Just a little something for everyone to think about. I know some of us have seen how Top Sportsman and Top Dragster seem to get better treatment from NHRA lately. Now think about how much time and money it takes the NHRA to police Competition Eliminator. Now think about how much LESS time and money it takes to police TS and TD. This is why those classes appeal to NHRA so much, the fans love it, and they don't have to put up w/ all the bs that the Comp guys bring to the table, those classes attract new sponsers, etc. If we continue to try and fix every problem that Comp has, NHRA will eventually get fed up w/ it and drop the class. I'd guarantee its already crossed their minds. IHRA dropped Modified Eliminator due to low car counts, and probably the troubles policing it. We should just be happy that our class still exists and enjoy it while we can. I hope it never comes to that, but if it does, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.
Food for Thought
- Thread starter Jason Richey
- Start date
Unfortunately....right again
Although the possibility of Comp being dropped has been dealt with on this forum in the past (and NHRA was strong in stating that, that would never happen) your point is well taken. Too much belly-aching can wear anyone out. The only saving grace, for that not happening,is there will never be a way to replace Comp with a fast bracket program. I think we're safe there if we can figure out a way to bring back flat out racing....1st to the finish line wins....simple really.
Although the possibility of Comp being dropped has been dealt with on this forum in the past (and NHRA was strong in stating that, that would never happen) your point is well taken. Too much belly-aching can wear anyone out. The only saving grace, for that not happening,is there will never be a way to replace Comp with a fast bracket program. I think we're safe there if we can figure out a way to bring back flat out racing....1st to the finish line wins....simple really.
Depends how you look at life if all of this is negative. I see things backwards generally. I see concern for the betterment of comp. That is positive to me. To keep Comp in the spotlight we should be focused on the fan as well and how much time NHRA spends on comp. From the fan stand point I have a few ideas as to helping not confuse them and start making it more intriguing. Comp is a racers race but needs fans that in turn put a smile on NHRA and track owners faces. They will respond to comp just like the TS and TD are getting. Sure there is always going to be arguing, that is due to the complexity that no other class has.
money policing it.
don't let 'em fool you. some of the nhra tech guys are the most underpaid people out there. so they don't have a pile of cash invested in policing comp. imbrogno and skelly have perform other functions besides policing comp, so they're not 'devoted'.
luckily comp is very diverse, and not every car can find a home in td/ts. i think they would lose way more entry fee/crew revenue than they are spending in tech and payouts.
luckily the bottom line is in comp's favor.
don't let 'em fool you. some of the nhra tech guys are the most underpaid people out there. so they don't have a pile of cash invested in policing comp. imbrogno and skelly have perform other functions besides policing comp, so they're not 'devoted'.
luckily comp is very diverse, and not every car can find a home in td/ts. i think they would lose way more entry fee/crew revenue than they are spending in tech and payouts.
luckily the bottom line is in comp's favor.
The Sound of Comp
I can't help but think about the countless times I have witnessed people running to the lanes or the stands when they "hear" the Comp cars in the burnout box. Whether they understand all the rules, they all love the sound of a Comp car at 8,000 rpm coming out of the water. I don't think that part of Comp can be duplicated in any class that has a dial in, simply because the consistency of a low rpm convertor trans-brake start cannot done with a stick or a "for faster ET convertor" that one would run in Comp. I am sure about 1 thing, the grass roots of NHRA racing came through Comp and it's survival is paramount. The flat out racing that it used to represent "HAS" to come back....somehow....
I can't help but think about the countless times I have witnessed people running to the lanes or the stands when they "hear" the Comp cars in the burnout box. Whether they understand all the rules, they all love the sound of a Comp car at 8,000 rpm coming out of the water. I don't think that part of Comp can be duplicated in any class that has a dial in, simply because the consistency of a low rpm convertor trans-brake start cannot done with a stick or a "for faster ET convertor" that one would run in Comp. I am sure about 1 thing, the grass roots of NHRA racing came through Comp and it's survival is paramount. The flat out racing that it used to represent "HAS" to come back....somehow....
You forgot the most important rhing of all. NHRA gets to collect for all the crew and driver's in T/S & T/D and their is NO payout by NHRA. All payout is done by the sponsers of the class. From a business standpoint, it's a no brainer.Jason Richey said:
Would you like to hear the feelings of a non-comp racer? I would like to be racing my Cyclone in Stock, but you all know about budget constraints.
I love Comp over all classes. Why? Ingenuity, innovation, technology, beautiful, and fast cars. I don't understand how a "best engeneired" award can go to any other car unless Comp in not contested.
I know that your system is hard to understand, but I have the basics down. It is hard to explain to my "shallow" racing friends, but I understand and appreciate what goes on out there.
Most of you, that I have met are competitive, friendly and a real pleasure to be around. When I want to see real "Drag Racing" I watch Comp, not the suwer classes.
Don't beat yourselves up too much, I would love to race with the best of you some day. It would be a great honor and thrill. Some of us still appreciate what real racing is.
Steve
I love Comp over all classes. Why? Ingenuity, innovation, technology, beautiful, and fast cars. I don't understand how a "best engeneired" award can go to any other car unless Comp in not contested.
I know that your system is hard to understand, but I have the basics down. It is hard to explain to my "shallow" racing friends, but I understand and appreciate what goes on out there.
Most of you, that I have met are competitive, friendly and a real pleasure to be around. When I want to see real "Drag Racing" I watch Comp, not the suwer classes.
Don't beat yourselves up too much, I would love to race with the best of you some day. It would be a great honor and thrill. Some of us still appreciate what real racing is.
Steve
Breath of Fresh Air
CycloneFE,
I have to thank your post. Posting on this forum is a thankless job and your opinion of how Comp fits in to the big picture is certainly gratifying for all of us who know how much work it is to run Comp.
Craig,
I had no idea NHRA doesn't pay Top Sportsman....hello everyone, if this isn't a wake up call for all of Comp, as Craig said "from a business stand point it's a no brainer". So what do we have to offer over Top Sportsman.....it's time to address this..... Comp people, turn the dyno off and look at the marketing side of our class....unless the people that attend the races (which represent the sponsor's market) can identify with the cool engineering that is Comp, we all better put in our orders for our new throttle stops....which we all know will be the end of participation in Comp as the people who run Comp generally don't believe in throttle stops. Somewhere ,back in time ,we used to race to the finish line, but that was a long time ago.
CycloneFE,
I have to thank your post. Posting on this forum is a thankless job and your opinion of how Comp fits in to the big picture is certainly gratifying for all of us who know how much work it is to run Comp.
Craig,
I had no idea NHRA doesn't pay Top Sportsman....hello everyone, if this isn't a wake up call for all of Comp, as Craig said "from a business stand point it's a no brainer". So what do we have to offer over Top Sportsman.....it's time to address this..... Comp people, turn the dyno off and look at the marketing side of our class....unless the people that attend the races (which represent the sponsor's market) can identify with the cool engineering that is Comp, we all better put in our orders for our new throttle stops....which we all know will be the end of participation in Comp as the people who run Comp generally don't believe in throttle stops. Somewhere ,back in time ,we used to race to the finish line, but that was a long time ago.
I was a casual fan of Comp for many years. I had the pleasure of racing in Modified Eliminator back before it's demise. Running with my uncle's SS/AX, SS/BX Opel GT which ran in J & K Gas kept us interested in Comp. When Lee became involved in Comp with Dave and Al and the Three Ring Circus got me more interested in Comp.
Following along with the rounds of Stock Eliminator is a piece of cake compared to following Comp. I now find Comp the most interesting class out there. The more you understand the more interesting it is. You have to watch each pair and see if they took a CIC hit or not and how it effects the following rounds. Each pairing is like a chess match and how that match plays out determines the next pairings may play out.
Altitude index hits..... welcome to the world of mineshaft index hits! If mineshaft hits count, so should altitude hits count. You never heard much complaining about the factor when you could set records, but now with index hits included....................................... Probably the factor needs correcting. I like an earlier calculation using the 1200' adjustment. Indeed a smart fellow.
One more thing. How about NO CIC hits for the final round? You get to race to the finish line without getting any "additional" index adjustment. Earlier hits still apply.
Comp folks gather their own sponsor??
Safe Trips All!!!
These thoughts are mine and not necessarily those of any team.....
Following along with the rounds of Stock Eliminator is a piece of cake compared to following Comp. I now find Comp the most interesting class out there. The more you understand the more interesting it is. You have to watch each pair and see if they took a CIC hit or not and how it effects the following rounds. Each pairing is like a chess match and how that match plays out determines the next pairings may play out.
Altitude index hits..... welcome to the world of mineshaft index hits! If mineshaft hits count, so should altitude hits count. You never heard much complaining about the factor when you could set records, but now with index hits included....................................... Probably the factor needs correcting. I like an earlier calculation using the 1200' adjustment. Indeed a smart fellow.
One more thing. How about NO CIC hits for the final round? You get to race to the finish line without getting any "additional" index adjustment. Earlier hits still apply.
Comp folks gather their own sponsor??
Safe Trips All!!!
These thoughts are mine and not necessarily those of any team.....
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Rob, Craig, I think this is kind of what I have been saying. Cyclone brought it home, with the intrigue of a thinking mans game of chess. The things I feel would help get fans attention would be. 1) Qualify off the indexes not heads up. Some divisions have tried this and it appears no one has a real complaint about it. 2) Do not post indexes on the score board during qualifying, Time only and have the announcer state how far under the index for the racers and informed fans. 3) Printed brochures (great place for a comp sponsors advertisement) explaining the basics for the newbie and more advanced explanation for the really intrigued. They can be distributed in every ones pit as fans visit or just put them out on a table or stand. Hopefully some will take them home and at their leisure read them. Next time at the race they take a closer look at at the real excitement of the complex eliminator of comp. Marketing is a constant job.
I think some of the divisions now are working on the sponsor idea in their own divisions. It needs to be expanded on to all divisions. Probably coordinated with each division director and or tracks. Just some Ideas. Gone to the Purifoy Fast 16 race. Have a good one!
I think some of the divisions now are working on the sponsor idea in their own divisions. It needs to be expanded on to all divisions. Probably coordinated with each division director and or tracks. Just some Ideas. Gone to the Purifoy Fast 16 race. Have a good one!
td/ts vs comp
I have done the top dragsted thing for a while and it got to the poing it was just getting out of hand with sped on et slips and i could take the same car slow it down and legaly run comp and be competative.I think ts/td is a good ad for a show promoters dont have to pay to book them inbut comp to me always looked a little more technical and intimidating and more exiting to watch because of the wide variety.I enjoyed td but comp has a good crowd appeal and draws a crowd.
I have done the top dragsted thing for a while and it got to the poing it was just getting out of hand with sped on et slips and i could take the same car slow it down and legaly run comp and be competative.I think ts/td is a good ad for a show promoters dont have to pay to book them inbut comp to me always looked a little more technical and intimidating and more exiting to watch because of the wide variety.I enjoyed td but comp has a good crowd appeal and draws a crowd.
Bottom line for Comp is that the first one to the stripe still wins,...irregardless of how much damage to the index.
- It might be beneficial for the Comp racers to invite/encourage some of the TS/TD drivers to come over and give it a try.
Ron P.
- It might be beneficial for the Comp racers to invite/encourage some of the TS/TD drivers to come over and give it a try.
Ron P.
