NHRA vs ADRL

[Tet]

Looks like the NHRA is showing once again that it knows how to win friends and influence people. Sigh...

http://www.dragracingonline.com/burksblast/xi_2-3....

[MotorPsycho]

I'm pretty sure Wally is turning in his grave right about now

[TheMighty]

I don't think thats really the entire truth of the matter Tet.

NHRA put a mandate in place to allow Super Chevy, ADRL, and other ASO's to run nitro motors in doorslammers. Super Chevy run blown nitro at 30% and ADRL had made a nod towards possibly allowing injected nitro cars in Pro-Extreme so the mandate was that NHRA would allow upto what I remember as being 50% in doorcars at NHRA sanctioned tracks and the safety rules that go with it.

During the off-season Kenny Knowling has decided that he'd like to get some injected nitro cars in the show, but instead of looking at the NHRA mandate for nitro doorslammers has clearly decided it suits him and his show better if they run to NHRA TAD injected nitro combination rules.

Now you have to consider...

1 Why do NHRA not allow injected nitro funny cars?
2 Why does NHRA not run nitro in its Pro-Mod exhibition class?
3 Are engine rules for a 300" rear engined dragster really relevant to a 115" doorcar?

...amongst many other questions some of which would clearly be about the way the ADRL promotes itself.

If nothing goes wrong and no one gets hurt it will be a great ADRL show. If something goes wrong and heaven forbid the worst should happen, then it would clearly be at an NHRA sanctioned racetrack and under NHRA's insurance scheme which surely wouldn't cover injected nitro doorslammers running 94% which is not within NHRA's rules or the subsequent mandate to ASO's.

I'm not usually one to stand up and defend the NHRA, but in this instance in my opinion they are totally in the right and Knowling is just doing his best to create some pre-season PR for the ADRL as he usually does by creating some controversy.

Edited by TheMighty on Saturday 28th February 15:02

[Jon C]

NHRA seems intent on pressing the self-destruct button at the moment. They would do well to remember the lessons of what happened when CART thought they could crush all other sanctions, including a tiny, poorly organised group calling themselves the IRL.

RIP Paul Rose, BTW

[MotorPsycho]

Thing is I don't get why NHRA have the right to tell other associations what to do

[Lee@LA]

given the choice i would attend a ADRL event over a NHRA one.

[Modernpics]

MotorPsycho said:

Thing is I don't get why NHRA have the right to tell other associations what to do

dont you have some talica to enjoy?
its called money when you have no competition every one races with you resulting in more money for your fat cats. it stopped being about the sport long ago now its just corporate america, big fish controlls pond little fish darts round the outside trying not to get eaten.

[TheMighty]

MotorPsycho said:

Thing is I don't get why NHRA have the right to tell other associations what to do

Adam, this is why people are ranting all over the internet and as far as I can see they're just not looking at the bigger picture.

NHRA is not telling ADRL what it can and can't do. ADRL can do whatever it likes as long as it isn't on an NHRA track! What it is saying is that no one can run an injected nitro doorslammer on 94% at HMP (or anywhere else for that matter) under their sanction and insurance. The ADRL is a "promotion", "organisation", "association" or "championship" it is not a sanctioning body and the track is sanctioned and insured by the NHRA so surely the risk is the NHRA's and it should be up to them to mitigate that risk. If the ADRL sanctioned tracks it would be in a position to say what does and doesn't run on those tracks. I don't very often feel the need to defend NHRA, but in this case I think they are perfectly in the right to protect their interests.

Think of it in terms of the UK...

For example; The NFAA changes its rules so that Clive Mechaell can run in the class with chassis and engine configuration as it has been in recent times. The NFAA turn up to run at SPR with Clive as part of the deal at a race meeting. Being that all race meetings(not glorified RWYB's) are held under MSA sanction and the NFAA then say "it fits our rules and he's part of our championship and we're not running without him" should the MSA allow the car and indeed the NFAA to run at the event?

Back to the US;
I turn up at a Friday Street Car Night at HMP, and I run 12.5's. On inspection the car hasn't got a prop-loop fitted although I do run a CF propshaft. Its only street cars and run as a local event by the track with no championship. Should HPM allow me to race as the car is inherently safe or as in reality would I be turned away as HMP is an NHRA track and the NHRA says that any car running less than 12.99 should have a prop loop regardless of what event they are running at?

Edited by TheMighty on Sunday 1st March 12:05

[Bob Jarrett]

Perfect explanation Chris. Drag racing is a hobby to 99.9% of European racers, so that's why not many understand NHRA's reasoning sometimes. BJ

[Time Machine]

Thanksa for the insight Chris, it is good to get the whole story. As reported I found it a little incredulous, with a bit more background it makes sense and is either a severe case of not communicating or, with a cynical hat on, a way of promoting an event loudly with very little outlay.

[Tet]

Yep, that makes more sense. I hadn't realised the NHRA had any financial liability for what happened at an ADRL meeting. I'm no fan of the NHRA in general, but it does seem like they're being unfairly maligned here.