[Phils20]

Wow, 1,000 feet for Top Fuel and Funny Car.

I'm genuinely stunned...

NHRA News: NHRA shortens race distance for Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet as an interim safety measure (7/2/200

[3fanforever]

I had a feeling they were gonna do this. I'm a little surprised they did it so quickly. But I'm also glad to see it's just an interim thing, until safer measures are adopted and implemented. Then they can get back to quarter mile racing, like it should be.

[Phils20]

I'm still stunned. It's as much a tradition as V8's.

I think they are truly running a bit scared. For good reason. I support it if it saves lives, but we need to be running 1/4 miles as soon as we can have a better solution.

WOW.

I'm still stunned...

[Phils20]

The biggest reason it stuns me is that it just screws the tune ups all to hell.

Talk about a rash of explosions. These tuners are going to have no idea how to set the timing, how to set the clutches.

I just think it would be a better idea to postpone an event or two than to throw that much of a curve at the tuners.

This is going to be chaos.

[3fanforever]

Originally Posted by Phils20

The biggest reason it stuns me is that it just screws the tune ups all to hell.

Talk about a rash of explosions. These tuners are going to have no idea how to set the timing, how to set the clutches.

I just think it would be a better idea to postpone an event or two than to throw that much of a curve at the tuners.

This is going to be chaos.

I don't know. I'm sure the tuners know what they're doing. They're the best in the world, in my opinion. I believe they'll adapt to the shorter runs better than you think. Let's hope so.

And like I said, let's hope the NHRA does this quickly and comes up with the best results for the drivers safety, so they can get back to quarter mile racing. There's a lot of good ideas on that list of issues they're exploring. The only one I'm not to keen on is #5) considering whether current speeds should be further limited or reduced to potentially improve safety. I'm not so sure I'd like to see that.

[Phils20]

They are the best at what the do, yes.

Race a 1/4 mile at a time.

I just don't like it.

Just postpone the races, if we are that concerned for safety.
Really, just postpone them.

I just don't like this idea.

[Quality88]

Here's the deal.... this has an Earnhardt air to it... For those of you who know what I'm gettin at. They have had it the sameway for many years, but have major advancements in safety, but a freak accident occurs and now they take drastic measures. That track had been that way since it's inception. A freak accident occurs which keeps the driver from shuttin down before the short stop pit. Now they freak. Should the pit be bigger, yes, and it probably has been looked at before, but not like it's bein looked at now.

Postponin would be a better solution to give tracks that need to adapt to fix their issues. JMO

[Phils20]

I agree, obviously!

[Racer Duck]

Gosh Phils, YOU were the one hollering about them doing something, and they did "something". Only now you don't like what they did. Is that because it's not what you wanted or because you don't care for eighth mile racing?

As I remember, several drivers stated the race was basically over by 1000 feet anyway, so why not just shorten all the races to that. Sounds to me like NHRA was listening...

I agree with Q. It's like the Earnhardt thing. And because it is, NHRA will never be the same again. Whether we individually like it or not, it makes no difference 'cause that train has left the station.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Gosh Phils, YOU were the one hollering about them doing something, and they did "something". Only now you don't like what they did. Is that because it's not what you wanted or because you don't care for eighth mile racing?

As I remember, several drivers stated the race was basically over by 1000 feet anyway, so why not just shorten all the races to that. Sounds to me like NHRA was listening...

I agree with Q. It's like the Earnhardt thing. And because it is, NHRA will never be the same again. Whether we individually like it or not, it makes no difference 'cause that train has left the station.

I do want them to do something. If that means stopping the racing until they can race the right way, then that is the something they should do. None of these drivers were asking them to shorten races, or expressing that it would be a good idea until this happened. IF this is the only way to make the racing safer, I'm for it. But I don't think it is. I think this is a half*** effort to make sure they can keep the cash flowing.

I'm not asking this to be smart, but don't you think with all the explosions they are having now, it will be worse when the crew chiefs are put in a spot where they have to max tune cars to run a distance they aren't used to?

Let's not forget the car would never have been in the spot to run off the end of the strip if it hadn't had the blow off.

I think that if they truly think it is too dangerous to run 1/4 mile, then those cars shouldn't run at all until they can run the proper distance safely.

To continue to run them is putting $$$$$$$$ first, and not the drivers.

That is why I'm opposed to it.

Make the fuel mixture safe (or safer) and get adequate run off at the end of the tracks for a start, and go from there.

But do not change the very nature of the sport.

I don't think I'm being a hypocrite to ask that of them. Running the races in what even they now think are unsafe cars is just not wise, and a sign they are placing profit before safety.

I thought NASCAR did something just as stupid when they put the plates on the cars for New Hampshire, but at least putting the plates on them didn't do anything that would make the cars more unsafe, they just produced a dog of a race.

Other than giving them more runoff, this move does ZERO to make the racing safer.

It doens't address the fact that when the body blows off, the cars lose downforce, so the breaks don't work as well.

It doesn't address why the chute didn't deploy. (they have already come close to reaching max speed at the 1K mark)

It doesn't address the volatile fuel mix.

It doesn't address the run off areas, although it does increase the distance to them. I know, shortening the distance helps.

They need to address the following. Change the substance at the end of the track to some type of gravel instead of sand, or by making some sort of arresting system, like with an aircraft carrier. or a net of some type of way to stop the cars from an impact with something solid, like that post in Scotts case.

We're lucky John Force is still here, this could very easily have been three deaths in just a bit over a year.

But, as Bob T says, I could be very wrong...

[Racer Duck]

The problem with shutting down all top fuel racing is there's hundreds of folks who rely on that income. How many fans do you think would show up to the rest of the races this year if the top fuelers weren't running?

So yes, you are right. It is about money. But it's not about NHRA making money (they'll make theirs), it's about keeping many of these tracks from loosing money and many of the souvenir vendors and food/drink vendors from going belly up. Then there's the local hotels & motels that depend on these events to put a plus in the profit column. So you see, there's a lot more money that flows into the community than to the race teams or NHRA from one of these events.

You make very valid points about areas they should be addressing. But, what makes you think they aren't addressing them? They said this was a temporary deal, so I expect them to come forth what an all encompassing plan. If they don't then we'll all crucify them. In the mean time they've taken the recommendation of some of the racers to try to limit the possibilities of another Kalita-type accident while they work on a solution. So, let's give them a chance to fix the problem.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

The problem with shutting down all top fuel racing is there's hundreds of folks who rely on that income. How many fans do you think would show up to the rest of the races this year if the top fuelers weren't running?

So yes, you are right. It is about money. But it's not about NHRA making money (they'll make theirs), it's about keeping many of these tracks from loosing money and many of the souvenir vendors and food/drink vendors from going belly up. Then there's the local hotels & motels that depend on these events to put a plus in the profit column. So you see, there's a lot more money that flows into the community than to the race teams or NHRA from one of these events.

You make very valid points about areas they should be addressing. But, what makes you think they aren't addressing them? They said this was a temporary deal, so I expect them to come forth what an all encompassing plan. If they don't then we'll all crucify them. In the mean time they've taken the recommendation of some of the racers to try to limit the possibilities of another Kalita-type accident while they work on a solution. So, let's give them a chance to fix the problem.

I just don't think it would have killed them to reschedule one race.

But then again, it might have. I just realized (duh) that this marks the Western Swing. Three weeks of racing in a row out West. It would be a back breaker to back track, since they don't get any further west the Texas until the final three races of the year.

I just hate the idea of running right now, for reasons already stated.

Considering the close one with John Force, and the deaths of Medlen and Kalitta, I hope they are doing more than just shortening the race distance.

[Phils20]

ESPN - NHRA, owners, drivers assembling task force to study safety - Racing

Newest news on NHRA, from ESPN.

Seems the drivers are quite cool with the 100 ft runs, and they are aware and working on the other issue

Pretty good read, I think.

[3fanforever]

Originally Posted by Phils20

ESPN - NHRA, owners, drivers assembling task force to study safety - Racing

Newest news on NHRA, from ESPN.

Seems the drivers are quite cool with the 100 ft runs, and they are aware and working on the other issue

Pretty good read, I think.

Thanks for the update Phil. Sure seems like they're on the right path to me.

[Phils20]

Your welcome.

And I'd have to say your right. I was a bit skeptical at first, but I've got to give the NHRA the benefit of the doubt. They didn't wait for several deaths to act, like some racing series.

I hope they can safely get back to 1/4 mile racing soon, but I'll be having fun watching anyway!