IHRA at Columbus.

Cglrcng · 07-12-2025, 01:38 PM

After saying all that...if I was not retired, it was just an LODRS Double a 24 hr drive w/west coast fuel costs I would not be here. But a 37 day trip, racing at 3 tracks or more. (2 Doubles, 1 Nat., 3 Bracket's 1 track and a few more at another close by, and 4 straight weekends of solid racing and some very accommodating track locations and great people, and the absolute best wife in the whole world! Makes that fuel bill a bit easier to swallow.

Out and back for 1 event or even a double over 6- 8-10 hrs drive is rough enough.

CMcAllister · 07-13-2025, 12:09 PM

Watching the final rounds this morning...

Racers have nothing but good to say. Of course they're the ones that got on camera.

Other than a few hiccups, looked good from here, for a first race..

I remember when Bader took it over. We ran some of those races and had a great time. I'm cautiously optimistic that they can reclaim some of that legitimacy and get the participation.

Bo Fowler · 07-13-2025, 12:56 PM

I had a blast at this race. It's been a long time since I actually enjoyed being at the race track. Over the last few years racing
I was considering finding a different hobby,but this race give me a little spark. They treated us like Kings. I actually felt like a race car driver not a nuisance in the way. The only downside of the hole thing was the cowards that didn't show up and the fear that this thing won't last. Compared to my runner up finish last year at the divisional here and this race this year the difference is night and day. As a racer that was at both events nhra looked like the 2nd rate organization to me. So for you keyboard warriors to scared to give it a chance the water is fine come on in.

Jeff Niceswanger · 07-13-2025, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

Watching the final rounds this morning...

Racers have nothing but good to say. Of course they're the ones that got on camera.

Other than a few hiccups, looked good from here, for a first race..

I remember when Bader took it over. We ran some of those races and had a great time. I'm cautiously optimistic that they can reclaim some of that legitimacy and get the participation.

Few observations as I spent every day there. The track workers and staff remind you of the old Norwalk days back when Bader was showing people how it's supposed to done. We didn't get a homemade bag of cookies when we pulled out of the gate and headed home like that, but the hospitality was thru the roof. I was walking back from the starting line and hospitality stopped and picked me up, delivered me to my pit spot. That storm yesterday was torrential. And their drying time was Nascar style. It was fast, A ton of people out there with blowers, brooms, squeegees, tractors...Plus two new kick *** track dryers and a HELOCOPTER! I expected another hour. Larry Eagle was talking to the staging lane pit steward about how hot it was, and Larry made the commit that you must really want to do this for minimum wage. He said, WHAT? "I make 5 times that". And their staging lane choice is like a NFL game. The pit steward had the coin, (a big weird looking coin with a #1 on one side and a #3 on the other) he asks who wants what lane, he flips it. I'm sure when the car counts go up this will be tough to do, but it sure was different. I mentioned in one of previous post the lack of fuel checks, but at the National Event they did them. There were some glitches. The lights went out a couple times. Andy was talking to the electrical contractor the next morning and he said. "Yes, we had to get all these new lights up and this was all temporary wiring running to the poles.... it's all to be buried underground. We just had to hurry like heck to get it up and running for this event". Anyway, you guys need to support this, it will be something we don't want to get away...

CMcAllister · 07-13-2025, 02:17 PM

They had it all. Fuel cars. Both flavors of Pro Stock. Pro Mod. Tops. Factory Stock. Top Alcohol. Stock & Super Stock. Sleds. Hemi Shootout. Fuel Harleys. Probably missed some.

Maybe not the Big Show hitters, but I thought it was cool to see Scott Palmer and Krista Baldwin in the final.

Bo Fowler · 07-13-2025, 03:42 PM

One more thing. I was not trying to disrespect any of the people on the ground at nhra, the track workers and tech are wonderful people and do there best with what they got. Maybe even some of them could get more if this can turn into a friendly competition. What I saw was a owner that loves drag racing and might have some deep pockets vs suits in California the only care about the numbers. The legend on that trophy we all love does not run things anymore. Irp is my home track and indy is what I race for. I just hope that a little competition could make it better for everyone.

MR DERBY CITY · 07-13-2025, 04:57 PM

Life is about choices and I APPLAUD the 40 or so Stk/SS racers that made the tow to Hebron. All the reports that I received from the track were very positive . It seems as though the NEW IHRA is committed to the facilities, the support equipment AND the RACERS/Customers …..Kinda reminds me of the Bill Bader era……Now, all we need is for more Stk/SS racers to attend the next IHRA event ….

Bryan Worner · 07-13-2025, 05:15 PM

I?m happy to see they brought the old Ironman back! Congrats to all of the winners!

MoJo Risen · 07-13-2025, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR DERBY CITY

Life is about choices and I APPLAUD the 40 or so Stk/SS racers that made the tow to Hebron. All the reports that I received from the track were very positive . It seems as though the NEW IHRA is committed to the facilities, the support equipment AND the RACERS/Customers ?..Kinda reminds me of the Bill Bader era??Now, all we need is for more Stk/SS racers to attend the next IHRA event ?.

It's about being a good consumer, you're either a good consumer or your not. What you buy in terms of quality makes it so. Let's Face it, NHRA is not a good quality anymore and haven't been since early 2000's.

This is the 1st time I've stayed in and watched an entire drag racong event, the quality of their captured moments in the event was better than I've ever seen. The top end interviews were fantastic. The staging lane interviews caught racong like it is, nervous, not loose.

I can't wait to see the pinnacle of IHRA at Milan Dragway home together for a historic weekend of Nitro methane racing.

07-13-2025, 12:09 PM	#2
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 622 Likes: 17 Liked 928 Times in 263 Posts	Re: IHRA at Columbus. Watching the final rounds this morning... Racers have nothing but good to say. Of course they're the ones that got on camera. Other than a few hiccups, looked good from here, for a first race.. I remember when Bader took it over. We ran some of those races and had a great time. I'm cautiously optimistic that they can reclaim some of that legitimacy and get the participation.

07-13-2025, 02:17 PM	#5
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 622 Likes: 17 Liked 928 Times in 263 Posts	Re: IHRA at Columbus. They had it all. Fuel cars. Both flavors of Pro Stock. Pro Mod. Tops. Factory Stock. Top Alcohol. Stock & Super Stock. Sleds. Hemi Shootout. Fuel Harleys. Probably missed some. Maybe not the Big Show hitters, but I thought it was cool to see Scott Palmer and Krista Baldwin in the final.

07-13-2025, 03:42 PM	#6
Bo Fowler Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 2 Likes: 0 Liked 18 Times in 2 Posts	Re: IHRA at Columbus. One more thing. I was not trying to disrespect any of the people on the ground at nhra, the track workers and tech are wonderful people and do there best with what they got. Maybe even some of them could get more if this can turn into a friendly competition. What I saw was a owner that loves drag racing and might have some deep pockets vs suits in California the only care about the numbers. The legend on that trophy we all love does not run things anymore. Irp is my home track and indy is what I race for. I just hope that a little competition could make it better for everyone. Last edited by Bo Fowler; 07-13-2025 at 03:47 PM.

07-13-2025, 04:57 PM	#7
MR DERBY CITY VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Derby City, USA Posts: 3,663 Likes: 1,094 Liked 8,215 Times in 1,536 Posts	Re: IHRA at Columbus. Life is about choices and I APPLAUD the 40 or so Stk/SS racers that made the tow to Hebron. All the reports that I received from the track were very positive . It seems as though the NEW IHRA is committed to the facilities, the support equipment AND the RACERS/Customers …..Kinda reminds me of the Bill Bader era……Now, all we need is for more Stk/SS racers to attend the next IHRA event ….

07-13-2025, 05:15 PM	#8
Bryan Worner Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Duncannon, PA Posts: 825 Likes: 137 Liked 535 Times in 86 Posts	Re: IHRA at Columbus. I?m happy to see they brought the old Ironman back! Congrats to all of the winners!

07-12-2025, 01:38 PM	#1
Cglrcng Member Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: Kingman, AZ Posts: 465 Likes: 1,687 Liked 423 Times in 213 Posts	Re: IHRA at Columbus. After saying all that...if I was not retired, it was just an LODRS Double a 24 hr drive w/west coast fuel costs I would not be here. But a 37 day trip, racing at 3 tracks or more. (2 Doubles, 1 Nat., 3 Bracket's 1 track and a few more at another close by, and 4 straight weekends of solid racing and some very accommodating track locations and great people, and the absolute best wife in the whole world! Makes that fuel bill a bit easier to swallow. Out and back for 1 event or even a double over 6- 8-10 hrs drive is rough enough. __________________ Gary Lucier - 7832 STK. / 7832 E.T. EF/S Slow Sled. I am, but a simple test of your true patience. So, do all the really "Big Wheelies" you can!

07-13-2025, 12:56 PM	#3
Bo Fowler Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 2 Likes: 0 Liked 18 Times in 2 Posts	Re: IHRA at Columbus. I had a blast at this race. It's been a long time since I actually enjoyed being at the race track. Over the last few years racing I was considering finding a different hobby,but this race give me a little spark. They treated us like Kings. I actually felt like a race car driver not a nuisance in the way. The only downside of the hole thing was the cowards that didn't show up and the fear that this thing won't last. Compared to my runner up finish last year at the divisional here and this race this year the difference is night and day. As a racer that was at both events nhra looked like the 2nd rate organization to me. So for you keyboard warriors to scared to give it a chance the water is fine come on in.