11/21/06
GEOGRAPHICALLY CHALLENGED?
The last time I was at Cordova Raceway Park it was in Illinois. Also, the last time I checked (today) Illinois was in NHRA Division 3. The 2007 NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman schedule has Cordova running a Division 5 race. What's with that?
Just wondering, to coin a phrase.
Al Booton
Carlisle, IA
I think I live in Division 5?
HOW DO YOU GET TO BE A RACER WITH A MILLION DOLLARS? YOU START WITH 2 MILLION
I have said for years, that a lot of people who are able to race often and win often, either own a business or they are a part of a family-owned business.
I would guess that if you asked the top ten points earners in every NHRA eliminator, 75% would be either in that position or, like you stated, "professional racers."
Another good column, Jok.
Al Booton
DON’T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB
Jok, I would have to say you are exactly right. I also typically bring in between 50 and 100K per year in winnings and have to offset around $25,000 in expenses plus any motor damages that may result. It has worked well for me but my expenses are lightened by gold cards for free entry, and many deals I am on like tires, fuel etc. So, it is possible to live on the net of maybe 50k or so but I have re invested in my operation for years so I can have a motorhome and stacker trailer that is paid for.
I would not quit my day job, though, which is a guaranteed 6 figure income from my engineering job. So I also agree not many other than Scotty could actually make a good living at it. Unless you want to live in a motorhome and do not have wife and kids.
Steve Furr
2006 and 3-time IHRA Super Rod World Champion
MAYBE TRACTION CONTROL ISN’T SUCH
A BAD IDEA
I race brackets and Quick 16. Usually my car is one of, if not the fastest, doorslammers in the Box class at the local tracks. I go as fast as is practical without using the chute between rounds. Round-robin chute packing is difficult unless you have a five-man crew! I run IHRA and NHRA, so I don't have any axe to grind with either sanctioning body. When bracket racing, on any given day, you have to deal with a lot of rounds, a wide range of weather conditions, and traction conditions. I usually enter the Quick 16 and Top
Eliminator (box class) each day. I have made 15 runs in the 8.0 range in one day.
I often find myself saying to myself, "self, why don't you back the timing down, leave at 2200, and run 9.50 instead of 8.0? With a dog slow leave and no wheel spin, the chances are better for 60 foot and reaction time consistency, right?"
"But, wait a minute, what fun is that? Do the few spectators we actually have want to see that?"
I say anything that can help the fast go faster and everyone race safer should be allowed. Gee, maybe traction control should be required faster than 7.50, like engine diapers! After all, most drag racers, men and women alike, will tell you that if they could go faster, they would. If they could go faster and win, even better! Poor track conditions take the eagerness for speed right out of the pants.
Look at what slew or traction control has done for other classes.
There would be a lot less Outlaw SS and 10-wides out there running 7 seconds without slew control.
Also, since there are 90% dragsters in the Box class at one of my local tracks, why not help the door car compete? This particular track has outlawed the MSD slew box. Between this, the variability of this track, the width of the track, and the number of dragsters in box, I don't even bother to go there anymore. It's always been easier to hook a dragster, with the motor over the rear tires! Fast door cars already suffer from "burnout discrimination."
There's been many occasions when I am staring at funk in my lane from the car in front of me and wished I could have burned tracks through it. Well, that's an argument for another day.
Isn't bracket racing of any kind, fast or slow, the test of the driver? Isn't that what "Super" classes are all about? Is the cost of a slew ignition unfair? How about a 10-year-old ladder bar door car competing against a 40K state of the art four link dragster?
How much should you have to spend to win? Shouldn't everyone have an equal chance to win on their won talents, eliminating outside or unfair disadvantages, like the infamous "bad" lane. If this stuff was legal, there would be no cheating! It would take the advantage away from those who are willing to cheat and are cheating now anyway.
Just my opinion.
Dennis DiValerio
IHRA 5X1V
NHRA 551V
