OK, just for the sake of discussion, let's say you make a standard blower overdrive percent. Now with the rest of the limits already in place, such as final drive ratio, inlet size, nitro percentage, spec tire, etc. you're getting dangerously close to the textbook definition of "spec" racing. What's next, just issue the cars at the gate? I don't want to watch rules-limited spec racing and neither does anyone else. But doing away with a certain amount of downforce would open up thinking, creativity and (gawd forbid) tuning ability, leveling out the field. I don't think not prepping the track is a realistic alternative, because everything BUT fuel cars need traction compound because they use mechanical grip as opposed to aero grip.
They do that at the local track here, it's called bracket racing. Not exactly what I'd pay to watch...
I'm with you about not building entire new engine combos. And to be really honest, I'm not as concerned with slowing the cars as I am leveling out the field between the "haves" and the "have-mores". Like I originally stated, lesser tracks (Seattle) always help bring the little guys up a couple notches because the traction isn't there and the guys with more experience in sketchy situations (i.e. Jim Dunn and Gary Densham) always seem to go rounds there. Contrary to what some of the guys here think, I'm not against technology, or advances in performance. If speed were NHRA's biggest worry, I'd say roll out the paver and make another 1/4 mile of shut down and get on with it. But it's not the shortness of the shut down that concerns me, it's that fuel classes are not what I remember as true racing. Let's draw a parallel between one of the greatest drag racing stories in history and today's situation. Remember when the Chi-Town f/c won the championship? Twice? Tight budget and all, they sent the big boys packing. Is there any sane person that thinks that could happen today? Does anyone really think brains can beat checkbooks? Not a snowball's chance in hell. With all the traction afforded by huge tailgates hanging off the back of wedges, the motor can use huge volumes of nitro to make huge gobs of horsepower. When things go wrong then, they go REALLY wrong, but for those who can afford it, that carnage just weeds out the weak. If DSR or JFR need to throw away motors after every single pass, that's just fine with them. And evidently it's fine with the NHRA, because after all, that's half the field right there, and to me, that's wrong. Who's looking out for Jim Head? How about Terry Haddock or Bob Bode? Do you guys really want to hear Force thank his sponsors every 22 seconds of an entire broadcast? Is that your idea of fairness? I started watching Pro/Mod and all the IHRA stuff the last couple years and you know what? When two cars pull to the line in those shows, you never know WHAT"S gonna happen. Just because someone's got a tenth on the other guy doesn't mean squat if it don't hook up! I guess I just want to see real racers have half a chance for once.
