminate the very cars that Stock and Super Stock were based upon? Like cars that were available new to the general public, with a production VIN number, and the same engines, transmissions and rearends as those cars that anybody to drive of the lot? Also, when I look at the typical Stock -S/S racer in the pits, I have to say, the vast majority are "old enough" to relate to traditional Class cars. I can certainly relate more to a 69 Mustang with a 428 Cobra Jet , like I used to drive to work, or my old neighbors SS396 Chevelle, that a 2022 "modern race car", that can basically race in Stock with a Competition Eliminator engine, a 2 speed automatic, and a solid 9" Ford rearend!

With all the changes nhra has made i dont know why they would not allow rollers if you can run flat tappets then run them. I dont think theres a big hp gain with rollers.

[dean ribeiro]

Ken-
I would be happy to share my "customer experience" from this past weekend's Lebanon Valley National Open with Lonnie. Have him give me a call!

Dean