Dan Horan just might be the smartest guy
on the planet. Take 200 feet away from these
cars. There is no reason that justifies them
going 330 mph when it results in someone dying.
What's next 350...400? This has turned into
insanity. Back in the early fifties 1320 feet
was an acceptable distance to race but that's
all changed now. I remember some college math
professor saying that 150 mph was the absolute
maximum speed a car could achieve in a quarter
mile. Boy was he wrong!
It's time for a major change in this sport,
NHRA and IHRA need to step up and do the right
thing. Even the crew chiefs agree, 330 is
just too fast! Like Larry Dixon said, "I'm
just the guy that gets shot out of a cannon."
Problem is, the catch net is way too small,
one little mistake and you're dead.
Run them 1020 feet.
Bob Mendenhall
Dan Horan's suggestion to shorten the distance
to the finish line is nothing new.
Someone needs to go back a decade or more
ago when NHRA Division 4 Director Dale Ham
made the same recommendation due to increasing
top speeds.
If memory serves, he was tarred and feathered
by many for such a suggestion.
Wayne Darlington
Jeff, great editorial about "Putting Safety
First." I agree 100% (and I am old enough
to remember the 1st 200mph run) This was an
avoidable tragedy that NHRA should have seen
coming. Keep up the good work.
Jack Issi
Jeff, Nice piece. Says it all..........
Garry Fish
Dear Jeff, I do not totally agree with you,
both classes may be going to fast.
I think we need open competition as far as
companies producing tires. Let's give Firestone
the opportunity to build fuel tires again.
Look at other types of auto racing, every
time Goodyear had a competitor, Goodyear ended
up leaving that series. If NHRA really cares
they would at least ask Firestone, Hoosier,
Mickey Thompson if they they could or even
want to enter the fuel ranks. Remember Goodyear
always insists that they lose money producing
fuel tires. How much do they really spend
on new R & D?
I am not blaming them at all, but I bet Firestone
would be willing to spend big bucks.
Short term, 1000' for fuel cars only, but
the track can only be sprayed to 900'. Why?
Because now if you shut down a car at 1000'
tires they sometimes still have areas pulled
off, ask around.
If Goodyear cries, let them leave; someone
will fill the void.
David Miller
Jeff, In short, I would like to see the 40-inch
"Monster Mo" get tested.
"Monster Mo" is the internal name for the
big tire you saw at PRI some years ago. At
the same time we can increase the front tire
diameter to keep the chassis level as it is
now (we don't have to build all new cars).
Currently we use the same tire as a super
comp car.(front) Most of the Top Fuel teams
are going through lots of fronts. I have a
woman friend of mine that took a hell of a
ride in Montreal because of a front tire failure.
So I say we change 'em both. Goodyear has
a large investment in the big tire and I think
we should move in that direction. You don't
see little bitty tires on Land Speed cars
do you?
Well I could go on forever or until we change
them. See ya at the track.
Mike Kloeber
