Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Mark old buddy, as it stands there isn't enough eliminator money right now to spread!

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

I'll take your word for it, Billy Boy. I wouldn't know.

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Im just a bracket racer who wants to run Stock, and when .90 classes started, they were cool, now i wont sit in the stands to watch them. It was alot more exciting when they left hard(wheels in the air) and raced to the finish...makes more sense... what happened to a back halved camaro or duster runnin 9.90/10.90 classes? Now they are big cube/hp chassis cars that dont even need tires to get off the line. I was at INDY watchin Stock/Super Stock on wednesday this year, and it was funny how many people got up and left when .90 classes pulled up to the burnout box... hate to beat up on those guys, but, NHRA and those .90 racers ought to rethink their deal, and I know itll never happen, but maybe if S/SS ran classes closer together(Not A/S against V/SA) until they had to, that would help the spectator's prospective. And NO EFI and Carbs in the same class...come on NHRA!

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Don't blame the .90 classes for the low spectator count at most any race that has no Fuel cars.....

Spectators watch Nitro cars....and thats all they watch for the most part.

Only people with some knowledge and interets watch any of the other classes.

Throttle stop timers are the single item responsible for the stop and go nature of todays .90 racing. Dedenbaer developed them and later on they were incorporated into delay boxes.

Big more powerfull engines soon were able to be "stopped" down to run any index and the big speed is an advantage and is used very well by lots of racers to win......If you want to do well in the .90 classes you do what others have done to win.......same as in Stock or SS....Buy more stuff and spend more money......I am not talking about running on the fringes or in classes that have very few cars. If you want to run with the big dogs in the higher classes your walletts going to get a lot lighter.....

Blame NHRA for allowing the timers/boxes and big engines.....Not the people that use them....

And even if all the gadgets were removed and the clock turned back to the '80's when the Super classes were fairly new there would still be no spectators when sportsman cars ran....

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

X2 on that!

Lets deal with one problem at a time! The bottom line is drawing spectators for Stock/ Super Stock, not to bad mouth the super classes…

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

not blaming the .90 classes, just sayin that its part of the problem... people(even most racers dont understand why they do it)...I suppose if one guy does it, then, they all think they gotta do it. But, to me, thats kinda like if one guy jumps off a cliff, then we all gotta jump off a cliff. I dont agree. Good reaction time and runnin your # will win just as many races as a guy blastin by you at 170mph, tryin to run 9.90. I was at an IHRA race a few years ago, and a guy in a beat up 67 Chevelle post was kickin everybody's a$$es in the 10.90(7.00 he was runnin 1/8mile), and he wasnt runnin anything but his right foot on the pedal...he made it to the finals, i think he may have won, but not sure. Either way, it can be done. What would probably help the situation is if the factories got involved on a different level, like they used to in the '60s. Like Pontiac had the "Beat the Tiger" contest... someone (a non racer) would get the chance to line up against the "TIger" and try to outrun him. I think they did it 3-4 times over the weekend. You could go to local dealer , put your name in the hat, and hopefully get chosen. It would possibly help the dealers, but also, help the crowds... some. Just do it within the classes, not during Top Fuel. And make it somewhat more affordable for families to come out... concessions are flippin rediculous at these events. Cheeseburger and coke(atleast 10.00). Not too many people want to pay for 3-4 people to eat twice a day at that price. They get you comin and goin. And does a tshirt need to cost 30.00? Im in a band that has toured with Toby Keith (70 shows) and opened for many other acts, and i think that is highway robbery. NHRA and the price gougers have done it to the racer, not the racer doin it. THe racer keeps spendin money to make it to these shows(National Events), and the other side keeps makin it harder for people to come out and enjoy it. I would rather sell more shirts at 15.00, than to sell none at all...(this is just part of the problem) just my 2cents

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Funny how when you bring up promoting, AHFS comes up.

What about a 64 car QUALIFIED field? And you have to dial within a tenth or so of your qualified et. Suddenly sandbagging and incentive to go somewhat fast.

Makes qualifying exciting and puts performance back into the class...

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Brent, I understand completly with what you're saying. Just not relevant here to me. I see this as promoting STOCK and SUPER STOCK racing.

My first racing job that payed was crewing on a Super Gas car when the class first came out. I loved Super Gas! In my opinion, the class has gone down a road that is not good for the spectators to watch. That is my opinion only and I will not own a super class car based on that opinion. I'm sure its a fun class to race in, but not for me. Different discussion for a different board...

If we could ever get a seperate organization running for Stock and SS, I see T/S and T/D as the classes to run with it. Also NSS as there are some organizations out there that know how to put the show on. And that is what it's about for the spectator. An entertaining show…

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

[ Announcer ] :
Ok folks that's it for the pro session.
You can go on down to the pits and get autographs ,pictures and a t-shirt.
After that you can go by the concession stand for a bite and maybe a cold beverage....

By the time all this is done by the spectators it is almost time for another pro session.

Am i right or wrong???????

You can capture a (a lot) spectator's interest if you just try,but then there would be no sales while at the track.....When i spectate i usually watch the pro stock and sportsmans ,,,,then i go lolly-gag around.........
THINK ABOUT IT !!!!! ;) ,,, ;(

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Danny, I'm thiking a 1/4 mile past that...

Everyone has talked about a branch to a sportsman series. Something where there is no fuel ar alky, just sportsman racing to keep the racers happy and provide entertainment for the fans, for a REASONABLE admission $!

If you could race for a reasonable fee and just as good if not better payout as NHRA event, would you go? Why not? (I don't have the answer as I DIDN"T support it in 2011)

There is such a series here in the notheast and may as well be in other divisions as well. I can tell you I will race both NHRA and local series in 2012 and am gearing my whole operation for such as we speak...