True meaning

[Dwight Southerland]

Some how or another there are people who think they "earn" the right to run the eliminator because they have worked hard, spent a lot of money and gone fast, but did not win class. So be it. That is the attitude that is reflected in the current NHRA decision. There are others who think that only the class winners have "earned" the place in the eliminator. That is the way the rules were written long ago and the way it was when I started racing. I lived through a lot of the transition to get where we are now. I have been sitting on the sidelines as a class runnerup when others participated who could not even run the index. None of these methods are "right" or "wrong". You may not like one or the other, but everybody has a preference. I think the answer for each of us will lie in that word "earn". Which side of entitlement are you on? There will be some price to pay for your choice, whether it is in stepping into your own humility or reducing the glory of the class win.

I personally prefer that only class winners and runners-up should complete for the eliminator, regardless if they can run the index or not. If you want to race for the big bucks, change your way of thinking.

[Bruce Noland]

Jim,
Yes, I'm on the entry sheet for Indy.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

Art,
You are in a very small minority of racers who think they can keep this idiotic drum beat going. Regrettably, I'm going to add one more post to the beat.

I seriously take objection with your "God given right" comment! You are over the line now! People work very hard on their cars to go to Indy. I didn't qualify on my first two attempts at Indy. But that made me work harder and it took ten trips to get my car fast enough to win class and to EARN a good spot on the sheet at Indy. It's my favorite trophy - so don't run this phony "God given right" stuff on us. That spot on the sheet and class trophy took ten years of hard damn work and I'm not going to sit around and watch you malcontents run it down. There are hundreds of people who have been on this very same path and will be on it in the future and you will not get away with dumping on our achievements.

You guys don't even show up at Indy and you're out here taking a big dump on this site. You can see from Evan's response how the whole thing went down and you can also see that the majority of the racers agree with the new rule. So don't come out here and dump your angry garbage on us. You guys can go fast enough to win class and beat the bump but you want to stage this phony protest like you have been cheated. All you are succeeding in doing is making people angry.

Bruce now you made it personal. I won't be at Indy this year because I don't have enough credits to get in I don't race a cookie cutter car. So building it took longer than planned. I "WILL" be there next year.
I don't think you realize that I above almost all people am not crying for my own purpose.
How many times have you qualified number one? I know it's nowhere near as many times as I have.
And with all of nhra's rule changes I think the number one qualifier gots in the show, whether they singled or not. Or maybe you'd like to change that rule also..
How many times have you been in the winners circle at Indy? I have been. I didn't drive but I was a real an integral part of the operation "not a name on the side of the car"
I qualified number one with a "fast car" and have qualified number one with a "slow car"
I'm 60 years old retired and first nhra race we won was in 1975.
So "buddy" before you knock my credentials. You should open your eyes before tapping your fingers

[Bruce Noland]

Art,
I know there was a time when you went very fast with the Shadow. In the past you have been out there showing your stuff while, in most instances, I have held my car back for fear of offending the ahfs guru of the day. Of course in those days you usually got a few bucks for being the number one qualifier.

Now, I vividly remember a post you made on a website about 8 years ago. In this post you offered your formula for making money with a FWD. You posted that you would go to The Englistown National and win class. Then you would fill out your contingency form and skip the eliminator in favor of running in a bracket race that evening. Your words! You had no use for the eliminator then but now the sky is falling.

This whole bunch of crap that you have been pushing on us doesn't even square with your racing history. To me you are reaching back to ancient history to support some of this thread, but in reality you have been more interested in getting the dough at a national and then heading out for a bracket race. I find your methods to be very perplexing.

And you can skip the phony bologna personal BS. Cuz I ain't buy'n that either
.

[Wade_Owens]

Why does NHRA allow this to be a 180 car field in the first place? If it where treated like all other races, the first 128 to enter, would be the field anyway. I know if this where the rule, my 4 grade points probably wouldnt be in the show. But, that is why they use this system, right? To "reward" the racer with an earlier entry date, that runs more divisionals?

It couldnt always be about the money, otherwise they would charge full pop for your extra crew members, right?

SO, why not a 128 car field?................

Wade Owens
3913 Chevelle

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

Art,
I know there was a time when you went very fast with the Shadow. In the past you have been out there showing your stuff while, in most instances, I have held my car back for fear of offending the ahfs guru of the day. Of course in those days you usually got a few bucks for being the number one qualifier.

Now, I vividly remember a post you made on a website about 8 years ago. In this post you offered your formula for making money with a FWD. You posted that you would go to The Englistown National and win class. Then you would fill out your contingency form and skip the eliminator in favor of running in a bracket race that evening. Your words! You had no use for the eliminator then but now the sky is falling.

This whole bunch of crap that you have been pushing on us doesn't even square with your racing history. To me you are reaching back to ancient history to support some of this thread, but in reality you have been more interested in getting the dough at a national and then heading out for a bracket race. I find your methods to be very perplexing.


And you can skip the phony bologna personal BS. Cuz I ain't buy'n that either
.

Your post is proof enough about how how up to date on the money you are.
First. Ancient history was a B/SA hemi challenger convertible that won 4 or 5 national events, The 1980 world chamionship, and the W.R. Grace Cup
Second. The shadow was one of the fwd cars The Spirit was much faster.And ran 2.04 under I guess you were really holding your car back.
Third (and this is the most laughable) The thought of me bracket racing I'm sure that statement has brought rolling on the floor laughter from anyone on this board that knows my incredible driving skills.

With the new car I'll leave off a button so I should improve on the driving

[Bruce Noland]

Art,
I'm familar with your driving skills. You failed to deny that you ever made such a post. Would you care to deny it?

[art leong]

I never posted about not running an eliminator to run a bracket race.

[Casey Miles]

Art: Is that the 1970 Challanger that needed a cherry picker to get the spare tire out of? LOL Good memories!
Casey

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Casey Miles

Art: Is that the 1970 Challanger that needed a cherry picker to get the spare tire out of? LOL Good memories!
Casey

That one went to Minnesota.
Just to make Gregg X happy we got a different one,
Very good memories Casey. BTW do you still throw a boomerang?