NHRA WorldWide.
Discussion
There was talk of Bahrain being part of the European championship a few years ago but for some reason things never took off there. I got the impression that the people involved were not prepared to throw mega bucks at the sport to get it off the ground. It's too far to get to by land so everything would have to be flown out there which is of course expensive. However the Abu Dhabi track development has cost £bn already and if they are prepared to fund 2 top fuel cars as a start it may well be that they will be prepared to pay for some European cars to go out there as competition.
The other question of course is are the DSR cars going to sit out there doing nothing except the odd exhibition or are they going to enter the FIA European {or maybe Australian} events when nothing is happening out there.
Bill
The other question of course is are the DSR cars going to sit out there doing nothing except the odd exhibition or are they going to enter the FIA European {or maybe Australian} events when nothing is happening out there.
Bill
WJM said:
The other question of course is are the DSR cars going to sit out there doing nothing except the odd exhibition or are they going to enter the FIA European {or maybe Australian} events when nothing is happening out there.
Bill
I'm sure I remember an article on DRO a while ago that mentioned they may race in Europe.Bill
Not sure what happened after the big Top Fuel meet at Bahrain International Circuit, but I remember the ensuing thread on the Dragsterworld forum discussing it really got someone's hackles up as that was what got it shut down.
IIRC either Uncle Wonko or Wirral Ranger had their fingers in that discussion as well; only joking !
The Dubai track looks good. No idea about the involvement of DSR, but after his Nitro fine from NHRA I'm not really sure he would get them involved if it was "his" party.
Anyway, if NHRA Worldwide rules are a function of domestic US NHRA rules, with or without delay in rule implementation, surely we will see a period where some vehicles won't pass scrutineering for their current class, or in certain cases, any class. Given that we have been through this pain barrier already in the 10 -15 years in the UK do we want to go through it again ?
Since I've had no direct experience of the NHRA I can't really comment, but many US racers sneer about the "Nazi Hot Rod Assn" and their travelling "Big Show" because they see that NHRA are actually now a money making machine for the benefit of the officers of the organisation and their marketing partners (sponsors) cronies rather than an association run for the benefit of racers.
Assuming that NHRA Worldwide is run with the right objectives it will be beneficial for us all, but with purely commercial or mainly commercial objectives it would likely be short-termist and harmful.
IIRC either Uncle Wonko or Wirral Ranger had their fingers in that discussion as well; only joking !
The Dubai track looks good. No idea about the involvement of DSR, but after his Nitro fine from NHRA I'm not really sure he would get them involved if it was "his" party.
Anyway, if NHRA Worldwide rules are a function of domestic US NHRA rules, with or without delay in rule implementation, surely we will see a period where some vehicles won't pass scrutineering for their current class, or in certain cases, any class. Given that we have been through this pain barrier already in the 10 -15 years in the UK do we want to go through it again ?
Since I've had no direct experience of the NHRA I can't really comment, but many US racers sneer about the "Nazi Hot Rod Assn" and their travelling "Big Show" because they see that NHRA are actually now a money making machine for the benefit of the officers of the organisation and their marketing partners (sponsors) cronies rather than an association run for the benefit of racers.
Assuming that NHRA Worldwide is run with the right objectives it will be beneficial for us all, but with purely commercial or mainly commercial objectives it would likely be short-termist and harmful.
It's fixable... said:
Anyway, if NHRA Worldwide rules are a function of domestic US NHRA rules, with or without delay in rule implementation, surely we will see a period where some vehicles won't pass scrutineering for their current class, or in certain cases, any class. Given that we have been through this pain barrier already in the 10 -15 years in the UK do we want to go through it again ?
IMHO no. I already have my reservations about NHRA rules being automatically introduced here after a 12 month delay. That said, we're still racing nitro powered cars over 1320ft and we still have a sane qualifying system, so I guess there are some rules that are being selectively ignored. Particularly when it comes to chassis tech, there are rules that are appropriate for a car making hard passes in a 23 round season that simply won't be relevant to a car running a 5 round European tour, and blindly adopting the NHRA rules is pricing people out and potentially stifling the European scene. Clearly there's a fine line to be drawn when it comes to balancing safety and affordability, and I don't envy the rule makers. I don't always feel they get it right, though.Tet said:
It's fixable... said:
Anyway, if NHRA Worldwide rules are a function of domestic US NHRA rules, with or without delay in rule implementation, surely we will see a period where some vehicles won't pass scrutineering for their current class, or in certain cases, any class. Given that we have been through this pain barrier already in the 10 -15 years in the UK do we want to go through it again ?
IMHO no. I already have my reservations about NHRA rules being automatically introduced here after a 12 month delay. That said, we're still racing nitro powered cars over 1320ft and we still have a sane qualifying system, so I guess there are some rules that are being selectively ignored. Particularly when it comes to chassis tech, there are rules that are appropriate for a car making hard passes in a 23 round season that simply won't be relevant to a car running a 5 round European tour, and blindly adopting the NHRA rules is pricing people out and potentially stifling the European scene. Clearly there's a fine line to be drawn when it comes to balancing safety and affordability, and I don't envy the rule makers. I don't always feel they get it right, though.when it all goes pete tong at 300 mph if your in a substandard car, be prepared your not gonna make it out of there alive
affordability shouldnt ever be concidered when concidering safty aspects, If you cant afford to do it safley then you cant afford to do it,
thats my only my oppinion though
Edited by badbird on Tuesday 19th January 17:16
Interesting read on DRO......
http://www.dragracingonline.com/analysis/xii_1-NHR...
I really like the sound of this.......
'But drag racing in Abu Dhabi, where they suspend racing in May due to the overwhelming heat, is just part of the program. The teams are going on a worldwide tour racing back in the U.S. and then later in Europe and Australia.'
But the stumbling block could be this.......
'But at the same time the NHRA took it to the next level by establishing a division of the NHRA complete with a division director to help any tracks that decide to hold an NHRA sanctioned event using all of the resources that NHRA currently offers its North American member tracks. It also means that if a European, UAE, or Australian track were to have one of these NHRA-sanctioned event, the cars and tracks would be required to abide by the NHRA rules and regulations.'
Interesting times ahead.
http://www.dragracingonline.com/analysis/xii_1-NHR...
I really like the sound of this.......
'But drag racing in Abu Dhabi, where they suspend racing in May due to the overwhelming heat, is just part of the program. The teams are going on a worldwide tour racing back in the U.S. and then later in Europe and Australia.'
But the stumbling block could be this.......
'But at the same time the NHRA took it to the next level by establishing a division of the NHRA complete with a division director to help any tracks that decide to hold an NHRA sanctioned event using all of the resources that NHRA currently offers its North American member tracks. It also means that if a European, UAE, or Australian track were to have one of these NHRA-sanctioned event, the cars and tracks would be required to abide by the NHRA rules and regulations.'
Interesting times ahead.
JohnW said:
Interesting read on DRO......
http://www.dragracingonline.com/analysis/xii_1-NHR...
I really like the sound of this.......
I do not "really like the sound of this..."http://www.dragracingonline.com/analysis/xii_1-NHR...
I really like the sound of this.......
We have in Europe shown that we can run the FIA circus without any input from NHRA - IMHO Long may it stay that way!
Sure, let those that want to enter the European meetings etc. do so, but we do not require any involvement of the NHRA.
Edited by NitroWars on Wednesday 20th January 12:31
@ Badbird,
I wasn't suggesting that all NHRA rules might be a bad thing, but it does seem that some of their pronouncements on safety rules, with tied or prescribed suppliers, represent an application of restrictive practice.
In priciple I agree that physical safety of racers crew and spectators always comes first, however surely you can see that in certain circumstances the application of rules purported to be in the interest of safety could be used as a control.
@ Everyone
The concept that any NHRA Worldwide meeting should be blindly run in full compliance with NHRA rule structire and associated edicts scares the s
t out of me.
I wasn't suggesting that all NHRA rules might be a bad thing, but it does seem that some of their pronouncements on safety rules, with tied or prescribed suppliers, represent an application of restrictive practice.
In priciple I agree that physical safety of racers crew and spectators always comes first, however surely you can see that in certain circumstances the application of rules purported to be in the interest of safety could be used as a control.
@ Everyone
The concept that any NHRA Worldwide meeting should be blindly run in full compliance with NHRA rule structire and associated edicts scares the s
t out of me.badbird said:
It's fixable... said:
@ Badbird,
I wasn't suggesting that all NHRA rules might be a bad thing, but it does seem that some of their pronouncements on safety rules, with tied or prescribed suppliers, represent an application of restrictive practice.
In priciple I agree that physical safety of racers crew and spectators always comes first, however surely you can see that in certain circumstances the application of rules purported to be in the interest of safety could be used as a control.
@ Everyone
The concept that any NHRA Worldwide meeting should be blindly run in full compliance with NHRA rule structire and associated edicts scares the st out of me.
Sorry i miss understood your reason for bringing saftey into it but you did mention saftey an the same sentence a s affordability,I wasn't suggesting that all NHRA rules might be a bad thing, but it does seem that some of their pronouncements on safety rules, with tied or prescribed suppliers, represent an application of restrictive practice.
In priciple I agree that physical safety of racers crew and spectators always comes first, however surely you can see that in certain circumstances the application of rules purported to be in the interest of safety could be used as a control.
@ Everyone
The concept that any NHRA Worldwide meeting should be blindly run in full compliance with NHRA rule structire and associated edicts scares the s
t out of me.I agree that whilst its a good rulebook to BASE fia rules around for the pro classes, there have to be exeptions otherwise we would be paying oil down fines if there wasnt,
I like the idea of international racing I dont like the idea of being forced to do what the nhra say
with no argument or exeption allowed
Anyway wouldn't the emerging scene in central and eastern Europe be more susceptible to absorption into the NHRA whereas the more established scene in western Europe and Scandinavia would be a harder nut for them to crack ?
It would be interesting to hear from Paul Fischer what his view is on this.
Just thinking that the marketplace in the US is effectively filled and therefore to expand the NHRA need to move into new marketplaces...
NHRA is affiliated to FIA and is likely their biggest drag racing partner and accordingly perhaps might be granted the rights to wrest control of drag racing away from National ASNs country by country or en bloc.
Particularly as the FIA, and some national ASNs have always seen drag racing as a renegade motorsport, not worthy of their respect or acceptance. NHRA Worldwide could be an opportune and convienient way for Drag Racing to be "dealt with" from the viewpoint of our (many) detractors.
Tog, why doesn't Eurodragster arrange an interview with Keith Bartlett as FIA / UEM championship promotor to get his view on the NHRA Worldwide deal ? Do NHRA formally recognise and have meaningful dialogue with Keith Bartlett ?
One suspects that this NHRA Worldwide press release is a preparatory announcement, so that the following announcement have had the way paved for them, with deals already done or close to being sealed.
It would be interesting to hear from Paul Fischer what his view is on this.
Just thinking that the marketplace in the US is effectively filled and therefore to expand the NHRA need to move into new marketplaces...
NHRA is affiliated to FIA and is likely their biggest drag racing partner and accordingly perhaps might be granted the rights to wrest control of drag racing away from National ASNs country by country or en bloc.
Particularly as the FIA, and some national ASNs have always seen drag racing as a renegade motorsport, not worthy of their respect or acceptance. NHRA Worldwide could be an opportune and convienient way for Drag Racing to be "dealt with" from the viewpoint of our (many) detractors.
Tog, why doesn't Eurodragster arrange an interview with Keith Bartlett as FIA / UEM championship promotor to get his view on the NHRA Worldwide deal ? Do NHRA formally recognise and have meaningful dialogue with Keith Bartlett ?
One suspects that this NHRA Worldwide press release is a preparatory announcement, so that the following announcement have had the way paved for them, with deals already done or close to being sealed.
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