Howdy,
On Tue, 18 May 1999, Michael King wrote:
> Just got back from the Peru Pro yesterday and had alot of time to think
> on the way back (1K miles)... Everyone considers the Pro class to be the
> premiere part of Pro Solo, which I don't dispute at all. And we are
> always trying to find ways to make it look and feel that way as well.
> How 'bout this? Has anyone everyone ever thought of using the "Pro" tree
> for all the Pro runs? I think if you're going to run Pro, it should feel
> like it. When I go to the drag strip and you want to run with the big
> guys, you have to use the Pro tree during that period of the night and
> it switches back to the regular tree for the "street drags". One more
> question, for people that were there this past weekend, what was up with
> the removal of the pre-staging lights? Was Peru that far from a WalMart?
> I could have run down to Kokomo, if one had burnt out...just wondering.
> Any thoughts on any of this?
This was my first Pro, so maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think
not having a pre-stage light makes much difference with the current
configuration.
Now, if we went to a Pro tree it would be a different story. I don't see
that happening though for a few reasons:
1) I've never run a pro tree, but on tv it looks to me like the
2nd stage light triggers the tree. That would mean that you couldn't
stage until the course was clear, which would change our current
procedures, _and_ that you couldn't back outta the light and inch into it,
etc. Don't most of the drag cars have auto trannies and tranny brakes
that let them inch into the stage light ready to launch?
2) I don't see much benefit from having a pro tree for the pro class. I
would sooner see time and effort put into growing the pro class by
creating an automatic bumping system from the National class or getting
more money in the class, or getting tv exposure. I realize that many of
the national champions in the National class don't have spots for their
cars to go to in the Pro ranks, but you can't say that for all of them.
Just MHO. Overall the Peru weekend was the most fun I've had so far in my
short autox career. The competition and format was great!
Mark
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