Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

Thank you. We found some things that should have made it a lot faster, but at least we set one.
Chuck.

Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

There are plenty of solutions, as long as the bean counters aren't worried about stuffing every dime in their pockets. Last I checked, that track is owned by a bunch with little interest in the sport, only making money. And they do it with no thought of what it could be with a little more effort. Other than the Gators, my last trip down that track was in 09, a King of the Hill Wally race. I got down to 3 cars in S/P, and left with $50. I was unaware they combined the purses, something you find at none of the other tracks in Florida except on rare combo nights. And they want to know why cars go farther to SGMP...

Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

Bingo, and we all know who owns the track. If you look at SGMP's bracket points list and their listed place of residence you'll see there are a ton of racers that drive right by the track on the way to SGMP. When I got my licensing runs with Frank Hawley it was obvious his crew had prepped the starting line better than the "owners" do for their programs. That should give everyone an idea. Shame too, Gainesville use to be one of the premium tracks in the entire country.

Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

Gainsville used to be on my bucket list. Guess I can scratch that one off.

Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

Ed, I don't know if I'd take it off of your list if your coming for a national event. I will say that at the national there, it was the best track I had been down all year. Last year it was very good as well. Just wasn't good at the open race they just had.
Chuck

Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

Mr. Rollins, do you currently race Stock, Super Stock or Comp Eliminator?

Exactly my point. Never have, and probably never will. I prefer learning and perfecting a different skill set (and racing more often on the same limited budget). But if all you guys talk to is an echo chamber of dissatisfied peers, you probably won't learn much or have more fun anytime soon. I also know that the winners in your classes are managing to get down the racetrack instead of whining about it. No offense, just tough love.

Mark, If the bean counters aren't at least moderately happy, there is no place to race. So it's not a solution to say "the track should be a charity that is willing to lose unlimited amounts of money to make me happy". We're losing tracks left and right because it is not profitable in this economy to pay the note on the facility, much less double the spend on track prep. NHRA could certainly be a more efficient corporation, but that's another discussion. Once again, negativity is how you rationalize staying in the garage maybe, but it doesn't give us more or better places to race.

Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

I can tell you one thing, a bad starting line will kill a drag strip faster than anything. In Louisville we have Ohio Valley which has been there for more than 40 years. Three or four years ago they tried VP traction compound and it killed their car count. They switched back to VHT in 2010 and their car counts came back. No one likes to race on a bad track.

Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

Something I have experienced that surprised me. Our local track, Tulsa Raceway, Mike Edwards rents the track to test his Pro Stock car all the time. He talks about how good it is. Myself and the other local SS cars can hardly ever hook here when we rent it. I tried to run a bracket race for practice before going to the Topeka race. Mike tested there the week before. I tried both lanes and just blew the tires off instead of changing the car all around I said "heck with it". Went home and got ready for Topeka (Nationals). We have rented the track, told them it was too slick, they say "That's just how we prep it for Mike."
I got to Topeka and about flipped it over backwards.
I was thinking ( How is data from Tulsa of ant value to Mike is all he runs is National events with starting lines like this?" so went went to ask him. I said "The starting line here is really good isn't it?" Mike says "It is." I asked "How is test data from Tulsa any value here?" Mike said he couldn't tell any difference. He never wants the starting line at Tulsa sprayed. Now, when Indy went away he had the same problem SS cars had.

Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

Pro stock cars like a track totally different than all the other classes want. A fast track for them is usually junk for us.
Chuck

Re: Records, Etc @ Gainesville
 

But, Chuck, he couldn't tell any difference when it was good for us at Topeka. Unless they are changing the track prep for us and them during the day. Doubt it. :-)