Pro Comp at Divisonals...

Will, I had a very similar idea to yours. A class that doesn't break the bank to run, yet is fast and fun to watch.

The sand drags (300 feet) have a 2.95 index class, the current TAD record is a 2.36. The class is made up of alot of fast cars that run used detuned Top alcohol parts. Or random, cool, fast cars that don’t fit into a class, Turbo powered 4 cylinders, front engine altereds, etc.

Will, this is basically your idea with a simplified twist. Call it Pro Comp because that’s what it’s gonna look like when the lanes start filling up.

Altereds run Door Cars (Nitrous, Turbo, Blown) run Funny cars run Dragsters (Afuel, Roots, Screw, Turbos, Nitrous)

Pro Tree, Heads up, 5.90 index (10.90 SS, 9.90 SG, 8.90 SC...) Altitude corrected like any other index.

Class is run at every divisional so we still have a way to go out and have fun at the closer races. There are a lot of good fast cars just sitting around because, like you said, they can’t be as consistent as the mountain motor Top Dragsters, and can’t keep up with the latest greatest Top Alcohol Tech.

$500 Entry fee (Car, Driver, plus 7 crew passes), Full Payback (50% Win, 25% RU, 12% Semi, or if only 3 cars in Semis: 55% Win, 30% RU, 15% Semi) So if you get 8 cars, you've got $2000 to win, 16 cars, $4000 to win, 32 cars, $8000 to win... There's a purse worth running for! And not having to run the guts out of your stuff to have a chance to get it. Maybe some sponsors throw in and extra $250 a race for the best losing package, closest to index, low qualifier, etc.? Plus it’s a hell of a show, side by side racing at over 200 MPH. And all the track has to provide is a well prepared surface, and you and your crew entry to the race for the weekend. Seems fair?

No Electronics! No buttons on the steering wheel except air buttons to shift with, No delay boxes, No throttle stops, No starting line controllers, No digital timing curves, No electronic controlled fuel systems. Air timers are fine. (Every fuel team has a box full of used air timers they used to use to control the clutch/fuel system. I've used them, they take some finesse but they'll do the job if you absolutely must have some sort of timer.) This puts the tuner and driver back into the equation.

Basically, the only thing the battery can power is the tach and the shift light.

Converter cars… I’m not sure how to handle. ( Any ideas? Since that’s basically all this whole thing is, an idea. Lol. )

NHRA Safety Rules apply except:

No Carbon Breaks Required

No Lahey Box Required

Helmet shields must cover the entire cage to prevent sideways vision so we don't have 250 MPH break checks! A simple piece of aluminum body panel will suffice.

No Radios in the helmets

Other than that it's, old-school, run what ya brung style, with a real purse to shoot for.

I have a 98’ Hadman chassis that’s been 5.333 265, It goes straight as an arrow, its safe, and I have NO one interested in buying it because there isn’t a class other than TAD that these cars fit into. If this class could gain some following, these old TA cars that I know are all over the place, would have somewhere to run. Heck, current alcohol cars, old Fuel cars, current pro mods, Kaplan’s Altered, I’d put a jeep body on our FC (That’s right a fiberglass Jeep body, Its bitchin!) bring dad out of retirement, and put our Hadman together and come run both cars since I wouldn’t have to run hard enough to worry about keeping a spare motor in the cupboard.

It sounds like a ton of fun?

Or More Pipe Dreamin...

Flash

 

The Flash

Flash,

I love the idea! That would bring ALOT of cars out of mothballs and allow some of the under funded teams the chance to race again. The racers would enjoy it, the fans would get the chance to see some close side by side racing with a wide variety of cars. But hey, thats just my opinion.

 

I'd pay a $30 front gate to watch that.

Chris Saulnier
Gray, Maine

 

Cody, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m afraid you’re dreaming. A few things stand out to me. First, the $500 entry fee is going to put off a lot of folks. It’s going to cost more to get to that race than it does to race now since there's no payback until you win a round. Second (mostly), there is no way that a 5.90/240+ car is going to be allowed to run with steel brakes and no leahy box, which puts all those cars right in the same place they are now, needing to buy the brakes. Also, that’s just another nail in our coffin. T/D and T/S are killing us. It used to be that if you wanted to run fast, you had to step up to alcohol. Now they run T/D, go pretty fast, and skip all the extra work. Go walk around the T/S pits. Money has nothing to do with these guys not running alky. Without those classes I guarantee there would be more of our cars out there.

I think you were on to something earlier in the first thread. Assuming Lucas is okay with it, scrap the divisional points payout, and use that money to subsidize the payouts. You would still get the trophy for winning the division, just no cash. Cut each division down to 3 races, and use all that money to encourage guys to go. The one thing I might do different than others is I would pay that money out evenly to the people that show up, up to say 10 cars. There is about $15k (I think) paid out in each class to the top 3 in the division. If you cut it down to 3 races, that’s an extra $5k per race. If 10 cars show, that’s $500 per car on top of whatever you would have gotten. Granted, everyone would have to pay an entry fee, but you’d know you’re probably (top 10 qualifier) getting it back plus some travel money. Make a pre-entry list available so people can see how many cars are entered. Maybe there’s a discount for entering earlier. Tracks would get more entry fees and cars, so they’re happy, and racers would get a little more money.

If Lucas isn't on board, only pay out the money to cars that run Lucas oil. I don't run it now, but would switch if it meant getting more money.

There were only 2 funny cars at the d4 race in Belle Rose this year. I bet that if there was an extra $5k that was going to be paid to the guys that show up, more people would have come when they saw only two entered. It might not have been a full field, but even 4 cars is better than 2.

OR…Same thing applies with the money, but...
Scrap the division points system completely. Only have a National Champ. Have two races in each division, but require a min of 3 div races to be able to have your points count. Meaning if you wanted to run for a championship, or top 10, or top 20, whatever your goal is, you would have to run at least 1 out of division race. Maybe the top 20 get to use that number and get a plaque for their effort.

Either way, travel is going to increase, but so should car counts with fewer races and more money. I'd also make them 2 day races to ease the time away from work some. NHRA would need to put in a lot of extra effort into the scheduling, though.

On a side note, only requiring carbon brakes on the rear of funny cars might help also. I drove the same car with carbons on just the rear, and now on all four, and noticed no difference. Just so nobody gets me wrong, I’m all for carbon brakes. If dragsters going 270+ only have them on the rear, why not save the funny car guys a few grand, let them run steels up front, and see if a few more cars show up.

 

It would be fun...
it is going to be fun to see what Lucas does with the new track he is building in wheatland kansas NHRA told him he can't and he said watch it, it is now being built.....is he going to start his own ?????Dave

 

Bryan, what extra work are you referring to? We run a Hemi top Dragster and with the exception of clutch maintaince, I work my but off in between rounds. And so does Troy Stone's team. Money is an issue, I can't afford to run TAD, or I would.
OK, back to the subject. I would suggest 1/8 mile to keep costs and oil downs way down. Think about it, we had the same problem at Norwalk. A q-8 outlaw dragster race, and some cars out of moth balls, oiling the track every other pass. Which pisses off the track owner and costs them money and time. I like the idea, but it's hard to get cars to show up.

Glenn

 

just diesel fuel for the semi at $3.89 per gal. if the race was 600 mile rt. around $ 400 in fuel $500 for car and crew, were at $900.00 and haven't even unloaded the car yet..Dave

 

600 mi rt?.... I'm confused by that example. Since I live in Salt Lake City Utah, and the closest race to me is 400 miles each way. (Vegas) I figure $1 a mile to take my crap anywhere... Wow we waste alot of $$$.

I like the theory of saving parts with the 1/8th mile idea, maybe 5.00 index to 1000 ft? Something to get us over 200 MPH to still put on a show? I know most division level tracks don't have 1000 ft MPH clocks though. So IDK?

Gotta pay to play. Whether its spending money on your car to keep up on rule changes, certifications, technology and parts, or an entry fee to build a purse that will attract other racers to put a car together to run for the big prize.

I spend $$ traveling to divisionals to simply get a Silver Card each season so it doesn't cost me $700 to enter a national event. Is that about right for Car, Driver, and 5 Crew?

On the Top Alcohol side:

I'm very lucky to have a Sponsor that's helping with the travel costs this season but 75% of my paychecks are still going to the race car as usual. (Not that I make much that $$$) I would not have a sponsor if I was focusing my schedule on the divisional points series because other than the final round picture in the ND there is NO media coverage and very few fans in the stands. Instead, we've got people emailing from all over the country asking "what the H is 801 Racing?" Lol.

As a heads up class, Alcohol puts on a show, and should be utilized for it. I know we can find 7 Divisonals across the country that would want to step up to a Sports National that would be willing to advertise to put fans in the stands. You've seen my idea before...

http://www.insidetopalcohol.com/sho...for-an-alcohol-NHRA-reorganization&highlight=

One twist I'm not sure I mentioned before is that for Lucas to get even more bang for their buck, they should most certainly send their Lucas Oil On the Edge camera crew to these 7 Sport National Events.

This would help motivate JEGs to increase their involvement since there would be 7 Sports Nationals instead of the current 3. I showed where the money could come from to pay our purse in the earlier thread.

This also helps the racer to be able to show potential sponsors that we are the feature class at races that attract spectator and media exposure...

Simply put, get us out of the divisonal series because right now, we are just racing to lose money. The payout isn't going to magically change, the tracks aren't going to have an epiphany and start promoting us. BUT don't just cut us from everything!!! Move the Alcohol cars to the "Big Stage" and give us an alternative at the divsion level to still have some fun without breaking the bank.

I don't know what the best answer is, but at least I'm generating some ideas for now. If it keeps up like this, there will be 3 more hella fast cars on shelves collecting dust in SLC pretty soon.

Flash

 

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And to continue with Will's last statement. The tracks that lose money on points meets now will never want to pay any purse above 80% of what that class pays in entry fees. These tracks do not want to promote drag racing or advertise for spectators. They are happy to make a living off charging the racer to use their facility.
I'm sure there are exceptions, but the tracks I know that put effort into promoting the divisional races are happy with having the alky cars. The tracks that don't want us now, will never want us until we pay our own purse at the gate.
Sorry for my frustration.
Gotta go work.
Marty

 

Blown Chances Said ----Simply put, get us out of the divisonal series because right now, we are just racing to lose money.
Pray tell when did any one MAKE money drag racing in the sportsman category????

 

I love the pro comp idea, but having doorcars and altereds in the mix would make it difficult for one reasons A 5.90 index is fine for TAD and TAFC, as those cars are built for 5.50 or better, but to make an altered or Doorcar run that fast is expensive. I know of two or three altereds that have run in the five's without nitro and a doorcar running in the 5's is something had costs as much as a TAD running 5.40's, but I would love to have those cars combined for a new pro comp class.

As far as TAFC and TAD goes

The purse for a divisional is entirely the tracks responsibility, and cutting a couple races in each divison and letting the tracks that want the cars is fine as long as the track are willing to anti up.
I like the idea of using the divisonal points fund added to the purse.

Almost all the divisions have two-four divisional events where the tracks want these cars, those are the ones to talk to as far as purse.


Dean

 

Maybe give the door cars and the altereds the screw option also and don't limit it to only PSI and do away with the $$$ SFI recert.

 

I like the idea and have already discussed it with our division director. I don't like the 500 entry fee as that is way to much. I think that the cars should have to be blown or injected to compete. Door cars could run it but must be a blown pro mod. Make it heads up with no index, top 16 qualified cars.

 

Failed Pro Comp

History has shown one simple thing forgoten in a class like this is front overhang in the FAIR IS FAIR category. Pro Comp in America and Europe was ruined with discontent over this issue. Australia got it right from the start, and still today is very successful with a simple 40" overhang rule. F/C has it and it's easy to stretch a dragster to 40", but I do see a problem with Pro Mod type cars that are sometimes longer.
Unless this is addressed, or index type racing is implemented, there WILL be a sh--fight sooner or later.
I would buy a ticket, even if it were breakout racing.

Bob
Bob Meyer
Meyer Race Cars / San Diego
2010 Our 45th Anniversary

 

Its 5.90!

If u want to run a no breakout class run top alcohol! And bring your wallet cause its not affordable by any means.

If there's no entry fee, then there's no purse. How many of you have run a real race lately? If u dont have a card, you pay $50 per weekend pass for your crew, and family and friends. All of a sudden you've spent $300-$400.... But u got in for free! High five.

I agree, a legal pro mod door car would struggle to run 5.90. But pro mod isn't at divisionals now so its not like they need this class. All the 10 year old tafcs and tads do! And the people that want to build a cool, fast car that doesn't fit the top alcohol mold can shoot for this class. This may also breed unique cars too.

If there's no index, the costs would skyrocket. Simple. If someone wants to bring their nostalgia TF Dragster and run it, fine, he would have no more of an advantage/disadvantage than anyone else. That's the point, cool fast cars running side by side but the track isn't forking out $16K for it.

Sorry for using the pro comp name, that obviously gave people the wrong impression.

Flash

 

The East Coast Pro Comp Association is one of the most popular classes that run at New England Dragway. There can be anywhere from 12 to 20 cars trying to qualify for an eight car field with a 6.20 Index. If promoted a Pro Comp Series at Divisionals would work...in my opinion. Here's video footage from their last race.

http://youtu.be/ywi2lDn2ga4