Renewed interest in Funny Cars
Discussion
‘Talk is cheap but action is real’ someone once said. Currently there is a lot of internet talk about a number of existing European top fuel teams moving over to funny car or adding a funny car to their stable. Personally I am really pleased to see the ‘potential’ renewed interest in fielding more funny cars in Europe. Roll on 2007 and let’s see what comes out of the off season.
Things have a habit of going full circle. Those who have been around a while will remember the Pod’s 1980 world finals meeting with a funny car entry list of 20, for the 16 car eliminator. Back then top fuel was going through a lean time, not only in Europe, and it only started to pick up in the US after Don Garlits returned to racing full time in 1884
I’ve no intention of knocking top fuel as it’s the king of speed but additional funny cars will hopefully bring healthy competition to Showtime and shockwave, who have put up a fabulous effort but get ignored as they have had problems in sometimes getting down the track, and to some that’s all they want to remember them for.
Getting back to the Pods 1980 world finals, one of the entries was Raymond Beadle, at the time the current NHRA funny car world champion. Well, Del Worsham has built a replica of Raymond’s car which he races at limited nostalgia races. In preparation for this weekends Fuel and Gas Finals at Bakersfield, last Monday Del ran it in testing, after the NHRA national race at Vegas. Wait for this, he ran 5.919 at 243.85 mph! They have been by the many nostalgia racers, fans, and reporters at Vegas that's the quickest run in the history of Nostalgia Funny Car racing. Follow the link to his blog:
[url]http://blogs.nhra.com/nhrablogs.asp?b[/url]
Herb
Things have a habit of going full circle. Those who have been around a while will remember the Pod’s 1980 world finals meeting with a funny car entry list of 20, for the 16 car eliminator. Back then top fuel was going through a lean time, not only in Europe, and it only started to pick up in the US after Don Garlits returned to racing full time in 1884
I’ve no intention of knocking top fuel as it’s the king of speed but additional funny cars will hopefully bring healthy competition to Showtime and shockwave, who have put up a fabulous effort but get ignored as they have had problems in sometimes getting down the track, and to some that’s all they want to remember them for.
Getting back to the Pods 1980 world finals, one of the entries was Raymond Beadle, at the time the current NHRA funny car world champion. Well, Del Worsham has built a replica of Raymond’s car which he races at limited nostalgia races. In preparation for this weekends Fuel and Gas Finals at Bakersfield, last Monday Del ran it in testing, after the NHRA national race at Vegas. Wait for this, he ran 5.919 at 243.85 mph! They have been by the many nostalgia racers, fans, and reporters at Vegas that's the quickest run in the history of Nostalgia Funny Car racing. Follow the link to his blog:
[url]http://blogs.nhra.com/nhrablogs.asp?b[/url]
Herb
Edited by herb andrews on Tuesday 31st October 23:09
Over the years I have been lucky to go to over 50 NHRA national or divisional events and have crewed at 15 of them.
Two key points that stand out is slick organization and the lack of serious oil downs. Compared to the US, generally there is a lot of downtime over here. That’s a fact. Its not rocket science and I am sure the organizers take advice from the US but if entries are to increase, and I have no doubt Santa Pod can cope, downtime will have to be reduced and kept to a minimum.
Before about 1995 oil downs were regular occurrences at NHRA events. However, with the introduction of live television the organizers were forced to reduce the down time caused by them. One of the things they introduced was penalties. The offending racer is now fined and has championship points taken away from them if they oil the track and the clean up crew roll. I am not suggesting the same should be applied over here but at this years European finals there was too many leakers, for our own good. New spectators will get bored and not return, we took some with us and thats what they said, which is bad news all around. You will never eliminate oil downs and NHRA does not get it right all the time, for example at Richmond Virginia a few weeks ago our schedule was adrift by an hour after a pro stocker oiled the complete lane! No racer deliberately goes out knowing the thing will leak but we should use lessons learnt by NHRA.
That’s my thoughts
Herb
Two key points that stand out is slick organization and the lack of serious oil downs. Compared to the US, generally there is a lot of downtime over here. That’s a fact. Its not rocket science and I am sure the organizers take advice from the US but if entries are to increase, and I have no doubt Santa Pod can cope, downtime will have to be reduced and kept to a minimum.
Before about 1995 oil downs were regular occurrences at NHRA events. However, with the introduction of live television the organizers were forced to reduce the down time caused by them. One of the things they introduced was penalties. The offending racer is now fined and has championship points taken away from them if they oil the track and the clean up crew roll. I am not suggesting the same should be applied over here but at this years European finals there was too many leakers, for our own good. New spectators will get bored and not return, we took some with us and thats what they said, which is bad news all around. You will never eliminate oil downs and NHRA does not get it right all the time, for example at Richmond Virginia a few weeks ago our schedule was adrift by an hour after a pro stocker oiled the complete lane! No racer deliberately goes out knowing the thing will leak but we should use lessons learnt by NHRA.
That’s my thoughts
Herb
Edited by herb andrews on Thursday 2nd November 13:28
Edited by herb andrews on Thursday 2nd November 18:24
Thanks for picking up my typo, I thought Don was looking a bit jaded!
Anyway, goes to show people are reading it.
24 TF's ran at Indy this year, ET's ranged from number 1 qualifier at 4.475 to 16th at 4.585. I recall that downtime during the 5 qualifying sessions was almost zero. I appreciate, in comparision the majority of teams in Europe are well under funded and are run by part time (read unpaid) crew and I do not think handing out fines will work, but something has to be done if the 'average/first time spectator' is going to keep come back. As I said NHRA was in this situation before about 1995 and they did something about it.
Herb
Anyway, goes to show people are reading it.
24 TF's ran at Indy this year, ET's ranged from number 1 qualifier at 4.475 to 16th at 4.585. I recall that downtime during the 5 qualifying sessions was almost zero. I appreciate, in comparision the majority of teams in Europe are well under funded and are run by part time (read unpaid) crew and I do not think handing out fines will work, but something has to be done if the 'average/first time spectator' is going to keep come back. As I said NHRA was in this situation before about 1995 and they did something about it.
Herb
Edited by herb andrews on Thursday 2nd November 22:48
The other car I am sure everybody would like to see out next year is Nobby Hills houndog. Their website shows the car well on the way to completion (may even be finished)so I guess its 'just' down to money. Nobby must be so frustrated, having put all that effort in and its just sitting there, so lets hope its out next year. Does anybody know if thats a real possibility?
Herb
Herb
Edited by herb andrews on Saturday 18th November 06:26
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