Is this best for the long run for IHRA? Why
not develop their own versions of TF and FC
using mountain motors, as with their other
featured classes? Instead of the expensive,
parts eating blown nitro combination in Top
Fuel and Funny Car, have mountain motored
blown alky and injected nitro cars at something
close to NHRA weights. It would be really
cool to see a 700" blown alky motor with an
unrestricted screw blower going against a
similar sized injected nitro unit.
The injected combo may need the percentage
of nitro restricted to 70-80% to keep things
even. This could be an ongoing controversy
as in the "supercharged vs. nitrous" wars
in Pro Mod, may even sell a few tickets. Uncharted
territory, but certainly entertaining and
far less expensive than the blown nitro combo.
As a kicker, the injected cars could run NHRA
with 90-95% in the tank and a set configuration,
say 650 CID at 2100 pounds. That would require
actual cooperation between the two sanctioning
bodies, unlikely with the present state of
affairs.
What's to become of the current NHRA TAD
and TAFC classes in the unlikely event of
such a scenario? Would the present competitors
accept slightly slower versions of their classes
that would be less costly to maintain in light
of the relatively small purses? If performance
were scaled back by using standard helix roots
blowers and an 80% mix for the injected cars,
maybe some of those sitting on the sidelines
will come out to more national events, where
fields have been slim in recent years. And
by all means let's have the injected nitro
combo in TAFC.
The bottom line with the above scenario is
that in concert with NHRA's TF and FC, there
would be three distinct levels of performance
for competitors to choose from with commensurate
operating costs. It would help if the IHRA
expanded its schedule to hold events nationwide
instead of just the East and South. Some of
the West Coast tracks could probably support
a national event of each sanctioning body.
While this is all fantasy stuff, it does
represent a coordinated approach to accommodating
competitors and spectators that may be marketable.
Is that market big enough for two distinctive
products to have a national tour? It just
may be if the NHRA and IHRA can find some
common ground and give that old saying an
honest try: "A rising tide lifts all boats."
I would not like to see them end up like the
CART/IRL fiasco, and I don't think that will
happen if there is no more poaching of classes
as in Pro Mod.
Dennis Harrold
LONGING FOR THE
STATUS QUO?
After reading the announcement that eight
new member tracks were brought into the NHRA
fold, I got to thinking. . . . I'm glad to
see there are some new (to NHRA) facilities
that will now provide a safe place for racers
operating under the umbrella of NHRA. But
this would be even happier news for the sportsman
racers if not for the fact that NHRA's Director
of Sportsman Racing, Len Imbrogno, is also
the Director of Member tracks. With this news
and the article in the most recent National
Dragster it appears that NHRA is more concerned
with cultivating relationships with their
existing and new member tracks than they are
in maintaining their relationship with the
thousands of racers that support them regularly.
Especially when viewed in the light of decisions
they have made with regards to the racers
themselves over the last few years.
Isn't it obvious that NHRA takes the sportsman
racers (or racers in general unless you run
nitro) for granted? They know we'll show up
and spend our money. So they have to find
alternative ways to generate additional funds.
And welcoming new member tracks into the fold
is one way of doing that.
Look at the agreements they've made recently
naming "official products of the NHRA." These
are blatant money grabs. And to what end?
They certainly don't benefit the racers...
not even the nitro classes when considering
the "official fuel" deal! Why is it necessary
for NHRA to pursue alternative sources of
additional funding? Is there more to these
stories than NHRA's "desire for the sport
to grow"?
I long for the days when NHRA was merely
"dedicated to safety." Instead of being merely
another sports entertainment promoter!
Alright, I've had my rant for the day. Keep
up the good work at DRO!
Greg Stanley
DRO -- THE TIE THAT BINDS
Just read the letter from John in Holland
[Special Delivery Mail, batch 3], who happens
to be my Dad! I want to say that he is a proud
drag racing supporter and drives me insane
with it - oh the stories of the "good ol'
days."
Good on ya, Dad, and keep it up and maybe
it will rub off on me one day...
Melissa Polansky (nee Geltink-Marshall)
Australia
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