What's a good race for a spectator
 

Hi All

I'm newly registered on the forum although have lurked around for a while reading as I find it very interesting. However, I've never joined since I don't race and therefore I don't think I am qualified to give my .02 cents on most stuff.

However, I thought I would go to the people that know best and see if anyone can give me a recomendation for a race to atttend this year.

I usually go once a year to a drag race somewhere and it has included some unique ones like the US Class Nationals, which was something that I really enjoyed

All that said, my usual has been to arrive early Saturday morning at an NHRA National event and stay late on Saturday to be sure to get all the Sportsman eliminations. I then return Sunday for final eliminations.

My thoughts are to arrive Friday for a race and get all the sportsman qualifying and then attend Saturday to get most of the eliminations and just see the Pro Qualifying.

My intial thoughts this year were Thursday Friday Saturday at Indy or go to No Problem for the Sports Nats but my schedule won't let me make those dates

Sorry for the long post to get to the simple question of "which race would a racer recommend to a spectator who enjoys Sportmen racing better than Pro racing?"

Thanks

Karl Mitchell
Toronto, ON

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

If you want a race to attend at the end of the season go to the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove Pa in October.There's Stock/Super Stock,Comp,Hemi Challange,the Super classes,TopSportsman and Dragster.We run class runs for S/SS.A lot to see and many good cars and racers.Quite a few Canadians,so you'll feel at home.

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

The CanAm S/SS series is run right in your backyard if you're looking for something local, Dutch Classic at Maple Grove is really good too. If geographic location isn't an issue Belle Rose is probably the best.;)

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

Karl,

Ed has it "dead on". The Dutch at Maple Grove in late Oct. is about as good as it gets for sportsman racing. Huge fields of all classes especially Stock and Super Stock. Everybody is fast, good viewing from starting line to top end. NHRA announcer Lewis Bloom typically announces the event [it was pleasure to work with him at this event from 2005 to 2007] and does an outstanding job especially with the driver profiles. Just a hint, make sure to spend time in the pits and walking the lanes, don't be afraid to introduce yourself to the drivers of your favorite cars. Now you will have a face to go with the cars you like. Now you've got racers to root for throughout the day, makes whole deal a lot more fun. The racers really appreciate having fans take an interest in their cars and racing efforts also.

Mike Bassin, announcer Quarter Aces Drag-O-Way

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

travel south a little to Bristol night Q under lites worth price of tickets and day racing is great.


jim

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

Quote: What's a good race for a spectator.
I prefer a side by side --- wheel to wheel race.
Even from the drivers seat... :~0

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

Ha! Right on Adger, right on!!!! Jim

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

Another vote for the Dutch Classic, but check the forecast before you leave. The race often has weather issues. I love that race and it is very good if you are a s/ss fan. This year you would have seen an incredible Hemi Shootout, a sweet SS Challenger from the west coast in addition to most of the D1 cars racing for class.

Indy is the best if you can make it for Thur and Friday and when your schedule permits, that is one to watch. We flew out before we had cars, wed-fri s/ss during the day, Indy museum and track tour night/afternoon. Plenty of time to do it all.

Just my thoughts,
Matt Welker
E/SA 1741

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

The US Nationals at Indy over Labor Day weekend is a great race for Sportsman racing too. Just have to get there at 8 am Thursday for the start of class elims. An added actraction is the 64 car Comp Eliminator field too.

Usually there are about 160 plus cars in stock and the same in SS.

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

Can't go wrong with these two races!

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

Beech Bend points race the weekend before Indy, 120 stockers, 120 super stockers everybody getting ready for Indy

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

The Indy Divisional in April is always good - lots of new faces and new rides. You can still smell the paint sometimes. Weather can be iffy, though.

How about the Rt 66 National event with Jeg's All-Stars? I have wanted to hit that for years, but it's always a bad weekend for me. My cousin always seems to do well in the regular S/St race, and I always miss it! @#$%% !!! lol !

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

Thnaks guys this has given some great ideas for a plan.

My thoughts were to go to Norwalk National event in June and since I can drive there rather than fly it's easier on my budget.

Ed/Mike -I like the Pennsylvania Dutch Classis idea. Because of the afformentioned budget savings above this would allow me to get in a fall race fix as well. I've been wanting to go back to Maple Grove since I haven't been there since my bracket racing days almost 30 years ago.

Gary -Can Am S/SS is a great little series. Although I wasn't down to see one last year I usually scoot out there once a year. One thing it does is really demonstrates how good Stock Super Stock racing is as it is blended into a regular bracket program and you can really notice the difference in perfessionalism, performance and technical skills. Bracket racers, please don't take this as shot as I am an ex bracket racer and respect that racing as well.

Adger and Jim - You're right about the close side by side wheel to wheel racing. I enjoy watching rounds at the starting line to get the burnout and wheels in the air action but I also like to spend time at the end to see how the stripe is driven, who's dumping, who's running right out etc etc. One track I found great for that was Las Vegas.I t had a nice little area close to the Sportsman's pits wher you can take all that in. Englishtown is pretty good for that too

MFR -The Jegs All stars as Route 66 is a good one. I was there a couple of years back.

I better stop typing because with No Problem Sports Nationals, the Indy divisional still to go I can plan for a while.

You guys keep up your advocacy with NHRA becuase as fans we don't want to lose an important part of the show

Thanks again

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

[QUOTE=Gary Smith;164060]The CanAm S/SS series is run right in your backyard if you're looking for something local, Dutch Classic at Maple Grove is really good too. If geographic location isn't an issue Belle Rose is probably the best.;)[/QUOT

Thanks for the plug Gary! The Can Am schedule has been finalized and there are two events that have been well supported in the past; Aug 14,15 and Labour Day weekend. Watch the series forum for updates.

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

For Sportsman racing, you can't beat the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove; the dates this year are Thurs. Oct. 21 - Sun. Oct. 24. A big plus at the Dutch Classic is you don't pay Nat. event ticket prices. I always purchase a 4 day pass for $65; you can't beat it.
As far as Nat. events are concerned, Indy is #1. I attend all 6 days at Indy every year; I am one of the first through the gate on Wedneday morning. A 6 day pass costs $155 which saves $48 dollars over the cost of buying individual tickets; the dates this year are Weds. Sept. 1 - Mon. Sept. 6. If you have the time and the money, try to attend both; you won't regret it.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1
Bridgeport, CT

Re: What's a good race for a spectator
 

only one place to be if you love sportsman racing... march 19-21 at no problem raceway. your host is pat joffrion #1 track operator in NHRA, and he knows how to throw a party with a great race going on at the same time. there is the ONLY no breakout stock and superstock race anywhere, no 1000 foot bull**** real winner is who gets there first racing. there is class eliminations, regular eliminator and party all the time. free cajun cookout by pat on friday night, free live bands both nights and plenty of sportman racers special pit cooking and bench racing. hell hidalgo's crew caught & cooked an alligator two years ago.ive been to practice tree contests, golf cart reaction time challenges, and 2 U/SA shootouts with over $3000 in purses for that class alone. plus a trip to bourbon street new orleans is only about an hour or so away.

cmon on down, im pats personal ambassador !

jack mccarthy

and p.s. bowling green points meet has lost its lustre because nhra's bull$hit in order to get parked anywhere but the drive in you got to be at indy sunday... so everyone makes time shots then loads up and leaves saturday night... 1st round is clusterf**k with 60+ bye runs