IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

What a weird weekend at Mooresville w/ 46 deg. temps, rain, pretty miserable. As we sat around our pit Saturday running through ideas as to when this race would be rescheduled the idea came up that one of our other division 9 events (Piedmont since it's the next event) should be made into a "double" race weekend. It seems IHRA is always promoting that they are sportsman friendly in division 1,2,4, & 5 by reducing travel/expense and giving these guys/girls 3 race weekends to get 6 races. Divsion 9 is very strong in regards to car count and tracks so we don't get double event weekends, but the racers have the expense of traveling and taking extra weekends away from home to get in the same number of points races. There are several things IHRA should consider w/ the posted rescheduled date: 1) NHRA national event in Commerce that weekend 2) Farmington has a $50,000 bracket race that weekend 3) MOST IMPORTANTLY the expense to the racers of going back to Mooresville! Personally, I am having to really take in consideration the expense of racing divsion 9 or IHRA/NHRA at all. The current reschedule plan for Mooresville will cost the racers many thousands of dollars to return...plus the car count will be down as I know of quite a few racers entered at Atlanta. On the flip side, if Piedmont was changed to a double event, the car count may increase as they may draw racers from division 1, 2, and 3. I may be wrong but it seems as though it would be a financial burden to Mooresville to have to restaff for another 2-3 day event. Obviously, I'm not privy to all the particulars of running a division race (payout, track fee's, etc...) I would just like IHRA to take a look at helping division 9 racers save on travel expense for once and show us they can be "sportsman friendly" to us also! Just my .02 cents so flame away or voice your support.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Tracy, I'm sorry your upset. Whenever a divisional is rained out and has to be rescheduled it sucks for everybody. It's important that we remember that this is a Mooresville Dragway deal as much as an IHRA deal. Whenever you have this many quality tracks in a geographical area it is a tough deal. If they were to make Farmington a double weekend, then Mooresville looses the money from that race. Again, I know it sucks but this could be a possibility.....run the 50 grand on Friday and Saturday, come to Mooresville on Saturday night and enter the bracket race to get some time on the track...then just win the race on Sunday and all will be well...see you soon.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Hey Marc, I'm not upset, just offering suggestions to try and save the racers on the average of $250-$300 in fuel and another weekend away from home. The double weekend seems to be working for other divisions and it would be nice for us to have a "financial break" every now and then. Maybe Herb from Piedmont or Bobby from Kinston could work out a deal w/ the Mooresville folks for them to come in and work the Piedmont race for either Saturday or Sunday as a make up. Just throwing around ideas.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

What are they doing about the spectator entry fees? I saved my arm band, is this my rain check to get in again in April? I certainly hope I won't be expected to pay another $35

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Angela,.

I am pretty certain they said over the PA at Mooresville that crew arm bands/tickets would not be honored at a reschedule. Only the car/driver. :-(

Its just plain bad for everyone involved when a race is rained out, and unfortunately, that is always going to be a factor around our "hobby". It costs the track alot too since they have to pay all of IHRA's expenses plus the purses. I guess they will have to pay for IHRA staff to come back too.

It was a 700 mile round trip for me. I don't think I am coming back to Mooresville for the reschedule. It took me 8 hours to get home yesterday after setting through two hour long construction delays on I-77 north. I'd probably been alright if I had taken US21, but this being my first trip out this year, I didn't have a map in the truck. shame on me.

As much as I hate to do it, I'll probably just change my entry to Pittsburgh or Quaker City and spend $50 more.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

That's pretty crappy in my book that they're not honoring my arm band - they did at the Milan National Event that was rained out last year. I paid $35 and didn't get to see any racing, didn't get to see anything on Sunday - they ought to only charge me half at the next event. $35 for a crew entry for the weekend is a little too much in my opinion as it is.

Was that an IHRA decision or a Mooresville decision? Chris - I got your PM I'll pm you back

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Angela, Call the office at Mooresville. I'll bet if you kept your armband they will probably work something out for you. They are GREAT people.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

I will call them - never hurts to ask. We used to race there a lot and that was never their policy, if I kept my stub they let me back in for a rescheduled rain out.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Ok - check it out - I called Jody and left him a message and he called me back but it went straight to voice mail - he left me a message thinking I was Don Plemmons - which you all know I'm much better looking - anyhoo - the message was telling Don he's going to change the date and didn't realize he had rescheduled this on top of his big race.

So I call Jody back and tell him that he left me Don's message - and I just wanted to know about my arm band - he told me to save it and just write the date on it and it will serve as my rain check for the rescheduled event. He also told me he is calling Satch to try and get this April date changed to another date due to the other races going on during that weekend and not wanting to interfer with them. So I guess we'll find out.

My other question was will the qualifying we did on Saturday stand or will we qualify again?

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

I will leave this for my brother to comment on. All I will say is we're doing everything we can (piedmont dragway) to work something favorable for the drivers. My brother has a plan and he's pushing it. I believe a conference call is setup within the next 48 hours to bang this out. If there is anything we can do as a track to make this easier on the racers, we're going to do it. Just realize, in the end, it's not really "our" call. All we can do is offer potential solutions.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Angela,
I think I understood that the entire weekend would be rescheduled (combo race, etc). In the past with a rescheduled race that wasn't started, the entries are still open. My Dad will probably have his axle repaired by then, and would enter in Super Stock. We will requalify and be repaired. I don't know what will happen with the ones that don't show back up; they can transfer to another race. I don't think they will remain on the qualifying list, so no single runs. I think the ones who entered and decide not to transfer the entry to another event, and don't make the return trip, will only receive 10 points.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Angela,
Another thought. The announcement that was made was to save the arm bands and that would be the re-entry. Lambert and I assumed it was for both crew and driver- our armbands looked the same. However, only car and driver tickets can be transferred to another event for a cost of $50, and you have to call the IHRA office. I have done the transfer before from Dinwiddie, VA (it rained twice) to Rockingham.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Thanks Stacie - I wasn't sure as this was the only divisional race we've been to so far that has ended up being rescheduled. I thought the one at MIR last year that got rained out they kept the same qualifying but I bet that was because they had started the race. This will be good for Scott because he was scheduled to run Chip Johnson first round, and I hear tell Chip was planning on whippin up on my boy, that wouldn't have been good at all. :D

Out in the field we were in no one around us could tune into the radio station so we were missing a lot of the annoucements. We kind of figured the race was canceled when we noticed trucks and trailer leaving - lol!

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Mike, thanks to you and Herb for looking at this from a racers perspective as well as a track owner. You guys are doing a great job and I hope to race at Piedmont a lot this year.

Angela, if they haven't ran 1st round they usually re-qualify because there will be a lot of no shows and that also leaves the field open to new entries.

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Chris, where are the construction sites on 77 North. I live in Huntington, so I take 64 to Charleston then get on the "TURNPIKE" south. I am thinking of going to Mooresville if I can borrow a car. My Malibu will not be done in time. Thanks, Mike

Mike Galuk
JOE COOL RACING
Stock-2080

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

The construction wasn't a problem coming south. In North Carolina, it is near the 421 exit to WInston-Salem and Boone. There was about a six mile backup coming north.

Then coming north toward the East River Tunnel, the back up started at exit 62. IT was backed up all the way to the tunnel and the left lane was closed in the tunnel, but NO work was goin on. as soon as we went through the tunnel, both laned were open and it was hammer down. THen right beofre princeton, it was down to one lane, but we went through it about 60mph. I still can't figure out the tunnel deal.

I am sure ther is a way around in NC, but in VA, you really don't have much chioce. you can take rt 52, but you still have to merge back on I-77 right before the tunnel.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Chris, are you old enough to remember going accross the "TURNPIKE" before it became an Interstate. I'm 54 and remember it well. It was worse than a bad dream(LOL). Good luck this year with your 'stang. Mike

Mike Galuk
JOE COOL RACING
Stock-2080

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Chris, There have been signs all over I-81 around here about Tunnel Construction.

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I guess the travel expense (gas prices) isn't as big of an issue as I thought.

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Tracy, the NHRA National event at Commerce is April 24 - 27; the Mooresville rescheduled dates are May 31 and June 1. They are a 5 weeks apart.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1

Re: IHRA Mooresville Reschedule idea
 

Bill, the original announcement made at the track and posted on the IHRA website had the rescheduled date for the weekend of April 26-27. The change was made earlier today due to conflicts w/ local tracks as well as the Commerce race from what I gather. Either way we will have to fill the tanks and head back to Mooresville!