Decline of TF in Europe/FIA
Discussion
I guess it´s down to lack of funding, Drag Racing even on Euro Champs Top Fuel level is just a niche motorsport in Europe,
no TV coverage means no mega sponsoring which is deffo needed to fund a whole FIA tour.
Not many people are willing to burn 250-500k€ per season for a title that gives no financial reward (or breaks even the cost).
There are more cars in Europe, especially Scandinavia,
but their owners do not want the costs for annual SFI checks & investments
and cannot afford the whole tour so they race "for fun" on non-FIA events.
I am grateful for the few cars, owners and drivers that still go for it,
they do amazing performances in the very limited track time they have.
no TV coverage means no mega sponsoring which is deffo needed to fund a whole FIA tour.
Not many people are willing to burn 250-500k€ per season for a title that gives no financial reward (or breaks even the cost).
There are more cars in Europe, especially Scandinavia,
but their owners do not want the costs for annual SFI checks & investments
and cannot afford the whole tour so they race "for fun" on non-FIA events.
I am grateful for the few cars, owners and drivers that still go for it,
they do amazing performances in the very limited track time they have.
bergclimber34 said:
Its always been the same since the late 90s, similar as Funny car, hardly ever any of those either.
But AAFC isnt a FIA class yet 5 appeared at the finals, and Susanne Callin had a tryout tooAAFC was kept alive here by the Shockwave and Showtime teams thankfully
TFB in the US is down to 2 entries, almost an exhibition class yet 10 entered the Finals, pity Spiderman cannot contest the Euro title
Edited by Upatdawn on Sunday 19th October 14:05
I must say that although everyone, including those who've never seen drag racing , knows about and enthuses about TF , it's far from my favourite. The speed is jaw dropping of course and I admire anyone who can tame one of those monsters, but for pure theatre , with a thunderous soundtrack dare I admit to preferring Pro Mod?
coppice said:
I must say that although everyone, including those who've never seen drag racing , knows about and enthuses about TF , it's far from my favourite. The speed is jaw dropping of course and I admire anyone who can tame one of those monsters, but for pure theatre , with a thunderous soundtrack dare I admit to preferring Pro Mod?
I think PM are the ultimate embodiment of the original doorslammer hotrod, visually the most outstanding, after a long sojourn and my return in 1998 i had trouble catching up with classes and indeed, whith what the FIA wasFirst time visiting Santa Pod we arrived and were walking from my car just as a pair of TF cars made a pass. Even on the opposite side of the berm the ground shook 
At that moment I was very glad that the friend I was meeting there had told us to bring our ear protection. We were no strangers to motorsports but I've never felt circuit racing to be loud enough to require hearing protection as a spectator. TF (and other extreme classes) really are loud enough to permanently damage your hearing in one pass.
Amazing machines. By the time I started attending events I think they'd already moved to the 1,000 feet runs - I understand the safety reasons but did that affect the enjoyment of the sport for anyone?
At that moment I was very glad that the friend I was meeting there had told us to bring our ear protection. We were no strangers to motorsports but I've never felt circuit racing to be loud enough to require hearing protection as a spectator. TF (and other extreme classes) really are loud enough to permanently damage your hearing in one pass.Amazing machines. By the time I started attending events I think they'd already moved to the 1,000 feet runs - I understand the safety reasons but did that affect the enjoyment of the sport for anyone?
My punctured left eardrum from Pedro Diniz' V10 Ligier Mugen suggests otherwise!
I love the noise at tne strip(if not quite as much as I love a racing Ferrari V or Flat 12 at peak revs) , but I wouldn't dream of not wearing ear protection - and not just for the heavy metal TF brigade
I love the noise at tne strip(if not quite as much as I love a racing Ferrari V or Flat 12 at peak revs) , but I wouldn't dream of not wearing ear protection - and not just for the heavy metal TF brigade
A not a fan of shorter runs, I watch very little drag racing now, but the scene at the Pod is thriving, the team there have done an amazing job keeping it fresh and relevant, needs a refresh now as it did a few years ago. But the fwd stuff and club scene is still very good.
As for fuel, I remember going to a test day in the early 00's I think Sheavills and Gordie Bonin and they did a throttle whack, I was near the bloody start line and I nearly fell over, but there was hardly anyone there, spent an hour talking to Malmgren about Pro Stock, a genuinely lovely guy, still going aswell!!
A great sport, and covers so many areas, bit like stuff like autograss, short ovals,. away from the limelight sadly but doing very well thanks, oddly opposed to quite a lot of far more published and covered motorsport that struggles for numbers and ends up- having to do multi class and 2 hour races to get people to take part.
As for fuel, I remember going to a test day in the early 00's I think Sheavills and Gordie Bonin and they did a throttle whack, I was near the bloody start line and I nearly fell over, but there was hardly anyone there, spent an hour talking to Malmgren about Pro Stock, a genuinely lovely guy, still going aswell!!
A great sport, and covers so many areas, bit like stuff like autograss, short ovals,. away from the limelight sadly but doing very well thanks, oddly opposed to quite a lot of far more published and covered motorsport that struggles for numbers and ends up- having to do multi class and 2 hour races to get people to take part.
Promoters robbing the sport.
The Phelps family used the spectators money to bring American funny cars to the the UK. Now the money is used to line the pockets of the promoters.
You only need to look at how the sport can grow if not robbed blind by promoters by looking at how Trevor Duckworth has completely revitalised drag racing and top speed/ten of the best in the North.
The Phelps family used the spectators money to bring American funny cars to the the UK. Now the money is used to line the pockets of the promoters.
You only need to look at how the sport can grow if not robbed blind by promoters by looking at how Trevor Duckworth has completely revitalised drag racing and top speed/ten of the best in the North.
kestral said:
Promoters robbing the sport.
The Phelps family used the spectators money to bring American funny cars to the the UK. Now the money is used to line the pockets of the promoters.
You only need to look at how the sport can grow if not robbed blind by promoters by looking at how Trevor Duckworth has completely revitalised drag racing and top speed/ten of the best in the North.
Erm…. I’m not sure any of the Straightliners venues could hold a candle to the facilities of the Pod…The Phelps family used the spectators money to bring American funny cars to the the UK. Now the money is used to line the pockets of the promoters.
You only need to look at how the sport can grow if not robbed blind by promoters by looking at how Trevor Duckworth has completely revitalised drag racing and top speed/ten of the best in the North.
Think you’ll find the promoter has invested significantly to create a world class drag strip ?
Maybe not, but I do take my hat off to the team at York ,who have beavered away at improving the venue , from improved access to better grandstands and who deserve more local support than they get . Always amazes me that cars and coffe evens attract so many (when it's basically oohing and aahing over parked cars and /or behaving like a dick when leaving ) when drag racing offers real spectacle -none more than the amazing Force of Nature rocket steam bike - ss1/8mile - 3.5 @167mph
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