For some time now Ive been asking What is in it for the little guy? The guy without the front running combination. The bread and butter of F.A.S.T is the guys that show up time after time with no chance of parking their car in the winners circle. Most of us find our own rewards, whether it is laying the smack down on the guy that got you last time or putting a personal best together. Lately Ive noticed that F.A.S.T hasnt been gaining much ground attendance wise. Going on ten years now. Reading FAST related threads has left me with the impression that the 9 second barrier has put us at a crossroads. Rollcages, window nets, physicals, all the things that go along with sub 10 second ETs have left me with the feeling that even if you already have a FAST car running good you might not want to or have the means to run the 9. Instead of the FAST field getting tighter the spread just went from 12.5 to 9.80. That is a big spread for a heads up class. I think it is time for a change in a effort to grow. I would like to suggest a 11.50 index race run on the first day of two day national races. This would not upset any part of the FAST race. This race could be completed in 6 passes. This would be something extra that people could get excited about. This race would be open to Pure Stockers and FAST cars alike. Rules would be easy, Run three qualifiers in their own lane at scheduled times. From the qualifiers the fastest 8 cars are put into a sportsman ladder (one races five). From there it is game on, you go 11.49 and you are DQd. If you have a faster car that would not keep you from competing but no throttle stops or whoopdeedoo devices would be legal. You better slow your car down with weight, timing , shift points or a brick under your gas pedal. This could appeal to new racers as well as seasoned P/S and FAST racers. It would also provide a new challenge and add a opportunity for a racer to hone in their driving skills. A new racer may not feel like they could run with the big dogs but they may feel like they could run a side by side 11.50 pass. This would also provide the potential to have a different winner race to race. That may drive attendance up. I would like to ask FAST for their permission to run such a race on a trial basis. If it works we use it, if it is too much well dump it. Id also like to hear if there is any interest from the racers?
I think you've hit on something here, Tom. It will definitely keep interest up amongst the the 11sec. cars. These cars still continue to drop jaws at weekend test n tunes at local tracks. I think it will also foster continued development of FAST small block cars. I'd say its worth the effort!
It does give you somthing to shoot for , and a sence of accomplishment, instead of just being filler. Kind of hard to draw new blood with the bar set SOOOOO high. So it isn't like why bother.
I love the idea of index racing; it levels the playing field a little while still keeping it heads-up (as opposed to an all-out ET/dial-in type event). And I think that 11.50 is the perfect index: close enough to the front-runners that they can figure out a way to compete, and close enough to the slower cars to give them a target to shoot for.
Probably wouldn't be a bad idea. At one time I *thought* about building a F.A.S.T. car, but I figured why bother when I knew I didn't have the money to build a front runner, and I wasn't going to waste my time building a SLOW F.A.S.T. car. Why in the H**L would anyone want to spend the time and money to build a #8 qualifier to get put on the trailer 1st round??????ou: ou: ou: ou: Never could quite understand why anyone would WANT to trailer a car to an event, pay to get in, and KNOW they were going home 1st round. If the F.A.S.T. class isn't ever going to do anything besides the lop-sider ladder(1 vs. 8), then this is an EXCELLENT idea Tom.
At least the 11.5 keeps the car from having to have a roll bar. I love the FAST class but everytime i get the itch,i think about having to roll bar one of my cars,and i change my mind.I was the number 8 Qualifier ,and yes it sucked.
Tom, you forgot about the consolation rounds that happen for the guys who get knocked off the ladder. It does sound like a good idea for the guys who have a limited budget.
How are the Buick's doing in the FAST class these days? I know that what I am about to say next is going to make all of you index racers see red, just remember I am not wanting to start a fight. Why not run two bracket classes, faster than 12.80 and the second class would be 12.80 and slower? After all 11.50 index is just bracket racing with a 11.50 dial.
Take Rob Clary's advice on that, Donny. When I got matched against Gessler at Commerce years back (13.70 vs 11.20), he told me to not even stop at the tree after the burnout. Just keep right on going...:laugh: :laugh: That WAS the plan until I got Dq'ed for not bringing my driving pants to the line...Oh well.
I attended and participated in a race where there were 7 cars ranging from 10.40 - 13.75. The slowest car made it to the final. Here is how we worked it. It was run as a bracket race with a pro tree. Your best qualifying et is your dial in, NO changes allowed. If you break out you loose. Therefore all participants ran all out on all qualifying & elimination runs. This makes it a drivers race where anyone can win.
The cars at the slower end of that spectrum are gonna have a real tough time with a pro tree. Do they allow deep staging?
I drive a slow car and love the pro tree. Too many red lights determine the matches with the Sportsman tree unless you sandbag and can run a lot faster than you qualify.
Excellent idea,but I would outlaw electronic throttle stops.I compete using a stop and I can dial it in wherever I need to within a 0.01 second electronically. nothing less boring for the spectator to watch than a car launching then fall on its face for X amount of time then open the stop for a high mph.Using only a mechanical stop,ie.restrictor plate or bolt on the accelerator linkage would put racing back into each run. gary
