SIMPLE AS A, B, C

In response to your 8.90, 9.90, 10.90 index classes and how or what can we do, let us take a piece from the Goodguys VRA and bring back A/Gas B/Gas and C/Gas indexed at 7.85, 8.85, and 9.85, and rid ourselves of the autopilot-like electronics which are killing our sport.

Who wants to watch two cars launch hard, stop, launch again, watch their heads look around at the top and then mash the brakes? Is it SAFE? No. I have seen many crashes under this configuration and I vote to bring REAL heads up racing back, allow the tuners and drivers to go at it with their brains instead of an electronic device that not only allows you to bump to get a better reaction time, but tells you what you are going to run.

This sport is not supposed to be a video game but instead a sport that encourages BRAINS, BRAWN, and LUCK! The questions arise about the cost of sportsman racing -- lose the computers, they are for e-mailing, finding a girlfriend and looking up Drag Racing Online!

Ken Becker
Purple Buffalo Racing

CHANGE THE INDEX!

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I couldn't agree with you more about changing the indexes for Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. Most of the cars in those three classes can easily run well under their current indexes; the few that are stretched to go that fast would have an incentive to find more horsepower (or use less throttle stop). The car counts would drop slightly but only for a short period. Look at the caliber of the cars that compete in those classes, 540 inch and bigger big block Chevys in 2100 pound tube frame; four link race cars in Super Gas, 556 and bigger engines in 1900 pound dragsters.

Super Gas was initially run at the 1978 Winternationals on a 9.80 index shortly after that NHRA raised the index to 9.90, that was 27 years ago! The cars that competed then were a world different from the ones we see today. Changing the indexes would help "liven up" the classes, throttle stops would be used at a minimum and these classes would be fun again. I like the idea of door cars running 8.90, evidently so did Greg Venture; Greg won the largest NHRA Super Comp race in history at Las Vegas this year...in a 1966 Nova.

Bob Mendenhall
Lakeside, CA

TAKE ELECTRONICS OUT

As a former Super Gas racer in NHRA Div 2, I can honestly say that the current state of the Super Classes is sad. You are correct in saying the average fan cannot relate to a 7-second dragster dialed in and running 8.90. When I started in Super Gas, I was fairly competitive with a 2x3 frame mild steel chassis, 30 over 454/glide combo. The car ran 9.50 wide open and used a manual stop on the carb to slow it down. Like most little guys, I can't afford an $80,000 chassis, $30,000 engine and $6,000 trans. I got out because of the spiraling cost to stay competitive.

NHRA needs to take a long hard look at these classes and get back to where guys like myself can participate and where fans can see some exciting "heads up" racing. The biggest culprit, in my opinion is electronics. It has taken the human element out of the sport. I hope someday it will change, but I am not very optimistic.

Anyway, keep up the great work.

Jerry LoBiondo
NHRA 2037