Originally Posted by

Does anyone here really think they need to race to 1000' at denver to be safe?
How about sonoma?
How about vegas?

I don't.

They need to fix the problem permanently not take a quick fix.

Look what was done in indycars. In 1996 the Arie Luyendyk qualified at 236 mph at the 500. His fastest practice lap was 239. The fastest race lap was eddie cheever at 236. I repeat , 236 in the race!

The next year the cars were completely redesigned. They took away the turbos and made the cars bigger and safter. The cars make 650 hp now instead of 8 or 900. Pole speeds now are 225 and fastest race laps are in the 215 area. Accidents like the one that took Scott Brayton from us in 1996, and took Stan Fox's career in 1995, are a thing of the past. The drivers crash spectacularly now and are enclosed an a tub that protects them. Look at Ryan Briscoe's crash a couple of years ago. 10 years ago I doubt he'd have survived. Today he races again.

Things have improved significantly , by lowering speeds, making the cars safer, and installing soft walls. They addressed the speeds, the cars and the facilities.
That is what NHRA needs to do.

If they need to run 1000' at some tracks until they do, I can understand it , but I don't think it's enough. Scott blew up before the finish line. Tony P blew up before the finish line. They could still blow up at 1000' doing 300 mph and if the speeds, cars, and sand traps / catch fences( the equivalent of the soft walls on ovals) aren't addressed, it's not going to be enough.

The cars are too fast and the facilities can be safer. There are a lot of things that could be done to slow down the cars. It will take a drastic change like taking about the turbos from indycars, but it has to be done.
I've heard a lot of suggestions over the years but I'm not smart enough to talk about them here.

The bodies - they look like spaceships, not cars. Widen the greenhouse.

Take away the bed of the dump truck thing they got going on. Take away a mag. Restrict the fuel flow. Nitro funny cars were fun 30 years ago going much slower and they can be fun today going much slower.

Drag racing is a 1/4 mile. Shorten the track and you reduce the drivers role even further.

Well that's about all I can say about it . Whatever happens happens. That's my .03.

Originally Posted by

Here goes.
The tracks are too short, except for a few.

I know that everyone does not WANT to be shortchanged any precious entertainment for heavens sake

I suggest some here that have not given it a try, go to one of the schools out there and try a super class car out, heck, Hawley gives rides in that tandem two seater he's got.

Bet'cha you never had any experience like it before???

Yer knees would be a knockin' when you climbed out.

Now add almost 180mph on one of these sh!thole old tracks and see how you feel about it.

There is so many answers that everyone has, except for the ones that it seems a lot of the racers themselves endorse, and what would they know, I mean, multiple world champions and event wins by the scores. Just a bunch of dummies.................

Yeah, you guys got the answers instead of them.

Cripe

Whatever happens happens, and my life is not the one that is risked.

Explaining something to someone?????????

Who cares.

How do you explain someone is dead. Eh?????

I really cannot and will not understand the selfishness I see on display here.

Ya' know what, I'd like to see 1320 racin' too. Yup.

But times have changed.

I wonder what NHRA's insurance carrier is telling them right now????

And all these........"Simple changes?"........you guys gonna' give the racers the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to implement this stuff?????????? The cost of testing new changes, even the reduction of fuel line diameter?

That will affect EVERYTHING on the car. Front to back. Think it'll be free?????

I really don't think so.

As far as these things becoming MORE explosive?? How in the heck can a rational, unblinded individual come up with that. I'll never figure that out. Keep the rules the same, no changes to the combos allowed, and the engine does not run against the limiter for another 320'.

With the logic I read here you guys would argue that if you shortened the track to 100', the "cars would still do 330. and blow up before they got there."

DOUBLE cripes.

REX

Originally Posted by

Hey Rex, are you O.K.?
People just working some idea's around and want to express some thoughts on a message board. Never drove a comp. dragster before in my life.
But I can tell you I have an Alcohol Funny Car, Alcohol Dragster License and even a Top Fuel Hydro License for the Liquid Quarter Mile among other misc. drag boat stuff. Never drove anything I have'nt had to pull the chute's in yet. Pulling the chutes on the water is LOTS OF FUN with a Top Fueler. lol!!
Try that one day....you'll see what I mean, freaking thing HATES IT! BTW,back when L.A.C.R. was open in LA county, Blumgrin let me play with his AFC for seat time.....talk about a short shut off.....your hands are on the levers about 100' before you go through the lights and you still watch the turn out's fly by ya.....usually had take the last one.
I'll stop now.....can we all be friends?....or is this turning out to be...you know......another major pissing contest?