I know this is a long post, but please read and let us know what you think.

I was planning to do a formal proposal and business plan with this, but I’d like to share parts of the ideas I had with HT. I really hope this idea is something everyone will consider and want to work with.

Everyone knows that the heads up classes in All Motor and Turbo Street are very competitive. I’m all for competition and going all out to do your best. But as a manufacturer/shop/racer in this industry, I feel that we all have to take a pro-active stance in determining where we want to limit our classes and how far we want them to progress.
As a racer, I know we all just want to push our cars to its limits and be as fast as we can be. As a manufacturer/shop, we want to sell parts and keep being in this industry as long as we can.

The way I see it is, to focus on grassroot racers. There are guys that are already out there with street cars. There are plenty of racers out there you don’t see on the qualifying lists since they are intimidated at the qualifying times. I was for the idea, “If you want to win or qualify, you have to step up” mentality for awhile. But in the situation the economy is at now, we have to all work together to get more racers out there. We should someway welcome those existing racers out there and give them a place that they can shine and compete.

We’ve talked about Index classes before and there were mixed feelings with that. A lot are not familiar with it and isn’t their type of racing. At the same time, we all love the format of the Pro-AM/SFWD classes. What the racing events should do is put a double qualifying class for the street turbo and all motor class. I don’t know if this has been discussed in the past, but I know this may have been done in some form in other racing series’ out there. In a way it’s a combination of SFWD/Quick 16/Index. Let me explain the concept of it.

Let’s say in the Turbo street class. In some events, there are 20-30 cars competing for that 8 car field which are mostly dominated by 4-6 9 sec cars. Obviously, half of the cars in this class have never even hit 9s at all. The way the double qualifying works is have a Cut off time. Let’s say 10.50 in this case. What this does is this big group is gunning for the fastest time they can do, just like they have been doing all along in the old qualifying rules. The cars that make the 10.50 cut off are put in a different qualifying field. If 14 of the 30 cars that show up make the 10.50 cut off, the top 8 of those 14 cars are then put on the 8 car qualifying ladder. Any other car that is above the 10.50 cut off is put in a different qualifying class. Another 8 car field will be made for the top cars after the 10.50 cut off. Details on this of course have to be worked out, but to prevent sandbagging, the 10.50 cars would have a break out time if going faster than lets say .3 off their time.

What this does is, possibly increase the car count even more. Cars that are normally running 11s, which are PLENTY out there, can still make the 10.50 field and not have to worry they are competing against qualifying with the 9 sec cars. With car count in the 20s in some events, it can possibly double racer participation into the 30-40 cars for Turbo Street class. The only difference is that it’s split into 2 fields. This concept may not work in ALL events, but it’s an idea to work on to accommodate more racers in all areas of the country.

The same concept can be applied to the Street All Motor classes, but with a possible 12.0 cut off.

The potential result of this class idea is, bringing in more EXISTING racers out there. We’re not getting new guys to start building cars. There are already cars built that are 11.00 turbo cars and 12.0 all motor street cars. There are plenty of those around. We just need a place for them to race. It’s not “building” a new class. It’s just working with what we already have but allowing more racers to get in on the mix. This format still keeps the faster street guys happy and at the same time encouraging more racers to get in there and compete. With a double qualifying field, it will also make racing even more exciting with tighter fields in some events.

Overall, more racer participation means more spectators. More cars at the track means more business for shops/manufacturers, dynos, etc. More money into manufacturers and confidence in the industry means more “marketing partnerships” with pro racers.

This is something we have to push BOTI, CMI, IFO and other major series in doing. Let’s all do something to make a change NOW than watching things fall like whats been happening last 12 months.
I just want to say that this idea is credited to a discussion between fellow friends and racers a couple weeks ago. Bubba from Do-It-Dyno, Allan Camero from Rev Hard, Myself and fellow racer Matt Bouchard. From now on, the future or our sport is in the hands of our own fellow racers. We have to join up together to decide what is best for each and everyone of us. Without the strength of all our voices together, things wont change and we will just watch one racing series fall one after another.




Modified by ExospeedAMcrx at 6:11 PM 7/24/2008

 

So you are not really making a new class, just kind of splitting the same class in 2.
Its not a bad idea. It could definitely work.
The .3 tenth break out idea would have to be worked on a little though, i think it may be a little overwhelming for the sanctioning bodies to monitor.

Is it the answer to getting more cars out to race? Probably not . . . But it damn sure cant hurt.

I think the answer is creating an exciting environment that everyone wants to be a part of . . Not an easy task

for thinking outside the box

 

sorry me a little slow

but 16 car feild would break down to two 8 car fields(top8 bottom8)

then it is heads up based off of the fastest car in the bottom8 or top8, with allowed to got .3 faster then that.

am I understanding or lost?

 

so is this idea just for qualifying 8 fast cars and 8 slow cars to race all together in the finals, or will there be two seperate finals one for the quickest8 and another for the slowest8?

i have been saying for a long time something needs to be done to even up the fields and keep new racers from being intimidated

 

its not really for slowest 8.

Its for the fastest 8 of the whole group. and the fastest 8 of 10.50 and slower.

It doesnt change anything for the fast guys wanting to go fast. They still have the same racing, same qualifying to work with. The only thing it does is make another qualifying field for the other guys who would never have qualified in that class. why punish them for not being able to run a 9.30 or jus even 9s. To set a goal for a 10.50 field, is much more feasible goal. At the same time, when these same 10.50 cars get faster, they are still in the same group of cars and can shoot for the 9s.

Its nurturing the cars that arent normally qualifying and helping them work their way to getting faster. Its like a stepping stone for the 9s, but just with not as much pressure.

the 10.50 cut off class may have a smaller payout, but when you're getting more cars out there, it'll pay off itself.

It'll be like a SFWD1 and SFWD2 class or AllMotorStreet1 and AllMotorStreet2

 

i like the idea... for some of us that dont have a huge budget or lots of sponsers id say it helps....there are more 10 sec cars out there than there are 9 sec cars.... im in for more on this idea!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cluelessmale &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

am I understanding or lost?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Its like this.

30 cars qualifying

12 cars going 9.30-10.40
Top 8 of this group is 1 qualifying field

Rest of the 18 cars maybe going 10.51 to 11.45
Top 8 from that group will be another 8 car field

Thats the concept of it. I mean if we are getting more faster cars out there, then maybe a 16 car field would be needed. But the main point of it is, providing a field for cars that arent 9sec capable. We all know this is a large group of racers, and they need a place to race.
What are the usual excuses to not racing?
1. I could never qualify in that class
2. I'm not a full out race car doing sub 10.50s, i have no chance.

There are PLENTY of street cars with basic turbo kits and built motors making 450-550hp. Those are the racers we want to get into these classes. Once they get the bug, they will want more. They will want to go bigger, and aim for the other guys faster than them. But if they already have the mentality that they dont have a chance, then you're pushing people away and we're losing enthusiasts before they even had a chance to try.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ExospeedAMcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

But if they already have the mentality that they dont have a chance, then you're pushing people away and we're losing enthusiasts before they even had a chance to try.</TD></TR></TABLE>

very True!!

 

wow that actually sounds like a great idea... i think it will bring in a lot of new participation especially those that dont want to "waste" their money to enter a class they have a 99% chance of losing in. it will give them the chance to still race an event and be seen than save the money for a friday night test and tune.

 

Basically a 16 car field with the top 8 qualifiers racing for a trophy and the bottom 8 qualifiers racing for a different trophy. Same class..... just different index's sort to speak.

I think this will make racing more competitive especially when people have the opportunity to win.

 

i think its a great idea as well

boti could do this w/ its s/p class and use s/s (street stock) as the 2nd field. allow any make/model allmotor car in s/s w/ any motor setup and put a 12.00 index on the class.

imo this would encourage alot of new racers to come out and start competing for the simple fact they wont have to worry about running low 11's to compete

 

ya same goes with all motor class. that street stock class can be joined up and just make it all together.

11.99 and faster field and a 12.0 and slower field.

I dont know where the all motor scene is at in general, but if there's not as much 11 sec cars, it can even be made into a 12.5 cut off. That way more cars can compete in the 12.5 class

I know some people wont like this idea, since they would be at the bump, but PLEASE look at this in an overall picture. Dont be selfish and look at yourself only. Look at how much more exciting racing will be and more cars out there showing up.
Like I was saying.. this is a collective effort from all of us.

 

I have been saying something like this to rota for while now I was even talking about it with Jason the other night. As you say a lot of us agree there needs to be something for the cars that can't run the 9's.

Your idea seems to be something that could work. I also think something should be done for the turbo cars that don't want to have to do the safety things to run 11.50 but want to run slicks, Are there enough of them out there ?

Thanks for taking the time to plan it out and write it down.
Good Job.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ExospeedAMcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ya same goes with all motor class. that street stock class can be joined up and just make it all together.

11.99 and faster field and a 12.0 and slower field.

I dont know where the all motor scene is at in general, but if there's not as much 11 sec cars, it can even be made into a 12.5 cut off. That way more cars can compete in the 12.5 class

I know some people wont like this idea, since they would be at the bump, but PLEASE look at this in an overall picture. Dont be selfish and look at yourself only. Look at how much more exciting racing will be and more cars out there showing up.
Like I was saying.. this is a collective effort from all of us. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah i think its a great idea, 12.0 or 12.5 would work. im planning on building a motor early next season so i would most likely run in s/p but i know alot of guys that would come out to race in the slower half of the field if they thought they could compete. it would definately get alot more cars/racers involved in the sport for sure

 

i kind of like this idea but the only problem i see is having that many cars to fill the field.Yes boti Vegas was crazy packed for both fields but i dont see 20-30 cars showing up to every race

 

Pretty much a losers bracket. They have them in Basketball tournaments and whatnot for younger kids. you still won something it just wasnt the HUGE trophy. I like the idea, I know I have been to several races to not qualify or be put out in the 1st round so this would be great. Suck when you have spent the $65 or whatever its been costing to get in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AllMoToRB18c &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i kind of like this idea but the only problem i see is having that many cars to fill the field.Yes boti Vegas was crazy packed for both fields but i dont see 20-30 cars showing up to every race</TD></TR></TABLE>

Its like that all the time over here, s/p has had over 30 cars trying to qualify for the last year+. I ran 11.8 and didnt qualify for boti in bakersfield last year. With the huge growth in the street classes and the slow death of the pro classes, i think this is a good idea.

 

I think it's a great idea also, but it'd be hard for the sanctioning bodies to monitor it. Sandbagging will also discourage a lot of racers.

I really do like the idea if everyone can play fair. Hope you get the message across and the organizers of the remaining events still out there listen.

 

I really like the idea of having a class where a mid 10 sec turbo car could be competitive

 

Will, I think this is a excellent idea. Now we just have to propose this to Frank and Jason and see what they can do to incorporate this into the BOTI program.

 

lets keep this on top guys! we need more feedback!

 

Works for me, was this not how NHRA ran their series? If you did not qualify for the spfwd or hotrod, you got to run quick 16? Always nice to know if you are not the fastest car out there you still have a fun heads up class to race in.

 

I think that it will bring alot more grass roots racers out there. It sucks when you can only compete in bracket racing.

 

In your hypothetical example, there were 12 cars that qualified 9.0 - 10.49, but only the top 8 made the field. What about the 4 guys that qualified faster than the whole "slow guy" bracket? They don't get to race in eliminations at all? That seems like a problem.

Instead, why don't you just take the top 8 (or 16) qualifiers, and put them in the "fast guy" bracket. Then put the next 8 (or 16) in the "slow guy" bracket. Slower than that, you don't make the show. Let the dividing line be flexible, so it can change at each event, depending on who shows up.

*edit - then you can enforce your .3 second "sandbag prevention" rule - if a "slow guy" runs more than .3 quicker than the bar, he is DQd.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by T4 Neon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In your hypothetical example, there were 12 cars that qualified 9.0 - 10.49, but only the top 8 made the field. What about the 4 guys that qualified faster than the whole "slow guy" bracket? They don't get to race in eliminations at all? That seems like a problem.

Instead, why don't you just take the top 8 (or 16) qualifiers, and put them in the "fast guy" bracket. Then put the next 8 (or 16) in the "slow guy" bracket. Slower than that, you don't make the show. Let the dividing line be flexible, so it can change at each event, depending on who shows up.

*edit - then you can enforce your .3 second "sandbag prevention" rule - if a "slow guy" runs more than .3 quicker than the bar, he is DQd.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i don't see not qualifying for eaither field being a "problem". it's no diff than it is now. pick your field, and try to qualify. the fastest cars trying to qualify have the chance of not making the field. **** happens, and parts fail. i don't see the faster guys willing to step down because they're up against the badass's of the field, doesn't mean they'll want to slow down to "sandbag". especially for our payouts. slow yourself down for $500, just because the front of the class is .3's? i doubt it.