What would it take for you to attend a Sportsman Race - Page 5

Dave Turner · 01-09-2023, 12:07 AM

A common theme within this thread is the fact that a promoter’s first race has received the most support. If the experience taken from those inaugural events was overwhelmingly positive, why did numbers dwindle in subsequent years? One would have hoped that attendees had a good news story to share with those who missed out, that they would have been successful in convincing other racers to join them the next time? There is no simple answer…every one of Tim’s reasons for a pass are valid if we’re playing a drag racing version of Jeopardy - “Event Cop-Outs for $$$$”.

One thing stands out for me. Our group seems to have become increasingly critical of the administrative side of the NHRA over the years, especially where it has “messed” with the performance based roots of the category. Many of us have called for a return to some of the structural attributes of the past. It would be interesting, if nothing else, to look at something “old” as a format for a future race. Go back in time and revive some of the aspects of Stock/SuperStock competition that have fallen off the table….perhaps hold a smaller scale event as a dry run?

Speer Drag Racing · 01-09-2023, 11:28 AM

Timothy nailed it, WAY too many excuses. It is really sad that these races are not attended greatly with how hard they are trying. We have NHRA who seems to be pushing us all away and we just beg more to get in while these promoters are sticking their necks out trying to give us another option and putting BIG money up for grabs. Tyler's Class Racers Revival 2 years ago was one of the best put on shows out there. It had pretty much everything anyone was asking for. Weather was great. He had a CIC race. $25K to win plus some decent round $$. $25K to win with the same entry as a National event to win $1500 from NHRA. $6K if you play the contingency program perfectly. Well he is doing it again at one of the best facilities in the nation. August 4-6. Hopefully we can support this one a little better!!

Up here in Minnesota and surrounding states we have the MCR races and a really good group of people putting these races on. We try to attend as many as we can. It gives us another option anyways. They are working on getting more and more payouts out and at least giving us a few races where there are $4-5K payouts! And they do this with giving out first round win $$ as well.

It would be nice at all of these events to have more of a tech for the people who are still trying to play by the rules but I realize that is a lot to ask for! NHRA really can't even do much of that. I feel old saying it but I remember when I used to worry about having to spend an afternoon putting my car back together after getting tore down.

Hopefully we can figure something else out to get more people to go to these races so NHRA isn't the only thing out there for us diehard S/SS racers!!

Bobby Fazio · 01-10-2023, 02:10 PM

I gave my .02 on the topic today.

Mike Taylor 3601 · 01-13-2023, 10:21 AM

My answer is simple..... I love to race especially class racing... I love to race enough that I don't care if it's hot,cold,windy,rain,we can't race ,but nothing we can but wait that out....
I don't care if we race early in the morning,late at night or all night long or in the afternoon,dark,sunny,cloudy,I don't care.....
LETS RACE......
If someone wants to pay a bunch of money even better,because I never have had enough $$$ ....
IF ANYONE IS PAYING BIG MONEY CLASS RACING and anyway possible I will be there....
Mike Taylor 3601
PS.. if all you do is complain about everything that happens at a race,most out anyones control....maybe you don't really love to race

J.R. Haddad · 01-13-2023, 12:59 PM

Mike, that was a very refreshing post. Now that we have heard that, let's
get back on track. Not attending race's, or striking, is not going to
accomplish anything of value to the racers. Helpful measures to enhance
the races for us, NHRA and the track operators will. I will leave the purse
structure alone for now, as it appears we would race for less, if need be.
Our main complaint appears to be the consistent lowering of quotas for
National Events. Lets suggest we understand why they continue to go
down, be it the size of our rigs, NHRA looking for new and different classes,
or trying to enhance their paying customers experience. That is their prerogative, and if we think we are going to interfere with that, we are
delusional. Everybody talks about their costs, what about ours. Lets start with the the point system. Lets make it the best two out of four National
events, and the best five out of seven points meets. Next, lets us have serious talks with our Division Reps, and have them have a heart to heart with the Competition Director At NHRA, and see what we can do to grow our quotas. There are many more ideas out there, lets pursue them all, including charging us 25.00 more per race because we want tech inspection that no other classes require, and get some answers to our age old problems. Regardless of whether we like the answers or not, when we have have them, lets quit trying to commit homicide on others and suicide on ourselves, and get the hell out there and race, thats all, just race.

J.R.

Billy Nees · 01-13-2023, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.R. Haddad

There are many more ideas out there, lets pursue them all, including charging us 25.00 more per race because we want tech inspection that no other classes require J.R.

Oh really?

Tony Fagnilli · 01-13-2023, 01:39 PM

In 40+ years of racing, I've NEVER attended, or not attended, a race for the payout. 100 percent of the time, I don't have a clue as to how much the payout is at a race. LOL

01-13-2023, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

I gave my .02 on the topic today.

You can please some of the people some of the time but you will never please all of the people all of the time.
I would not want NHRA’s tough task.

John W. 1711 · 01-13-2023, 02:42 PM

I prefer less than a 6-hour drive. Throw in some index (10.00) classes, and I'll bring both cars. LOL! See you at the races.

J.R. Haddad · 01-13-2023, 02:48 PM

There are many more ideas out there, lets pursue them all, including charging us 25.00 more per race because we want tech inspection that no other classes require.

Sorry Billy if I was off base. I was thinking of tear downs, checking camshafts, etc. I thought S/SS was the only one in need of these services.
J.R.

01-09-2023, 12:07 AM	#41
Dave Turner VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Schomberg, ON, Canada Posts: 1,222 Likes: 1,606 Liked 364 Times in 138 Posts	Re: What would it take for you to attend a Sportsman Race A common theme within this thread is the fact that a promoter’s first race has received the most support. If the experience taken from those inaugural events was overwhelmingly positive, why did numbers dwindle in subsequent years? One would have hoped that attendees had a good news story to share with those who missed out, that they would have been successful in convincing other racers to join them the next time? There is no simple answer…every one of Tim’s reasons for a pass are valid if we’re playing a drag racing version of Jeopardy - “Event Cop-Outs for $$$$”. One thing stands out for me. Our group seems to have become increasingly critical of the administrative side of the NHRA over the years, especially where it has “messed” with the performance based roots of the category. Many of us have called for a return to some of the structural attributes of the past. It would be interesting, if nothing else, to look at something “old” as a format for a future race. Go back in time and revive some of the aspects of Stock/SuperStock competition that have fallen off the table….perhaps hold a smaller scale event as a dry run? __________________ Dave Turner SS/GT #1153

01-09-2023, 11:28 AM	#42
Speer Drag Racing Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 48 Likes: 6 Liked 56 Times in 10 Posts	Re: What would it take for you to attend a Sportsman Race Timothy nailed it, WAY too many excuses. It is really sad that these races are not attended greatly with how hard they are trying. We have NHRA who seems to be pushing us all away and we just beg more to get in while these promoters are sticking their necks out trying to give us another option and putting BIG money up for grabs. Tyler's Class Racers Revival 2 years ago was one of the best put on shows out there. It had pretty much everything anyone was asking for. Weather was great. He had a CIC race. $25K to win plus some decent round $$. $25K to win with the same entry as a National event to win $1500 from NHRA. $6K if you play the contingency program perfectly. Well he is doing it again at one of the best facilities in the nation. August 4-6. Hopefully we can support this one a little better!! Up here in Minnesota and surrounding states we have the MCR races and a really good group of people putting these races on. We try to attend as many as we can. It gives us another option anyways. They are working on getting more and more payouts out and at least giving us a few races where there are $4-5K payouts! And they do this with giving out first round win $$ as well. It would be nice at all of these events to have more of a tech for the people who are still trying to play by the rules but I realize that is a lot to ask for! NHRA really can't even do much of that. I feel old saying it but I remember when I used to worry about having to spend an afternoon putting my car back together after getting tore down. Hopefully we can figure something else out to get more people to go to these races so NHRA isn't the only thing out there for us diehard S/SS racers!!

01-10-2023, 02:10 PM	#43
Bobby Fazio VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Egg Harbor Township, NJ Posts: 1,468 Likes: 1,448 Liked 4,365 Times in 501 Posts	Re: What would it take for you to attend a Sportsman Race I gave my .02 on the topic today. __________________ '65 Mustang SS/L & L/SA DriverInterviews.com \| App.DragInsights.com

01-13-2023, 10:21 AM	#44
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,371 Likes: 352 Liked 306 Times in 103 Posts	Re: What would it take for you to attend a Sportsman Race My answer is simple..... I love to race especially class racing... I love to race enough that I don't care if it's hot,cold,windy,rain,we can't race ,but nothing we can but wait that out.... I don't care if we race early in the morning,late at night or all night long or in the afternoon,dark,sunny,cloudy,I don't care..... LETS RACE...... If someone wants to pay a bunch of money even better,because I never have had enough $$$ .... IF ANYONE IS PAYING BIG MONEY CLASS RACING and anyway possible I will be there.... Mike Taylor 3601 PS.. if all you do is complain about everything that happens at a race,most out anyones control....maybe you don't really love to race Last edited by Mike Taylor 3601; 01-13-2023 at 10:24 AM.

01-13-2023, 12:59 PM	#45
J.R. Haddad Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 784 Likes: 938 Liked 1,467 Times in 307 Posts	Re: What would it take for you to attend a Sportsman Race Mike, that was a very refreshing post. Now that we have heard that, let's get back on track. Not attending race's, or striking, is not going to accomplish anything of value to the racers. Helpful measures to enhance the races for us, NHRA and the track operators will. I will leave the purse structure alone for now, as it appears we would race for less, if need be. Our main complaint appears to be the consistent lowering of quotas for National Events. Lets suggest we understand why they continue to go down, be it the size of our rigs, NHRA looking for new and different classes, or trying to enhance their paying customers experience. That is their prerogative, and if we think we are going to interfere with that, we are delusional. Everybody talks about their costs, what about ours. Lets start with the the point system. Lets make it the best two out of four National events, and the best five out of seven points meets. Next, lets us have serious talks with our Division Reps, and have them have a heart to heart with the Competition Director At NHRA, and see what we can do to grow our quotas. There are many more ideas out there, lets pursue them all, including charging us 25.00 more per race because we want tech inspection that no other classes require, and get some answers to our age old problems. Regardless of whether we like the answers or not, when we have have them, lets quit trying to commit homicide on others and suicide on ourselves, and get the hell out there and race, thats all, just race. J.R.

01-13-2023, 01:39 PM	#47
Tony Fagnilli Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 94 Likes: 95 Liked 205 Times in 44 Posts	Re: What would it take for you to attend a Sportsman Race In 40+ years of racing, I've NEVER attended, or not attended, a race for the payout. 100 percent of the time, I don't have a clue as to how much the payout is at a race. LOL Last edited by Tony Fagnilli; 01-13-2023 at 01:44 PM.

01-13-2023, 02:42 PM	#49
John W. 1711 Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 221 Likes: 1,599 Liked 338 Times in 108 Posts	Re: What would it take for you to attend a Sportsman Race I prefer less than a 6-hour drive. Throw in some index (10.00) classes, and I'll bring both cars. LOL! See you at the races.

01-13-2023, 02:48 PM	#50
J.R. Haddad Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 784 Likes: 938 Liked 1,467 Times in 307 Posts	Re: What would it take for you to attend a Sportsman Race There are many more ideas out there, lets pursue them all, including charging us 25.00 more per race because we want tech inspection that no other classes require. Sorry Billy if I was off base. I was thinking of tear downs, checking camshafts, etc. I thought S/SS was the only one in need of these services. J.R.