Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

heres the link

There is a lot to absorb, and clearly something that was well thought out.

http://www.ihra.com/article/3595.html

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

That might be pretty cool. :confused:

I don't like the position #4-10 National finish order determined by one reaction time, it should revert back to a Divisional points standing or number of races attended, or number of rounds won in competition maybe, but at least it is a move to help a low budget racer to a World Championship.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

You have to give Scooter credit whether you agree with the new system or not, he is addressing a very serious issue. It should be given a chance. NHRA is still in complete denial to all racers problems and will no doubt pay for it in the future, and in turn we all will be adversely affected. Jim

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

And in the news they still say "It looks like we may be heading into a recession."

Duh, look around you.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

Not really a new idea, yes there are some new rules but back in the early seventies NHRA ran the Finials at Amarrillo, TX and you got there by what you did in your Div. It puts the best in one place to run for the title and its anyones race to win. Now that comes right out of "The good old days"

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

I figured there was more to it. I'm glad they finally posted the details and reasoning behind it and I can't see a good reason to debate against it. I planned on racing in 2009 as much as I had in the past, barring any unforseen circumstances and budget problems and actually looking forward to it now that I know more. Getting use to a change is better than not having a place to race.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

The payout for the winner is more than the current payout to.
Chip

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

I am all for anything that keeps Sportsman racing alive. I too think that they should look at changing the reaction time deal.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

Are the 2009 payouts posted anywhere yet?

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

Why not have ladder setup by qualifing like it is now? It looks like better ideal than everybody had been expecting,could give people that's never had a chance to be world champ a chance.I've always dreamed of traveling and chasing championship but never have had time or funds to do so,this could be good for alot of people.The finals should be exciting race!
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

Location, location, location!!! I think you should offer that venue and date to the IHRA before you measure their success with a crooked yardstick......or offer the NHRA a hot date in Tulsa?

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

WHAT IT PAYS


“Tournament Of Champions” World Championship Prize Money
The Tournament Of Champions during the World Finals will determine the Top 10 in national standings as outlined above. The qualifiers will be racing head to head for the following payout:

Top Sportsman and Top Dragster
$10,000 – World Champion (winner)
$4,000 - # 2 (runner-up)
$1,500 - # 3 and # 4 (semi finals)
$750 - # 5 through # 8 (quarter Finals)
Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod & Hot Rod

$10,000 – World Champion (winner)
$3,000 - # 2 (runner-up)
$1,000 - # 3 and # 4 (semi finals)
$500 - # 5 through # 8 (quarter finals)

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

I agree. Sportsman drag racing as we know it has been fading in recent years. Something had to be done in order to draw new participants and keep it alive for you & me. Skoooter and IHRA deserve ALOT of credit for making a change. And doing it with the sportsman racer's wallet in mind. Whether you agree or disagree with the new format, there is no arguing that something had to be done.

Nice work IHRA
Ted

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

Here's the problem I see.....A person could potentially NEVER support a divisional event, win one national event & become the WORLD CHAMP! I don't see how that is good for the sport?!

They should ATLEAST implement something that states you have to attend a minimum divisional events within your division just like you have to attend a minimum to claim a division.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

it sounds good to me. let's all give to a chance.
dj raiser

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

You'll try anything twice, just incase you were prejudice the first time!

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

I think this is a great idea,
Interesting however is the fact that the "Live from Pomona" thread has 7600+ views, this thread has 1700ish views. the IHRA has deeper problems that has kept the cars away notwithstanding the dismal weather and travel costs. The NHRA racers I talk to put little value in the IHRA system. There are some who race both but a lot will only go NHRA racing, they seem to have an issue with the IHRA credibility gap. What will the real value of an IHRA champion become? What is a divisional win really worth?

I bet that this will not cut travel costs one bit, only going to a national and wining the first event and then staying home is foolish(there will be 30-40 others trying to do the same). First you would have extra gas money, and why on earth would you not practice all year (within travel restraints)? How will one ever beat Bertozzi, Marshall, Cummings, Richardson (you pick em, we all know who the hitters are) etc. If we are only running at our local "bracket track. That is not why I built a Super Stocker. Matter of fact if one wins an entry it might even be worth driving to the rock for a pre race orientation. So much for travel budgets, I gotta go get this bullet out of my foot.

I really hope this will help IHRA get on the path to growth. Something had to be done.

Bring back Modified, Heh Heh

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

hell i might even rejoin IHRA if they fix the HP issue i have a problem with...

sounds like a real circus at the finals... could be FUN > really !

jack mccarthy

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

While this is possible its likely to be a rare occurrence - but not an impossibility, I could see someone like Biondo that happened to have won one of the first races this year IHRA (prior to the start of the NHRA season). Usually a race win enable someone to attend more races. The way the program is structured being 1-3 in the division also gets you in the finals, that should encourage attendance. Another thing to consider is that the more races a single racer can win, the fewer competitors he will have at the finals.

But to prevent the rare occurence noted above a min # of Div races is probably reasonable since Div races are usually the closest to home (least travel).

Would be nice to see the Div points fund increase (maybe if divisional attendance is up a second year increase could be justified). Increased odds of winning (ie: divisional purses) should bring up attendance.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

quote:"Interesting however is the fact that the "Live from Pomona" thread has 7600+ views, this thread has 1700ish views."quote.

No question, that link has more hits, but you must keep in mind this thread was started two days after the Pomona thread. We all know that IHRA is not NHRA, nor can IHRA measure up to their financial capabilities. IHRA is an alternative choice for sportsman racers and is not as wide spread. These changes will hopefuly help IHRA, but NHRA will still be geographicly bigger and will have more tracks/members/participants.

Just another .02 from me...

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

As I see it we have no choice but to support the IHRA. What is the alternative? If IHRA goes under, NHRA would be the ONLY game in town. You think they are non responsive now? Just wait until they have you all to themselves! I have personally ALWAYS had a good time at IHRA races. Yes there have been problems, but they were addressed at once and in the way best possible. I am resolved to help IHRA all I can. I can tell you personally that IHRA has bent over backward to help the SSSSA (Southern Stock Super Stock Association) and offered huge assistance to us. We are even planning to run our races in conjunction with some IHRA races in the near future. Do you think NHRA would even call back? Nope! Scooter and Mike (Baker) are good people. They and IHRA deserve the benefit of the doubt! Support them this coming year and see how much fun you can have. Without the racer, neither organization will survive in these times! Jim

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

If tracks aren't making money at races, you have to do something. You must have the tracks to hold the events. When tracks start telling you they won't hold the event because of lack of profits, what do you do? IHRA has to make money, tracks have to make money, then they will figure things out for the racers. It's really that simple.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

You need spectators,that is where the money is.IHRA can start by ditching the name "PRO AM",sounds like we're going the watch Z-28 's and Boss Mustang's race around a road course....Bart

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

"Trans Am" from 1970 racing also had Challengers, Barracudas, Javelins and possibly a Cougar!

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

I agree. Pro Am sounds as dumb as fill-in-the blank Jam. I finally set up an email filter to send all those Jam-crap-emails to the trash. I like running with IHRA, but some of that circus side show stuff could go, just imho of course. Along with that website guy/gal. Too busy, too much bs, not enough needed content. The anouncers this year at the Tulsa race were very professional. Last year they had two kids trying to anounce that kept screaming like a couple of little girls. Might have been their website guys. :D

Ignore me, I'm just old.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

mmmmmmmm....I like Cougars!!

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

OK, let me get this straight. 10 grand for the winner plus contingency, you can stay home and race at your local track and run the closest national event to get into the "big show" at the end, you can travel to as many nationals as you want knowing that each national you win will be one less person to run against at the "big show"....and people are STILL BITCHING???!!!
"A guy might run one national and become the champ" HOLY %^&*!!! EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME CHOICE DUMBASS!!! YOU COULD RUN ONE EVENT THEN GO AND WIN ALL THE MARBLES AT THE BIG SHOW TOO!!!
Yes the hitters will probably win one somewhere and be at the finals, so? If you don't win your local you can still travel and try and get in.

Main points to follow;
1) 10,000 to win each national (how much is it to win stock in nhra again?)
2) one win and you qualify for the finals
3) you can still travel if you want
4) you don't HAVE to travel if you can't afford it
5) guys with big $$$ won't accumulate all the points (it levels the field)
6) the best will still win only now there is a better chance of a lower guy (not a fletcher etc) win a national and have a good day at the final and be the champ.

C'mon people, stop looking for something to cry about.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

It is actually $10,000 to win the Championship, not a national event.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

The air must get thinner way up there when you are that tall! Jim

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

#1 You don't have it straight. Read it again. The $10,000 is to win the championship not a national. You'de be lucky to clear $10,000 winning an IHRA national WITH contingency (unless you run t/s or t/d).

#2 I was simply stating MY OPINION as someone who supports the IHRA divisional & national events that I (the key word "I") didn't't feel it would be fair that there would be a POSIBILITY that someone could not attend any divisinal events (meaning not support there division) & just go to 1 national, win and be given the oppotunity to be the world champ.

#3 Leave the name calling to a face to face meeting, not when you can hide behind a keyboard and a screen name!

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

No matter how you feel about this you have to hand it to IHRA for the time, effort and thought they put into the new system.

Is it perfect...? no...

Would I have done some things different...? yes...

Did more effort go into this project than NHRA has devoted to Sportsman other than "enhancements" in the last five years...? definitely...

Don't get me wrong I am a huge fan of NHRA Sportsman racing but I will probably never be able to afford that game. However with the IHRA system I could at least have a chance of making a national top 10, even living in Tulsa.

Bill Lamb
IHRA #4340

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

Jim, just a sniff of the rarified air at this altitude is enough to make one light-headed......guess that explains a lot of things don't it???

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

I am tempted to field a car and a driver just for this Program. I think it' s a move in the right direction. According to my prognosticators, this might be just what the doctor ordered. I am not certain I would call the overall winner a National Champion though.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

I appland Skooter Peaco bold move too invigorate the old points system, not only does he have the imagination to come up with this but, the extraordinary vision to bring our sport to the next level. Well done Skooter. IHRA AND DAMM PROUD OF IT. Richard Calabrese.

Re: Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors
 

#3 Your right I was too wound up initially when reading this. I apologise.

I think Scooter has made efforts where others have not and in doing so will benefit many. The same as running two events in one weekend caused a commotion at first, over time most realised it is a money/time saver for everyone.