Comp 10 years ago.

David Eaton had a bad ass, winning combination.. I can see where he would be upset with altitude corrected index hits, because the indexes ARE bogus.. and I don't care what formula is used.. these altitude adjusted hits have hurt Comp Eliminator, NO DOUBT..

You can go back in the records on this forum, and you will find that I have been voicing my opinion AGAINST altitude adjusted indexes forever... do you really need to boast about being a 70+ under player at an altitude adjusted track??.. or can you just show up with your fast car, keep all the indexes the same, and win the race.. if you're 3 tenths slow at one of these tracks, so is everyone else... altitude adjustments are BS, and so are those indexes... and apparently, as you have read, put a great competitor on the shelf.... these are the things that the SRAC reps should be throwing on the table of NHRA..

Is David Eaton the only one??... I would say, probably not... but it would be great to hear from people exactly why they are no longer racing Comp...
 
Don't forget some things that would regain one racer may lose another so we need to hear from the other side also.


You're probably correct, Frank... while the PI System, and index givebacks, may keep a few teams going, and maybe get a few off the shelf, they are BOTH easy come, easy go... there needs to be something that is more solid, LIKE MONEY... get a bigger purse, get qualifying money back, get a series sponsor... etc, etc... wouldn't it be a nice thought to have qualifying money and round money at least offset the cost of the trip??..
 
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You're probably correct, Frank... while the PI System, and index givebacks, may keep a few teams going, and maybe get a few off the shelf, they are BOTH easy come, easy go... there needs to be something that is more solid, LIKE MONEY... get a bigger purse, get qualifying money back, get a series sponsor... etc, etc... wouldn't it be a nice thought to have qualifying money and round money at least offset the cost of the trip??..

BINGO!!!
 
Charlie Comp Eliminator should have Sportsman racing in the palm of its hand.... there is nothing as infatuating to anyone that's been around racing as comp. Asking NHRA for more money or contingencies at this time when the class is not prosperous most likely will not happen. The srac needs to have a model making the class look more like a series organizing on its own informative website not a fourm similar to a division web site or promod type site with news and articles on comp there have been many great past articles like by bob frey articles from manufacturers engine builders transmissions convertor builders on comp parts or cars. maybe Larry Pritchett explaining coming from super stock to comp. racer and car pics so many legends have raced this class. sponsor info where companies can do direct contingencies to racers the Reps would need to run this more like a division director would as there ideas come together they can share them here making one model on this new site this would help new srac reps become effective sooner and simpler. sponsors like to be involved where other sponsors are not by them self. Here you will have something resembling Pro. You need racer Outreach seminars at select races with volunteers like David rampy Bruno massel Frank argona Jr Brian Browell Glen Treadwell Bob Bailey talking Comp & driving techniques and just being approachable. Volunteer area where someone like yourself Charlie could help Mentor a new racer or just introduce him to the other racers when someone first starts out getting through Tech and then to the staging Lanes is a accomplishment. Now you have the start of a series that can race anywhere if need be.
 
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Excellent post, David, and great suggestions.. and actually, those in D1 who know me, can tell you that I am always out there talking to the new blood, whether in the lanes, or at their trailers, offering what ever assistance I can.. be it wrenching, or coaching, or just sharing knowledge based on experience.. BUT, that MENTORING idea is great.. and I can tell you, it works, and it keeps some people at the track from race to race...
 
Todd, the purse is payed by the track, by the front gate and sponsors.....The race that you came and watched at Northstar payed $5000.00 to Win and you seen the spectator count....

Brian, I went out 3rd round at the "Lights Out" Event in Georgia @ SGMP and was payed $500.00 cash .... Semis payed $750.00 each. Runner Up made $2000.00 and the winner made $10,000.00
Entry fee was $200.00 per car and it was $60.00 per crew member to get in for a 4 day pass......
BTW the "Radial vs. The World" class Winner made $50,000.00 and the Runner up was $5,000.00 There was a reported 37,000 fans on Saturday alone.......

What I'm saying is that NHRA needs to look at what is going on around them and remember that Nitro isn't the only thing that sells tickets......Comp is not the only thing suffering, take DSR, Force and Kallita out of the mix and they couldn't open the gates...Not sure what the answer is, but maybe they can ask the tracks that put on the other forms of racing, they can pay a good purse and make money at the same time!
Shane, Are the rules and specs the same as NHRA Comp?
 
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If you would have said between 1997 and 2007 when comp was exploding with growth we are going to make some rule changes to the structure of how the class works and this is what it's going to look like in 2017 they would have said they don't want anything to do with that mess and had you burned at the stake.
 
I race in a small tire heads up N/A class. About 10 years ago I told my engine builder I wanted to start thinking about a comp program. He talked me out of it and his reasoning made sense. At the time I was able to walk away with around 7k including contingency at a race. I only had to go 3-4 rounds to do that. So per run vs reward I was making less passes to win more money. My equipment cost the same as comp so I continued to race in the NMCA. The rules are set up so a,b,c,d/sm comp cars could cross over on the smaller tire but they don't...
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with comp that isn't reflective of all classes that have been around for years. Participation is down in almost all classes from Top Fuel to Super Street. The only classes that are growing are the newest in the lineup - Pro Mod, Top Dragster, Top Sportsman etc. I feel that comps decline is also reflective of several other issues, 1 being the average person in 2017 doesn't seem to have the same work ethic of those from back in the "Glory Days" of let's say 1980 - 2000. Your average racer seems to me more interested in how big their grill is and is willing to spend more time cooking than working on their car. It's a trend in every facet of life in the current USA - do as little as possible to get by. The work ethic has changed and many simply won't do the work this class requires. In my opinion the big issue with NHRA that has hurt the class is the way they treat us at National Events. I ran the last national event I will ever enter and it's due to not knowing how many - if any - qualifying runs we'll receive. A car like mine needs track time and runs to figure things out and when 3 is the best case scenario the cost, time away from work and the possibility of 1 qualifier and then into eliminations will stop me from ever attending one again with my car. Add to that no qualifying money and the basic purse shrinking over the years has - and will continue to - hurt the class. When I first started we got 4 minimum - and in many cases 5 - qualifying runs and that made it enjoyable to attend. Hell, you can go to at National event now and get 1 qualifier, maybe out first round and those 2 runs cost you 3-7 days off of work, enormous amounts of travel expenses, Hotel bills and if you have 4 crewmembers with you entry fees are well over $500.00. The limited number of runs, along with never knowing if the qualifier will be cancelled outright or bumped until the dew sets in, makes for a long, frustrating, expensive and boring experience. I'm certainly hopeful that the class will survive - and maybe even start to grow. Comp is the only reason I ever got involved in Drag Racing - from my very first trip to an NHRA event 40+ years ago I aspired to run the class at some point in my life. And it's still the very best class Drag Racing has to offer....
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with comp that isn't reflective of all classes that have been around for years. Participation is down in almost all classes from Top Fuel to Super Street. The only classes that are growing are the newest in the lineup - Pro Mod, Top Dragster, Top Sportsman etc. I feel that comps decline is also reflective of several other issues, 1 being the average person in 2017 doesn't seem to have the same work ethic of those from back in the "Glory Days" of let's say 1980 - 2000. Your average racer seems to me more interested in how big their grill is and is willing to spend more time cooking than working on their car. It's a trend in every facet of life in the current USA - do as little as possible to get by. The work ethic has changed and many simply won't do the work this class requires. In my opinion the big issue with NHRA that has hurt the class is the way they treat us at National Events. I ran the last national event I will ever enter and it's due to not knowing how many - if any - qualifying runs we'll receive. A car like mine needs track time and runs to figure things out and when 3 is the best case scenario the cost, time away from work and the possibility of 1 qualifier and then into eliminations will stop me from ever attending one again with my car. Add to that no qualifying money and the basic purse shrinking over the years has - and will continue to - hurt the class. When I first started we got 4 minimum - and in many cases 5 - qualifying runs and that made it enjoyable to attend. Hell, you can go to at National event now and get 1 qualifier, maybe out first round and those 2 runs cost you 3-7 days off of work, enormous amounts of travel expenses, Hotel bills and if you have 4 crewmembers with you entry fees are well over $500.00. The limited number of runs, along with never knowing if the qualifier will be cancelled outright or bumped until the dew sets in, makes for a long, frustrating, expensive and boring experience. I'm certainly hopeful that the class will survive - and maybe even start to grow. Comp is the only reason I ever got involved in Drag Racing - from my very first trip to an NHRA event 40+ years ago I aspired to run the class at some point in my life. And it's still the very best class Drag Racing has to offer....

Agreed.

I'm right at that age cutoff line, and you are totally right. Which is probably why I can't convince anyone my age to race Comp. :)
 
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Bob It seems like there is a progression of changes that happens in racing and politics that before you know it you are talking about the good old days. The srac should make a list from the 300 or more non-active comp racers of why they are not racing comp at this time in there own words and look for the common denominators. Before making more changes which may our may not make more cars stay home.
I would think if Comp had its own website where willing sponsors could find contacts to give contenices of however much to whomever it wanted to whenever they wanted. Or maybe sponsor a local divsion Comp race. I have seen how this works pretty well in professional surfing and beach volleyball.
 
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