Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
I just want to thank Jack, Kenny, guys like Toby personally. Their pictures and reporting are 2nd to none. Love the incar videos. Many of my posts are mis read. The guys who do know me should realize how much of a fan of Stock and S/S racing I am. How many others would drive 19 1/2 hours to spectate at the Dutch like I did last year? When I was in Md. I would drive 3 1/2 hours every year. Races like the Dutch is THE BEST SHOW ON THE PLANET !!!! The purpose of the post is to try to get better minds than mine to figure out HOW in the hell can we get the average fan to come to these races. I dont mean guys like "Skills" and other hard core car types. But in the big picture this is what the tracks and IHRA/NHRA see and how long before they find something else to be the filler for the fuel cars? What are we/you doing wrong or is it the rules and the way the elimlnator is run? What can we do to improve the situation. I would say that better than 90% of the spectators there were friends, crew, family with a car . Not just people who love stock and S/S for what they are. When your at these national events do you really think the crowd is there too watch the .90 classes and class cars? Come on guys....put your thinking caps on before its to late.
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
Opera to see an opera. |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Yeah Ed.....your most likley correct . P.S. I forgot to mention Larry Hill as being one of the "ACE Reporters" on this forum along with the other guys.
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Congratulations to Katie Sepanek Stock winner over a red lighting Don Heims.
And Super Stock winner Larry Jewell over Marty Reinhart Jr. |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Well the afternoon flew by and now we can say congrats to the winners --
Stock ---- Katie Sepanik in her trusty I/SA Chevelle defeated Don Himes in Billy Nees' Q/SA LeMans SuperStock was won by Larry Jewell in his familiar red Corvette when he defeated Marty Reinhart in his ageless '69 Camaro . |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Race heads up , that will bring in fans . The majority of fans dont like bracket racing thats why they leave the stands when we race.
Bo Kenney |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
What we do isn't perfect but it's better than giving the classes away to the "well healed". |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
The American Muscle portion of the Dutch Classic turned out to be a great show. Granted it was only for the Mustangs/Challengers but it was heads-up racing and that is cool in any capacity. In the end, Fezell and Ficacci put up big numbers in qualifying with a set of mid-30 passes. Barton lead the pack of Challengers with a stout 9.51 but we all seemed to suspect there was more in the bag and that became evident when he unleashed a 9.41 pass on the brakes in the semi's to take out Fezell. The final looked promising as the supercharged Mustang was in the 30's all day Barton kept going faster and faster as the day went on. In the final match-up, both cars left the line with the wheels in the sky. Ficacci was pointed straight as an arrow and Barton was fading out of the groove. Untimately Barton was unable to keep the car on the track and nutted it into the wall twice as Ficacci passed the line with a 9.25 pass at over 140 mph.
P.S. Not trying to boast at all. Simply did not see any news from the crack news team as to the outcome of the shootout. Most of you know I only care about heads-up racing and being that few supported Top Stock with the old cars, its good to see at least someone is out there making it happen. |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
And yes I had to race Anthony B's '08 stang for class at the Dutch. And I can tell you first hand being nose to nose with that car for the first two gears gave me some of the most satisfaction of the year! Unfortunately when that 'stang went into high gear... |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
It seemed like Saturday there was a better spectator turnout. I know alot of people want to fight and argue about the new cars. I may be wrong but I think there would be more appeal with them running all out , I know I would have to watch. I think the fans at a national event watch a 4 second funny car, a 6.50 second pro stocker and then up comes a 14 second stocker.They don't care or even know its .95 under the index." Whats an index?" Its like slow motion. Now a low 8 second SS blown mustang, or a low 9 second stocker that looks like there own street car. They can relate. Face it NHRA will not promote us. It is up to us racers... |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Mike , thanks for the up date on AM/S. Well put SSDA hemi
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Terry,
Maybe a new thread would be more appropriate so we don't get too far off topic in this one. But since we are here for now I will offer my 2 cents worth as an avid fan of most forms of drag racing. The Fuel cars bring a 'Roman Coliseum' element into the picture and I think most casual fans like to see stuff blow up and crash-and-burn racing. Calling that stuff 'racing' is a stretch of course, but I think most fans desire entertainment over competition. That is important to understand. Kind of like a lot of NASCAR fans that watch more or less to see the crashes. The last few years I have noticed that quite a few fans leave the stands during Pro Stock (aka "Pro Funny Stock", a phrase you coined that aptly describes the class nowadays) and even more leave during Pro Mod. I think they leave so they can catch of glimpse of John Force. Why someone would rather go see him (hopefully see him) instead of watching the rest of the action on the track is beyond me. It could be some sort of psychosis really. It's not just heads up racing that the casual fan wants to see. If that was the case then they would stay around to watch the alcohol cars. Of course the alcohol cars blow up too but not in a big ball of fire like the blown nitro cars do. The 'fast street car' associations ( street car of course is a misnomer nowadays) also have that 'Roman Coliseum' aspect that is so alluring to many fans. You can sit back for hours, maybe even days, and watch the blow ups and crashes in those associations on YouTube. The danger element has a strange appeal to most people. The other form of drag racing that was wildly popular was 'Pinks'. Instead of an element of danger it had the interest of casual fans because it was on TV, and you know everybody wants to get on TV. People have a strange infatuation with television. Most will do almost anything no matter how numb nutted it may be to get on TV. I think we can also conclude that the 'new cars' aren't the answer either. They are cool and all despite being incorrectly classified and factored, but they were cast by many to increase the energy and buzz about stock car drag racing- supposedly they were going to bring in the new generation of fans and competitiors alike. After 3 years of the 'new cars' I think we can safely say that they haven't brought in an appreciable amount of new or old fans. Or semi-old fans either. IMO the answer lies in a grass roots type of movement. That's how all things popular get started. More class racing associations need to get started, and the focus needs to be at the smaller independent type tracks where fans can get up close to the cars and the action. Racers need to put their cars on display in high visibilty venues a day or two before the race, give away free tickets or discounted tickets and invent new publicity mediums. If someone had the investment capital they could model their effort after Pinks and it would probably work out well for them. Quote:
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
1 Attachment(s)
For those of you (Toby Lang) who wondered if Superman put his pants on, one leg at a time, here's some proof to support supposition "A:.
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
And a new thread is needed... |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
YEAH!!!!! Steve finally won class can someone tell me what the prize is? :)
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
A beer and I owe you one.....
P.S. How was the wedding? You missed a nice day.... |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
5 Attachment(s)
Found a few more photos from this past weekend ................I've got a bunch more in my camera -------- anyone seen it ? ? Seems to be lost or ..................
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Here are a couple finish line videos I took with my IPAD.
These were first round of stock at the dutch classic. These are not Toby Lang quality, but here goes! (JUST CLICK ON EACH PICTURE AND THE VIDEO WILL START) http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0106.jpg http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0108.jpg http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0107.jpg http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0109.jpg http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0104.jpg |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Your photos and videos are always great. Sorry I forgot to mention your name before when I said thanks to the great reporting and photos in another post.
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Thanks for the video of the 94 caprice, it looks great!
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Just wanted to say in spite of the bad weather at the Grove on Thurs. and Fri. I had a GREAT time!:)
A big Thank You goes to Dennis Chapman for the opportunity to run his car in Stock Eliminator something I have not done in over thirty years!:D For those of you who have never driven one of these FWD turbo stockers let me tell you it ain`t easy ! LOL you leave to low with it and it just kinda rolls off the line, to high and it blows the tires away ,I really needed Thursday and Friday to get used to the car but mother nature took care of that lol, :mad: It was good to see some old friends and make a few new ones ! Thanks also to Class Racer .com, I have known Dennis for approx. 40 years and got back in touch with him because I found this site while surfing the web a few weeks back,I sent him a PM on here and in a matter of days I was able to borrow a truck from Ed Novajoski (A former partner with my brother and I 41 yr.s ago in my very 1st. race car),a trailer from Ned Foley, A helmet from Bob Misiewicz (Bob`s Automotive Machine) who `s car most remember me driving in stk. elim. in the mid to late `70s then later his S/G Camaro and up till 2005 his Super E.T. dragster, Some changes in my life have prevented me from racing since then but that changed for the good in a few short days ! Thanks to everyone for helping out on short notice, true friends!:D I also need to Thank Ken Kopecky for the rides to and from the Hotel, we sure had a good time talking about the good ole day`s at dinner! While we were in the Tech line Billy Nees comes walking by and Dennis C. says hey remember this guy Billy says give me a min. and in about 10 seconds says yep you had a 66 blue 427 Impala and after that a F/SA 69 Camaro Dennis C. says you know he still has that Impala, Billy starts talking about combinations and how I should put it back together as a Stocker his mind is always working on something! Still the guy I remember from years back lol:D BTW Billy, Congrats to you and Don! I know you will read this! Dennis Banach 1516 STK |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
9 Attachment(s)
Wow ! ! ! First thing this morning Fed-Ex shows up with an overnight package - and inside is my camera with card still intact .Not sure if it was stolen or picked up by mistake but there is no note inside the box ..........came in from New Jersey at a Mail / Shipping place .Whoever sent it all I can say is thanks either way .
Here are a few of the pictures taken Sunday ............... |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
Quote:
That was some funny stuff we got going about sat night Tom.... and thanks for the fun..... |
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
8 Attachment(s)
Here is the last batch ...........
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
So what happened to the Westcott cars in SS/AH? not listed on Drag Race Central as running.
|
Re: Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"
6 Attachment(s)
Dick, Perkins took Jr out. Results are up on DRC now, THANKS!
Joe Grippo posted some pics: |
pics from dutch
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:15 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Class Racer.com. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.