Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

May I inject myself into this discussion from a spectators point of view. Don't not separate the pros from the sportsmen one supports the other if the hra's would do it properly. First move everything back to 1/4 mile that is the true sport. Make the fuel cars simple to give the independent race a shot. One fuel pump and mag that will slow them down and make it safer which can speed up the program. Get back to night time qualifying on sat night, header flames are the coolest thing in motorsports. Chase fans for sportsmen by putting them on tv with a weekly show about sportsmen racing around the country highlighting differnt classes and tracks. Push your stars! You have the touring guys that people can see come to their event and race against the local guys. Fix the horsepower ratings so the older combos have a equal shot against the new cars. Everybody has a favorite regardless of domestic or import and the more combos that show up with a legitimate shot the better. Its about the full show, 10 hours of pure racing with open access to a full car show. Young people love cars we just have to show them our style. Regardless of age there is something cool about a hemi with wheels in the air motor singing chasing down another car.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

the last couple of IHRA races I went to up in our area(Byron,Martin Mi.) you could have come in anytime the whole weekend, with 10 of your racing buds in double stackers,and parked right next to each other, anywhere in the pits!!!

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

From a spectator like myself I liked it when Bandimere was a 4-day event. S/SS did everything, qualifying and class on Thursday and I loved it. No pro stuff! I know it must suck for the racers having first round Friday then second on Saturday. Now I just plan my spectating to Div. races. I haven't been to the Mile Hi's in years, but I try to go to all the Div. 5 races at Bandimere ane all the Div.7 races at Vegas. It sucks that so much has changed in the last 20 years since I started following S/SS.
Bob
P.S. Someday I might build a legal engine, I made sure my car was legal before I built it!
If I can ever afford it!

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

me too. thursday was the best, pretty laid back...now, unless i snag free tix. i won't go at all

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

I don't have a problem with people saving one spot. That's quite reasonable. I would prefer not to see one rig roping off half a row, however.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Do Not seperate Them. Adjustments yes.
1) Sportsman Thursday-Saturday
2) Pros Friday- Sunday with a Friday night session

I miss the days when IHRA had real pros. We would race during the day and see a decent Pro show at night.
I'm planning to race a couple NHRA nationals in 2014 just to be able to see that type of racing again.
Chip

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

I would think starting the Sportsman racers on Wednesday would give another day for one or two more qualifying rounds. I think the final round or two on Sunday should be maintained so some of the fans can see them and give those classes some exposure. From what I've seen over the last 20 years or so at Ennis, most of the typical "fans" leaves the stands after the nitro classes run. I've seen them clear out with Pro Stock coming up. It mystifies me, but that's what I've observed over the years. Maybe that is what NHRA markets the most, or is NHRA just catering to the typical "fan"? Even on the TV coverage, they tend to skip some of PS runs, but they can spend a half an hour letting Force run his mouth endlessly. I'd rather see X/S class runs than watch JF jabber on. Any racing is better than jabbering. The TV people like to see "drama" on these shows. The hot rod car shows are full of drama/BS. I guess it's something they learned in their college drama classes. I've always been attracted to the technology aspect of racing.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Start the sportsman on Wednesday or Thursday?

Are you people serious?

The people who have regular jobs, who do not race for a living, you want them to show up on Wednesday, or Wednesday night?

Seriously?

Even if you own your own business, who can regularly take THREE DAYS off from work?

And that assumes you can leave Tuesday, after work, get there, get parked, and get tech'd in.

If you only ran 4-5 national events in a year, that would be an entire two week vacation. JUST to run national events.

Never mind the LODRS races you'd have to go to in order to get grade points.

Who gets a month off per year?

And if they do, who among them has no other obligations? No family, no nothing?

It'll work great. The car count will be under 20, that way the sportsman don't take up and room or any time.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Facts of life:
1 , Breakout racing doesn't bring in a lot of spectators.

2, Flat out racing doesn't bring in a lot of race cars.


If someone can figure out how to get around those two facts, then you've got something

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

If we, the sportsman racers, could get someone at NHRA to listen maybe then some change could take place. Take for example leaving the National events the way the are but at some leave the sportmen classes out. We all know of tracks that are to crowded now. They have plenty of other fillers, Pro mod and the rest of the circus. Give every division a sportsnation race and promote those races as they do the rest of the National events with some TV coverage. Same pay out and points for winning and run class. Be able to set records. But have it where you can only claim three Sportnationals not race all of them and pick the best ones to claim. The points from the Sportnationals count for Division and National. And instead of having the National Champs decided by how many miles you can travel why not have it like the Allstars. Take the top five in all the divisions and the past winner and have a race at the end of the year at say Indy or Chicago to determine the National Champs. Just a few thoughts. 5077 the Big Red Ford.