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Will NHRA Ever Concede "Outlaw" as a part of Drag Racing?

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  • Will NHRA Ever Concede "Outlaw" as a part of Drag Racing?

    Near the end of every year Webster's announces their "Word Of The Year". The most used new word added to the dictionary. This year it is "Vape", smokeless steam nicotine.

    Over the years Drag Racing has added new words or uses for words to the English Language. Dragster, Gasser, Altered, Modified, Stocker and Super Stocker were among the first. As the rebellious, independent spirit of youth peaked in the 60s and 70s the racers kinda took this over. "Funny" was first. Initially it referred to altered wheelbase and/or body lines to make a car faster. It then mutated into anything that kinda looks like a passenger car. NHRA embraced then grew to hate "Funny". The big campaign during the late 70s was to change "Funny Car" to the more dignified "Fuel Coupe". Of course it failed.

    Super Stock racers saw all the excitement generated by the Funnies and joined in. "Pro Stock" at first meant "Super Stock" with no engine rules other than Carbs and Gasoline. As manufacturers and racers refined previously unexplored areas on engine development one make or another would become dominant leading NHRA to impose pound per cubic inch limitations. That and safety, oh boy did safety change things. Gradually any resemblance to a Super Stocker faded away in the interest of "safety". Jenkins killed off any limitations on chassis by questioning anyone going really fast on a Vega's underpinnings. Then increasing speeds called for better aero and it was done. Carburetors, gas, doors and that's it. "Pro" almost gat a second chance with "Pro Comp" being the ultimate Comp Eliminator car, but that fell out along the way in favor of eliminators for the two most successful types.

    Now the trend is "Outlaw". It sprang from "Mountain Motor". In the spastic evolution of Pro Stock for a time NHRA limited them to small blocks and fans were fed up with changing weight breaks anyway so put any motor you dare in your Pro Stock and go match race in the southeast. Then came "Shoebox" racing with Tri Five Chevies going faster than reasonable and "Pro Mod" for anything pre '70 at first then doors and a firewall and no Nitro Methane. NHRA let them in on a limited basis only and with restrictions so "Outlaw Pro Mod" was born.

    Outlaw Pro Mod was a big success, but became very elite very quickly. The southerners said why not forget most of NHRA's rules and classes and just race each other by the size of our tires.

    The sad reality is whenever NHRA gets involved sooner or later they manage to come up with complex methods of regulating power and forbidding innovation in the name of "safety", "competitive racing" and "for the good of the sport". They don't want to ever again have one of their professional classes called something insulting like "Funny". So I doubt they will ever see the appeal of "Outlaw".

    I find the potential of "Anything But Nitromethane" very appealing. Alcohol and racing gas are just all over so much less volatile and exotic, even with the addition of Nitrous Oxide. What would happen if a racer built an exhibition dragster or funny with a full tilt Pro Mod Motor? Nitous, Turbo or Screw Charger on Alky, how quick could it get? If it DID approach or even pass up the 500 inch Rootes blown Nitro cars would it really be a big loss? NHRA tried to ban Nitro in the sixties, now they might be afraid other technology could surpass it, safer and more economically? If the cackle is too sorely missed let in injected unlimited fuel motors.

    Thoughts?
    Last edited by RockJustRock; November 18, 2014, 11:13 PM.
    My hobby is needing a hobby.
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