Mir race way

[Roger K Fain]

Fred,
Some of the "NHRA BS" Myron is referring to: having to register and pay in advance to attend a National event which requires you to attend three Divisionals to qualify and let them hold your money. If you make the cut for Indy, you have to run .900 under to get in the program. If you are the only one in the class, you don't get paid until you beat all the other orphans in attendance. Oh, and by the way, you get to run at o' dark-thirty in the morning, when all the fans are waiting in line for the spectator gate to open. How about motorhome fees, pit vehicle lisences, and jacking up the entry fees and liabilty insurance fees so you have to pay around $300 for car & driver for a National event.
If you want to run an IHRA event, just show up, join on the spot, pay $135 entry fee, get "teched-in" by friendly, knowledgeable, accomodating officials, and enjoy the competition. If you win, no one will "talk down" to you or make snide remarks that you don,t belong here or your stuff is crap.

[Myron Piatek]

Originally Posted by fredjohnston

Listen, I didn't bash IHRA or NHRA. Myron made a point to mention "NHRA BS". Just trying to figure out what he is talking about since he doesn't appear to run NHRA events. How would he know of "NHRA BS" other than what he reads......

I try not to respond to people trying to stir things up with ignorant comments or questions, but this did give me a chuckle.

So I'm not suppose to listen to the opinions that LEGITIMATE racers have, through their own experiences, on various NHRA proceedures and assorted "enhancements"? I guess Ken Miele is wasting his time providing this forum for people to share ideas, opinions and information. It appears that you feel that one has to experience things first-hand before expressing an opinion or making plans on what to do or where to go race.
That may explain why you may not race or use your real name. I know I'd be in pretty bad shape if I didn't take anybody's advice or form my own opinions based on discussions by LEGITIMATE people. Kinda reminds me of the show "Jackass", or something like that. Yea, let's see if it hurts if I drive a car off a cliff! lol

While NHRA may not be "that" bad, I know enough that it's not feasible for me to pursue that circuit like I do in IHRA. In response to Charley Downing's question:

I am very limited in time and resources. The main reason I can race is because I'm usually fortunate enough to win an above averge amount of my "investment" back! No winning, no racing. I spend at least half of what I earn at my regular job. The rest has to be made up through winning, selling parts and a little financial help I get from one of my sponsors. The rest are limited product and service allowances and discounts, which is money I don't have to spend. The car isn't as heavily sponsored as it may appear.
Some key points are:

* NHRA events are more expensive and take at least a day or two longer to run. Differences in membership, entries, licensing and other misc. stuff all add up, longer events = more expenses and I have a limited amount of vacation days to take from work. The IHRA circuit doesn't use them all up, but trying to win a divisional or national NHRA championship would use them up, very quickly. The "NHRA BS" is the ongoing "nickle-&-diming" that they do - a little, a little there, racer's will just blow it off attitude. But how many times and how much of these increases have ACCUMULATED over the years. Sure, everything goes up. But the amounts of their increases and stuff like motorbike and golf cart registration??? I don't know, but would I have to register my pedal-powered beach cruiser bicycle? If not, then when could I expect it?

* I've run Mopar small blocks all of my life. I got into IHRA crate motor because all of the experience I gained was working on Holley carbs, which happen to be legal for CM's. I know nothing about Carters or computerized F.I. The learning curve would be steep. Just ask Michael Beard about his new F.I. SS engine in his World Championship Volare. I heard he was born with a USB port instead of an umbillical cord! But it's a totally different animal now. So it would be an even harder for me, who's not all that computer literate, to get back in the groove with the consistency and predictability needed to win rounds/races.

* IHRA double-headers are a very cost-effective way to race for a divisional championship along with winning certain events to qualify for the Tournament of Champions/World Championship event. I have a better shot at an IHRA Gold Card which helps a lot the following year.

* Teardowns: I believe I've been torn down and teched almost every year in IHRA since 1999 through early 2010. Usually I showed up early with a head off. An engine I hoped to install this year wasn't ready. I've never had to pull a rod & piston, and it wouldn't be high on my favorites list. But I would expect it at some point if I could run the NHRA circuit. However, I would prefer it be for a good reason instead of a "random" check. I admit that setting an NHRA record is much more difficult, and also much more expensive.

* I also have other responsibilities at home that take up time.

So it basically boils down to it being too much of a risk and hassle to try and run NHRA with any dedication. Trying to run a little of both wouldn't allow me to accomplish anything more substantial, like a divisional or national championship either!


And to all the LEGITIMATE racers who offered their congratulations.......THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I don't think I could have accomplished this again without the ongoing help and hospitality of Don Dimeler, wife Carm, daughter Nicole and her husband Monty Cornwell.

I'm glad we weren't doing 2-out-of-3, Brandon!

[danny waters sr]

Nice post Myron......

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by danny waters sr

Nice post Myron......

Yep....that says it all.

[Stacie J. Ridings]

Myron is top notch! The very first race I remember Myron (Darlington- I think), I had a new set of slicks and was sliding during the staging process. He backed up, and we both restaged and I got a qualifying pass. Would NHRA have allowed restaging? He was randomly selected at that event (IHRA) to pull the head. Lambert offered his mechanical skills, and I offered cold tea. It was an honor to be Runner Up to Myron at Shevreport in 1999, when he won his first IHRA National event. He is a true Champion of a person, and one tough competitor. I know he would win in J/SA, just as he has in J/CM. I'm looking forward to Jackson next weekend and seeing friends, but Myron is one friend that I would rather not see in the opposite lane! His Locomation was on track there a few years ago for a triple race win, until he ran into Michael Bolton.

[Wade Mahaffey]

Wow!, can't we just get along. It's all the same on the track during the eliminator. Get out the shoe polish, hit the tree, and tighten up the stripe. I undrestand the pride that comes with being the fastest car in the land per class. That is really cool and what a real race is all about. However, NHRA and IHRA use a bracket format in the Stock and Super/Stock eliminator with a rare heads-up encounter that could provide an advantage to the faster car. I understand that some folks have worked many years on their combinations. I will never know what it's like to have a race car with twenty years and six digits invested getting wacked by a 20K race operation. The 20K racer will just have to be happy to have wacked a 25K guy. LOL It would be sweet to have it like the old days, fast was king. I don't see that when I review the eliminations results. When I think of racing, NHRA vs.IHRA is not a factor, it's 1320 feet...my program against your program....in a bracket format! I think it's fair to say that everyone does the best that they can do, and that's good enough for me!

Good luck to you all.....support sportsman racing and get out and have some fun....don't let it die!

Wade Mahaffey

[cicero819]

Myron great rebuke:definition;chiding, objurgation, scolding, tongue-lashing - rebuking a person harshly
a strong reprimand
bawling out, castigation, chewing out, dressing down, upbraiding, earful, going-over - a severe scolding and I could also add a great spanking! congrats on your win.(do you still race your Challenger?). Claude

[Myron Piatek]

Thanks Claude.

No, the Challenger is long gone. It was literally worn out when I decided to get my current car in 1998. No way to make it a Stocker either.