[Tom Vaught]

My copy came yesterday.

I was reading about the new President of the NHRA, (Peter Clifford) and his thoughts on the NHRA.

They mention the Street Outlaws show specifically, in a question to him.
Clifford took over in July, 2015 (after the NHRA went after the Street Outlaws Show and said NHRA would take away Driver's NHRA credentials, specifically Mike Murillo among others).

REALLY BAD PR for the NHRA so they brought in a new guy to run the place.

In the magazine he seems very receptive to working with the SO show and continuing to try to get the racers off the street and onto one of their tracks.

Pretty hard to do when they closed down a large number of drag strips in the western part of the USA. Most will not pull a car several hundred miles to race vs do it on the street each weekend.

But anyway, it looks like there is a "new guy in town" who seems to be trying to work with a very popular show and its "stunt drivers"/ stars as they work on producing the shows.

I wish him good luck on that deal.

Tom V.

The 405 Guys had 8 years to get their acts together. The NO guys are still learning the basics and it shows in the show's lesser quality, number of crashes, being able to control the cars going down the road, Drama, etc.

[Hooter]

I'm appreciative of the fact they've made it easier to renew your license. If we could just get the seat belt expiration lengthened next. Mine look like new each time I have to send them back in.

[prostreet64]

Tom, did that article talk about the possibility of TF and FC going back to 1/4 mile? I agree with Shirley M. that we lost so much of what makes those two classes worth watching when we went to the 1000' deal.

[v869tr6]

The road I take to work gets shut down about 5 times a year for different running, biking events. The city could move a 1/8th strip every week and not really bother anybody to bad.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by prostreet64

Tom, did that article talk about the possibility of TF and FC going back to 1/4 mile? I agree with Shirley M. that we lost so much of what makes those two classes worth watching when we went to the 1000' deal.

They did talk about the 1000 ft racing in TF and FC and said that the race vehicles are running the same MPH that they did previously in the 1/4 so the MPH speeds are still there.

They think that it is safer staying at 1000 feet for the speeds vs going even faster if they ran to the 1/4 mile distance.

Tom V.

[v869tr6]

Wonder how much the 1000 ft has cut down on oil downs?

[360Rocket]

How about the NHRA stay out of the SO business and focus on the NHRA.

I used to be a regular attendee at the Gatornats but damn the ticket prices just continue to climb and I too am not a fan of the 1,000 foot mark.

[BLANK1]

Any no prep race or drag radial race at a drag strip those SO guys go to pack the stands with spectators. That no prep race in Kansas was packed with people. Was watching some of the NMCA race in Atlanta and hardly any people in the stands.

[prostreet64]

It seems like it wouldn't be too difficult for the NHRA to limit the speeds by whatever means possible, like % nitro or take timing out or whatever to keep the top speeds under control, and let the cars go back to 1/4 mile. I don't have a need to see higher speeds, but losing that last 320' is like an early shutoff. With the cars running 3.70s it is just over too quickly and all comes down to the start; no time to run the other car down.
As to the SO guys, I think the NHRA should mind their own business.

[60man]

Originally Posted by Hooter

I'm appreciative of the fact they've made it easier to renew your license. If we could just get the seat belt expiration lengthened next. Mine look like new each time I have to send them back in.

Ditto......or make belt age/wear a tech item? Just a thought.

[RA462]

1320 feet is a drag race. 1000 is BS. If they want to limit the MPH lower the limit of nitro. I'll bet more top fuel funny car guys have been hurt by nitro explosions than MPH. The 2 year belt limit is the biggest BS thing in racing. My car that I don't get out much in belts have expired? Why? Because the sun deteriorated the material? The car is indoors 98% of the time and the belts look like new! But the roundy round dirt guys belts are good for like what 5 years? OK rant over.

[GTOGEORGE]

It also was a less breakage thing going to 1,000'. That's way some racers only run the 1/8 mile.



GTO George

[mgarblik]

I think it's unlikely NHRA will go back to 1/4 mile for the fuel cars. I wish they would because of tradition and all the meaningful records that were set at that official drag race distance. The insurance companies are a major driver in keeping the race 1000 ft. That's 25% less exposure for anything to happen on the track that they might have to pay a claim on. That's the way they look at everything, premiums vs exposure. Less breakage and oil downs are a factor also of course as they screw up TV time. It's not super simple to limit speed and ET by playing with nitro %. Reducing nitro % can be made up with the blower, limiting RPM was considered, but with the magneto's a soft limiter is not an easy thing to accomplish without putting out cylinders, causing a hydro-lock or worse. Also, the initial reason for shortening the run distance was tire failure at the excessive trap speeds. They are right back there at 1000 ft. so not sure what the plan will be from here. Possibly taller tires to get the rotational speed down?

[72projectbird]

The NHRA is a joke. I don't think anyone they bring in can repair the damage done.

[ho428]

Originally Posted by prostreet64

It seems like it wouldn't be too difficult for the NHRA to limit the speeds by whatever means possible, like % nitro or take timing out or whatever to keep the top speeds under control, and let the cars go back to 1/4 mile. I don't have a need to see higher speeds, but losing that last 320' is like an early shutoff. With the cars running 3.70s it is just over too quickly and all comes down to the start; no time to run the other car down.
As to the SO guys, I think the NHRA should mind their own business.

Different rear gear mandate would help.
X rpm, X tire dia, X gear ratio will only go so fast.

[Skip Fix]

Newest Hot Rod also has an article on a Pontiac EMC motor and HarryK's run in a race.

[estep455]

Originally Posted by Hooter

I'm appreciative of the fact they've made it easier to renew your license. If we could just get the seat belt expiration lengthened next. Mine look like new each time I have to send them back in.

not going to happen hooter! have them tested and see how much they have lost in strength. all the testing was done by nasa 2 years ago and we discussed it then. they lost almost have of their strength after a simulation of 2 years of weather conditions without ever pulling them tight. nhra is not going to change it until they can pass the test better. sorry guys I hate having to replace mine to.

[Ken MacNicol]

Make the cars look like a real car, take away a pump and mag

[S/st 54]

I agree with what Garlits said a few years back when NHRA wanted to control the cost of fuel racing.....give the fuel teams 1block 1 set of rods 1 set of pistons and 1 crank for the weekend........then how much would there tune up change?