Date Posted:11:40:02 11/25/03 Tue Author:Frenchman Subject: It's all about streetable horsepower to me. In reply to:
Andy V.
's message, "A little more input." on 11:37:11 11/24/03 Mon
Maybe Mike's turbo'd/ intercooled Imp is putting out more hp than X is. Maybe X is putting out more than 1000 hp. Maybe if Labmouse had his powertrain in a Vega, it would be in the 9's.
Power/weight ratio is what makes a car impressive. No need to have a big inch motor in a big engine bay, simply put a potent s.b. in a tin can.
The bottom line is: The entry should not be limited to a displacement. They should race with any engine that they wish.
Those archaic NMCA rules were "in" when nitrous oxide was the predominant power-adder; a large displacement motor would certainly have advantage over a smaller motor with the same calibrated "squeeze." The larger motor "absorbs" big hits with relative ease placing them to a great advantage.
Today, there are power-adders (turbo(s) and centrifugal blowers) that can handily overpower the limits of nitrous-enhanced, big inch motors; maybe not witnessed out of the 60 ft timers but definitely when the tires begin roll-out. As soon as some aftermarket guru figures a way to control the boost at the starting line, cars like mine won't have a chance; too bad they (gurus) haven't figured it out yet.
So one more time. No displacement handicap, only weight handicap.
