An NHRA Event With No JFR

Check in with your pals daily. What's on your mind?
User avatar
WildcatOne
Posts:6732
Joined:Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:17 am
Location:Houston, Texas
Contact:
An NHRA Event With No JFR

Postby WildcatOne » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:40 am

Besides the already gloomy half-hearted atmosphere, the ho-hum performance numbers being put up in spite of recent major track renovations and improvements, and at least the third qualifying session rained-out, without JFR, this event is just not very good. It's like half an event or something, the way I see it. They'll do what they can to get through it but I'd think not only will attendance hit an all-time low, the racers are just going through the motions and are looking forward to getting this one over with. It's just such a sad exercize. This is my home track, but it just happened to be here at this time. Without JFR, NHRA just doesn't appear to me to be all that hot. The sparkle just isn't there...and whoever wins in Funny Car should have an asterisk added next to the W in their stat sheet...(* JFR not competing at this event)...I'd like to open this thread up to include everybody's thoughts on what adjustments if any should be implemented in the future, as well as anything else that would go along with how much things have changed in the last couple of weeks. Safe racing to all. Cheers, WC1
Life Is Good!
http://www.peeweebowenband.com
Support Live Music!

User avatar
jim sanders
Posts:8740
Joined:Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:54 am
Location:St.Louis Mo.
Contact:

Postby jim sanders » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:54 am

:( I know what you mean WC... just one look at the entry page in F/C on thursday says it all.....

User avatar
jim sanders
Posts:8740
Joined:Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:54 am
Location:St.Louis Mo.
Contact:

Postby jim sanders » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:59 am

I caught this link on classic this morning.... just something to read....
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4677040.html
GOOD TO GO !!
Uncle Curt Wasson album
[url=http://www.glowfoto.com/users2/gatorgumbo][img]http://www.glowfoto.com/siteimages/linktogallery.gif[/img][/url]

User avatar
WildcatOne
Posts:6732
Joined:Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:17 am
Location:Houston, Texas
Contact:

Postby WildcatOne » Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:31 pm

Jeff Coughlin? That's perfect for Houston motorsports reporting...the "record" numbers put up here will barely qualify at some of the other tracks...previous events and the rest of the season will bear that statement out...Thanks for the link, Doc!
I believe that a thorough investigation and correction into whatever caused that severe tire vibration is warranted and necessary. I do not personally favor making any other changes to the performance factors of the cars and calling it in the interest of safety. I want to see them go quicker and faster, not slow them down. Make the cockpits safer, yes. They could always be made safer. I also think having SAFER barriers from half-track to the turnoff would be good. But I don't want them to slow the cars down, shorten the tracks or implement more performance-inhibiting devices or rules. History is now. Let the good times roll, all the way. As safe as possible is good, but you can't drag race and say it's safe...it's a dangerous sport. Everybody who knows this sport knows that. The inherent risks are part of the process of achieving the rewards, even if the rewards are aesthetic. Make them stronger and better equipped to handle the stresses of the combination of thousands of horsepower, aerodynamic downforce, speed and ungodly physical pressure, but let them race on. That's my opinion, and I hope it comes across not to offend or hurt anybody, you folks especially as well as JFR, the NHRA and anyone else who might read this with a different take. It's all good, and thanks. Cheers, WC1
Life Is Good!
http://www.peeweebowenband.com
Support Live Music!

User avatar
draglist
Site Admin
Posts:13792
Joined:Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:23 pm
Location:Waldorf MD
Contact:

Postby draglist » Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:13 pm

I'm not opposed to some sort of sensor that detects tire shake and/or going up in smoke, and makes the proper adjustments. It would be good for the show for one thing, and might just save a life for another. There is definitely something called Shaken Baby Syndrome. Now take that times 1000 and that's what some of these drivers are undergoing during tire shake. When you get out of the car and you are dizzy from it, that's unacceptable, but we know that goes on. At a minimum, the driver of a 340 mph machine is not at his or her full faculties after tire shake. At worst, it could cause a fatal disconnect of brain function. Another interesting point is that made by ABC network anchor Bob Woodruff, who suffered severe head trauma in Iraq. His doctors have said that had his injury happened in the states -- even near one of the top facilities here -- he probably would not have made it. The ability to remove pressure from the brain under these circumstances is crucial, and the best real-world experts in those procedures are in the battle hospitals at the battle front. I hope the tragic loss of Eric will result in common sense safety improvements for the sport. bp
Bill Pratt
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php

User avatar
jim sanders
Posts:8740
Joined:Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:54 am
Location:St.Louis Mo.
Contact:

Postby jim sanders » Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:53 pm

.... well said B.P.
GOOD TO GO !!
Uncle Curt Wasson album
[url=http://www.glowfoto.com/users2/gatorgumbo][img]http://www.glowfoto.com/siteimages/linktogallery.gif[/img][/url]

User avatar
WildcatOne
Posts:6732
Joined:Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:17 am
Location:Houston, Texas
Contact:

Postby WildcatOne » Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:56 pm

I totally agree about the sensor, BP. Great thought. I have been wondering when Dan Olson is going to say something. This is his first big chance to do something. I'm very interested to see what it's going to be. I would imagine he's been working on it, with JFR on one side and the suits on the other. If they could all concur on common ground, wouldn't that be great? As much as I hate to say this, Eric won't be the last dragstrip fatality in a fuel class or any other, for that matter. As long as this sport exists, anything can and probably will happen. I just don't want to see knee-jerk reaction-type measures taken that hinder rather than enhance performance, as has happened in the past. As BP said, common sense hopefully will prevail. Right now, everybody's grieving, trying to collect their thoughts and put this into some kind of workable format as it relates to the rest of their season and their lives. I'm looking for something to happen soon that will help, not inhibit, progress. I would love it if Robert Hight came back and won the title after missing this race. I also would make arrangements with sponsors not to reactivate Eric's ride until next season, and I'd talk to Eric's best buddy J.R. Todd about if he'd want to take it over next year. That's in my world, through my eyes. Whatever they decide to do is their business and JFR will make appropriate assignments, decisions and adjustments that will work out best for them. God Bless them. I hope I'm not adding any pain by what could be called speculating. The season is moving forward, they're racing again, and these are my thoughts at this time. Open for input...Cheers, WC1
Last edited by WildcatOne on Sun Apr 01, 2007 7:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Life Is Good!
http://www.peeweebowenband.com
Support Live Music!

User avatar
pro70z28
Posts:11682
Joined:Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:17 pm

Postby pro70z28 » Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:20 pm

Wow, that chron.com article was a surprise to me. No tire failure, tire shake and possible debris on the track? Tire shake sensor might not be a bad idea.
15th Annual DRAGLIST Nationals Sometime in 2020. Somewhere in the USA.

beegator

Postby beegator » Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:18 pm

WC this is a great articulate thread. BP outstanding comment. I am still to sad and stunned to make any intelligent comment.

User avatar
WildcatOne
Posts:6732
Joined:Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:17 am
Location:Houston, Texas
Contact:

Postby WildcatOne » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:34 pm

Another strong line of thunderstorms moved through here late last night and laid another couple of inches of water on everything. It's flat here, and it's at sea-level. The water just pretty much stays where it got dropped until it evaporates or gets blown away by a helicopter. They came within minutes of running more qualifying rounds yesterday and were stopped by intermittent showers. Same thing is happening this morning. I have the audiocast on (I think...they're only saying something every 10 minutes..."The owner of a 4-door Ford truck!" "Mother Nature sure has a sense of humor!" "We were within minutes...you can't dry a slip 'n slide in 5 minutes, folks..." then silence.) All at once, I am deep-down, praying that this is a safe event, and that it will thankfully end and the season can resume in Vegas in a couple of weeks. What a revoltin' development this is! Happy April Fool's Day, everybody! Welcome to Houston! Everybody's here except JFR, and we ain't racin'! That's because it rains every time we dry the track! All that aside, I hope once it does get going and they can finish this one, that they will move on with a renewed enthusiasm and focus towards their goals in Vegas...Cheers, WC1
Life Is Good!
http://www.peeweebowenband.com
Support Live Music!


Return to “What's Up”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 35 guests

cron