The NHRA has lost its way

[82GT]

The NHRA has lost its way.
• First off why does the board of a non-profit organization get paid so much?
• Why on earth would the sanctioning body not define the term "Drag Racing", they should have a media staff that protects and boosts it's image, educating the news media when they put a bad light on Drag Racing.
• Why do they want to be NASCAR?
• Why do they put on there premier racing series on tracks with terrible surfaces?
• Why can’t that prep the track correctly?
• Why can’t we get two lanes that are close to equal in competition?
• Why do they punish excellence and hard work with a welfare point system
• Why do they not give back to the racers that make this sport so enjoyable?

Instead we get a sanctioning body that cares more about lining there pockets stealing sponsors, levying absorbent fines.

And now I read this, the NHRA was supposed to be dedicated to safety, where is there dedication with this rule? I thought the safety rules where in place based on ET and speed, but apparently my 11 second mustang is much more dangerous then an 11 second viper, because I didn’t spend as much money on it???

The NHRA has made some changes to their rules. With the inception of stock automobiles running mid-11-second quarter miles these days, some rules needed to be changed. Previous rules required convertibles that ran faster than 13.99 to have a driveshaft loop as well as a roll cage. But with cars like the Dodge Viper running into the 11's stock, this prevented many owners from attending track events because they did not want to have to modify their stock automobiles. Under the new E.T. Street regulations, stock automobiles running 11.50 or slower will not be required to use a roll cage, and other restrictions that were required for these automobiles in the past have been lifted’

The NHRA has become just like Gary Chimeri


Sorry off my soapbox now :violent1::violent1::violent1:

[cowbay]

:eek:First of all get off the fence and really let us know your feelings on this issue.

You do make valid points in regards to safety. I myself have scratched my head why some cars are not running with rollcages and according safety harnesses as in the past. Their is nothing more important than safety in this world. This runs directly against the founding principals of the NHRA where that safety is a priority over everything else. On the other issue of being like nascar, the question is why. That sport has become watered down by same bodies just different decals and that the motors are to be based on the same block in years to come. I feel nascar has lost it's edge by trying to Disney-fie the sport. The other point I would like to bring out is that eventhough I am not a tuner guy, (Don't get me going with the fact when I go to an event with tuners, they have a higher percentage to puke some fluids or throw some parts out down the track, thus cutting into runs I can make. Sorry tuner guys and gals. But I digress not the issue here!) NHRA sells off their import branch series to NOPI. Lets face it that the imports are not going away and they have to be catered to also. How do you let this segment go. All I see with NHRA today and Nascar and to be honest the NFL, MBL, etc. is live for today milk that cow and kill it, and to hell with the future.

Okay now I am off my soap box. Next!:headbang:

[mikelbeck]

I think you're a little confused here...

Cars running 11.00 to 11.49 or faster need a roll BAR, not a cage. Convertibles running 13.49 or faster (lower number) need a roll bar.

Cars running faster than 135 MPH need a roll CAGE.

In years past any car running 11.99 and faster needed a roll bar, I think 10.99 and faster needed a roll cage.

Sections 4:10 and 4:11 of the NHRA rule book define the types of roll cages required for different body styles, speeds and ET.

A driveshaft loop is required on any vehicle running 11.00 and faster, although it's a good idea to have it on any car that goes down the track.

[dynodon113]

You know it all goes to safety . You must decide how far to take it . I have seen roll bars made of exaust pipe, seat belts so worn out with bogus cert tags on them people don't seem to get it. My car has all it can . I ran a full cage running 12.50 . if anything goes wrong , it is up to me to make shure I can get out and live to race another day. some people get and some don't

[Art]

The NHRA has lost its way.
• First off why does the board of a non-profit organization get paid so much?
• Why on earth would the sanctioning body not define the term "Drag Racing", they should have a media staff that protects and boosts it's image, educating the news media when they put a bad light on Drag Racing.
• Why do they want to be NASCAR?
• Why do they put on there premier racing series on tracks with terrible surfaces?
• Why can’t that prep the track correctly?
• Why can’t we get two lanes that are close to equal in competition?
• Why do they punish excellence and hard work with a welfare point system
• Why do they not give back to the racers that make this sport so enjoyable?

Instead we get a sanctioning body that cares more about lining there pockets stealing sponsors, levying absorbent fines.

And now I read this, the NHRA was supposed to be dedicated to safety, where is there dedication with this rule? I thought the safety rules where in place based on ET and speed, but apparently my 11 second mustang is much more dangerous then an 11 second viper, because I didn’t spend as much money on it???

The NHRA has made some changes to their rules. With the inception of stock automobiles running mid-11-second quarter miles these days, some rules needed to be changed. Previous rules required convertibles that ran faster than 13.99 to have a driveshaft loop as well as a roll cage. But with cars like the Dodge Viper running into the 11's stock, this prevented many owners from attending track events because they did not want to have to modify their stock automobiles. Under the new E.T. Street regulations, stock automobiles running 11.50 or slower will not be required to use a roll cage, and other restrictions that were required for these automobiles in the past have been lifted’

The NHRA has become just like Gary Chimeri


Sorry off my soapbox now :violent1::violent1::violent1:
I agree. And I can answer some of this from my own perspective. Some of you have met me, I'm a regular guy. In the early 90's I had the opportunity to crew / help out on a low buck AA/FC driven by Brent Fanning. He taught me a lot about the game we all love, "drag racing".
In order...
• First off why does the board of a non-profit organization get paid so much?
Because it is privately held and there is no shareholder group to answer to. And not that it would really matter since publicly held corporations pay big loot to "attract and retain the best". Says it in every Annual Report published.
• Why on earth would the sanctioning body not define the term "Drag Racing", they should have a media staff that protects and boosts it's image, educating the news media when they put a bad light on Drag Racing.
They do. They get mail every time a local paper uses the term incorrectly. (ask Phil Burgess) I think (and this is JMO) that the term is in the "public domain" and therefore not copyrightable. Think of the phrase "Keep on Truckin' ". Do you know that the guy who coined it doesn't get a dime from it? Bob Crumb, the underground cartoonist coined it and by the time he thought to copyright it, I am pretty sure that was the problem.

• Why do they want to be NASCAR?
Easy. That's where the money is, in merchandising and partnering. The game we love and the game they play is very different. Thiers is a business. We do out of a purer motivation.

• Why do they put on there premier racing series on tracks with terrible surfaces?
I'm really not sure. When they used to run at State Capitol Dragway (the Cajun Nationals) it was skinny an slippery there. Contractual obligations maybe??
• Why can’t that prep the track correctly?
I wonder sometimes if every track was like the Motorplex, would it make the show better? Then again the Motorplex is where I saw my first blowover. So maybe it was too good that day.
• Why can’t we get two lanes that are close to equal in competition?
Too may variables to controll. Between the weather and the surface I honestly don't think they could. Plus it adds drama when someone belts out a whopper in the "bad" lane.
• Why do they punish excellence and hard work with a welfare point system.
Cus it is a business. The bottom line dictates everything. Brent said it, my dad says it too. Money ruins everything. If they ran for a Wally and no loot, in plain unsponsored cars ( y'know, like us common folk) , you couldn't sell a ticket to that. Since now everyone (with money) has pretty much the same stuff (of course some use it much better than others), and can step up at any time, the tv show is boring. (more about this in a moment) So they add drama, the countdown. Yawn. Remember back in the days of TNN and a two week wait for the rebroadcast? The stands were full. Now you can stay home and see it same day. Look at the stands. Not so full. Is there a connection?
• Why do they not give back to the racers that make this sport so enjoyable?
They never have before, why start? Remember it is an entertainment business first, a sanctioning body second. And FYI remember the sale to HD partners that was the big news? Wanna know why you haven't heard anything else about it? 'Cus it isn't going to happen. HD got cold feet and withdrew. (got that from Competition Plus a few months ago)
I think a fund for those who are in thier golden years or something is a great idea. I don't know exactly how you would quantify who gets in and what not but I like the concept. NHRA would prolly say since all competitors are "contractors" and sign a release that they are not responsible. Darrell Russells widow has a lawsuit against NHRA and Goodyear and IIRC I read somewhere that some of the language in it pertains to just that relationship.
Glad it's slow day at work......lol.

[novadose454]

being the ripe old age of 61....back in the days....drag racing was great...you ran heads up ....no one got money.....all for a five dollar trophy ..if thats what it cost....then it became a business....its different...thats why i liked/hated the backyard tracks...like westhampton....and now its island....simple....no one big name there...just guys running thier cars....shame it all changed.....but cars are in my blood and its the greatest pastime i can think of.....i agree with art .........its business

[Supershafts]

The NHRA has lost its way.
• Why do they want to be NASCAR?
•
And now I read this, the NHRA was supposed to be dedicated to safety, where is there dedication with this rule? I thought the safety rules where in place based on ET and speed, but apparently my 11 second mustang is much more dangerous then an 11 second viper, because I didn’t spend as much money on it???

:


OK you have some mistakes and one good issue, but the other issue is kinda misguided.....

1st, actually this is backwards


• Why do they want to be NASCAR?

Actually the NHRA has shown all other forms of motorsports that you really do not need different ANYTHING and you will still have the big show with all the hooplah... as long as the competiton is close

While Nascar was a heavily modified street car up until 1994, it was not always close competiton, because they were not all alike and some bodies and some motors had advantages in certain areas..

The NHRA was showing you can put a Hemi and crossbreed anything you want since 1968 and slap a name brand on and go..such as TF and FC and TA and AFC, by 69' maybe 70' everyone was racing the same thing, and with no problems....
Then they allowed the same kinda thing to go on in PS, if you look at PS carefully over the last close to 20 years...you'll see that something also started there 1st...


Nascar went to a similar body header panel to rear, to keep the bitching to a minimum and the rules easier to keep in check with the need for less templates, other then the nose
The motors have all went to a similar design though like nhra's PS

So saying nhra is going the way of nascar is way off.




And now I read this, the NHRA was supposed to be dedicated to safety, where is there dedication with this rule? I thought the safety rules where in place based on ET and speed, but apparently my 11 second mustang is much more dangerous then an 11 second viper, because I didn’t spend as much money on it???


I have had issues with there idea for safety for years...

Yeah lets break my balls about driveshaft loops, and seat belts, hose, catch cans, cages and keep the shut down areas deadly and keep the lanes unseperated....

I have said some of the rules are insane and just there for the sake of being there...

My cars have always been lowered, if my shaft drops out it will never ever flip the car, even if it found a crack...
The driveshaft in most cars will never ever flip anything..EVER
The driveshaft loop will keep the shaft from exiting the car and getting run over...

The cage rules are good except that a all fiberglass car can have a roll bar and go 11's and so does the all steel car.... hmmm where is the problem there?

Now here is the biggest laugh i get with the nhra rules, and the tracks that enforce the nhra rules day in and day out....
Brakes.
The single most important safety item on a drag car is brakes...

Not one tech inspector has ever brought up my multiple masters and other pioneered SAFE brake system, in fact not 1 tech inspector has ever checked any area of my brake system ever, but they will break my balls over the gap where the cage comes thru the firewall.

1) There is no dividing wall between the 2 lanes, there really is no good reason not to have it
2) There is no good reason to have the scoring/timing signs as close to the track as they are...

example 1. Having a dividing wall will prevent the car to get enough momentum to jump over any wall to either side.
2. having a dividing wall will prevent you from having your car lost to some idiot that thinks they can drive thru it....
example 2. Having the scoring/timing signs close to the wall is as good as putting up saw blades
1. a car rides the wall and bang it's ripped apart by the legs of the timing/scoring sign...
2. the drive will never see the scoring/timing sign so move it closer to the stands side and away from the track..



There is not 1 saftey shut down area in the hole of drag racing in my eyes and by what i consider a safe shut down...

They can't even come up with the fix, there not even trying, instead lets shorten the pedal time....

The nhra is not by my standards the premier anything about safety, other then medical, if you got a medical condition then you sit out..