1/8 mile format

[Thumper]

Darrow, are you saying fiberglass bumpers, hood and deck lid are not allowed in THS?

Are brake upgrades not allow either?

Yes, the weight is what 3550? A little heavier than tsm I understand. But it's the drivers option to reduce weight, you don't have to be 3800 lbs right?

 

[TurboTnZ06]

Most THS cars at the races are in the 125 mph range, which is still fast. 125 or 135 probably isn't that different if you break on the top end. And in the 1/8, we're all over 100 mph anyways.

 

[Haulz A]

Darrow, both Dave (696) and I have raced and participated in THS, now Missy is driving our car, placed 4th in THS in 2017 at BG.

Your not preaching to a new or uneducated driver. Yes you and others have been faster than me. That could change in the near future.

All I am doing is voicing my opinion, I'm sorry you do not agree. Welcome to voting and discussion on rules.

My intentions was to bring up that Hot Street cars could be versatile by running 1/8 at TB.com and 1/4 at BG, I have now learned Gateway is a 1/4 mile track, is THS running 1/8 or 1/4 at gateway?

Thanks
Bill
TTS RRA

Bill,
I know who you are and respect everything you, Dave and Jim has to say about the THS class. Im only one voice echoing my opinion. Several other people has brought this up in the past few years and we are just going to put it up for a vote. Since Missy raced in the THS class in BG last year- she has a vote on this matter as well.

I've never disrespected you or disvalued your opinion concerning this matter- Ive only been racing my car @ BG in the past five years and the TB.com Nationals in the past two years. I'm not new to drag racing at all- Ive raced 10.5 outlaw cars over the year which produces 4 times the power of a Buick GN car.

You guys are the pioneers of the Buick Gn racing- I only want to enhance what you all have create and built over the years and keep this thing alive. Thats why Im helping Dday with sponsorship, RRA duties, communicationing with vendors/potential sponsors and promoting the love and passion for the Buick GN to live on.

To anwser your question whether Grapple/BG will run 1/4 mile in the THS class or not- I cant anwser that at the moment. We the THS racers have always took a vote concerning any rule waiver as a whole. Even if we make it a rule- we can vote to race 1/4 mile for Grapple/BG base what the racers as a whole want to do..

Haulz A

 

[bad V6]

Since my home track, Beech Bend is a 1/4 mile track, I'd prefer to leave the racing at the GS Nationals a 1/4 mile event. I'd say let the track dictate the distance of the race.

 

[Haulz A]

Darrow, are you saying fiberglass bumpers, hood and deck lid are not allowed in THS?

Are brake upgrades not allow either?

Yes, the weight is what 3550? A little heavier than tsm I understand. But it's the drivers option to reduce weight, you don't have to be 3800 lbs right?

Thumper,
Yes fiber glass hoods/ deck lids was approved in last years 2017 rule change- Also fiber glass bumper are allowed as well. Most THS cars are stilling running the stock style brakes with larger rear wheel cylinders. Yes 3550 in the minimum weight for aluminum headed engines.




Haulz A.

 

[Haulz A]

Most THS cars at the races are in the 125 mph range, which is still fast. 125 or 135 probably isn't that different if you break on the top end. And in the 1/8, we're all over 100 mph anyways.

Jim,
The top 7 THS cars all have 6766 BB or journal bearing turbos on them, stoker engines and Cal Hartline tuned Fast on their cars. Everyone of them capable of running 137 to 140 mph in the 1/4 mile.

Haulz A.

 

[TurboTnZ06]

Cruz engine is in Sean's car, the one that went 140, I know I was there and helped wrench on it and it was accidental because he borrowed Richie's wastegate because his broke and we got it together in time to make that one pass and didn't make any test hits other than spooled it up on the brake in pits. Good times! My car only runs 125-128 but last time I made it in 2015 I qualified 5th or 6th I think with my near stock street car with A/C that actually works, so now there are 7 137 -140 mph cars are there now. That's cool! Hopefully I can just have fun mid pack with my same old slow combo.

 

[TurboTnZ06]

Here are the Q times from THS 2016, I don't see 7 135+ mph cars, maybe 3-4 at most that still run the class? Doc's car was fast and it wasn't even set on kill IIRC. Every time I race it's super fun, we run mid 125's and lots of close good racing with A/C that actually works.

1. 742 9.901@133.53
2. 8024 10.353@132.22
3. 8062 10.583@128.75
4. 1342 10.710@128.15
5. 3437 10.809@123.68
6. 9055 10.959@125.05
7. 8015 11.0@127.0
8. 68 11.172@117.84
9. 1965 11.30@119.89
10 .8000 11.423@119.03
11. 2407 11.661@117.25
12. 2588 11.904@121.00
13. 1001 12.15 @???
14. 8039 12.356@114.49
15. 8060 20.259

 

[TurboTnZ06]

2015 Q times - Finals were two 9 second cars - which was exciting to watch. I even qualified 5th with my slow junk at only 17 psi...

1: Sean Hayes- 9.60 - 139.82
2: David Day- 9.62- 137.23
3: Patrick Hester- 9.97- 135.91
4: Darrow Watts- 10.21- 131.51
5: James Bennett- 10.43- 128.62
6: Mike Schwab- 10.55- 126.35
7: Dave Barclay- 10.65- 126.20
8: Jason Jamerson- 10.81- 123.58
9: Jamie Wolcott- 11.13- 119.95
10: Brian Reynolds- 11.54- 117.37
11: Jason Rigsby- 11.73- 112.99

 

[Haulz A]

Cruz engine is in Sean's car, the one that went 140, I know I was there and helped wrench on it and it was accidental because he borrowed Richie's wastegate because his broke and we got it together in time to make that one pass and didn't make any test hits other than spooled it up on the brake in pits. Good times! My car only runs 125-128 but last time I made it in 2015 I qualified 5th or 6th I think with my near stock street car with A/C that actually works, so now there are 7 137 -140 mph cars are there now. That's cool! Hopefully I can just have fun mid pack with my same old slow combo.

Jim,
Don't be so humble- you are a legion in this Buick racing. I qualified 4th that year- my car had a turbo tweak chip, SLIC, stock ignition, 6766 turbo. I was having ignition issue where the car would break up and roll over around 1000 foot but the car still went 10:21 @ only 131.51 mph. Also in the 1st round my up pipe hose blow off in the burnout box and gave the race to Jamie with the hot air car. In 2016 I upgraded my ignition (TR6), installed a FMIC, FAST with Cal Hartline tune and the rest is history. The car gained 5 to 7 mph in the 1/8 mi and out back. Jim you need to bring that beast of yours to NC in may and turn it loss.

Haulz A

 

[Haulz A]

Here are the Q times from THS 2016, I don't see 7 135+ mph cars, maybe 3-4 at most that still run the class? Doc's car was fast and it wasn't even set on kill IIRC. Every time I race it's super fun, we run mid 125's and lots of close good racing with A/C that actually works.

1. 742 9.901@133.53
2. 8024 10.353@132.22
3. 8062 10.583@128.75
4. 1342 10.710@128.15
5. 3437 10.809@123.68
6. 9055 10.959@125.05
7. 8015 11.0@127.0
8. 68 11.172@117.84
9. 1965 11.30@119.89
10 .8000 11.423@119.03
11. 2407 11.661@117.25
12. 2588 11.904@121.00
13. 1001 12.15 @???
14. 8039 12.356@114.49
15. 8060 20.259

Jim remember it rained out qualifying and the race in 2016. I think we only got one qualifying pass and it rained everything out that year. That was my 1st time running my car with the fast installed- Cal was still creeping up on the tune- plus I just had installed my engine two days before BG- the engine only had about 5 miles on it and was not broke in- so we did not lean on it hard at at all. I broke in the engine with some BR30 Joe Gibbs break oil for 400 miles then I turn the boost up my friend.

Haulz A

 

[SloGN]

well my vote is for the 1/8 mile. Most of all the local tracks to me are 1/8. I don't really care to run 130 plus MPH in my heavy ass car.

I guess that 25 mph gain in the last 660 ft means alot....

My car went 9.96 @ 133 in the 1/4 in 2013 at VMP raceway..

I have made a few changes since then and my best 1/8 is 6.26 @ 112 with a shitty 1.51 60ft SO i would guess that pass would have put me about 136/137 mph.

 

[jasjamz]

Im from the north and all the tracks around me are 1/4 mile. I say keep it 1/4 mile unless the track is not set up for that.
It won't save the car from mechanical failure. People tend to launch harder, run more boost, timing, and a leaner A/F ratio to cover the short distance. Cars will still break.

 

[Jerryl]

This is not as vote but a persective.

From a safety perspective, 1/8 mile as there may be more participation with cars that refuse to install a cage.
Also; Guys with access to 1/8 mile tracks only, have a chance to test before the event.

It's a known for fact that 1/4 mile is harder on the car. Doesn't mean it will or won't break but blocks are getting scarce, and reducing the chance of catastrophic failure is s good move.

I thought even NHRA shortened the tracks to 1000 foot for similar reasons?

Again, not a vote, not a participant, but a perspective.

 

[bad V6]

Im from the north and all the tracks around me are 1/4 mile. I say keep it 1/4 mile unless the track is not set up for that.
It won't save the car from mechanical failure. People tend to launch harder, run more boost, timing, and a leaner A/F ratio to cover the short distance. Cars will still break.

I'm with Jason on this. Plus to be competitive on a 1/8 mile track I would think you would want to run a lower gear set to help the car get moving, just another expense.

 

[11.20n1320]

It appears that BG will stay 1/4 mile. A vote will be taken by the racers at the event if the racers feel they would like a 1/8 mile format.
DDay