BLOWER OR NITROUS? YOUR CHOICES

We got some pretty good comments in DRO's reader survey of the seemingly never-ending saga of supercharged versus nitrous oxide-aided Pro Modifieds. Here are some of your observations.

"Split them into two 16-car shows and bring both back for a Top Eliminator type go. It was good enough for the Smokers shows at Bakersfield, once upon a time."

"As you said, it has to happen now. The parity is gone. Too much knowledge avilable to the blown alky guys. Unless the nitrous guys can figure out a better fuel or alky programs in their tune-ups, they might as well stick to their Quick 8 all-nitrous down-home races. Really too bad IHRA let it go so far."

"The damage has been done! We all love and respect the Hemi motor, but in Pro Mod! Dam."

"Ringling Bros. Should give up the name Œgreatest show on earth.' IHRA has it in their Pro Mod show."

"Both supercharged and nitrous cars. This is what makes the Pro Mods so fun to watch."

"As much as I love the blower cars (and I do), the nitrous cars must have a legitimate chance. I was at the Rock and I actually felt sorry for the nitrous guys."

"I think blower cars are more appealing to fans. Nitrous cars look like they belong in bracket class. They also sound that way. There should be 2 separate classes and quit changing rules."

"I don't see nitrous cars only. What happened to freedom of choice? Thanks for saying what needed to be said."

"Start adding weight to the supercharged cars until the fields start coming out even."

"The 100-lb weight penalty announced by Mike Baker will not, in my opinion, slow the top running blower cars down at all. I do not favor penalizing supercharged entries for their improved performances. Short term it looks like nitrous cars will beat a disadvantage this year in cool weather. Long term solutions might be to increase nitrous engine displacement and allow more stages, solenoids, and bottles. Supercharged cars are now too heavy to be safe, in my opinion. Whatever changes IHRA or anyone else decides to implement for next year should be announced as far in advance as possible to allow for development time. I see no circumstances which would lead me to favor tubochargers as an alternative to nitrous. My personal opinion is that turbos should remain in Comp or Street classes. Thanks for asking my opinion."

"It is just great seeing the blown cars race the nitrous. I mean, it's like David and Goliath!!"

"I don't want it to end up like Pro Stock, a bunch of look-alikes. I like the diversity, like the old gassers and floppers. It makes it much more interesting. You can tell these cars apart."

"The blown cars are too close to being alcohol funny cars. Let the supercharged cars run with the funnies and make Pro Mod all nitrous cars."

"It may be most pragmatic to add the 50 pounds back onto the blown cars and re-evaluate things after the next 2 or 3 races."

"The strength of the class is the various body styles, difference in engines (nitrous vs blower) and e.t./speed . . . low 6's/220 plus. Low 6's provide a tremendous amount of excitement. You don't need to go any faster for the class to remain exciting. The beauty of the class has been the natural rivalry of nitrous vs blower. As a fan, you have to pick sides, you have to take a stand, you have to pick a camp. This natural tension helps make the class exciting. It creates a rivalry. A 100 percent blower field would relegate the class to just another blown alcohol class of racing. The top blower cars are only a few more test and tune passes away from a 6.05-6.08 run. The answer is to take away some of the blower technology (blower size, overdrive, heads, axle ratio, etc.). The nitrous cars are already on the ragged edge running three stages of nitrous. A fourth stage or less weight is not the answer as most cars are already heavily dieted and as light as possible at 2350 lbs. It appears that the IHRA wants a blown-only Pro Mod class. I think that is short sighted and a poor decision for the sport. However, if that is the decision, the IHRA should be big enough to admit it and let the nitrous racers make a decision about their future. That would be the class thing to do. Pro Mod (nitrous vs blower) is unique compared to other professional classes of drag racing. IHRA uniqueness has been a lack of arrogance . . . a racer-friendly organization unlike the other sanctioning body, Don't blow your uniqueness. Do whatever it takes to maintain that unique Pro Mod rivalry."

"Nitrous, supercharged, turbo. Yes."

"Let's not forget it all started with nitrous. Plus it will keep Mr. Fulton a job! (LOL)"

"I sent an idea to IHRA a year or so ago about Pro Mod. I had suggested that they break the ladder into two sub-ladders, blower runs blower and nitrous runs nitrous; then the winners of each run off for the big enchilada. I got no response. I guess they wanted the interaction, but after the first round, it will be mainly blower except on really hot tracks."

"While it's a pain in the ass to constantly try to achieve parity between the combinations, it must be done in order to keep the diversity that made the class so popular. It can be done. Look at the NHRA and the blown/alky vs injected/nitro cars. At one point they almost got rid of the A/Fuelers altogether! However, after years of controversy, it seems that there's pretty good parity between the combinations, and the class is way better for it (in my mind). The same needs to be done with the Pro Mods."

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