Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Bobby B

I called Jennifer at NHRA and ask her if we were going to get another Entry and Crew member reinbursement and she said I already had a National Event Credit and would credit my Credit Card for the Crew member expense in the next few days. I was a 1st round runner up!!.

We shall see

RJ

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Nice mulligan there, RJ. :)

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

I particularly enjoy the fact that the NHRA website makes NO, ZERO, NUNCA, mention of the fact that the sportsman program was 100% cancelled. It simply states "event complete".

Act as though it never even happened. No explanation, no justification, no nothing. Even if they didn't say "sorry", I would think it would still qualify as "news" of some sort. An unprecedented situation and its not even remotely acknowledged by the company website. Thats 'effin awesome...

BTW, the K&N Spring Fling is opposite of the Topeka national. The PEAK Super Stock Camaro will be in Bristol...

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Toby at my age I'll take'm anyway I can. Hope to see you soon.

Hey, I just ran out of Janet's dial in treatment, any chance of getting some. I sure do miss seeing her at the races. Quite a Lady.....

RJ

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

There was no good answer for Houston. We were there, it was terrible, it flooded. Many of us got stuck. My 45,000 lb motor home got pulled out by a very large machine with tires 2 ft taller than me. SS and Comp got no first round. The other 4 (Stk, S/St;, S/G, S/C) made the first round. There were quite a few cars that could not have gotten to the line (or out the trailer for that matter) even though they were still in. Monday forecast was not good, Atlanta was next weekend, No Problem Points not an option, Houston in the fall, who knows. I talked to lots of racers about what to do, and there was absolutely no agreement and the answers changed with the time. I would not have liked to make the call on what to do. Lots of rumors about when the call was made. It was not made early, as the sun was out, but the water and mud in the rear of the track was not going anywhere. You get a year credit, you get your money back for your crew (except R.J.), and I assume the ladder and the data on all runs disappear. Stock Class was complete. Maybe they allow it in the Class Points race? The race does not count in your points quest. The Stock trophies are, I'm sure not going back.
I think the main thing was as mentioned before the racers on site and in the race could not compete was just not an answer. It was as bad as it gets. I don't know how much it rained, but it was plenty. We had 4 cars (3 made the first round and the 4th was a ss) in the race. There are a gillion things that made it worse, but that is for future discussion. It happened, the call was made, I think it was as good a call as could be made under the conditions. Surely not everyone agrees, but do you leave racers in their trailers while the class runs, or finish 3 months from now, or whatever the 4,384 solutions I heard during the day. Making the best of a bad situation is what it is called. I will email NHRA about the other stuff if it is not already posted.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

I haven't been to a National event since 2008 and haven't missed them one bit. In 2008 I was the representative for the sportsman racers committee in d 3 for stock and super stock. That year really opened my eyes to what the top management at NHRA thought about sportsmen racers. Support your local combo races, go to divisionals, go to opens, and go to the sports nationals and you can race as much as most any one would want to. These national events are a joke. It's more like professional wrestling than it is racing. If you're not happy with how you are treated don't go. I enjoy our d3 races and like the people in our division. I particularly like the combo races at Bowling Green. You do have options.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

They should have a sportsnational style race as a make up. I don't see how you can just throw the race away. It could easily be made a sportsnational even if they don't run class again. This could be run the same weekend as a national event that is not anywhere near d4 maybe northeast? Just a thought.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Puppy, you are a true wise man. That idea might get legs. Maybe a few calls and emails are in order.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Jeff, why doesn't NHRA make the tracks that have national events pave their pits or no national event, You are a car dealer and the factory's make you update your dealership or you lose your franchise, Topeka and Dallas have paved pits. Tom

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Tom,

Fixing the pits as you suggest at Houston would be logistically beyond the capabilities of the track owners because......wait a minute. The Angel Brothers own a paving business.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

I am truly surprised that NHRA decided to refund the crew member tickets. They can't pay for everyone's fuel and other moneys spent, but I thought I would receive it in my Anus for the crew tickets and I didn't. That’s $400 coming back to my friends and family. Kudos to NHRA for lubing it up first. I’m still not excited about how it turned out. They had plenty of time to run us after the Semis of the Pros at 3pm and could have easily finished on Monday if need be. They were there for pro testing anyway. Like Jeff said, it’s the pits that were the problem, not really NHRA.
Keep in mind that refunding all the sportsmen means that somebody had to pay for the insurance that the pros require. I wonder if NHRA absorbed that loss or put it on the Track.... I sure hope the track did because this isn't the first time that this has happened at Houston in my short racing career. They have made improvements to the pit, but not in the area the paying customer pits at. It’s still a mud pit and looks very bad on them and Royal Purple. I wonder if Royal Purple would be interested in hearing how they are a title sponsor of a track that doesn't give a crap about people who buy their product. Isn't that how special interest groups get it done?

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

"I wonder if Royal Purple would be interested in hearing how they are a title sponsor of a track that doesn't give a crap about people who buy their product."

Ding Ding...

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

especially after one round of eliminations and then told to act like it never happen......WTF????????

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

I missed all the fun but the owners are "*** holes" At least at Ennis.. Billy made a place for the Sportsmen.. Really Angel Bros. Go to Hell. You are cheap B*****. Will never spend a dime with you.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

I agree Bobby but the bad thing is, all of these people who are complaining will be lined up in Sept to do it again, the only way to get their attention is by hitting their wallets, its just ashame the racers wouldnt grow a sack one time and not go, that would surely grab their attention......just my .02

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Any interest in a BIG money sportsman race at No Problem race the weekend of the Houston National next year?

Just throwing it out there as of now.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Yes

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

bottom line it was poor planing on the track owners.they knew rain was in the forcast they should have moved us to the circle track like they did in the past.the sportsman pits was a dust bowl when it was dry and a pig pen when it poured.and this is just bad planning on the track.and NHRA should fine them for poor sportsman pits.this has happened one to many times.some real nice high dollar rigs had to be pulled out like a D5 cat dozer pulls out trees!

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

You Bet! :rolleyes:

L.J.D. :)

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

I made a decision Tuesday night to go salmon fishing in Maine over the weekend and just eat the entry fee. It wasn't an easy decision - but family came first. It was gorgeous up there - beautiful weather, calm waters, and fish in the canoe each day. I gotta tell you I felt even better about that decision once I got back to civilization late last night and saw how things turned out.

I have to say that thus far I have really enjoyed the people in Div 4 since I moved to Dallas. Things are run pretty different here vs Div 7 where I have always raced before. This weekend is a perfect illustration of the mindset of NHRA upper management - which I think is also reflected in how Div 7 is managed since they are right there in Glendora.

I'll be looking for other options to get the car on the track soon. Glad you racers who got shafted are at least getting some $$ back.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Shame on you nhra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Did you get a transfer credit also? I would think you should since they said treat it like you were never there, and you were never there ...

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Full one year transfer for all competitors, refund crew passes, and I am waiting on the rest, but I assume all the qualifying goes out the window;, all the data, and the only real question is Stock Class which was complete (got outrun by a Ford) does it count for the Stock Class Championship. It was the only completed item. I have lots and lots of suggestions for Houston Raceway and NHRA, but it's always eaiser as a Monday Morning Quarterback. There will be plenty about this over the coming year or so. And the mud all washed off. As soon as I get an official on the data thing and Stock Class, I will post it.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Just did my transfer before friday for next years race yeehaaa

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

I sent an email to Pat and Bruce about AHFS but no response yet

Ron

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Really ironic that after all the money spent to build a super track like Billy's Motorplex that it is still not much different than the old Dickerson track.Dust bowl & mud hole.Sad.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

A pic from our pit Sunday morning. And we were in a "good" spot!

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

I sent a civil email lol to Royal Purple im waiting to see if they email me back.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

There will be no Q & E data used from Houston. No word on Stock Class.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Yea !!!

I just got the email from Pat a few minutes ago

Ron

Forget the PM I sent

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

I wonder if we have to give back the Golf trophies too :confused:

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Keep the trophy. Since the Ford Family originated cheating at Golf, you can keep that one too. I guess that is why my guys got the Honest Golfer award?

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

If everyone would ban together and not go to the second Houston event this year it would make a good statement and hurt the one track that appears to be hurting sportsman racing.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

It is not surprising to me they made this decision. What is surprising to me is that the racers continue to deal with this kind of treatment. The ENTIRE national event series is paid for on the backs of sportsman racer. You dont actually think we need a $105 dollar per racer insurance binder do you? NO! It is silly, when the racers finally get fed up and they unite and realize the power that they actually hold then and only then will they change ... I enjoy drag racing and the folks I meet and race at the track THAT is the only thing that keeps me coming back.

Scott K.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

What is going on with Texas Tracks...

Houston and Dallas..

D

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Is that your way of asking to be on my team next year Jeff?:D

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

As a fan you know the people that nhra supposedly care about. First I will say sorry to all the racers from this last weekend in texas what ashame to see how you were treated. Second I attend englishtown every year for three days so I can get as much sportsmen racing as possible. Nhra assumes that all we care about is fuel, I understand that is what is on tv. If sportsmen had a quality tv show I believe the sportsmen ratings would be higher. Look at the show pass time and how many people have watched it. Maybe we need to ban together and fix this problem.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Austin, next year I will go with my team, but will be for hire for anyone, as a professional social director. My guys do not have the 3 C's; Class Cooth and Culture; but yall don't either.

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

LOL, I guess we're not so different then.

I look forward to sharing another drink with you soon Mr.Teuton!

Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled
 

Here the response I got from Royal Purple

Mr. Carpenter,



Thank you for your email and appreciate your feedback pertaining to the recent NHRA O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway. We understand there will be individuals who did not like the decision to cancel the sportsman series but this decision was made by NHRA, not Royal Purple or the owners of the track. Due to the event being televised live by ESPN, NHRA determined it was in their best interests to cancel all eliminations for the sportsman racers.



Thank you again for taking the time to reach out to us and our hope is that you will continue to be a Royal Purple fan not only because our products outperform other lubricants in the market, but that you want the best racing oils to help you outperform the competition.



Sincerely,



Randy





Randy Fisher

Marketing Director