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rod trower
Senior Member
USA
132 Posts |
 Posted - 04/29/2009 : 1:03:15 PM
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I just returned from Primm where Dee and I were just hanging out (left the cars at home) As I sit and evaluate the weeking and the car's in the top classes (or lack of them) I wonder if perhaps its time for the powers at be to re-think the classes and how they are broken down. This is just food for thought so toss out your opinions. It could be possible that the Top alky and Top fuel class are so sparse becuse the economy is in sad shape, that and the fact that in both classes there are only a few cars at the top of the class. As an example only a couple years ago a 2.58 in alky would put you at #1 today a 2.58 wont even guarintee you are in the show and if you can only run a 2.70 why bother to spend the cash knowing you are going out first round if you make it at all. That said here is my idea.
cut up the classes like this
Class #1 anything faster then 2.60 whatever fuel you want to run.
Class #2 2.60 to 2.95 whatever fuel and what ever motor combo you want to run. Nitro 4 cly to nitro V-8 who cares as long as you dont run faster then 2.60 or you break out.
2.95 and all the rest the same.
If your car can run 2.50 and you wanna sand bag into the 2.60 class who cares come on and sand bag. If you run 2.40 something you run class #1 You are in the game with the current nito cars 90% of the time. If Your old alky V-8 wont run but a 2.80 thats close enough to be competitive but if you want to run Nitro to get to 2.61 go ahead and run it just dont run 2.59 or your out.
4 bangers that can run 2.80 on alky put nitro in the tank if you want and run the 2.60 class.
I really have no idea what you guys think and I have no imput as to how any track sets up there classes. However if car count is down and tracks are "loosing money every race" what do you really have to loose?
Rod
Rodney O. Trower
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Terry M
New Member
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 1:28:41 PM
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| Food for thought? |
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theaztopfuelgroup
Average Member
62 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 8:17:43 PM
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Yes it is true the economy has had a chilling effect on many of the racers budgets. One of our cars sat out this past weekend for that very reason. Our other car is in the finishing stages and we will be testing soon. I cannot speak for the other 4 or 5 Top Fuel cars in the Phoenix area as to there situation.
In my opinion, Top Fuel should be Top Fuel, Top Alcohol remains Top Alcohol, it has been structured that way in drag racing for as long as I can remember. To change it would be just silly. Why mess it up?
What I would like to see is an A/Fuel class or Fast Four which ever term you want use. These cars generally speaking must be de-tuned to the 2.95 index in Top Eliminator. How many A-Fuel cars were not in Primm because they wish not to go slower! If this class were to be added the car count would surely go up. Why do the powers that be want to handicap these cars?
As to tracks "loosing money every race" if indeed that is happening, then something needs to change! Don't be afraid to cut your expenses. Some groups have figured out, that the racers are not the bank! Should a group or organization depend on there competitors to stay afloat, there will always be financial issues!
Sponsors at various levels of financial commitment, spectators, spectators, spectators create the much needed bank! However in order for there to be more sponsors and or spectators there must be some sort of consistent and ongoing promotion and in time it will pay off.
I am sure we all know how to make a small fortune in racing and that is to start with a large one!
Charlie
The Az Top Fuel Group
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comp113c
Average Member
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 12:06:13 AM
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I agree with Charlie. There is no promotion for the sand drags. 90% of the people I talk to don't know what a sand dragster is. As far as the classes go, yes top fuel is top fuel & top alky is top alky, no reason to change. Even if you can't keep up with the guys running 40's your still out there to do the same thing, & that is to race. Anything can happen on race day. I have seen a car quailify with a 30 & break a part in first round & the last qualifier wins. Granted it costs money to run 40's, no one is trying to make a living in the sand drags, we all come out to have some fun. Changing the classes around is not going to help it. I think we need to get all the racers that we can to try to help promote the sand drags. I don't want to see the sport die, everyone out here is family to me, & I want have a long future with you guys. Just my two cents.
Cameron Racing
113c |
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rod trower
Senior Member
USA
132 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 09:56:29 AM
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I agree that anything can and will happen. I intend to have both my alky cars run 40. However there are folks who cant. The NHRA has pushed the cost of racing Fuel to the level that only a few can do it. They have tons of rules, I aint much for rules so I dont race NHRA. I first was thinking about blower OD rules and minimum weight but those are rules and workload for the track tech to inforce, so not liking rules I tossed them out and went the direction of time. There are a lot of cars that are home because they dont want to slow them down or they cant speed them up. They are sort of lost in no mans land. Promoting the races is up to everybody who is going to the race. I rented a car in Vegas from a Casino last weekend to take to Primm. When I told the lady at the counter I wanted to go to Primm she ask me if I was going to the sand drag race. I was suprised she knew about the race but word must have gotten around for her to know. I personally would not care if I was racing my hemi agenst a nitro 4 banger or a jet car. I would much rather have 6 or 8 rounds then a bye and one real race.... I am sure the folks in the stands would agree. Sand drag racing is unique and has unique cars, people and Ideas, why not let them run each other if they can make the class. Hay if it dont bring out more cars nothing ventured nothing gained.
Rodney O. Trower |
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CityFiedToo
Senior Member
USA
334 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 11:26:12 AM
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Be careful you guys are starting to sound a lot like me.
And you know what happens when i get up on my SoapBox....lol
I'm still recovering(scares)from the Ass chewing i got...lol
Not Here To Win, Just Here To Annoy Tommy !!!! |
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rod trower
Senior Member
USA
132 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2009 : 09:16:45 AM
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well the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing expecting different results.
Rodney O. Trower |
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swag7741
Advanced Member
USA
664 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2009 : 2:28:29 PM
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HERES SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CHEW ON ROD. T/F AND T/A STAYS THE SAME.
T/E HAS A 2.95 INDEX AND THEN ADD A (SUPER)T/E, INDEX 2.75. THIS CLASS COULD BE INTERESTING, ANY AND ALL CARS WOULD BE WELCOME TO JOIN IN AND QUALIFY TO 8 CARS. THIS WOULD BE AT THE PRIMM RACES ONLY.
JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, HECK ITS WAY OUT OF MY REACH.
RACE ON
SWAG |
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rod trower
Senior Member
USA
132 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2009 : 3:04:15 PM
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Welcome in Swag wondered where you were. By the way nice job going rounds it TE you are getting closer and closer to the magic 2.95. I thing you have a good idea. I think there are 20 cars out there in no mans land that would be in that class. Somethig else to chew on. Charlie said fuel should be fuel so suppose I get one of my junkers to run 40 flat on alky if I put 1 or 2% nitro in the tank am I a fueler? I cant be a legal alky car becuse the fuel has nitro in it. Now we all know 2% anit going to do anything to make the car run faster but that is not the question. The question is am I fule or a alky?
Rodney O. Trower |
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Chachy Zavala
Senior Member
USA
221 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2009 : 3:38:08 PM
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Rod, 1 or 2% of nitro will make you TF. 3 or 4 (12)packs of Bud Light will make you an alky.
Here is a question. 24 cars trying to get to a 16 car field. 16 cars get into TE but 8 are out, interested in a $100.00 buy in for the losers class trophy only? Still a 2.95 index? Just curious and asking nothing is official.
Alfonso "Chachy" Zavala
"The Next Generation Continuing A Tradition"
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Joe Bettencourt
Senior Member
136 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2009 : 6:04:56 PM
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95% and stand on the gas.  |
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supermario
Starting Member
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2009 : 08:13:17 AM
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Hello all of you . In response to TE index at 2.95 , why not drop it to 2.85 ?!!
Mario Tavares |
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swag7741
Advanced Member
USA
664 Posts |
 Posted - 05/02/2009 : 08:35:26 AM
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LOWER THE TE INDEX, I SAY NO! NO MATTER WHAT THE INDEX IS SOME WILL WANT IT LOWER AND SOME WILL WANT IT HIGHER. THIS CLASS HAS ALWAYS HAD A GOOD CAR COUNT, SO THERE IS NO NEED TO CHANGE IT.
THE DEAL IS THERE IS NO CLASS FOR THE 4 CLY CARS TO RUN ALL OUT. PLUS THE TA CARS THAT ARE JUST A TOUCH BEHIND THE LEADERS IN THE CLASS DONT HAVE A OPTION BUT TO STEP ALL OVER THEIR CARS OR SLOW DOWN TO TE. SO COULD ANOTHER INDEX CLASS FLY? 2.75 2.85 OR WHATEVER. MAYBE?
NOW AS FAR AS ADDING ANOTHER $100.00 AND RACING FOR NO PURSE IN A LOSERS CLASS. THATS $300.00 AND NO PURSE. . .IM OUT.
RACE ON
SWAG |
Edited by - swag7741 on 05/02/2009 08:40:07 AM |
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planBmotorsports
Senior Member
137 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2009 : 08:54:07 AM
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There is a lot of talk about the alcohol cars that can not run in the 40's and no place for them. There is only 2 current running alcohol cars from the west coast that did not show up at Primm. One is Pedro and he had a wedding but he would of been there if it were not for that. The other is Jerry and the top dog crew and we all can not wait to see you guys at the track again once you are ready. We all miss you guys. I know that the couple of alcohol cars that are a little behind right now are not complaining one bit about us running in the 40's but are working to improve there cars to be there. These cars are chipping away at it and I know they will be there soon. There is no one I take lightly in the T/A class. I have no issues with change when needed but I think that the T/F, T/A and T/E are great classes. I know that the fast four guys want there own heads up class and I think that if they can pull enough together it would be a cool class. I know that Dome is putting on events for heads up fast four classes but I heard the car count was low for this class. Just food for thought.
Nick |
Edited by - planBmotorsports on 05/02/2009 11:52:28 AM |
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tfsdragster
Average Member
USA
119 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2009 : 11:52:11 AM
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Heres my anology between Nitro and Alcohol
With Nitro the sky is the limit!
With Alcohol the limit is the sky !
The guys in nitro have really come along way and trust me they are just scratching the surface . Once the 60ft times get into the low .80 sec range believe me an alcohol car doesnt stand a chance against pure power .
I would love to see a few of the alcohol guys change their program and run fuel it would be interesting to say the least .
Rick Jr. |
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Jeff Sieg
Starting Member
14 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2009 : 6:19:31 PM
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| TF is TF, TA is TA, TE is TE, but there is a void between TE and TA. What about a TA class with no hemi's ? I think this is where the split is. A BBC and the likes can't run with a Hemi, they can run faster than a 2.95, just like the 4's can also. There may be some Hemi's that can't run with the TA hemi's, what to do with them ? Back here in the Mid-west if you can't run better than a 2.60 you run another class, just the facts of life around here. Maybe a TE1 and TE2 ? You break the 2.95 bracket you go to TE1 at a 2.80 or 2.70 ? Someone will come up with a better name for it ? Won't take away from TA class and there's enough TE cars that could fill a new class ? |
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new classes
