Mike
Well-Known Member
Well, I really cannot disagree with the changes, as they will all be good for the spectators. But one change, in particular, is going to end up being prohibitively expensive.
Three changes go into effect, next weekend, at Race Two of the Western Swing. All Pro Stock teams will be required to back their cars into their pit spaces, and no part of the engine can be covered. That's going to wind up at least one team that immediately comes to mind.
Effective next weekend, crew members will no longer be able to touch the cars during burn-outs. This rule went into effect, several years ago, but the Pro Stock teams have been pushing it, having a crewman on each side of the car, nonchalantly holding the car with their knees, whilst keeping their hands in their pockets.
Effective next weekend, the crews will be required to have a windshield header, minimum of 4.25" in height, and a maximum of 4.50" inches in height, to identify the model of the car.
Effective 1 January 2016, the cheese gets binding. All cars will be required to run electronic, throttle-body fuel injection. Seriously, when was the last time you saw a production car with a carburetor? It's about time.
All cars will be required to lose the hood scoops. Everything is going to have to fit under the hood.
The length has not yet been announced, but all wheelie bars will be limited in length. It seems people are wanting to see some front ends hanging high, on the starting line.
But the really big one, the one that is going to cost teams train loads of cash is that the electronic controls on the fuel injection will also limit engine RPM to 10,500. Wow. The 500 inch engine is going to have to be completely re-designed, losing that much RPM. A couple years from now, engine builders will appreciate the limit, but there is sure going to be a lot of midnight oil getting burned, between now and the Winternationals.
But, I still applaud NHRA's decisions. That class is really in danger of drying up and blowing away, at the current rules. Many teams have pulled out. Greg Stanfield was one of the sharper drivers out there, and the money finally caught up with him. Drew Skillman, Erica Enders-Stevens' stablemate is not going west, after Denver, and car owner Richard Freeman has lined up Jeg Coughlin to drive the car at Sonoma, Seattle, Brainerd and Indy. Even Rodger Brogdon has sold his entire operation. Brogdon won at Phoenix, earlier this year, and was even #1 in the championship points, at one point. This fellow owns one of the largest roofing companies in the country, yet he has sold everything and quit? That shows me there is something really wrong. Freeman bought everything Brogdon had, so I suspect Jeggie will finish out the year, driving for Elite.
Gee, is there hope that NHRA might pull a mag and a fuel pump off the fuel cars, as well? I wouldn't mind seeing that, either, as the Big Show has become more of a circus, than anything else. Make them lose a mag and a pump, run the percentages back up, lose the pneumatic timers, get the cars ripping and snorting again, and let them run 1.320 feet. Sure, ETs will go up and speeds will come down, but I think the fans would enjoy the racing a lot more.
Three changes go into effect, next weekend, at Race Two of the Western Swing. All Pro Stock teams will be required to back their cars into their pit spaces, and no part of the engine can be covered. That's going to wind up at least one team that immediately comes to mind.
Effective next weekend, crew members will no longer be able to touch the cars during burn-outs. This rule went into effect, several years ago, but the Pro Stock teams have been pushing it, having a crewman on each side of the car, nonchalantly holding the car with their knees, whilst keeping their hands in their pockets.
Effective next weekend, the crews will be required to have a windshield header, minimum of 4.25" in height, and a maximum of 4.50" inches in height, to identify the model of the car.
Effective 1 January 2016, the cheese gets binding. All cars will be required to run electronic, throttle-body fuel injection. Seriously, when was the last time you saw a production car with a carburetor? It's about time.
All cars will be required to lose the hood scoops. Everything is going to have to fit under the hood.
The length has not yet been announced, but all wheelie bars will be limited in length. It seems people are wanting to see some front ends hanging high, on the starting line.
But the really big one, the one that is going to cost teams train loads of cash is that the electronic controls on the fuel injection will also limit engine RPM to 10,500. Wow. The 500 inch engine is going to have to be completely re-designed, losing that much RPM. A couple years from now, engine builders will appreciate the limit, but there is sure going to be a lot of midnight oil getting burned, between now and the Winternationals.
But, I still applaud NHRA's decisions. That class is really in danger of drying up and blowing away, at the current rules. Many teams have pulled out. Greg Stanfield was one of the sharper drivers out there, and the money finally caught up with him. Drew Skillman, Erica Enders-Stevens' stablemate is not going west, after Denver, and car owner Richard Freeman has lined up Jeg Coughlin to drive the car at Sonoma, Seattle, Brainerd and Indy. Even Rodger Brogdon has sold his entire operation. Brogdon won at Phoenix, earlier this year, and was even #1 in the championship points, at one point. This fellow owns one of the largest roofing companies in the country, yet he has sold everything and quit? That shows me there is something really wrong. Freeman bought everything Brogdon had, so I suspect Jeggie will finish out the year, driving for Elite.
Gee, is there hope that NHRA might pull a mag and a fuel pump off the fuel cars, as well? I wouldn't mind seeing that, either, as the Big Show has become more of a circus, than anything else. Make them lose a mag and a pump, run the percentages back up, lose the pneumatic timers, get the cars ripping and snorting again, and let them run 1.320 feet. Sure, ETs will go up and speeds will come down, but I think the fans would enjoy the racing a lot more.