<< PREVIOUS PAGE

All or most of the current safety specifications would remain in place. Certain additions such as lower engine restraints, or "diapers," and SFI 45.1 roll bar padding would be mandated in all classes. Dragsters in Super Comp would be required to have a rear wing of minimum standards and the maximum wheelbase would be restricted to 260 inches. As noted, the racing would be conducted on the Instant Green starting system, negating the need for any type of delay box device. The prohibition of any timed rpm or ignition control rules out a throttle stop timer. By keeping nitrous and forced induction out of the classes, it ensures that the racing is wide-open all the way to the finish line.

Here's where it gets interesting. In order to enforce the MPH limits, the sanctioning bodies will have to work with Compulink, Accutime, Chrondek, and TSI to develop a program within the timing systems to regulate the competition. The formula is rather simple. If both cars in a competition run stay under the class mph limit, then it is as simple as the first car to the finish line wins. In a perfect world, this will occur on each pass. But, since we live in a less-than-perfect world, some guidelines for enforcement must exist. This is where the timing system computer must do some quick math.

Basically, a racer will be penalized for exceeding the mph limit by adding to their achieved E.T. on the run. It will be a simple 1:1 ratio in that for every tenth or hundredth of a mile-per-hour over the class limit they run, a corresponding tenth or hundredth of a second will be added to the displayed E.T. If a racer goes over the mph limit by a full mile-per-hour or more, then an extra two-tenths of a second will be added for every whole mile-per-hour. Once the timing system computer figures the math, the "corrected" E.T.'s are displayed on the scoreboards and it picks the lower of the two as the winner.

Therefore, it is very important to every racer to continue under full power to the finish line no matter how far ahead of his/her opponent they may be in an effort to not give up any E.T. because they could still lose after any penalties are calculated. Once a time slip is printed, it will show the typical reaction time, incrementals, final E.T. and mph, plus the displayed and determining ET, if there is one. The scoreboards will only display the corrected E.T. and actual mile per hour.

ADVERTISEMENT

It will also be the responsibility of the sanctioning bodies and each host track and every official and announcer to NEVER explain these classes as being limited by the mile per hour. The basic explanation of the new format is that they are "formula" classes based on cubic inch and weight--and nothing else. When calling a race, the announcers will simply have to use the displayed data and call the winner and runner-up. They should never go into the drawn-out explanations as to why so and so's E.T. was this and how it got that way and why they actually ran quicker but lost because they went too fast. That's part of the reason we are where we are now--because we tried to over-educate the casual fan.

This is indeed a bold idea. But no more grand that the initial premise of these classes. For the racers, you will be taking away the electronic pacifiers, but giving them heads-up, to the finish line racing. For the fans, you give them three classes that are fun and exciting to watch. For the racing industry, you give them another avenue of profit possibility. For everyone, it would end the arguments about the current state of these classes and give each sanctioning body a full arsenal of "real" drag racing in every class. The new class guidelines are written and set up so the smallest number of racers is actually affected.

I'd be regretting selling the old car if this were to become a reality.

< MORE STORIES >