Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

you are right Herb.

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

Does this mean that in the contingency sponsors eyes the IHRA has ceased to be an actual sanctioning body? It seems to me that they have basically decided that they can't sustain an actual "PRO" format so they've went to a "theatrical" performance instead. Don't get me wrong after many races waiting for the Pro's to finish qualifying, waiting to run first round which rarely ever happened, I would not miss all the oildowns and delays which affected all the sportsman racers. I just wonder what their contingecy sheet will look like with this "new deal". How many times can you change your format without a COMPLETE overhaul? Can all of this be explained by the current economy, I'm not sure that's entirely true as most every NHRA race we attended had what I consider large fields of cars. I really hope the best for IHRA I hope that can regroup and return to their normal mode of racing I guess time will tell. Personally I have little faith in Arron and Scooters ideas of what works but who am I to tell them how to do it?Joe Hope I don't get alot of hate over this but WTF is the deal of running TS and TD as part of the "pro" show? I mean how hard is it to make one of these cars run in the 7's? I don't see anything unique about these classes, hell there's some Rod class cars that could qualify.JMO

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

Please look at the post i gave on NHRA lay-off topic. TOO lazy to post twice and not smart enough to copy and paste.

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

I agree with Danny. I don't know why everyone is so quick to pile on IHRA. Obviously, I make my living primarily with NHRA, but I do run IHRA stuff as my schedule will allow. It's a different deal for sure, but I don't see how the Pro format change impacts us one bit. The contingency money was already decimated last season, so I can't see it dropping much more, and I know first hand that IHRA management really does care about the Sportsman racer.

Like Danny said, the only time my friends and family ever watch the Pros is on a Saturday night (with a cooler in tow), and we generally have a lot of fun. I can honestly say that I NEVER watch a Pro car go down the track at an NHRA event. So really, what do we care if it's a booked in monster truck type deal, as long as we're treated well and have a good place. I don't mean this negatively, but their Pro cars were already leakers, so what do we care if they don't run on a traditional race format. Maybe they will be less inclined to run "on the edge" and oil the track as frequently. I'm sure that if one shows the propensity to be an oiler, they won't be invited back again.

Give them a chance. Just like any business they are doing what they feel they have to do in an attempt to survive, dare I say prosper. At least they didn't double all our fees over night and then tell us we don't even pay our own way. Sorry, I'm still a little bitter over that one...

Now if they move all sportsman eliminations to non-adjustable rollout pro tree practice tree tournaments, then I've got a problem...I'm still a little bitter about that one, too...LOL...
__________________
Dan Fletcher 1781 STK, SS, COMP, SG, SC

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

I don't mind the change from 3-2 days, the only thing I would miss, would be the Friday night qualifying show.....night of FIRE!. Did two national events this season, and it got rained out twice at Epping, and the kids wanted to eat on Friday PM at MIR so I missed it, then it rained on Saturday. I did like the 4pm start for qualifying since it gave me time to tow down. This might actually be the optimal setup for the tracks, since they would lose Friday nights revenue under the new plan.

The new format may actually give the contigency advertisers a better buy than before. More focused fans, arriving early for the Nitro show, see the wheelies of Super Stock, and Stock could attract the Pinks plus crowd. Maybe if they started off the morning with say the Wheelstanders, followed by sportsman wave one, followed by Jet car/truck followed by sportsman, etc., then the pros. Wouldn't it be nice for the stands to be filled with AM fans!

Wait and see.

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

Maybe if they actually advertised that racing started at 8-9am rather than mid afternoon'/evening with the first session of the PRO show. Add a line to the advertisements that states "Wheel-standing sportsman racing starts at XX and Nitro racing starts at YY" Most events I've heard or seen the adds for you wouldn't know there have been cars racing for a day and a half by the time the Pro session starts.

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

I seem's to me some people think it's a PLUS to take a three day race and have it in two or a four day race and have it in three or less for the same amount of money as they used to pay even thu at most races no one makes them attend all the days.

Personally I don't like racing less days, and for the same money as I used to pay for a four or three day race for sure.

I like going to the races, I like being there and IF I did'nt like to race or I didn't like being there I would find something else to do, not campain to take race day's away for other people.

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

But that's just the point. They are trying to package a 3 to 4 hour "entertainment" package, not an all day affair. Only hardcore car peeps are going to show up at 8am for stock eliminator. That isn't who they are trying to sell tickets to. We still get to race, but they could be holding a separate "xyz" contest later in the day that brings in the main revenue. The way I see it, it's almost like two completely unrelated activities. Reality can be depressing sometimes, but at least we still get a playground...

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

I'll give it a try. One less hotel night. No pro oilers in with Sportsman. Sounds like it could work. Time will tell.

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

Dan & Fast Johnny, everyone else....


As I have said before, thank God we still have choices where we can RACE.. If you think its bad now imagine that there was only one place to Race, and the closest track was 5-800 miles away like out west ...If you don't want to travel you can stay local and run IHRA in the East ... We are really lucky to have so many places to run ... No , they aren't perfect but they are handy and it gives us Choices ?
So stop complaining and Go Racing , while you still can ... Also, this is a great time
to support IHRA, Muscle Car and bracket races where you can still play ...

@ The Choice is yours , support your local tracks while they are still around.....

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

AMEN to that.

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

Very well said Dave,

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone got off their butt and made a decision.

Things that attract spectators to spend their hard-earned money have CHANGED in the last several years. CONGRATULATIONS to Aaron and the crew at Feld for being strong enough to try something new.
The OLD WAY was dead and NHRA is proving it every week I watch that mind-numbing event coverage.

Even Pinks All Out can pack the stands, when was the last time you watched a National Event on TV with full grandstands? Even Bruton's Charlotte event was a dud, attendance wise. Now there is a guy who will watch the IHRA plans very closely...

The booked in show will probably be better entertainment because they are getting PAID to make good runs.

The "average race fan" doesn't know so-called big name racers from '
"Joe-Shmo". They know noise, fire and smoke and want the ticket price to be affordable and a 3 hour show, period.

What NHRA and some IHRA National events have turned into is more of a marathon for die-hard race fans and there simply are not enough of them to support the sport anymore.

Bring on the CIRCUS, leave the Sportsman Racers alone to race (which they did!!!) and let's go racing.

Kudos to IHRA for being brave enough to lay down their cards and make a "call".

Jok Nicholson

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

Yes!!! I absolutely second what Jok and Dave said. By condensing the Pro show, the boredom factor drops, and many paying spectators may come early to take in some wheelstanding stock & super stock action prior to the main event. Look at circle tracks and how they run their shows...same philosophy.

Right before the show the announcers could even hype up and build some drama for Stock and Super Stock...that's what will draw fans. Between rounds at those SoCal 64 funny car events during the 70s they'd get a handful of bracket cars and pair them up by make...Chevy vs. Ford, Mopar vs. Chevy etc. for grudge matches. When the cars were staging the track announcer would stir up the spectators by screaming "how many want to see the Ford win? How about the Chevy?" and so on. It didn't matter if it was shoe polish or heads up racing... The win light would come on and the fans went wild...sometimes more than the funny car action. Rich Christensen's success can be attributed to similar tactics - always making cars the stars.:cool:

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

I agree with Fletch. They are a business doing what they feel they have to do to sustain, and or possibly prosper. Shortening the show is probably a good idea. All though if IHRA national events were only 3 days thats not bad (only been to divisionals for ihra). I love being at the track more than anywhere, but its probably a sound decision to save vacation days and the expense for the average sportsman racer. Coincides with the type of decision making all of us are having to make in this time in our country. Leaning out to insure that we are around for the duration.

NHRA could definitely stand for their national events being shorter for the sportsman. Again, I love being at a race for the better part of a week. However as I am looking at taking my first shot at driving at divisionals/national events (grading point contingent) next year I would rather make it to more races then stay all week for some. If NHRA could juggle some classes around and drop maybe 1 rd of pro qualifyiing, perhaps do a round of eliminations saturday, and run more sportsman on sunday, to save sportsman racers an extra day away from their other obligations, I think it would be a big help. (if nhra didnt really view us as dead weight). Im sure espn would not suffer too badly.

As far as being a show, no qualifying etc.. Not so much.


I believe someone was talking about what we can do to save our sport. I think we need to get a class or 2 that go back to the idea behind Pro Stock. Cars that consumers relate to. I love nitro, but I absolutely love Pro Stock, and would not want to get rid of it. But some class that was "part of the show" that was a lot more like what you can buy off the show room floor I think would do a lot for the sport. Im sure I will get flack for this, but perhaps 2 classes like this. One being rwd, and one being fwd or even awd.

Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format
 

[QUOTE=Jimi B;


I believe someone was talking about what we can do to save our sport. I think we need to get a class or 2 that go back to the idea behind Pro Stock. Cars that consumers relate to. I love nitro, but I absolutely love Pro Stock, and would not want to get rid of it. But some class that was "part of the show" that was a lot more like what you can buy off the show room floor I think would do a lot for the sport. Im sure I will get flack for this, but perhaps 2 classes like this. One being rwd, and one being fwd or even awd.[/QUOTE]

Your beating a dead horse. IHRA had that with Top Stock but GM and their dumb assed engineer couldnt keep his nose out of the rules and F&&ked it up. NHRA (Dave Ley) followed suite and did it like IHRA started it along with a Top S/S and a Top Jr. stock but not many kept at it and it was run when their was NO sprctators at some Div 1 events. Some racers (Bracket style class racers) hated it and some racers loved it. Its to bad it wasnt run when the spectators could watch it instead of on Thursdays when most had to be at work. There are not enough FWD or AWD in the country to try it. It requires a good 16 + car count like Pro Stock of the early 70's. The show was 4 speeds and wheel stands to mix it up with the automatics on the 2 steps. Cars that look like real cars instead of the funny cars of todays Pro stock and normal people could almost afford to run one..