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7/27/04
Wondering Again
Just Wondering ... I know they're trying formulate and implement
more and better rules to protect Top Fuel drivers but is
some driver going to have to lose his or her life in a blow
over before NHRA makes a simple rule mandating wheelie bars
for Top Fuel and alky dragsters?
Just Wondering ... Now that IHRA has legalized the use of nitrous oxide
injection for their Top Fuel legal injected nitro cars, will the four-
second, 300-mph barriers for unblown cars soon fall?
Just Wondering ... Is there anything more frustrating to spectators and
racers alike at national events than scoreboards with burned-out bulbs
that cause the numbers that come up on the board the fans see to be
false? When a nine looks like a four or a six is actually an eight,
everyone -- especially the spectators -- are confused. C'mon track
owners, how much does it cost to replace those dead bulbs?
Just Wondering ... What have the ultra-expensive new rules in NHRA Pro
Stock, such as requiring a new tire and wheel for 2004, banning
lightweight engine components, and the addition of a traction control
sensing device, done for that class aside from causing the teams and
manufacturers a ton of money? Aren't the same guys that were winning
and going fast before the new rules still doing that?
Just Wondering ... Speaking of scoreboards has anyone else noticed that
the numbers appear to be getting smaller? It's time for the "large
print" version of scoreboards for the old Burkster.
Just Wondering ... Why is it that every other "major motorsport" has
embraced aerodynamics and ground effects as a primary means to control
speed and traction and drag racing doesn't?
Just Wondering ... Why is it that many of the premier fuel Funny Car
teams can afford spare $20-30,000 carbon fiber bodies but supposedly
Top Fuel teams can't afford the development and use of ground effects
bodies due to the cost? Both GM and Mopar have volunteered wind tunnel
time for the projects and some teams have already done the R&D so the
only real new costs to the teams would be molding and production. In my
opinion the cost just isn't a valid reason for not making the Top Fuel
cars safer, especially when you consider the replacement cost of a new
car.
Just Wondering ... I know NHRA's TV broadcasts are supposed to be all
POWERade pro classes all the time, but it appears to me the folks
producing the NHRA two- and three-hour long broadcasts are reaching for
new story lines relevant to the pro teams that dominate race after
race. Am I the only one that could stand to see just a few sportsman
stories every once in a while? I mean how about a feature about Jeg
Coughlin Jr getting into a SS/AA Hemi-Cuda for the U.S.Nationals or
maybe a segment about the "other" nitro class with interviews of Morgan
Lucas and Ashley Force? It's just a thought.
Just Wondering ... Am I the only one that thinks 12 hours of TV
broadcast coverage from the U.S. Nationals might be just a bit much?
The fuel cars, Funny Cars and Pro Stockers each get one additional
qualifying lap at the Nats and that warrants a dozen hours of TV
coverage of this race?
Just Wondering ... Now that Bob Glidden is the head ramrod for Don
Schumacher's Pro Stock operation, how long it will be before a Glidden
is back driving a Pro Stocker?
Just Wondering ... How long it will be before a nitro Funny Car holds
the absolute speed record in NHRA?
Just Wondering ... Why is it that the last sparkplug you're going to
remove and replace when you're tuning up your streeter is always the
hardest to get to and the hardest to re-install? It never fails to work
that way for me.
Just Wondering ... Why do TV interviewers seem to ask drivers and
tuners questions about budgets, sponsors, and team business that could
and should only be answered by team managers or owners?
Just Wondering ... Is the only attraction to the 18- to 35-year-old
males interested in import drag racing skinny models in bikinis wearing
5-inch spike heels? Judging from the mainstream publications I read
covering this sport it would appear to be that way.
Just Wondering ... Until they get more cars in the professional classes
that can go four rounds of eliminations, maybe the Import drag racing
series ought to institute a "break rule" similar to what the Goodguys
Top Fuel class has so that they don't have so many bye runs.
Just Wondering ... While the yet untried NASCAR points program where
only the top ten points gatherers and those within 400 points of the
leader get to race for the Nextel Cup during the last ten races of the
season doesn't appear to be a popular idea with fans and racers, I'm
thinking that format might be welcomed by fans and racers in NHRA. In
recent years many if not all of the professional class champions were
decided with several races left on the schedule. This year Greg
Anderson could have the Pro Stock points title in the bag by Brainerd.
Maybe a re-rack for the Pro Class points beginning at Indy wouldn't be
so bad. A six-race dash for the cash and title beginning with the U.S.
Nationals at Indy could spice things up and return some of the drama to
Indy that has faded recently. Nahhh, they'd never do that . . . but it
does make you think, doesn't it?
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