Bring on the EFI and Turbos

I for one love turbos and EFI and there needs to be a place in the IHRA for these cars because they are impressive. They have a motor that I can actually buy not some hybrid Leonard/Kaase $100K non realistic motor combo running a prehistoric carburetor(something that has not been used on a production vehicle in 15yrs).

I love to watch the IHRA and NHRA pro stock class but I recognize them for what they are....outdated. Please IHRA do not insult the future of performance by throwing it in this dinosaur class. With enough time and support they will rule the class and you will be forced to reduce them to below 200ci and add weight!

All they need is a class for them showcase their abilities, attract larger sponsor and Leonard and Kaase will be in the unemployment line. They need a sanctioning body to treat the class with respect and not bikini contests and burnouts. 800+ci????? Why when 250ci can outrun it! It would be like building a normally aspirated Top Fuel car....why?

If you want to improve the PS class then give them EFI...you know the same stuff that is on every car sold in America in the 15 yrs. What was the first NHRA stocker in the 7's? I will give you a hint it had less than 210ci and wasn't normally aspirated! - KE4DGI@aol.com

Top Stock #2

In all honesty, who really cares? It just seems like a filler to me. I would rather see the old Top Sportsman Quick 8 shootout as a filler, gives the quick t/s cars who may want to move up to Pro Modified or Pro Stock some exposure in front of the big crowd. - josh.m@sympatico.ca

Top Stock #1

Just more whining from someone that didn't support the class as much as they say they did. The rules certainly don't make everyone happy; but commentary from people that want to play but don't have the resources are no good to anyone. We would all love to run Pro Stock, so go whine to NHRA and see where it gets you. - schristian12@adelphia.net

Foreign Cars Not Welcome in Pro Stock

Good Day CP. I'm a frequent visitor to the CP site. I was almost knocked off the chair when I read the article on Japanese cars coming into "IHRA Mountain Motored P/S". As a spectator,and ticket purchasing American, leave the rice cars to NOPI. GM and Ford both are having some difficulties regarding the Japanese junk, and GM has had to whack 30,000 American jobs because of the imports. If my comment is worth a penny, lock the gates IHRA. You heard the racers, Japanese cars are not welcome here in the IHRA Pro Stock class. Just my opinion. I vote "NO" too. - Dan Mead

Oil and Water not mixable

I just wanted to voice my opinion concerning this so called new addition to the IHRA Pro Stock ranks. This class is just fine as it is. Oil and water will never mix so keep the rice burners out of the mix. If need be, develop an Import Pro Stock class just for them to race in and let's see how it goes that way. There's nothing more exciting than seeing a 2,400lb. car with over 800 inches cover the 1/4 mile in under 6.5 seconds on ALL MOTOR!! Let's keep the foreign stuff out of this class unless they're willing to fund a program where they can develop a naturally aspirated import, large cubic import motor. Then, maybe this can get interesting. Foreign mountain motors versus domestic mountain motors wouldn't be so bad in my opinion. - xlr8r4u2003@yahoo.com

A Racer Speaks

I just want to know if IHRA is prepared to police fuel injection. It is no secret that the fuel injection ECU controls engine function while traveling down the race track by what it reads off of a sensor. This means it receives input and makes corrections and adjusts what the engine does, this also means within the ECU other things can be treated the same way (i.e. traction control). If they try to police it and stop what the computer is trying to do then you might as well make the import guys run a carburetor which will never happen. IHRA Pro Stock works just fine, there is close racing, great car counts ( equal to or greater than NHRA Pro Stock) and the class has had the same basic structure since its conception over 30 years ago.

Not only do the "Pro" stock racers as well as the rest of the pro teams have to run on a sportsman ladder now they want us to run turbo V6 cars. All we need now are some dragsters and altered and we have recreated the class IHRA canceled a few years ago....Modified Eliminator (NHRA calls it Competition Eliminator).

IHRA is looking for its place in the motorsport entertainment industry however there are some things that you just can't mess with, there will be no positive gain. The only gain I see will be negative, 35 pissed of Pro Stock racers in the pits with 2 happy import guys who got the chance to race against the Pro Stock guys. What about the fans IHRA? I haven't see any positive feedback from them on this issue, aren't they what is most important in the first place. What is the real underlying issue, will IHRA come out and say what is really on their mind?

Concerned about my racing future. - Tony Gillig

Well, Did He?

I think Pro Mod would be a better fit, but I notice at NHRA races when Pro Stock runs a lot of people leave the stands. Does the same thing happen at IHRA events? I think the racers need to take notice. Didn't John Nobile run a Ford at a couple of Fun Ford Events against small-block turbo cars? Interesting comments. - Ed Mats.

Where's the promotion?

Today I was reading USA Today and in the sports section Chevrolet was touting their five series champions. However, there was no mention of Steve Spiess bring home the IHRA Pro Stock Championship.

Why not?

I hope Aaron is asking himself the same thing. IHRA needs to promote what it has first and then build on it. Throwing ideas (i.e. your dart board) and classes at it won't fill the stands. - Pat Norcia

Down Under Feedback

I am an engine builder in Melbourne, Australia. I am somewhat of a smaller operation than Jon Kaase. We build Pro Stock motors for racers here and that includes all three manufacturers, GM, Ford and Mopar.

I couldn't agree with Jon more. Pro stock racers have paid their dues over the years. Imports are a growing 'idea' which have no place in a naturally aspirated class. There are whispers of trying a similar thing here. Pro Modified is the only class they should be 'placed' or if the numbers are there, a stand alone class. Pro Stock is the elite naturally aspirated class of our great sport, whether it is Mountain motor, 500ci or 400ci small blocks(Australia).

Mix it up if you want to mess it up. - Con Sideris

A True Fan Responds

I agree with the Pro Stock drivers. I will set and watch all of the classes run, stock, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, elapsed times, cars, whatever it is. Well almost. I don't really get off on the box cars. I understand the work they put into winning, but they are boring to watch. Mash the gas and hold it there.The V6 Turbo's will be real fun to watch. They go very fast. They leave the line very hard and that always makes for great racing, but give them their own class. - John White

A Racer Responds

Some day Pro Stock might be foreign cars but this class is American made mountain motors. We all use the same fuel. We all have to be naturally aspirated and now you are asking us to change our rules so they can run with us really does this sound fair? IHRA is known for its mountain motor cars. Please leave the class alone. - Mike Bruno

Sport Compacts in Pro Stock = Two Edged Sword

I apologize for saying this, however, both sides have points, but, the real proof is what do the fans want. If you look at any racing business that is successful and progressing it is about the fans and the loyalty, you can sell marketing packages to Fortune 500 companies all day if they know in the end it is the bottom dollar sale.

I know that with the Sport Compact crowd their events are wild, they are the future of Motorsports, however, do you want Bikini Contests at IHRA events.. We are pushing way past Hooters girls now....

Just know that in a time when America is looking for young Americans to have role models and values, and ethics ... this may not be the way to go...

We need to be unique, yes this is true. However, we need to do through promotions, public relations, with different corporations. Does it need to be like a circus? No, does it need great excitement for everyone, yes...

Where's the Mission Statement?

How are we going to get there? - Don O'Neal

Pink is cool

As a fan and a later participant in our sport, I have thoughroughly enjoyed reading the Dave Wallace articles on Ed Pink.They have been very informative and give a great perspective on the mind of the "Old
Master".Hopefully there is a lot more on Ed Pink,he is one of the true greats of our sport. - Chris DeGidio

Love the Photographers

As a loooong time photo wannabe, I enjoyed this piece so much! The first NHRA meet I ever had credentials at,(Atlanta, 82) Joe Sherk was the man in charge.

I consider Les Lovett as a mentor.

And meeting Rick Shute, Richard Brady and Les Welch was just a pleasure. I really enjoyed the close call part of the story, as although I had a piece of The Greeks blower case land right next to me, taking photos for years at one of the top sprint car tracks in the country, (Knoxville, Iowa) was way more hazardous than any the story told of shooting drag racing.

Thanks for running the piece! - Al Booton

I had to let you know how much I enjoyed your article on Drag Racing Photographers,"History In Their Hands". Excellent article with a very appropriate title. As a track photographer myself (Huntsville Dragway) I stand in awe at the photos these true Professionals have worked so hard to share with us all. Oh yes,it IS work. It's wonderful to be able to live in the internet era where a click of a mouse allows me to visit CompetitionPlus,Auto Imagery,and others to see a collection of their awesome photos.

So,thanks for the article and thanks to these Photographers for the great photos. I know sometimes being at the right place at the right time produces a great photo,but the majority of the great shots these folks take are due to a knowledge of the sport of Drag Racing,a knowledge of their equipment, their skill in using that equipment,and a drive to get the best shot possible which means planning the shot. I applaud their efforts and that of CompetitionPlus for the article. Keep up the good work! - usa4ever@hiwaay.net

Great article. Would like to see some of Leslie's (Lovette) photos too! Great website,ya have and I check it every day! - Greg Davidson

Steve, tell us how you really feel...

Well another outstanding batch of muckracking by that "Nabob of Negativism" Asher.

As a Stock Eliminator racer I was glad to see the circus act of Pro Mod take a back seat to those who are constantly getting jabbed when the rains delayed the show. To say they were treated shabby was to ignore the premium pit space they were given while I got put in the rocks and mud. A little poetic justice in my book!

While there may be a dampening of some people's ability to attend as many races next year, I doubt the attendance debacle that Asher frets about. Frankly I'm amazed at the resiliency of the sport of drag racing through many of history's various crisis. And Asher has been in print screaming during everyone of them "the sky is falling, the sky is falling".

I would venture to say the Asher is considered something of a joke inside NHRA's insular executive suite. He is like a fly buzzing around the ass of an elephant. Annoying but harmless.

You should be ashamed to have this gadfly on your staff. - Steve Sullivan

Letters submitted to CompetitionPlus.com do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the staff of CompetitionPlus.com, its advertisers or management. Send any feedback letter you may have to comppluseditor@aol.com. 

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