Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

How do you know you're at an NHRA Division One race ? Just look outside -- its raining isn't it ? Its only a little drizzle now but tomorrow thunder showers are expected .As usual we'll make the best of it .

We all know about having the best plans and I for one thought he had his house in order for this gig .So I was going to be the first in line by showing up Saturday as I had a volunteer to pick me up --only a short hour and a half ride and it left Sunday wide open for me .So much to my surprise when I pulled in there were rigs already in line -- oh well ! !

After parking I met up with my friend Tony Elmo ( who heads up Security - pictured below - many of you know him - now you know his name ) for a cart ride thru the grounds .If you've never been here when the place is empty you must .Believe me Lex Dudas and staff have this place sharp -- well manicured and maintained -- no excuses needed .Pics below .

Update 7:30 am EST - Got my wish - woke up this morning and was greeted by nothing but sunshine and warm temps with the trees covered with haze - its gonna be a stinker today .Special thanks to Geico Motorsports who had their 18 wheeler in line and ran the engine almost all night - don't know which was louder -- the diesel engine or their air conditioner when it kicked in .Running a generator is one thing but the rig engine is something else....I would have liked to strangle that little gecho........

Also pictured below are the newly lined staging lanes along with the new paved shutdown area and gravel pit .



PS - If you're on your way here hurry up as there are almost a hundred ahead of you .

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

you all play nice in the mud
see you soon

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Tony Elmo is the man.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

how about a few pics of the newly paved and nicely manicured roads out into the field that we get buried in year after year...ok, then at least of all the stone they put down...

not really lol'ing...

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Dan come on!! how about a picture of all the tires the stone punctures year after year.. This is the only race where you need to carry your spare tire to pass tech.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Jack,
Look forward to hearing your updates throughout the weekend since I'm saving my money and staying home this year.

Rob K.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

i forget who made it but i have a t shirt, NED Never Ending Drizzle!!

That sucks hope its nice out i am bring my son down for the weekend to hangout at the track.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Jack,

Thanks for sharing the photos. The Grove is still one of the tracks with the best surroundings ie. tall trees, Amish horse drawn buggies, winding entrance roads and I miss this place.

Don't miss the line up to get in though...Vegas has spoiled us!

Good Luck this weekend and keep the pictures coming.

Mike Ferstl
PitMatCanada Distributor
SG SR 6091

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Jack said
"Special thanks to Geico Motorsports who had their 18 wheeler in line and ran the engine almost all night - don't know which was louder -- the diesel engine or their air conditioner when it kicked in .Running a generator is one thing but the rig engine is something else....I would have liked to strangle that little gecho........"

I usually get blessed by pitting next to the guy with the $300 Chinese 4500W generator, the 90db kind, who starts it as soon as he arrives and only shuts it off to refill the tank.
I miss the old days of Division 1 racing, but not the weather. Matching temps and humidity are too much.
Good luck.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Hey Mike, do you think it would help if I forward Jack's pics to TMP; attn: "Facilities Maintenance"?

SIGH.....

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Jack, I hope Hurricane Bill stays away from you guys down there this wknd.....keep those great reports/pics coming!:eek: WJ

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Dan -- Ya shouda got here earlier like your buddy Michael Iacono who landed one of the premier parking spots in all of the Maple Grove pits ............

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Jack keep up the good up dates........I have to work this week. :mad:

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

In spite of the high heat and humidity we all got thru the day -- tech was spot on but painless except for those of us who had to get new weight stickers thanks to our gift last week from the NHRA 's AHFS system .Another oh well is in order .

Tonight its good food with some adult beverages and bench racing -- plenty of bench racing .Not sure why they call it that as most of it is flat out lying for sure .Hopefully the temps will drop a little during the night and for once I'll have quiet neighbors so I can get a little sleep........more later .

PS- If you noticed I didn't mention the "R" word -- not even once - no point in jinxing myself .

Almost forgot -- Hey Dan -- Pit Control just called - your new spot is ready ( pictured below ) --they tell me its great -- centrally located -- plenty of drinks nearby -- parking on the macadam -- and most important -- near facilities - and plenty of shade trees- hope it agrees with you-- see you in the morning -- glad I could help out -- thats what friends are for............

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Tonight its good food with some adult beverages and bench racing - Hmm Jack must be going to Uncle Bucks trailer then

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Dave,

That is too funny, facilities maintenance. I am sure Uli will get his groundskeeper right on it. NOT!

The Grove is a beautiful place isn't it? I had forgotten about the unrelenting humidity and high temps though.

Calgary is a beautiful place this time of year. Too bad we don't even have a facility any longer.

Mike Ferstl
SG SR 6091

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

I did not think there was any premier pit spots for sportsman racers. I would settle for one without mud.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Damn it Jack, changing stuff with the weight sticker and the added HP, in small increments it's not so bad, you'll get over it. The big hits, however, stay with ya for a while !!!!!!!!!! LOL !

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

6:30am EST-- Things were going real well last night 'till around seven when it suddenly got darker and soon enough it came -- boomers and the wet stuff - really put a damper on the evening .Seemed like most folks didn't care as they were pooped anyway -- the hot sun took its toll on most incuding myself -- anyway it was an early ending to a long day .The storm passed after a few hours but its still plenty wet out there with a bunch of fog making visibility at the most 50 yards (see pic below taken out my window this morning ) .

We were to start in a few hours but for sure thats not going to happen - some of this stuff has to burn off first and the weather report has the possibility of more bad things today .Wish I had better news to report - I'll get back in a bit -- maybe things will get nice - or not ............................

BTW , I know we were kidding around with parking stuff yesterday but I've got to tell you -- can't remember ever seeing this much grass in the back lots without rigs parked on it -- there really is plenty of space left -- maybe sometime soon the NHRA will recind the excluding one class at every race rule as there is room this weekend for Supercomp whose turn it is .Money talks and they need it............

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Now thats the Maple Grove I know!!

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Come on Jack, get with the program. It's Super Comp not Supercomp. Or maybe it's really Stupid Comp, which is my choice word of it, but watch what you wish for as far as all the classes coming back. It also adds another payout and if you don't have enough cars to fill the field, then it becomes more of a loser and I gotta' believe when that happens, you know who's gonna end up paying for it.

I'm parked at the scales and I can;t see the track from here! So... They can move this race all they want but it can't escape Mother Nature.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

John - you still have numbers in the trailer? Bob Fazio was looking for some yesterday

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

how do i get the live video from mg

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

I don't think it's running at this event. but www.maplegroveraceway.com and click the "live timing" link that scolls on the top

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

John do you still believe that crap nhra puts out about sportsman losing money? Not a chance.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

We did get out on the track this morning but didn't finish the round yet -- its been misting for an hour or so . Gary Parker is on the pole for the moment in Stock at 1.17 under . The track this morning was not bad but certainly not fast by any means .

Johnny D. - You have to understand I'm old and yes its SuperComp -- also my typing and spelling skills are marginal at best so bear with me please .As for the parking you need to scoot over here and see all the empty spots ( if you're too busy see pics below ) .

We're back running ............

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Jack,
Turn the showers off, I'm rolling in this evening & Philly is bad enough to fly into without it being wet, see you tomorrow.

Unk

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

good luck this weekend jack ,, if rain ruins the day tell leber to start pouring scubashots of scotch...

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Yes,I recognize that grass field as I got stuck up to my eyebrows in it when my pickup was brand new! Rain and Maple Grove go together like peanut butter and jelly.....How many stories of sitting in the wet stuff do you want to hear?

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

jack
what was the weather on the 1st round

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Stock finished their round and S/S was out but had to be stopped for a 45 minute cleanup -- but not before 72 year old Paul Adams fire a shot with his 64 T-Bolt (pic below ) -s/s b-- how about a smoking 9 flat an nearly 149 -- yowserrr -- one twenty under in this soup -- holy cow batman .

Soon as some sheets are out I'll post other numbers ............

Almost forgot -- also pictured during the S/S downtime is a "Murderers Row "- if you will -holding up the staging lane fence -- see anyone you know ?

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Thats some crew there, It looks like George Vignona, Brian Oakes, John Armstrong, Jeff Tripp,Dave Thomas, Tired, and I think thats Vito talking to Georgie...sorry cant make out the rest of them

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

We've been on hold for almost two hours -- problems with the track but nobody's talking .......I'll get the real skinny...............

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Jack,
Looking at the radar screen you are about to see (feel?) even more problems. Off to the airport,,,,,

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

its called weepers, many tracks this year has had the same problem cause of the amount of rain fall we have had around the whole country, maybe they are thinking 1/8th mile or 1000 ft for everyone, yikes!!!!!

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Just plain water under the"glue" coming up ... Decision to be made around 4pm ....and with rain coming - not good , not good at all .Real shame as the Sun is shining and a beautiful day here in Berks County .

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Jack there's nothing like getting rained out on a sunny day.
Sounds like one of those "what else can happen" days.

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

It happened -- took all afternoon to get the track "right" and most of S/S got in when the rain rolled in and we're back on hold ..........and the storm is picking up steam .

Kudos to Gary Parker who is just .003 ahead of Bud Rowe for the # 1 spot in Stock at the moment .


Any one coming in tomorrow from the Baltimore area I need a favor -- send me a PM tonight please .

Looks like round 2 -- same as last night -- more food -- more beverages -- this rain is gonna kill us .......

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

reading what they put on DRC that the 2 Stockers DQ'ed for fuel will be put on bottom of qualifying tells me qualifying is over, wow if so lots of money for one run and go.

Looks like also those normal racers that wait till dead last in SS got caught today by the rain, maybe or maybe not a wake up call to get to the lanes sooner. Still like my chain idea after the 3rd call, you come after the chains up, your to late.

Bottom line the whole deal sucks , raining at a National event for Sportsman racers

Re: Live from Maple Grove-NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals
 

Hey Jack its still not as bad as E-TOWN this year :mad: