1000ft Fuel F/Cs at SPR

[transcontinental]

At the F.O.P. last Saturday I noticed that the orange 1000ft markers which we normally see only for Top Fuel, were left up for the Nitro Funny Cars. It was hard to see from the runs whether the timing had been adjusted accordingly but I just re-read E.D.'s report and it seems this is official now. Inevitable, disappointing but not entirely surprising. However the European F/C series has been billed (as far as I am aware) as a full 1/4 mile competition so when was this change made and why is SPR's website still publicising the Nitro F/C's as running the full 1/4 mile?? I had the feeling K.B. was supporting this to the end but obviously not so. Any thoughts?? Did I miss something?

[PanzerCommander]

Was it supposed to be part of the usual Easter Nitro car shoot out (Top Fuel Dragsters vs Funny Cars) and given that TFD's run over the 1000ft and are now setup to do so they made it all 1000ft for the purposes of that event?

I guess we will find out at the Main Event (as it was) whether this is now the case with Funny Cars too.

[transcontinental]

PanzerCommander said:

Was it supposed to be part of the usual Easter Nitro car shoot out (Top Fuel Dragsters vs Funny Cars) and given that TFD's run over the 1000ft and are now setup to do so they made it all 1000ft for the purposes of that event?

I guess we will find out at the Main Event (as it was) whether this is now the case with Funny Cars too.

Good thought, but no, the Festival of Power did not have a combined Top Fuel / Funny Car shootout, they were definitely separate. I guess this is something which has been sneaked in quietly by a certain promoter, knowing how unpopular and controversial it will be. But as you say, the next round will confirm. Fingers crossed I'm wrong! Seeing a few floppers running full 1/4s over the past couple of seasons has been a great reminder of just how much better full-length nitro racing is compared to its neutered 1000ft counterpart. Well that's my personal view anyway.

[NitroWars]

I understand that 1,000' is here to stay... I suppose it was inevitable but I would be happy if my understanding is incorrect.

[eurodragpics]

The idea was to being it inline with nitro racing as a whole, ie NHRA. 1000' was not just a one off for the F.O.P, it is here to stay. The other argument is that it will help the teams to save money, which is a bit more contentious as if you want to save money you don't tend to go fuel funny car racing.
If it does figure that heavily into saving money and helps teams get to the track more often, or new teams trying to break in, then surely it could be classed as a good thing?

[robc3303]

Regarding the Nitro FC series, the website http://www.eurofunnycar.com/index.php still only refers to 2013 season. Really enjoyed seeing these cars last year but wondering what the prospects for 2014 are ? Lack of any updates on the website isn't good.

[firewalker]

transcontinental said:

Good thought, but no, the Festival of Power did not have a combined Top Fuel / Funny Car shootout, they were definitely separate. I guess this is something which has been sneaked in quietly by a certain promoter, knowing how unpopular and controversial it will be. But as you say, the next round will confirm. Fingers crossed I'm wrong! Seeing a few floppers running full 1/4s over the past couple of seasons has been a great reminder of just how much better full-length nitro racing is compared to its neutered 1000ft counterpart. Well that's my personal view anyway.

Second all that to the hilt. I've honestly lost interest in Top Fuel since the 1000' rule. I was clinging to the hope of seeing a 4 second flopper as the saving grace. Much as I've always loved Nitro FCs I can't see my interest holding out well under these conditions now the last sanctuary for top fuel 1/4 mile racing is gone.
Neutered is a good word for it.
Can SPR really justify their '300mph dragsters' claim in their publicity any more? One or two at a top meet if you're lucky though I don't think it's happened more than once in a four day event since the rule was adopted.
Side by side 4 second 1/4 mile runs at 300+ that once had the crowds cheering RiP. In the Northern hemisphere anyway, they're still happily and safely running the 1/4 mile down under.

One of the draws to the Easter evens in recent years since the 1k foot debacle was the 1/4 mile Top Fuel, Dragsters and Funny Cars. Probably give it a miss next year.

Edited by firewalker on Saturday 26th April 09:03

[Tet]

firewalker said:

I've honestly lost interest in Top Fuel since the 1000' rule.

Really? You no longer have any interest in one of the most impressive sights in drag racing, just because it's run over a shorter distance? I'm no fan of 1000' racing. It feels, as you say, neutered. The cars are just getting up to speed when they're off the throttle and it feels like an aborted run. I miss seeing them run over the full 1320'. But to say you no longer have any interest in them? I don't get that. A blown nitro car at full throttle is, and I suspect to me always will be, one of the most intense experiences in the motorsport world. I'd much rather have 1000' racing than no racing at all.

[firewalker]

Tet said:

firewalker said:

I've honestly lost interest in Top Fuel since the 1000' rule.

Really? You no longer have any interest in one of the most impressive sights in drag racing, just because it's run over a shorter distance? I'm no fan of 1000' racing. It feels, as you say, neutered. The cars are just getting up to speed when they're off the throttle and it feels like an aborted run. I miss seeing them run over the full 1320'. But to say you no longer have any interest in them? I don't get that. A blown nitro car at full throttle is, and I suspect to me always will be, one of the most intense experiences in the motorsport world. I'd much rather have 1000' racing than no racing at all.

I agree with all you say, but yes honestly.
For blown nitro cars it's all about the nostalgia FCs and Fuel Altereds for me now - which I was always a fan of anyway. I'll still watch all the classes, but when it comes to TF I'm just thinking regular side by side 1000 ft 3s at 300+ and one day it might redeem itself but won't hold my breath.
For day trippers it's still 'wow big noise', for those newly interested in the sport it looks like something gets fiddled to make them look quicker and makes it hard to compare them to other classes under different rules to prove the hype, and for longstanding spectators and followers I think you'll struggle to find anyone on the banks who doesn't rue the day we lost side by side 4 second runs at 300+ over the time honoured distance - that easily quotable and boastable achievement of the spectacle and it's crowd pull factor is gone, but my opinion is my own.
I spend nearly a third of my disposable income a year travelling to and attending half a dozen events at the Pod, I can take or leave the exhibition stuff so cutting back on one isn't too hard a decision!
As you said, better than no Top Fuel at all, but for me no longer the kings of the asphalt jungle, and the arguments for and against have long been played out so I'll leave it at that.

[NitroChrisUK]

it says in the Festival of Power Program that this event was originally going to be round 1 for the European Funny Car Series but due to there only being 2 entries that was put off until the Main event and that it is indeed over 1000ft this year.

[robc3303]

Hope there will be more than one fuel FC at FIA Round 1. Interesting battle last year, so would be a shame to see the series fail so soon. Maybe there are further FCs to be added, hope so!