NHRA changes- rumor or reality?

[wreckwriter]

I've been trying to confirm this with no luck but I was told by a track official that NHRA is changing to 1/8 for all competition. I'm hopeful that this is not true but with the greater focus on safety since Scott Kalitta's crash.......

Anyone got a contact within NHRA that can check on this?

[GRRRR8]

From what I read and have seen they are currently only doing 1000ft because of the speeds.

[wreckwriter]

right, the nitro classes are doing 1000' but he said everyone is going to 1/8. Said Moroso will continue 1/4 mile racing for test and tune and bracket events but all official NHRA competition events will go to 1/8.

This guy should know, he was the "track boss". I came to be talking to him as he was telling my 2 friends in Crossfire convertables they couldn't race any more due to too fast with no roll bar.

[GeorgeInNePa]

That would be typical NHRA over-reaction.

How about we solve the problem.

The problem is the Nitro classes are too fast. Lets see, what could we do? I got it, we'll neuter American Drag Racing!

That's the answer, not reduce the ci of the engines or disallow twin plug heads and twin magnetos or mandate the use of smaller fuel pumps or reduce the rear tire size or any number of things to slow down the problem children.

[wreckwriter]

yup, I agree completely.

[GRRRR8]

George is right. It would take so little to slow them down because they are running on the edge as it is, so one little takeaway will slow them down. I think they call this a Restrictor Plate in NASCAR. :)

[wreckwriter]

He is right. I'm not arguing for this in any way, just reporting what I was told. I hope I was bullshitted.

[GRRRR8]

I think Top Fuel and FunnyCar have pushed it for years. Now after Dale Sr, Lingenfelter, John Forces driver(sorry I cant remeber his name) they are going to overreact before they react, but just take something away on the car. 1/8 mile wont even seem right to me. I saw my first event 36 years ago. so I am not ready for that change.

[wreckwriter]

Likely most tracks will continue to run brackets at 1/4 anyway so this, assuming its real, would only affect those who actually run NHRA class racing (don't know of any G8 doing so now).

[wreckwriter]

btw- Force's driver was Eric Medlen. The most recent death was Scott Kalitta, Connie's son.

[GeorgeInNePa]

Honestly, with the power they have now, they would run what, 2 sec 1/8 mile?

That wouldn't be enjoyable to watch.

[GRRRR8]

Eric, thanks. I had lunch with Kenny Bernstein at an event and he was running 10.0 ETS accelerating 60 feet and then coasting down the track. My car felt so slow after talking to him and hearing his times dialing in the clutch.

[Panther 2]

1/8 Mile NHRA is only a rumor,It's not true. I have just recieved the State Police report on S.Kalatta's accident( NJ State Police control auto racing in NJ ) . If anyone is interested in seeing it PM me and provide me with an e-mail address an I will try to forward it to you.

[wreckwriter]

I hope you're right.

[caretaker]

1/8 mile wont even seem right to me. I saw my first event 36 years ago. so I am not ready for that change.

I ran my first quarter 40 years ago Charlie.

I sure hope this is just a rumor. 1/8 mile won't hold my interest.

[-Ray-]

The police report is posted online.
http://www.njsp.org/news/pr091708.html

[Panther 2]

Thanks Ray , that's what I should have done.

[norm8332]

That crash may not have been fatal if it wasn't for the ESPN equipment at the end of the track.

[99-LS1-SS]

1/8 would not bode well for the G8 community since it takes a little to get these tanks rolling. AWD would be king.

[-Ray-]

That crash may not have been fatal if it wasn't for the ESPN equipment at the end of the track.

The ESPN truck was well off the course. No one expected the car to fly over the concrete barrier.

[locrzn#92]

I watched the last race at Pomona and there was conversation about what would happen in 09. Top fuel and Funny car will stay at 1000', all other competition will be 1/4 mile. There was nothing said about going to 1/8 mile at that time. Nothing about that change on NHRA.com either. I don't think that will happen, I think nhra would loose to many fans, they already had enough complaints about cutting back to 1000'. Fans excepted that because of the circumstances that occurred with Scott. Thats why they also went to the linen coming out when the burst panel comes out after a blower explosion. Thats what happened to Scott, his linen didn't come out and he couldn't stop the car as it blew the supercharger off the manifold as it went thru the traps. Hope that doesn't happen, I don't think nhra will go to that extreme of a change.

[jbradsh1]

So what happens when someone's car blows up at stage? We go to a "which looks the fastest" contest and never race them? Hey, life has it's dangers so you deal with them, you don't cut it back to make the safety nanny's happy. I'm all for safety don't get me wrong. It's just that drag racing at the funny car or top fuel level has inherent dangers which are minimized by safety equipment & technology. I mean are they going to make NASCAR a parking lot affair eventually? Wrong direction.