Pandora's Box

House of Darts · 05-04-2007, 09:52 AM

For two years I've been building a C stock car. I go to some of the Divisional meets to ask questions and get the perspective of the racers. My sense is that stock eliminator has not changed since my last 1320 jaunt some 25 years ago. But this box thing? Delay box racers," head bangers" is where Stock Eliminator is going if the BOX is accepted. Maybe not next year but probably within 15 years. Although the cost of machine shop time has gradually gone up, the price, of add ons (to be compettitive,) is like health insurance. Its always going up and its always expensive.. I found most of my old receipts and compared. . Electronics are always changing and it always costs more money . What does the BOX do for you? You expect it to make you more consistant than you are supposed to be. There are rarely any doorslammers that are back to back winners at the bracket races running the BOX. Avoid the controversy by mandating all electronics will be installed in the engine compartment in one or two areas. As for the computer cars I don't have the answer but somebody does. On a typical Div. 1 meet with 100 to 150 guys showing up and they all have the BOX , do you really think that your chances are any greater of winning.? I've always related drag racing with Russian Roulette, one round in the chamber and you better not shoot yourself in the head. Look at the faces of the milti -miillion dolar race teams when they don't win and they all are supposed to have the best in everything.

Michael Beard · 05-04-2007, 10:33 AM

>> do you really think that your chances are any greater of winning?

Consider: If your round win percentage is 75%.
Chance of winning 1st round: 75%
Chance of winning 1st AND 2nd round: .75x.75 = 56%
Chance of winning round 1, 2 & 3: .75x.75x.75= 42%
[...]
Chance of winning a 7-round race: 13%

Good luck to all.

"Don't open that box!"

Michael Beard
Staging Light Graphic Design & Printing
Duck Tape/Loctite Racing
H - I - J/CM '80 Volare 360 Magnum

House of Darts · 05-05-2007, 09:41 AM

That's my point! Another add on. Another expense. And the odds are always not on your side. Entrance fees, gas and the payouts that never keep pace with inflation. The last thing that SE racers need is another expense.

seb · 05-05-2007, 11:47 AM

Like Julie and Dick said on another thread we do/did it all these
years because we love it. If you are not doing it for the love of class
racing, seeing old friends and rivals from year to year or race
to race you need to go bracket race.
Class racers are a special breed not everyone can take the pace.

SEB

House of Darts · 05-06-2007, 12:23 PM

Hey SEB what kind of an answer is this? When I raced SE oner 25 years ago we were removing seat springs, making thin sheet metal replicas of body parts , acid dipping and defying the laws of Physics. What does the BOX do for you? If everybody has the BOX do you really think your going to have a better chance to win?

Adger Smith · 05-06-2007, 02:25 PM

[QUOTE]
Hey SEB what kind of an answer is this? When I raced SE oner 25 years ago we were removing seat springs, making thin sheet metal replicas of body parts , acid dipping and defying the laws of Physics. What does the BOX do for you? EndQuote]
What's new? Class Racers are still doing all of that plus a bunch of new "twists". As far as what the Box does for you. It's not about that... It's about What can it do for NHRA. It looks to me like this issue is more about them than racers. Just think about it. Look how much diaper business the NHRA has picked up. Just another section of the business world they can exploite & collect $$ from. Same goes for the box deal. It's all about NHRA & $$$$

Adger Smith

SS Engine Guy · 05-06-2007, 11:02 PM

Nobody ever cheated in any way in any form of motorsports. My heros told me that. And I believe everything that they tell me. Just the same as the sanctioning bodies don't care if they ever make any money. They are only there to provide me a place to race and a level playing field. And that is also correct.

And before I am admonished for revealing the truth I want to make it perfectly clear that a cop never ate a free donut either.

05-04-2007, 09:52 AM	#1
House of Darts Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 346 Likes: 19 Liked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Pandora's Box For two years I've been building a C stock car. I go to some of the Divisional meets to ask questions and get the perspective of the racers. My sense is that stock eliminator has not changed since my last 1320 jaunt some 25 years ago. But this box thing? Delay box racers," head bangers" is where Stock Eliminator is going if the BOX is accepted. Maybe not next year but probably within 15 years. Although the cost of machine shop time has gradually gone up, the price, of add ons (to be compettitive,) is like health insurance. Its always going up and its always expensive.. I found most of my old receipts and compared. . Electronics are always changing and it always costs more money . What does the BOX do for you? You expect it to make you more consistant than you are supposed to be. There are rarely any doorslammers that are back to back winners at the bracket races running the BOX. Avoid the controversy by mandating all electronics will be installed in the engine compartment in one or two areas. As for the computer cars I don't have the answer but somebody does. On a typical Div. 1 meet with 100 to 150 guys showing up and they all have the BOX , do you really think that your chances are any greater of winning.? I've always related drag racing with Russian Roulette, one round in the chamber and you better not shoot yourself in the head. Look at the faces of the milti -miillion dolar race teams when they don't win and they all are supposed to have the best in everything.

05-04-2007, 10:33 AM	#2
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	>> do you really think that your chances are any greater of winning? Consider: If your round win percentage is 75%. Chance of winning 1st round: 75% Chance of winning 1st AND 2nd round: .75x.75 = 56% Chance of winning round 1, 2 & 3: .75x.75x.75= 42% [...] Chance of winning a 7-round race: 13% Good luck to all. "Don't open that box!" Michael Beard Staging Light Graphic Design & Printing Duck Tape/Loctite Racing H - I - J/CM '80 Volare 360 Magnum __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

05-06-2007, 02:25 PM	#6
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	[QUOTE] Hey SEB what kind of an answer is this? When I raced SE oner 25 years ago we were removing seat springs, making thin sheet metal replicas of body parts , acid dipping and defying the laws of Physics. What does the BOX do for you? EndQuote] What's new? Class Racers are still doing all of that plus a bunch of new "twists". As far as what the Box does for you. It's not about that... It's about What can it do for NHRA. It looks to me like this issue is more about them than racers. Just think about it. Look how much diaper business the NHRA has picked up. Just another section of the business world they can exploite & collect $$ from. Same goes for the box deal. It's all about NHRA & $$$$ Adger Smith __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

05-05-2007, 09:41 AM	#3
House of Darts Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 346 Likes: 19 Liked 20 Times in 15 Posts	That's my point! Another add on. Another expense. And the odds are always not on your side. Entrance fees, gas and the payouts that never keep pace with inflation. The last thing that SE racers need is another expense.

05-05-2007, 11:47 AM	#4
seb Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Arkadelphia,Ar Posts: 32 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Like Julie and Dick said on another thread we do/did it all these years because we love it. If you are not doing it for the love of class racing, seeing old friends and rivals from year to year or race to race you need to go bracket race. Class racers are a special breed not everyone can take the pace. SEB

05-06-2007, 12:23 PM	#5
House of Darts Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 346 Likes: 19 Liked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Hey SEB what kind of an answer is this? When I raced SE oner 25 years ago we were removing seat springs, making thin sheet metal replicas of body parts , acid dipping and defying the laws of Physics. What does the BOX do for you? If everybody has the BOX do you really think your going to have a better chance to win?

05-06-2007, 11:02 PM	#7
SS Engine Guy Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: usa Posts: 256 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Nobody ever cheated in any way in any form of motorsports. My heros told me that. And I believe everything that they tell me. Just the same as the sanctioning bodies don't care if they ever make any money. They are only there to provide me a place to race and a level playing field. And that is also correct. And before I am admonished for revealing the truth I want to make it perfectly clear that a cop never ate a free donut either.