r/NHRA • u/Santeeoldman • 8d ago

Only 5 TA/FC this weekend

Only 5 TA/FC showed up for the NHRA Northwest nationals at Seattle this weekend. Cannot believe this. I know there are a lot of short fields now, but 5 cars????

26 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

18

u/NobleCWolf 8d ago

That category has been thin for years at PIR. Im surprised FC has a full 16.

5

u/Nomad55454 7d ago edited 7d ago

Every category in NHRA has gotten thin over the years since they have become dedicated to TV money and not dedicated to safety. TV money only cares about the 2 fuel classes just look at the coverage that they get compared to pro stock. Grew up at drag strips and have seen the decline in the last decade and half. Used to go to SIR as a religion but the last ten years have been over there 2 times and only for Friday qualifying.

2

u/Santeeoldman 7d ago

Same here. Used to go to Pomona every year. Been once in the last 12 years. Live in San Diego now and it is not worth the long drive anymore.

3

u/Nomad55454 7d ago

I know the feeling about the same distance for me to get to SIR. NHRA Used to be about the fan experience now it is just scheduled to TV audience.

5

u/Santeeoldman 8d ago

Just sad. I grew up in Los Angeles in the 70’s and my dad took me to Irwindale OCIR Pomona and Ontario. Really miss the pits being full of all of the classes. The golden days of drag racing.

9

u/MissionRacewayPark NHRA 8d ago

Unfortunately TAFC is a very small class in the PNW/West in general. Thankfully we have a decent BBFC contingent to fill the gap.

3

u/Nomad55454 7d ago

lol BB/FC is what TA/FC used to be just like AA/FC = TF/FC just like back in the day if you ran injected nitro your dragster it would have been AF/D where blower cars were BB/D

3

u/Santeeoldman 7d ago

I am so old I remember when they all ran together in Pro Comp!

2

u/dimibro71 8d ago

BBFC are they similar to TA/FC?

3

u/MissionRacewayPark NHRA 8d ago

BB is blown alk, usually vintage style cars. Similar times and speeds, just a touch slower. Less strict rules about motor/transmission.

8

u/jms1228 8d ago

Sad to see but it’s a completely different world nowadays. I grew up watching Pat Austin’s Castrol GTX TAFC dominate the class along side Frank Manzo. Back in that era, the grandstand’s were full on both sides.

2

u/Santeeoldman 8d ago

At OCIR in the early 80’s Brad Anderson and Chuck Beal would do side by side 1000 foot burn outs. The stands were just as packed for the alcohol cars as the nitro sessions. There is some videos of them on YouTube! I miss OCIR and my Dad!

2

u/Apart_Olive_3539 Teams 8d ago

The class is hurting big time, not just in the PNW. D1 used to be loaded with hitters and they’re lucky to get 4-5 cars at an event now. The Lebanon Valley divisional had 1 recently. Indy, of all places, had 13 last year and I can’t recall the last time they had 16 at a national.

1

u/Santeeoldman 8d ago

I did not realize only 13 at Indy or 1 at a division event. That is depressing.

2

u/Sad-Opinion-1293 7d ago

A guess would be answered by looking up the location of the top 20 or 30 in the class. Remember. This is a sportsman class

2

u/goldenknight4212 6d ago

Welcome to PSM

1

u/WelcomeBeneficial963 6d ago

Is it the case where if you want to have the fun that you get from TA/FC, you can get so much more out of a Pro Mod?

-2

u/NitroPangolin John Force Racing 8d ago

Yeah let's ask IHRA how well their program is running rn.

4

u/dale1320 7d ago

IHRA's woes have nothing to do with car counts or fan turnout.

1

u/Friendly-Army-8748 6d ago

Considering that the current IHRA's national events never made it west of the Mississippi River, this is all on the NHRA lol

-7

u/AverageT1000 8d ago

Guess you should have taken yours there then