Post by johnbalich on Feb 5, 2009 9:26:55 GMT -7
I'm glad to see renewed interest in this topic. All that follows are my own opinions, not necessarily the official final position on any item. Btw, as a little peek into how rules are formulated.......................they come after much discussion and analysis and some frayed nerves. The goal of rules is to set a clear playing field. Enforcement is no fun but it is a must, of course. Another goal is to provide distinct and varied classes.........In other words enough classes to satisfy the wishes of as many racers as possible, yet not so many classes that we end up with a field of 3 or four......(except of course, match racing)
Personally, its hard to imagine an "outlaw" "run what ya brung race" being successful for long............but I'd say 'try anything once' if enough guys are showing interest. IT CAN HAPPEN.
I have nothing against a $100.00 car or a $300.00 car per se. Its' just that most guys can't afford to run in that crowd. I'm one of em. Oh, maybe I could justify ONE such car over time............I prefer to own 6-10 moderately priced cars for that 300.00 bucks
There is ALWAYS SOMEONE who has more money to spend on his hobby than you. This guy can buy 100 chassis and armatures to sort through, has lathe, dynomometer, a custom armature winder on his payroll...........
But to repeat, if enough guys have sincere interest, such a class could happen. However, Classes like Superstock, Gasser, Ratt Rodd and others like them will always be a mainstay of NTRA. NTRA is for the Joe six-pack in all of us. If high dollar racing happens also, it will be driven by racers pushing NTRA not vice versa. To repeat, and yes I'm sticking my neck out and speaking for NTRA as a group.................Classes like Superstock and Gasser are fixtures. Ratt Rodd looks good as it's a 'fun' class. Inexpensive and imagination-friendly.
At the Fall Nationals the fastest and most expensive cars were the Pro mods. Pro Mod is a very small 'controlled dose' of pricier racing. I think the field was six. There's nothing wrong with that at all and it was fun to have them on the card. I expect them to race again and again. But in our promotion, the BB/FC class and Ratt Rodds were top billing. I say this to reassure our base, the guys who wanna race but to whom it's a hobby with financial limits. You guys will always have a place to race as Long as NTRA exists.
Anyway I think the point is made.......average racers have no need to be concerned that NTRA will leave them behind, especially since most of us average Joe racers with average Joe budgets. The more daring and radical among you can rest assured that ALL types of cars and racing are possibilities, and will be interest driven. I would assume that such classes could be made available 'incrementally.' Right now Pro Mod is the most radical class. Perhaps a Fuel Altered class, or something similar could be the next stop 'up the ladder.'
Another possibility is to offer a "Modified" class........... that is Pro Mod bodies on Sportsman chassis, a Fuel Altered class as well as an Altered class, (again A Sportsman based chassis), a Top Fuel and Top Gas dragster class, (Top Gas being Sportsman based) a Top Fuel Funny car in addition to exisiting Sportsman BB/FC.............this is all on the table. None of it will happen overnight, and again we don't want a meet that has ten fields of four cars.
Personally, I don't see a problem with a field or two or 16 and maybe a field of ( or two) 4 or 8 in addition, for the hard cores.
Match races are always available as well. There are many other ideas rolling around in the mix-master, and I'll give you a glimpse of them in another commentary. All the ideas I am referring to relate to keeping ALL our guys interested and motivated in HO Slot Racing.
KEEP YOUR COMMENTS COMING
Personally, its hard to imagine an "outlaw" "run what ya brung race" being successful for long............but I'd say 'try anything once' if enough guys are showing interest. IT CAN HAPPEN.
I have nothing against a $100.00 car or a $300.00 car per se. Its' just that most guys can't afford to run in that crowd. I'm one of em. Oh, maybe I could justify ONE such car over time............I prefer to own 6-10 moderately priced cars for that 300.00 bucks
There is ALWAYS SOMEONE who has more money to spend on his hobby than you. This guy can buy 100 chassis and armatures to sort through, has lathe, dynomometer, a custom armature winder on his payroll...........
But to repeat, if enough guys have sincere interest, such a class could happen. However, Classes like Superstock, Gasser, Ratt Rodd and others like them will always be a mainstay of NTRA. NTRA is for the Joe six-pack in all of us. If high dollar racing happens also, it will be driven by racers pushing NTRA not vice versa. To repeat, and yes I'm sticking my neck out and speaking for NTRA as a group.................Classes like Superstock and Gasser are fixtures. Ratt Rodd looks good as it's a 'fun' class. Inexpensive and imagination-friendly.
At the Fall Nationals the fastest and most expensive cars were the Pro mods. Pro Mod is a very small 'controlled dose' of pricier racing. I think the field was six. There's nothing wrong with that at all and it was fun to have them on the card. I expect them to race again and again. But in our promotion, the BB/FC class and Ratt Rodds were top billing. I say this to reassure our base, the guys who wanna race but to whom it's a hobby with financial limits. You guys will always have a place to race as Long as NTRA exists.
Anyway I think the point is made.......average racers have no need to be concerned that NTRA will leave them behind, especially since most of us average Joe racers with average Joe budgets. The more daring and radical among you can rest assured that ALL types of cars and racing are possibilities, and will be interest driven. I would assume that such classes could be made available 'incrementally.' Right now Pro Mod is the most radical class. Perhaps a Fuel Altered class, or something similar could be the next stop 'up the ladder.'
Another possibility is to offer a "Modified" class........... that is Pro Mod bodies on Sportsman chassis, a Fuel Altered class as well as an Altered class, (again A Sportsman based chassis), a Top Fuel and Top Gas dragster class, (Top Gas being Sportsman based) a Top Fuel Funny car in addition to exisiting Sportsman BB/FC.............this is all on the table. None of it will happen overnight, and again we don't want a meet that has ten fields of four cars.
Personally, I don't see a problem with a field or two or 16 and maybe a field of ( or two) 4 or 8 in addition, for the hard cores.
Match races are always available as well. There are many other ideas rolling around in the mix-master, and I'll give you a glimpse of them in another commentary. All the ideas I am referring to relate to keeping ALL our guys interested and motivated in HO Slot Racing.
KEEP YOUR COMMENTS COMING
john i know your right about your age old don't even come close sorry bud you opened the door . 
and don't look the other way when it comes to young guns we just may pass you by ........