5/22/06
MAKE 'EM SAFER?
What the hell, floppers too...be like the old days...NHRA could cut the purse and still have 50-60 cars show up for every race. Same with funny cars; injected cars on 100% make more noise than the present top fuelers. Just think of all the old guys that now could afford to race… could we have those 64 car shows again? I love it, but it's just a dream.... It's ok, I'm awake now...sort of?
Michael Dakin
Dayton, OH
NEW RECORDS OR SAFETY?
Jeff, what happened to losing respect for TF/FC because ET and Speed records were no longer viable? I bet I've seen at least 2 stories out of you about how stale TF/FC racing has become. You even put up a poll addressing that very issue. Now all of a sudden the cars are once again going TOO fast?
We race fans can't have it both ways. Personally I'd like to see a smaller rear wing; less downforce is the key to reducing most chassis failures.
Joe Sherwood
Albuquerque, NM
DRUMMING UP SUPPORT
Jeff, beat the drum loud and as long as it takes for NHRA to fix these very fixable problems. It is ridiculous for these risks to continue to plague the sport.
There are brilliant minds involved in the creation of these amazing machines, and I believe they will find a way to live with thicker wall tubing and less wing angle.
I have been involved with this sport for a long time and 300-305MPH is fine with me.Please, no more mangled balls of racecar and held breath as we wait to hear the fate of our heroes and friends.
Terry Spencer
HOW SPORTING!
Ian, I enjoyed seeing a picture of us in your report of the SPORTSnationals (T/D 4015 us working on the transmission in the pits). I just wish it would have been a picture of us in the winner's circle instead. Still we had a great time. Our blower set-up is new for us but it looks like we are starting to get it figured out. This is the first time I have seen your web sight. It is great. Will visit it again often. Again thanks. It isnt often we get any coverage. Plan to be at the Sportsnats in Columbus. Maybe we will run into one another again.
Ken Thibodeaux
T/D S/C 4015
Thanks for the kind words, Ken. But remember that DRO is an online MAGAZINE.
KEEP IT DOWN
Looks to me that the NHRA could fix this whole thing with a hack saw. Cut an inch off each side of the wing until they only have enough down force to run 300. Sure the crew chiefs would have to come up with a new tune up but maybe the cars would stop breaking in half and the tires blowing out. Maybe they wouldn't need those 130 gpm fuel pumps anymore either. A reduction from 330 to 300 would be about a 20% reduction in down force with the present wing size so it wouldn't take much trimming to get it down to 300.
Rex Schimmer
Fulton, CA
