Top Sportsman added to NHRA Events

#16 04-10-2008, 07:07 PM

I'm just a lowly spectator and all I know is what I like. If TS came to an event near me my butt would be in a seat, and it'd stay there until the last pair of these bratty hot rods made their runs.

#17 04-10-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher L Williams

This whole "the stands empty" thing is brought up all the time, sometimes with reference to Pro Stock, often with regard to some sportsman class or another. Today it's the Super classes that the OP chose to take the heat. And it seems impossible to mention the Super classes without condemning "the electronics that make it so easy -- just point and shoot". As Greg eloquently notes above that's largely a misconception.

The problem with all of these arguments isn't the racing, it's most peoples' understanding of the racing. I used to leave the stands when the Nitro cars were done. Then I started to understand Pro Stock, so I stayed for those. Then people explained the sportsman classes, and I stayed to watch several of the Comp classes. Now that we're racing an S/C car and I know the details there, OMG, I can't find two seconds to grab a beer and use the john

If NHRA, with all that time to kill on the huge "Motel 6 Vision", invested in a half-dozen educational videos that explained each of these classes to the average fan, I bet the stands wouldn't empty. But then -- the $7 beer and $10 hot dog guy would complain...

Chris, i didn't start this thread to complain, i was running Super Gas when class first started and it was a lot of fun heads up racing, but my driving career ended do to a freak accident so i never got into the electronics. After seeing these Top Sportsman cars run in person it really got my excitement up for going to track to watch them. This was first time i have been to the track in 15 years. Still doing fabricating and watching on TV but after watching last weekend i will be going a lot more.

#18 04-10-2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Sherwood

One of those Advanced ET classes has a 6.30 cut-off, is that Top Comp?

Joe, Advanced ET is from 6.00 to 7.49 and requires a SFI 10.2 chassis for FC's and Altereds like mine.

The chassis tags for FC's and Altereds are as follows, don't know or care about the dragsters:

SFI 10.1: < 6.00
SFI 10.2: 6.00-7.49
SFI 10.3: => 7.50

On the east coast, there's TDs that run 5.80's, basically a TAD.

And the "Super" classes are for the drivers, not the fans. Try explaining a stutter box to a newbie, hell even an old timer, and usually the first thing out of there mouth is "I thought drag racing was about how quick and fast you could run?".

And before any "Super" driver wants to "teach" me, I had been involved in the "Supers" since the inception of Pro Gas.

#19 04-11-2008, 12:54 PM

Good discussion . . .
Three things occur to me.
1) If you want to know why the casual fan prefers the racin' 'round in circles events, I have two words for you: delay box. Perhaps you would prefer these two: throttle stop.
Don't get me started on "footbrake" or "box" and "no box" as class names.
We understand this stuff. The casual fan doesn't. Anything that can't be explained quickly and simply will cause MEGO reactions from the rookie spectator.
2) Outside of the people who write dictionaries, only two people on Earth know when to use the word run and when to use the word ran.
3) The Super classes are fun. Not so much to watch, but to listen. Not to listen to the cars, but to the explanations! Every year at the MoPar Mile High Nationals I hear some young fellow (2nd time at the drag races) explaining to his date (1st time at the drag races) why those cars "suddenly slow down." I'd share a couple of these priceless explanations with you; but I'm saving them up. If my current career falters, I'm gonna' do stand up comedy - I'll use them then.
Cheers,
Ed
P.S. I have the greatest respect for every racer regardless of their chosen class or Eliminator. My comment is intended to get us thinking about how it all looks to the folks that we want to buy a ticket next week.

#20 04-11-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Stanley

...But, I'll guarantee you the majority of fans would still leave the stands when they came up to run! They already do the same thing during Pro Stock. It's just a fact of national events that if it don't burn nitro the average fans doesn't give a damn!

In my experience, this is very much a regional thing. For your area, Greg, there seems to be mostly fuel fans and I've seen the very thing you describe. But come back east and you'll see different behavior.

The Midwest has always been a doorslammer hotbed starting with the Gas classes many years ago. Pro Stock gets a much warmer reception in St. Louis, Indy, Columbus, and even the southern tracks such as Bristol and Atlanta. There were never that many fuel cars around the area, certainly not many in weekly shows like all you Californians were lucky enough to see.

Even the bikes gain big crowds in certain areas such as Englishtown, Memphis, and St. Louis.

That said, from someone involved with drag racing since 1965 I'll state that the Top classes have piqued my interest also. I honestly think it's the absence of down-track electronics that make the difference. What's not to like about two fast cars charging for the finish line?

#21 04-11-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Arcuri

... I have two words for you: delay box. Perhaps you would prefer these two: throttle stop...

Ed,

The casual fan, hell even the not-so-casual fan, wouldn't have a clue if a car had a delay box or not unless they walked up to the car, looked inside, and knew what they were looking at.

You are right though in that all the squawk about the Super Classes is about throttle stops, NOT delay boxes. As exhibited in Jesse's original post, he had no idea the Top Sportsman cars had delay boxes until it was pointed out.

#22 04-11-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

In my experience, this is very much a regional thing. For your area, Greg, there seems to be mostly fuel fans and I've seen the very thing you describe. But come back east and you'll see different behavior.

The Midwest has always been a doorslammer hotbed starting with the Gas classes many years ago. Pro Stock gets a much warmer reception in St. Louis, Indy, Columbus, and even the southern tracks such as Bristol and Atlanta. There were never that many fuel cars around the area, certainly not many in weekly shows like all you Californians were lucky enough to see.

Even the bikes gain big crowds in certain areas such as Englishtown, Memphis, and St. Louis.

That said, from someone involved with drag racing since 1965 I'll state that the Top classes have piqued my interest also. I honestly think it's the absence of down-track electronics that make the difference. What's not to like about two fast cars charging for the finish line?

Dan,

I would agree with you about there being a stronger audience for Pro Stock in other regions. I spent a lot of time back in and remember fondly the booked in shows of Pro Stock and the new forming Pro Mod at many of the southern tracks.

I love the Top Dragster and Top Sportsman classes... see my signature below!

They just need to find a way to keep it affordable if they are going to make them national event classes. My plan that I posted here over two years ago was to get rid of the Super Classes and make TD and TS all run fields with the maximum ET requirements.

#23 04-11-2008, 01:43 PM

Okay, as one of the Bottoms in the seats, and growing up on So-Cal Nitro, I don't leave my seat on Sunday. Fridays and Saturdays, I watch a little of everything.

One Good Thing about "the stands clearing out"... I can see the track without having to see around the drunk in front of me who 'drives a blown, injected 04 riceburner on alky on the street, car runs 7's at 160mph'...

And yeah, I enjoy watching everything from a W/SA to T/F...

d'kid

#24 04-11-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Stanley

It's all about proper staging, picking your spot, focus, and consistently doing the same thing each time.

That statement is all you need to know about bracket racing.
I have a friend that have a super street car and I told him while we were at the Cajun SportsNational that if you want to learn how to be good, study these guys staging a car in time trails and watch the same drivers at the finish line during eliminations.
Also I love Top dragster/sportsman but I think Pro mods are a better show at a National event.

And Greg, the magical electronic box is called a Matty box.

#25 04-11-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armand Keller

...And Greg, the magical electronic box is called a Matty box.

Oh no, you just had to do it didn't you, Armand!?!?!? LMAO

#26 04-11-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Stanley

Oh no, you just had to do it didn't you, Armand!?!?!? LMAO

At least I didn't say playback tach(oops)

I am trying to get my friend to get rid of his twin air cylinder thottle stop, what do you recommend. We look at different types go down the track this pass weekend and I like the servo motor but he don't want to spend that kind of money.

#27 04-11-2008, 03:59 PM

HAHA, Leave it up to the Stan Man to stick up for the underling sportsman racers.... I'll just kick it over here in my corner and watch.

Jared

#28 04-11-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armand Keller

At least I didn't say playback tach(oops)

I am trying to get my friend to get rid of his twin air cylinder thottle stop, what do you recommend. We look at different types go down the track this pass weekend and I like the servo motor but he don't want to spend that kind of money.

Who makes a servo motored t-stop? I have not seen one of those. Of course I haven't raced any of Super Classes since 2003 and haven't paid much attention to the stops. I thought of using a servo years ago. But there was a nagging problem I wasn't able to easily figure out... Unless there is some kind of release that allows the stop to go to the closed position instaneously, it won't work. You want to slam the RPM to your stop RPM off the launch. Otherwise you can't kill enough ET and you'd be on the timer for a much longer time, which isn't consistent and kills MPH.

No matter what brand or type (blade, disc, inline), make sure you get an Air-On/Air-Off double acting. And the hot ticket is a "split" stop... where you have a separate cylinder for the primaries and secondaries.

I still have on my car a Biondo Double Acting "stop" that I use as starting line controller. It is what I used when I ran 8.90/9.90 and was always very happy with results.

The disc stop from Dedenbear is the ticket for maximum MPH. A lot of guys like the A-1 air power split stop too.

It all just depends on what you're trying to do and what your motor will like.

#29 04-11-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Leighton

HAHA, Leave it up to the Stan Man to stick up for the underling sportsman racers.... I'll just kick it over here in my corner and watch.

Jared

Hey, what are you doing young man!?!? How's little sis?

#30 04-11-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Stanley

Hey, what are you doing young man!?!? How's little sis?

Ain't so young anymore.... Gettin ready to move out to Kansas. She's doing good, we're gettin ready to start the Famoso Summit Series. Unfortunately have to give the seat back to pops.

J

Top Sportsman added to NHRA Events

Top Sportsman added to NHRA Events

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