Something is very wrong in the HotRod class. How is it possible for a car to run 8.08 in this class when the Pro FWD class has just barely broke into the 7.9s? Pro FWD is allowed a 2.8 liter engine where as HR only 2.5 liters. No turbo restriction size on Pro FWD while 78mm limit on HR. Minimum weight is 1650lbs in Pro FWD and 1900lbs in HR. HotRod must also add another 150 lbs for an aftermarket trans while Pro FWD can use any transmission, shifted by any means with no weight penalty. While HR must use a stock firewall, unibody and driver in stock location, Pro FWD can center mount their driver around a full tube frame and an all glass body. Does it make sense that a HR car should run that close to Pro FWD?

The 78mm restriction was put in to limit horsepower. So far, the Pontiac GM factory HR car has run .4 seconds faster in the quarter mile with this so called limit. If this trend keeps up, NHRA is looking at future Hot Rod class races with GM and Chrysler cars, one or two Hondas with large industry corporate sponsorship plus a few local racers at their events. So far I am right about this. I know, one independent Honda did go fast last year at one race, but that was at Englishtown with ideal conditions. Something needs to be done to level the playing field. Anyone have an idea?

Let me finish by saying that these views are my own and not that of my sons. If I stand alone, that is fine. I am NOT hating on anyone or any team and I am NOT crying and whining because we have not gone anywhere near as fast. I am, however, looking toward younger and brighter minds to come up with solutions so the Hot Rod class (for which we are currently building a new car) will still have a following.

 

i think they are going to have to put wieght restrictions in to level the playing field. it was wierd seeing the sunfire go almost as fast as the cavalier and the saturn.

 

from what i saw of the sunfire last year was, its a spitting image of the cavalier yet it has part of the factory firewall (alot was fabbed and welded in) and metal roof and rear quarters instead of carbon.

and earl dont forget the pro fwd can have a bigger tire too.

 

good point

 

i know what i'm gonna do. im gonna go out and buy a sunfire.

 

something needs to be done to bring the hp down

 

that independent honda car is also going fast at races this year

 

it just seems like the cars with the most sponsorship are the ones taking over now.
Its only obvious who they are.
Honda, Toyota, Mazda, etc it seems wont sponsor or get involved as much as the domestic brands have and now we really cant do much but watch them take over

 

as much as everyone wants to dismiss the FACTs here because this sport is at its infancy, they cannot deny that u cannot play competitively in these faster classes any more without huge sponsorship $$$.
boy any huge team must feel soooo talented that they got a huge sponsorship and just anihilated the competition when only 1 or 2 cars can even run within .5 ETs. proof positive that $$$ wins u races.
as far as the situation though, NHRA is goin to have to step up to the field and level the competition. from what i understand in AM class that ideally NHRA wants the field to b within .3-.4/10ths of #1-16. now ken sheepers is a big player and he got some rules changed in the off season being how leslie dominated the rotary powered RX7. NHRA wants the AM class to run low 10s, they do not want the AM guys runnin upper 9s. i think u will see more penalties for all classes especially the AM class if jesus dominates the first 2-3 races. i mean 3 9 second passes. although mohler was right there also at 10flat and jeremy was at 10.20s.

 

i see it as, the hot rod cars are pushing the limits of the class, for the most part. and the profwd's are just breaking off the tip of the iceberg. i do agree that some rules need to be changed or at least could be looked at. but basically the hot rod cars are definetly pushing the envelpoe at this point in the "evolution of their class" where as the profwd's have much more in them and are in the early stages of what is yet to come. from my point of view.

as far as factory sponsorships.........that was just a matter of time. and now times have changed and unfortunately, honda wants nothing to do with it.....for the most part. if i were a serious "hot rod honda guy", i'd be more upset with the entire honda corporation then i would be at GM/dodge/NHRA.

no offense to anyone here. hondas are still my favorite "sport compact"..lol.

 

i think theres a problem with the pro fwd class, not hot rod, if their times are so close, and theyre allowed to run bigger motors, bigger turbos, bigger tires, less weight, various trans configurations.

theres a lot of competitive hot rod cars out there, apparently it wasnt a great turnout for this race and the first one. sure the big dollar teams will always be at an advantage, but theres enough parts and knowledge out there to build competitve cars without million dollar deals

 

good point carl

 

We can compete with the cars that or owned and built buy competitors not. factory
backed teams hot rod & all motor is low buck teams let factory teams race pro fwd

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jay Dirt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that independent honda car is also going fast at races this year</TD></TR></TABLE>absolutely Jay, but you guys are the only team right now that can do that. We need more competitive cars in the class. The class won't last long if only 4 cars show up each race

 

and as far as the turnout goes.....there are 36 races between 4 sanctioned bodies from february to november. not to mention a ton of other small events. the more races, the thinner the turnout.

 

8.52 to 8.08 is not fast

 

earl leevons car ran as good as the sunfire tell just after the 660 so hp is the prob we had 500hp they have1000hp+

 

i agree, there is a lot of races... maybe hotrod should step it up and offer larger payouts for the non factory backed teams, more incentive for hotrod racers who might be fedup with facing the giants.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jay Dirt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
theres a lot of competitive hot rod cars out there, apparently it wasnt a great turnout for this race and the first one. sure the big dollar teams will always be at an advantage, but theres enough parts and knowledge out there to build competitve cars without million dollar deals</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm sure there can be cars built to compete without the factory backing but what about traveling, spare motors, trannys, etc... thats were the factory backing really kicks our asses

 

i like to watch import racing but i'm not gonna pay 60 bux over a weekend to see low turnout.

 

II have a feeling that there will be a full hot rod class at Dinwiddie.

Alot of the people (local especially) are feeling scared away from running with cars such as GM, Mopar, Gardella, Tran. so they dont bother to show up...Alot of people think that it is a lost cause, but the fact is that this is racing, and the only law that we live by is Murphys Law.. Anything can, and WILL happen. Alot of people dont have the love for racing that was once had. I think people just need to step up, and show up.. HOWEVER, i do believe that something should be done to make the playing feild a little more level, but nhra's rules (example, all motor) seem to **** alot of people off..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ninesecteg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i like to watch import racing but i'm not gonna pay 60 bux over a weekend to see low turnout. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i think another thing also is that we cant really relate to a cavlier or sunfire...
I remember before when it was mostly imports I liked to watch the fast hondas or toyotas race because I can relate to those cars, lots of my friends own those cars.
I mean, how many fast cavaliers of sunfires do you know of that are actually fast and street driven...I usually only see those cars all riced out and they are slow as hell, IMO

 

thats why we still take our hatch out to race in hot rod. racing is racing and anything can happen. just go and have fun. we placed 2 today losing to the sunfire. and guess what we are happy as hell. way to go GR.

 

believe me, ive always felt a great deal of frustration that honda never backed any cars in hotrod, people have spent countless hours and dollars building and improving their cars to what they are now and were still left out to dry..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jay Dirt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i think theres a problem with the pro fwd class, not hot rod</TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly, hot rod is performing close to it's max potential, but I think Pro FWD is far from it...