Every year there seems to be less and less dragsters showing up to race. The entry list for Pomona has only 5 dragsters out of 37. I know there will never be an even amount of dragsters and altereds at a race, but five or ten years ago you would see at least 10 to 13 dragsters. Are we headed towards no dragsters in Comp???
The Future of Dragsters in Comp???
- Thread starter Wade Oman
- Start date
Its not that the dragsters are being pushed out, its that the indexes have been hit pretty hard to say least. Another thing, there is not alot of comp dragsters on the left coast.
I think that part of the problem with the dragsters disappearing is that most comp dragsters are purpose built............ you don't have the ability to jump from class to class as indexes get hit........... I mean you might be able to go up one class in a dragster and possibly down one class, but the power has a lot to do with the length when building the car........... so the way I see it is that once you have one built you're pretty well limited as to what you can do with it.......... as opposed to fitting a door car into 15 or 18 different classes.............
Charlie is right about dragsters being purpose built racecars. You can build one to run two maybe three different classes. The only problem with building a dragster to run in more than one class is that the other classes have a beat up index. A few years ago, NHRA made 12 new classes with the altered automatics. This gave the econo and the altered classes a place to go to. What did they do for the Dragsters? The only two new dragster classes added have been A/ND and now B/ND; two more purpose built dragster classes. Why don’t they add dragster automatic classes? This would give seven new classes for the dragster; however, it still does not even come close to how many altered classes are out there. But overall, anything to help car count has to be good for the future of Comp.
There was some talk about this two years ago. Needless to say, nothing was done about it. In addition, you hear alot of the same feedback quote: "We have too many classes now. We don't need to add more to the class." I would love to see flexibility with dragster classes that you see from other classes. For instance, single to dual carbs with automatic, stick, etc.
I never saw anything wrong with allowing dragster automatic classes........ Unfortunately when it was brought up on Mike Carr's forum by Miskovski Racing, there was more negative feedback than positive.........like "WE HAVE TOO MANY CLASSES ALREADY"............. I would probably build a C/D if there was a weight break for an automatic, or a different designation such as C/DA with a different index like was done for the altered automatics........ as for too many classes, WHO CARES........... if it keeps cars counts up and gives racers a class they fit into, just do it........... I don't know what all the nay-sayers are worried about.........
Dragster's
Every attempt to keep dragster's racing in Comp should be done. The foundation of Comp lie's with the tube only altered-dragster chassis.
Charlie's idea of 2 carbs to change class is a great one ...and easy for NHRA to implement. Someone with a dragster should suggest this to len Imbrogno and or Danny Gracia. If you don't put it in writing they will not look at it.
Every attempt to keep dragster's racing in Comp should be done. The foundation of Comp lie's with the tube only altered-dragster chassis.
Charlie's idea of 2 carbs to change class is a great one ...and easy for NHRA to implement. Someone with a dragster should suggest this to len Imbrogno and or Danny Gracia. If you don't put it in writing they will not look at it.
I sent an email off to Len yesterday. Here is Len’s email address if anyone is interested: [email protected]
I too am in the same boat as far as being stuck in a specific class. But my problem with adding more is solidified by the most recent new classes added. 3 of the 4 new ones have soft indexes, as proven by everyone on here talking about them in other threads. Until they can get together and come out with indexes which make people earn the way under time slips, I'll stay against it. And if past history shows, I won't hold my breath. Everyone complained about the S/M cars and soft indexes for the last few years, so why do it all over again? It seems like some just don't want to work at going fast anymore. The B/ND index in my opinion is where it should be to start. Do some testing and work to go faster. 
Hey guys.......... I sent an e-mail to Len Imbrogno and got a response today.......... Len says that he is on his way to California as we speak and will bring the topic up to the Competition Committee.
Unfortunately, any action taken in this direction will not be realised until the 2007 season........ but at least it will be thrown on the table.............
Unfortunately, any action taken in this direction will not be realised until the 2007 season........ but at least it will be thrown on the table.............
Email from Wade
Wade,
In a previous message on this thread you mentioned that you sent me an email. I never received it. NHRA's new spam blocker system has been a bit of a problem for some of us in the field and we have not been getting all of our email. Please try and re-submit your message to me. [email protected]
As Charlie stated, I did get his message. If anyone ever sends me email and I do not reply, please either call (440) 967-8729 or post a message. Your input is important and I do answer every email.
Len Imbrogno
Wade,
In a previous message on this thread you mentioned that you sent me an email. I never received it. NHRA's new spam blocker system has been a bit of a problem for some of us in the field and we have not been getting all of our email. Please try and re-submit your message to me. [email protected]
As Charlie stated, I did get his message. If anyone ever sends me email and I do not reply, please either call (440) 967-8729 or post a message. Your input is important and I do answer every email.
Len Imbrogno
Charlie and Dom..........Thanks for mentioning our opionion of Automatic Dragsters. We actually received equal response (for and against), but most people chose not to put it in writting which is what NHRA told us was needed. To clarify our situation, we run an Automatic in a Stick shift class (C/D) due to no "Fuel Injection" classes . Way back when, we were opposed to the automatic classes being created and had signed a petition against them (even though we were at disadvantage). We, at the time, were running the combination that I just spoke about. It was not until NHRA created the Automatic classes that we started to voice our opinion and requested that they do the same for the Dragsters that they did for the other classes. As far as Donnie's statement about the indexes, Mike and I believe that we were very fair with our request.........When NHRA gave the tenth back to us in C/D, we asked that a C/DA class be created since the other automatic classes were created and we would take the same index as C/D . We actually made the request for A,B,C....etc. Dragster classes, not just ourselves!! Now..........tell me how that is getting a soft index !! As for these people that say there are to many classes already, then lets get rid of all the ones created and see where it puts those people. Yes that was sarcasim, but I think those it was meant for should know who they are!! We would love to keep racing in Comp, but don't have the money to redo every thing that we have worked hard at and very soon there will be one less Dragster unless something is done for the Dragster classes . We also have found out who our true friends are in Comp and have chosen to stay in our pit most of the time to avoid the clicks!!
Hey Dom.......just a heads up that we also supported you for your request. It is truley a shame that people have to have money/pull to get anything accomplished!!
. Way back when, we were opposed to the automatic classes being created and had signed a petition against them (even though we were at disadvantage). We, at the time, were running the combination that I just spoke about. It was not until NHRA created the Automatic classes that we started to voice our opinion and requested that they do the same for the Dragsters that they did for the other classes. As far as Donnie's statement about the indexes, Mike and I believe that we were very fair with our request.........When NHRA gave the tenth back to us in C/D, we asked that a C/DA class be created since the other automatic classes were created and we would take the same index as C/D . We actually made the request for A,B,C....etc. Dragster classes, not just ourselves!! Now..........tell me how that is getting a soft index !! As for these people that say there are to many classes already, then lets get rid of all the ones created and see where it puts those people. Yes that was sarcasim, but I think those it was meant for should know who they are!! We would love to keep racing in Comp, but don't have the money to redo every thing that we have worked hard at and very soon there will be one less Dragster unless something is done for the Dragster classes . We also have found out who our true friends are in Comp and have chosen to stay in our pit most of the time to avoid the clicks!!Hey Dom.......just a heads up that we also supported you for your request. It is truley a shame that people have to have money/pull to get anything accomplished!!
S
Stef
Guest
Pam, you are right on! See you soon my friend...and hey, we need no clique to make things happen .
.I wanted to update anyone interested with my conversation with Len Imbrogno. I put a call into Len which he responded to this morning. Len expressed that he believes he has gotten California to understand what is referenced in this thread. He feels that there will be something announced at the end of this season for the implementation for the 2007 season. He needs people to write in to have support of the class creation. Please forward this information to anyone that you may know that will support this and have them write to Len at [email protected]
I guess I am going to count on this so we'll see you at only a few races this season so we can keep up our grade points, and hopefully this will be implemented and we will see you full force next year. We have run at a disadvantage for 6-7 years (by our choice due to fuel injection). Running at about a tenth disadvantage, it will be nice to be shown in a true qualifying spot!!
I guess I am going to count on this so we'll see you at only a few races this season so we can keep up our grade points, and hopefully this will be implemented and we will see you full force next year. We have run at a disadvantage for 6-7 years (by our choice due to fuel injection). Running at about a tenth disadvantage, it will be nice to be shown in a true qualifying spot!!
I just sent a note to Len, so we will see what happens with this! I'm just curious as to where things were left off with this after all of the work was done on it and no future action seemed to take place?
Gil,
I put alot of time into trying to get the surveys out to all Comp racers. I also had contacts in other divisions to help get the surveys out, and either the people wrote directly to NHRA, or they decided not to write anything. Unfortunately when I only received a small number back, I let it drop. NHRA was looking for alot more response than I was able to supply to them. What I did received was half and half for and against the classes. My take on it was that most of the responses against were because they did not want to see ANY new classes. Most of these people have classes to switch to unlike the dragsters, so I chose to believe that those people were very one sided!! What I did find out from talking with people is that most people thought that we already had a weightbreak for running the automatic, but in reality....as you know.......we did not. I guess overall we did well since we qualified at most of the events we attended with such a disadvantage!! We definitely were not in a good spot, but atleast we got to race 1st round.
Pam
I put alot of time into trying to get the surveys out to all Comp racers. I also had contacts in other divisions to help get the surveys out, and either the people wrote directly to NHRA, or they decided not to write anything. Unfortunately when I only received a small number back, I let it drop. NHRA was looking for alot more response than I was able to supply to them. What I did received was half and half for and against the classes. My take on it was that most of the responses against were because they did not want to see ANY new classes. Most of these people have classes to switch to unlike the dragsters, so I chose to believe that those people were very one sided!! What I did find out from talking with people is that most people thought that we already had a weightbreak for running the automatic, but in reality....as you know.......we did not. I guess overall we did well since we qualified at most of the events we attended with such a disadvantage!! We definitely were not in a good spot, but atleast we got to race 1st round.
Pam
