3/21/06
'SLOWER' SHOULDN'T BE PART OF DRAG RACING
Mr. Burk, which part of history proves that a narrower and harder tire delivers slower speeds and ET's? Another group of rule makers has had the "vintage" fuelers running on 12-inch tires for years in a proposed method of "limiting" the performance possibilities. They have been able to overcome it and far exceed the performance of the first go round of fuelers. Another case in point may be the outlaw 10.5 tire group, which you seem so fond of. Let's take the biggest motor we can find, jam it into some door car, put 10.5 tires on it and try to run 6's with it.
Talk about frontal lobotomies, the idea of "slowing" the kings of the sport down goes AGAINST everything our forefathers taught us. Top Fuel and Funny Cars ARE dangerous, they always have been.
Now because the pioneers of the sport are giving way to old age and mortality, we have to "slow down" the technological advances that got us here. The next thing you know we will have 5-second bracket racing on a rail with remote control cars so no drivers will be in harm's way.
Many drivers that paid the ultimate price did so knowing full well the risks involved in getting into the seat. I do not wish in any way shape or form for ANY driver to be hurt. Part of the "draw" of any form of racing is the potential for disaster; sorry it just is.
When drag racing becomes so plain vanilla that it loses what little share it currently holds, the fans, sponsors and finally the racers will leave it in the dust. Then we can all relive the history we have worked so hard to forget, racing our half-and-half hybrids from stop light to stop light. SOUNDS GREAT, pass me another battery pack, I have to line up next to a TOYOTA.
Scott Anderson
Illinois
COMPUTERS INSTEAD OF TUNERS?
I always loved the unlimited "NITRO" class but it seems to me the engine rev limiters will eventually be overcome by the smart tunners (A.J.). To prevent engines from exploding is obvious to me. Let a computer handle the engine management. It will always have the perfect mix in the cylinders, timing perfect, etc. The argument against it no longer applies. Seat of the pants tuning is far gone (nostalgia rules now). The set up may be pricey, but the cost to run this class will drop dramatically. What do you think?
Scott Smith
Tustin, CA
PREVIOUS LETTER RESPONSE
In response to Robert Keelan Jr's comments: On the Pro side of drag racing, this simply isn't a change of tires and gas up. If you've ever spent between rounds at a Pro pit, you may notice there's not a lot of wasted motion by all involved. Safety is a factor in not only the number of people, but the turn around time itself. Some of the best moments at a race are the staging duels. If things get out of hand, Rick Stewart will "shut 'em down" and read the riot act. (Remember Dougzilla & Millican?) Pro only on Sunday? You already have that option...it's called E.S.P.N.!!
Jim Millard
Toronto, Canada
