new A/FX CLASS

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by J.R. Haddad

In the meantime, let's not hate on each other, we are in a world that is presently derisive enough. Let's enjoy our hobby together, and always strive to make it better.
J.R.

On this I'm sure we can all agree.

And just to be clear, I personally don't have any problem with the new cars.
I DO however have a problem with the absence of any Tech Inspection.

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

In one way or another, "the suits" are involved. Be it taking something from someone or some kind of "support" in other ways.
They have, for the most part, lost focus on the majority of their members AND their customers.
These people (the suits) are "supposed" to be the "experts" in the field of Drag Racing and as such should be right on top of any new trends but they keep getting beaten to the punch by others. And when they ARE "beaten to the punch" they have been known to condemn the "others". Look back at how they maligned the street outlaws initially.

From what I have seen, the FX class has been mostly driven by racers. Obviously, the tech department and OEMs have been involved to pull it all together.

I see it as a natural growth from Stock Eliminator and Showdown. Pro Stock has become too much of a departure from the production cars to show even a hint of the class' roots.

There are reportedly quite a few cars being built. You would think that all the Showdown teams would eventually make the switch.

Only time will tell if the class is viable or not.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by GUMP

There are reportedly quite a few cars being built.

From what I've heard, an awful lot of Racers have been asking for their chassis deposits back................
BUT, "time will tell".

[Keith 944]

Someone please explain to me and to the casual observer/fan. What is the difference in that Camaro and any other pro stock? Other than a different engine combo, they look identical. Is there really a need for another class? Most of the X pro stocks in comp are the same way, no difference to the fan…. Sorry I thought it was a great idea at first but then realized that’s what pro stock used to be before a loss of parity and so now the all Camaro show that it turned into. I would’ve loved to of seen them somehow fix pro stock invest more into that instead of creating several more classes that just may not work.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

Someone please explain to me and to the casual observer/fan. What is the difference in that Camaro and any other pro stock? Other than a different engine combo, they look identical. Is there really a need for another class? Most of the X pro stocks in comp are the same way, no difference to the fan…. Sorry I thought it was a great idea at first but then realized that’s what pro stock used to be before a loss of parity and so now the all Camaro show that it turned into. I would’ve loved to of seen them somehow fix pro stock invest more into that instead of creating several more classes that just may not work.

Ya know, about a million years ago, Michael Beard approached then IHRA Pres. Bill Bader (R.I.P.) with a program he called International Pro Stock. Tube chassis, "stock" roof and rear quarters, 2.0L turbocharged engine using an OEM block and head.
I'll grudgingly give Michael credit but IMHO, this concept would take off and fly today and there are dozens of 2.0L cars/combos all over the world. I don't think it would become like "Camaro Stock" any time soon and in a short period of time they would probably be as fast or faster than a current P/S car.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by GUMP

We sure have! As long as you keep beating a dead horse....

Gump, you think we're beating a dead horse here, but where do you see this ending?

The COPO Camaro is only sold through U.S. dealerships. The COPO Camaro is a purpose-built race car which is not street legal and therefore can not be registered in any of the 50 states. The COPO Camaro is sold without a title, on a Bill of Sale, and does not have a VIN.

A 632 old tech BBC, fitted with EFI, could never , ever be a street legal, dealer sold automobile in 2023.
First of all , it would knock the CAFE standards way out of whack for the smaller engine Camaros down line.
It's nothing more than a factory experimental platform being used to promote crate motors. No way, in any scope or fashion, does this car belong in STOCK Eliminator
Keep this nonsense up and they will be allowing FX Comp cars in Stock in a few years.
I'm sure you'll jump on that too, right?

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Gump, you think we're beating a dead horse here, but where do you see this ending?

The COPO Camaro is only sold through U.S. dealerships. The COPO Camaro is a purpose-built race car which is not street legal and therefore can not be registered in any of the 50 states. The COPO Camaro is sold without a title, on a Bill of Sale, and does not have a VIN.

A 632 old tech BBC, fitted with EFI, could never , ever be a street legal, dealer sold automobile in 2023.
First of all , it would knock the CAFE standards way out of whack for the smaller engine Camaros down line.
It's nothing more than a factory experimental platform being used to promote crate motors. No way, in any scope or fashion, does this car belong in STOCK Eliminator
Keep this nonsense up and they will be allowing FX Comp cars in Stock in a few years.
I'm sure you'll jump on that too, right?

Last year I took delivery of the very first Big Block COPO built. I didn't buy it to wreck Stock Eliminator. I got it because it is historic. As it was placed in the guide, we have been racing it. Being honest, have you seen us do anything with that car that harms the Class?

Note that I favor the combinations that are based on the production castings. I think that you would agree that we run those cars pretty hard at times?

I will add that I was very involved in getting the 2015 Camaro into the guide. I caught massive crap for that one too!

In answer to your your questions, I hope that, somehow, the OEMs find a way to keep producing at least limited numbers of ICE cars geared towards performance. I would happily race natural Stockers.

I also hope that we will have a place to race long into the future.

[joe huestis]

Originally Posted by GUMP

Last year I took delivery of the very first Big Block COPO built. I didn't buy it to wreck Stock Eliminator. I got it because it is historic. As it was placed in the guide, we have been racing it. Being honest, have you seen us do anything with that car that harms the Class?

Note that I favor the combinations that are based on the production castings. I think that you would agree that we run those cars pretty hard at times?

I will add that I was very involved in getting the 2015 Camaro into the guide. I caught massive crap for that one too!

In answer to your your questions, I hope that, somehow, the OEMs find a way to keep producing at least limited numbers of ICE cars geared towards performance. I would happily race natural Stockers.

I also hope that we will have a place to race long into the future.

As far as getting combos in the guide someone with some pull should have NHRA put more modern production models in the guide (i.e. Dodge Chargers, Chevy Caprice Police model, Chevy SS, Pontiac G8, all Mustang models both V8,V6. 4 cyl combos. We are racing stockers that are 40 - 65 years old. Do you see our eliminator lasting well into the future status quo. At present I think not.

[JeremyDuncan]

Originally Posted by joe huestis

As far as getting combos in the guide someone with some pull should have NHRA put more modern production models in the guide (i.e. Dodge Chargers, Chevy Caprice Police model, Chevy SS, Pontiac G8, all Mustang models both V8,V6. 4 cyl combos. We are racing stockers that are 40 - 65 years old. Do you see our eliminator lasting well into the future status quo. At present I think not.

As long as the shipping weights are some what close to what the cars actually weigh. Not 500lbs+ lighter.

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

In one way or another, "the suits" are involved. Be it taking something from someone or some kind of "support" in other ways.
They have, for the most part, lost focus on the majority of their members AND their customers.
These people (the suits) are "supposed" to be the "experts" in the field of Drag Racing and as such should be right on top of any new trends but they keep getting beaten to the punch by others. And when they ARE "beaten to the punch" they have been known to condemn the "others". Look back at how they maligned the street outlaws initially.

Billy, and that is what happens when you get overpaid "professional" business people and bean counters at NHRA headquarters, rather than people that are, or at least were, actually racers, or at least had some personal interest in drag racing.