SPEC ENGINE BUNK
Interesting bit on the NHRA nitro spec engines. My only
comment on the whole matter is that it is very difficult
to find a single example of adding more rules that capped/reduced
the cost of racing. In fact motorsport as a whole is littered
with "spec" classes that rapidly escalated in
costs far beyond what they had intended to prevent.
For an alternative route just look at the Australian Sainty
BTV (3-valve) top fuel motor. Practically indestructible,
and they're only spending a US$2k or so a pass (4.87 best
to date) even in R&D mode (where they are still killing
it regularly searching for a good tuneup). OK it's not 4.4's
but it's certainly got the good to run them cheaply. The
Sainty motor is extremely reliable primarily because they
got rid off all the valvetrain issues that hemi's have.
Meanwhile NHRA claiming all along to be reducing costs
by ruling out this type of innovation is pure bunk. If performance
is the issue, why not go to 12-71 blowers, 65GPM pumps and
less cubes? Safety-wise, terminal speed is the real issue
anyway, so if they can't make the power and have the RPM
limiters, then they aren't going to gain much if anything
there in the future.
Spec engines are just going to force out the little guys,
there is no way some budget team is going to be able to
get anywhere near the discount deal the Kalittas, Schumachers,
Force etc will from the spec manufacturers. At the end of
the day the champ will be the guy who can afford the most
spec motors because they will have to push them way beyond
their design capabilities to get an edge.
Cheers.
Simon Cope
(WA author for dragster.com.au)
Australia
ON TIRES, SPEC ENGINES & INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RIGHTS
I just read with interest (Ian Tocher's) comments about
NHRA's nitro specs & 'spec engines'. I must also admit
that the real reason for this is insurance, tire technology
and insurance - yes, redundant, I know. Oh, there is also
a twinge of the creeping 'what about me' attitude that pervades
our national thinking. I assume you have noticed what this
'logic' has done to our productivity too.
Nitro racers need three things to run: nitromethane, tires
and insurance. (I was told this by a crew chief.)
I see the problem as a matter of tire technology as Goodyear
seems to have lost or retired their drag tire guys. Let's
face facts, we are basically running with a technology from
two years ago as Goodyear feels that 335 mph is the maximum
they can sustain with the present rear tire technology.
As such, we are seeing the 8400 rpm limiter. OK, if it will
protect folks than I am all for it. But it is about much
more than protection isn't it?
It would be interesting to see Bridgestone or Michelin
getting involved in drag tire technology. Frankly, they
are the only ones with the money and technical resources.
And I would lay money the tire war would give us better
product, safety and better 'racin'.
As to the spec engine - another can of worms. So we punish
the teams that had the brains and funds to develop, for
example, their own heads. Why? This took beaucoup bucks
and time; now they should make this info available to everyone?
- baloney. It is too similar to the government's welfare
system: we do the work and all get paid. Where is the incentive
to do the homework to get better? Smacks of the "outcome
based education" system to me. Little Johnnie gets
D's so we will reduce the school's standards for his self
esteem - what crap.
(Continued on the next page)
