Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

Consistency would help. For the first time, I went to 4 IHRA races last year that were a reasonable distance from me. 2 of them are not on the schedule this year, so I will only be at 2 IHRA races this year. I would have returned to the other 2. I can think of 2 other tracks that had IHRA races a few years ago that I would go to if races came back to them.

Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

great point, dropping Montgomery is the main reason my IHRA number starts with a 4

Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

For myself the reason are in order of importance:

1)Not enough time to run both sanctions. I enjoy the challenge of chasing points and only have 15-16 weekends available to do it.

2) Quality and location of tracks local to me (Louisville, KY area). The only local one that runs a IHRA race is a dust bowl. The IHRA tracks for the most part are farther away than the NHRA tracks.

3) 1/8 mile racing. Have done it on occasion, heck I even won a IHRA points race on a former IHRA track (1993 @Ohio Valley). I enjoy the challenge of racing on the 1/4 mile!

4) Too many classes. I don't like too much the modified classes in NHRA Super Stock and IHRA has those classes plus Super Stock production cars. Just another negative to me to racing IHRA.

5) Constant harping on classracer by IHRA supporters/fanatics about NHRA racers being elitist. Some people like Pepsi. Some like Coke-Cola. Some enjoy both. Most people have their reasons for not racing with one sanction over the other. Just cause you don't agree with reason does not mean that it's not valid!

Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

I am going to race some IHRA this year, Joined this month. The biggest problem is the lack of tracks close by, I will race at London Ky and Clay City and probably Martin MI. I may go to Budds Creek in July and maybe Virginia in the fall. Another thing that I think keeps people away is the lack of contingency money available. For a pro am I can only get $600 in conrtingency if I win and about $2400 for a National. I don't win very often but it would be nice to be able to win a little money if you happen to get lucky. All that being said I am going to support IHRA as much as I can.

Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

Many of these issues are a self-fulfilling prophecy. Like scheduling, just as a for-instance, nobody went to Montgomery last year (even with no real conflicts), so why on earth should they lose their hide again? And contingency... I used to be able to make close to $9K at a National. One reason that it's down so much is the lack of support by the racers. How much value does a sponsor receive for their advertising dollar with short fields? (Don't forget the number of racers out there that don't even have a sticker on their cars!)

Greg Hill has the necessary attitude. If everybody with an excuse would just GO, guess what? The car counts *would* be big. With big car counts, the tracks make money. When tracks make money, you would see better and more consistent scheduling/locations. With quality cars, tracks, and schedules, sponsors would return to fight for your hard-earned dollar.

A sanctioning body is what YOU make it. Re-read that sentence and think about it.

$.02,

Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

Michael, I think you are right about a lot of this. Obviously there are a few legit issues in some people's eyes. We would have run Montgomery last year but 2009-2010 was the worst 2 years business wise that my dad and I have ever had, we didn't do any racing to speak of. I am going to the Nitro Jam in Baton Rouge, and going to try and run D4 for points (as finances allow). I think IHRA's heart is in the right place, they are trying to make things better for the sportsman racer. I do think they should read/listen to some of what's being said here, as some of it has merit.

As far as the contingency issue goes, unless you are a touring pro, or a perennial final rounder ( Beard, Bertozzi, et al) then is it REALLY a big enough issue to keep you at home?

Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

I think Michael's right if we support IHRA I believe it will improve.

Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

Change the I to a N

Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

Scheduling

in Div 4 this year, the race in Crandall is the weekend between Houston Divisional and Belle Rose National, I live in Dallas area but can't go because of work schedule. Very difficult to take that many days off in a 3 week span. State Capitol is the weekend before Ennis, Houston National 2 weeks after that with Easter in between. You would have to be a traveling professional, retired or independently wealthy to race that many weekends in a month.

Gilliam is scheduled nice compared to Belle Rose divisional

San Antonio is also doable 2 weeks before Houston divisional

Re: How do you get (N) racers over to the (I) side
 

A. run 1/4 race's.
B. a lot less classes.
C. one race in 3 days.
D. run class at more races.