Question about Race Classes

[Roberta]

Here's a thought, with the incredible number of Quick 16 cars, 27 this year, would there be any thought to allowing them to continue to use the delay boxes in Bracket 1, and make Bracket 2 no delay boxes, and this also means no break between, the classes as in previous yrs, the 12.99. So what this means, if you have a 11-12 second car that can't make Q16 and would usually run in B1, would you mind, it would have been about 11 cars run in B1 with delay box against your 11-12 second foot brake car???

[Dana/Beth Andrews]

Would that make 11 to 12.99 cars bracket 1 ?

Beth :grin:

[Shayne Dillinge]

Hello Roberta,

Thanks for asking. I feel if the Q16 DNQ's can use thier boxes in B1, then I'll want to use my box also. I think if you make the brackets, box and no-box with no ET brakes, then I'm afraid you'll end up with 25 cars in B1 and 300 in B2. Which is fine with me :Brow: . I'll be there to race what ever you do. My box can be unplugged and put in my truck like I did last year, but I prefere to use it and race against others with a box. Have a nice Holiday.

[NJBuickRacer]

I plan on making the nats this year, I'll be a footbraker though. I've gone against box guys and won a few times, but I think no box will leave it more up to the drivers rather than equipment.

[Roberta]

Hello Roberta,

Thanks for asking. I feel if the Q16 DNQ's can use thier boxes in B1, then I'll want to use my box also. I think if you make the brackets, box and no-box with no ET brakes, then I'm afraid you'll end up with 25 cars in B1 and 300 in B2. Which is fine with me :Brow: . I'll be there to race what ever you do. My box can be unplugged and put in my truck like I did last year, but I prefere to use it and race against others with a box. Have a nice Holiday.
Thanks for the input. Basically, why we wanted to ask! Have great new year and Merry Christmas, too! RV

[Roberta]

Would that make 11 to 12.99 cars bracket 1 ?

Beth :grin:
Basically correct with the delay boxes and without running together.

[John Stevens]

Berta, What was the ratio of cars in the 16? (Turbo's vs. Big Blocks), if the sponsership dollars are there maybe a Quick 32? I plan on installing my delay box for next year(I trying to keep up with Shane! :rolleyes: ) but will also be able to disconnect it for removal, either way would be fine with me.

[Roberta]

John, this info is only as good as what the track put into the computer, since I don't know until i look at, for the most part for the last 5 or 6 yrs, the total race program was almost split 50-50 betwen V8 and V6 cars, which is very cool, I have to check this years to see if it stay that way but I suspect it is very much the same. First round times included, just for grins :grin: :3gears:
Q16
Jeff Hart '72 GS 455 9.98
John Stevens '81 Regal 455 10.44
Gary Kubish '70 Skylark 455 9.70
Eric Schertz '87 T 9.804
Stan Zerucha '70 Skylark 455 8.77
Dennis Halladay '69 GS 455 10.2
Jerry Seiwec '67 Skylark 455 10.19
Jack Cotton, '87 GN 9.05
Chris Metcalf '87 GN 9.85
Michael Lyons '87 GN 9.31
Doug Hecker '65 GS 455 8.95
Keith Sinley '70 Skylark 455 10.25
Wayne Roberts '72 GS 455 10.35
Johnard Veal '85 Regal ? 9.20
Bruce Wilson '82 XJS 455 10.38
Chris White '87 Regal top qualifier 8.30

Looks there were just a few more BB than turbos, but being this was a rescheduled race so the ratio is not a great comparison to previous races. And it looks like other than Hecker and Zerucha the turbos were much faster, till next year with the new BBB block, then who knows. Hope this was of interest, if you want any more info on the rest of Q16. let me know, R

[John Stevens]

Berta, the faster cars would have to go 1 more round to win(should be more $$$ to win or maybe pay more places back) but a Quick-32 would possibly take care of the delay box question with more cars making it in the fast class, but they still have to pull the box out to drop back into bracket 1. Might be a better way to go then dividing Turbo and Big Block cars. Just putting out ideas! Either way we'll be there!!!!!!!!!!!

[Roberta]

Berta, the faster cars would have to go 1 more round to win(should be more $$$ to win or maybe pay more places back) but a Quick-32 would possibly take care of the delay box question with more cars making it in the fast class, but they still have to pull the box out to drop back into bracket 1. Just putting out ideas! Either way we'll be there!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill didn't talk about doing a Q32, cause of the extra time it would take, but it is something for us to think about and has been asked about, so we will see! Thanks for the feedback, it may be the way to go with so many fast cars, I would like to see the last run of the day be the fastest 2 cars at the race, in order to keep people excited about Buick racing for the whole day, and getting that big pound of ice cream for $1, which we don't get anything for, but compliments! R :3gears:

[skylarkwilly]

I have considerd the idea of a quick 32 but the problem was always that we fell just short of a full field and that would mean byruns in the first round which I feel hurts the show very badly.With the quick16 we have always had a pool of alternates to select from.Also,by increasing the field it does not allow us to allow those who lose in the first round to disconnect their boxes and run B1,which I believe is unique to our event.Sponsorship is always a problem and it is getting harder every year to get people to step up and help out.Many do not realize that this is one of the largest events held for Buicks in the country and besides usually being the quickest event it also has unlimited growth potential within the the Buick community.The facilities are excellant and track management and staff love dealingwith our group and actually request to work the event.Roberta and I are always open to all suggestions and look forward to seeing you all this spring.Those who have never come need to feel the Norwalk experience. Bill Wills

[greatscat]

I don't believe there would be a problem fielding 32 cars for the Q class,there were many low 11 sec cars there that did'nt try to qualify knowing the bump was going to be in the 9's,I support a Q32.
Remove the box if dropping back to B-1.
Maybe a revised break point for the brackets would be appropiate to equalize the car count better.Or,an additional class.With the # of cars this could also be justified.
gary

[skylarkwilly]

Gary,I agree that the best situation may be a quick32 but only if we can keep the break in the high 9's or 10.0's.If the breakwould be much higher it would not be very entertaining andwould be rougher on parts,Ibelieve,on the really quickcars we would like to attract.A few years back the spread was quite wide and all the quick cars were out early.This is where pre-entry helps because we can get an idea of who is coming and how fast the field will be.I have given thought to having another class but at this time there is not enough financial support to help out but we will work on it.We usually decide the class breaks after a few rounds of time trials to determine an equal amount of rounds and we have been real close the last several years.Again, thanks for the imput and have a great(scat)x-mas.

[Dennis Halladay]

I won't have a car to hang with the quick 16 or 32 this year but here is my input. This should be moved to a quick 32 as many cars that are quick and competitive will be knocked out of the 16 leaving a field of who spent the most to go fast but didn't make a real good bracket car. If the fast cars can't go enough rounds to make it through a 32 car field they should be used for exhibition runs only and leave the quick 16 to the cars that are built to race not show. I don't agree with the use of a delay box in any class but live with it in the faster classes, bracket 1 should continue to be a racers class with driver racing driver no boxes. Any change would not affect me being there or not, the box doesn't scare me. To me the advantage of the box is not consistancy but location, on one day I will go .490 every time the next day may be .550 every time with a box I can adjust this, without the box I need to adjust me which isn't as easy. This race is the best I have been to with the current rules, sometimes change is bad and can hurt turnout. See you in the spring and thanks for your time making this race happen.

[BUICK528]

If the breakwould be much higher it would not be very entertaining andwould be rougher on parts,Ibelieve,on the really quickcars we would like to attract.Bill, I don't understand this reasoning, especially the rougher on parts statement?? also, it takes no longer to run an overall program with a Q32, since with a Q16 there are 16 cars playing somewhere else anyways, right?
JH

[stagetwo65]

I'm against delay boxes and I always have been, but I'm not the least bit afraid of them, never have been. I don't see the need for expanding the field to 32 cars just to be more inclusive. If you what to be so inclusive, make it a 64 car field! See what I'm saying? Everybody wants to make it in, but at what cost to the integrity of the race program? Why the need to let in double the amount of cars and add an extra round? Not everybody is gonna get in, no matter if it's 16, 32, or 64! I can just imagine what the driver of car number 65 would have to say about it! :Dou: If everybody is in, it's just not so special any more. I don't mean to put anybody down, but who ever said everyone's entitled to get into the field? At the risk of driving John Stevens insane AGAIN......If you're not fast enough to get in, go faster! Otherwise, maybe you can't run in the fast class this year! I'm just not a fan of "lowering the bar". Just my opinion, I'll be there either way. :TU:

[skylarkwilly]

From what I am hearing it looks to me that the set-up we have in Norwalk is the best way to go.I feel that there is no need for delay boxes in B1 and the break will be decided the day of the event as we have done in the past.As far as a quick16,if the ammount of cars trying to qualify is large enough to hold a quick32 with alternates available we may just give it a try.This is something I will work on.I think if we do this it will be on a sportsman ladder so that the spots will be closer allowing for closer side by side racing.Since most of our racers are not weekly bracket racers I will try even harder to give you a little more time to cool between rounds.Again I thank all of you for your imput and feel free to voice your opinions to us at any time because this event is for all of you.Thanks,BW

[John Stevens]

At the risk of driving John Stevens insane AGAIN......If you're not fast enough to get in, go faster! Otherwise, maybe you can't run in the fast class this year! I'm just not a fan of "lowering the bar". Just my opinion, I'll be there either way. :TU:

Not again! :Dou: But Doug my fuel is already $2.00 a gallon! What more can I do? :Do No:

[stagetwo65]

Not again! :Dou: But Doug my fuel is already $2.00 a gallon! What more can I do? :Do No:

Deck the block, mill the heads, drop in a bigger cam, and run $7.00 fuel. Just think what your wheelies will look like then!! :TU: