1/8 mile at divisionals? Would it help costs?

I see some real possibilities here. Less insurance costs for one not mentioned.

There was lots of talk about 1,000 ft for the same reasons not too long ago.

It would also bring a lot more tracks to the playing field.

16 car fields again would be a very good thing considering the cost of fuel just to get there and back.

16 car fields bring in more spectators too.

16 car fields would bring out lots of people that want to race cars not pocket books.

16 car fields should be the topic of a new post how about it Will.

 

I don't know David, out here, many spectator's that I've spoken to are not going to San Antonio because they don't want 1/8th mile, in fact, this time, they are going to Baytown instead to get the whole kitten kaboodle.

It's an interesting concept, and as a driver, it's still fun.

Match racing this way is great fun.

Interesting idea though.

 

you can't compare a nhra divisional to an ADRL race. there isn't an alcohol funny car show around that can draw a crowd like a pro mod show. an 1/8 mile alky show won't give any different results. look at the big guys' 1/8th mile e.t.'s and compare them to everyone elses. same outcome as always, but you won't have the oil downs. which will make the higher ups happier.

 

I agree with you Will, how many of those tickets were comped by the racers?

I know one guy that did quite well who couldn't give enough of the ones he had away.

However, they made up money in concession and merch for the track.

Just a different perspective, that's all. I'm not disagreeing with you, just looking at both sides.

 

I said 16 car fields would bring more spectators and more cars.

I must admit that when I'm sitting in the stands that I perfer the topend to watch them thunder by. I can also see the cars move around on the track better and file that information away.

I think I could get my blown alcohol dragster to keep up with the A/Fuel cars in the 1/8 with out having to turn ridiculous parts breaking RPM.

Adding nitro to a blown alcohol dragster is not a viable option unless one has lots of money to blow. The class is called Top Alcohol Dragster. The best and only way to get parity is have the A/Fuel cars run A/Fuel cars and the TAD's run TAD's what a simple concept.

Hi Nancy We do keep track of what you are up to around here. As I personally admire what you have accomplished thus far. I am sooo tired of the Daddy I wanna be a race car driver people out there. Notice in the Dragsters they all run A/Fuel with daddy paid for pro teams. So you go girl the real racers are rooting for you and I'm not just speaking for myself here.

Melissa says Hi and to give us a call anytime you are back in the area.

 

I also know of alot of people here in SA that's not going because of the 1/8th mile deal, regardless I will be there to get my nitro fix (we couldn't get my friends IHRA nitro f/c ready in time ), since the race in Houston is on the same date as the first track points race of the summer season at SA, so Houston is out of picture for me this year. Regardless even when SA was 1/4 mile it never had a big draw of people (no big names, like the NHRA). We had the first pinks all out race (sceduled to air sometime in July) of 08 this year (1/4 mile), and the turnout was incredible, 22,000 spectator tickets were sold, 420 car entries plus crew members, the 70 acres of parking on the spectator side at $5 per car was full, it made a IHRA national event look like an NHRA divisional.

 

Our machines are made to run a quarter mile, and I'd like to see it stay that way. I wouldn't totally object to 1000 feet though, but I've raced 1/8 mile, and I didn't like it. From a fans perspective, there would be a lot less chance of lead changes, first one to leave would have even more of an advantage. I also think that the hitters would put an 1/8 mile fuse in their motors, so there could be just as much parts attrition.

 

1/8th mile

TAD 776 you are correct if you have a sixteen car field it would attract a larger croud for the fact of price verses product. 30 dollars to watch 16 alcohol or injected cars, versus 32 alcohol o injected cars for 30 dollars, that just screams value. Bruce I have known you since I was in diapers, alcohol versus promods is no contest, but and I do mean but, you wont get the ET's of a alcohol car out of a promod. another thing, Bruce this is not directed towards you but most promod drivers are bracket racers with to much money. Kenneth, 1/8th mile vs 1/4 mile shouldn't mean a thing to spectators because most stands don't run farther then the 1/8th mile. Now Will I saw you at the Gators, I was so proud to be the only Roots Crew Chief to be aloud on the starting line on Sunday, yes Mickey Ferro wooped us, I run in D 2 and I have noticed that only D3 and D7 have a mass amount of cars at divisionals. This might be a nonfactor in many peoples eyes but 1/8th mile racing means that a roots car can beat a screw car any day of the week. This could attracked many of the IHRA alcohol funny cars. On the spectator end, I run alot of match races every year and fans dont car so much of how fast you run but more of how close the finish is. Just a little input from a little guy. No matter what something has to change, I would love to have input of what other Div pay for first round loser in Alcohol because D2 $600 is a major joke.
Matt

 

c'mon matt, be nice. 3.80's and 3.70's are the normal 1/8th e.t.s from some of the adrl pro mods. you gota admit thats awesome from 2600 lbs with doors, although it manzo was running a c-rotor psi at 115 over, he would probably run some 5.20's

 

1/8 will be cool, just as long as the A/Fuel guys can run 100%.

 

As A Racer It Would More Even The Playing Field . In 52 Years Of Racing Never Broke In 1/8 Mile , I Like It Better...alot Safer At Some Tracks . I Think More Racers Would Attend Because Of These Reasons...

 

Will, I saw you posted on promodzone.com asking about the cost differance of switching back and forth between 1/8th and 1/4 mile and I had read this earlier so I decided to make my response here for you. We dont run 1/4 mile promod so I dont know the parts usage there but I can tell you what we do. 526 BAE Screw Blown with a 2 speed Lenco. 30 to 35 runs on a set of rods (launch 6500 and shift 9700), switch pistons every other set of rods and really only need a couple but we change the set, bearings sometimes last 4 to 5 races but we check after every event unless it is a two day event with 3 qualifys, valve springs usually last as long as a set of pistons but we check and do have a spring here and there that gets rotated from intake to exhaust, fresh cut floaters and discs every event (Before you say the ratio isnt the same we run a 1.44 low gear two speed), lenco clutches almost never, tires about 20-25 laps and I am sure there are things that I missed but it gives you the general idea of what it takes to run a similar setup as yours to the 1/8th mile. By the way, we have only windowed one block ever and we had 41 laps on the rods and had gone 45 before changing previous to that but the window was costly so we reduced it to 35 if we can get all 35 or 30 if the next event will put us over 35. Hope this helps and I agree that we have the same fans, except for the nitrous guru's.

 

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I couldn't see myself paying to see an 1/8 mile race! The ADRL race got 42,000 people simply because the tickets we're Free, and they printed up 600,000 of them! People will always love anything free! And based on some of the posts I've read about the ADRL race, I'm glad I didn't get caught up in that mess!

 

You've got to be kidding me, right?

To cut costs you need to shorten the trip to the track by 1/2, not the racing surface. $4.00+ a gallon for diesel along with everything else going through the roof.

We've run as quick as 3.64 to the 1/8th a few times. Might as well stay home. By the time you really get in to the race, it's over.

Part of racing is going fast AND making it live. Anyone can put it on wreck and make it 3-4 seconds. Wrong. I have a tune-up in a TAD sand dragster with the blower overdriven quite substantially. They run 300 feet. Trust me when I say "Shortening up the race will only shorten up the wick or fuse on the tune-up." They can still go ka-boom.

It won't be any cheaper because plane tickets, diesel, entry fees, payouts, truck payments, hotels and food will not be effected by the length of the drag strip.

RG

 

I never understood the 1/8th mile race. Drag racing has always been 1/4 mile races. I get all the cheaper for this cheaper for that stuff but it just becomes less interesting. The big speed at the top end is one of the selling points. Why not make it 60 foot races that will make it even cheaper. I bet people would line up to watch that. In my opinion there is nothing more stupid than making the race even shorter.

 

Take it one step further. Just take it to a car show or cruise night. You don't even need to buy a drum of alky. Been there, done that.