How do you close tech for a race?
 

Question being how do you close tech on the 2009 TOC IHRA race if it was never run? Not a pass or quailfying run in any class, (however you did get 74 time trials in the 12 days I was there.) I have a very good friend who was told even tough he's in the TOC for 2009 by winning two div and a national that because he did not tech in last year he can not run this years 09-10 TOC and he's already quailified in 2010 by winning a national. if this is so. I'll not run any IHRA races this year just my thoughts. And if his name appears in IHRA DRM does that mean its not true who quailfied?

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

Scott,
I feel his pain. I on the other hand as did many others made the effort to show up for that fiasco in October. We were told then that if you did not show up you would not be eligible for the make up race. I know guys that pulled hundreds of miles to be there. That being said I think it's fair. Don't look down on me for my opinion because thats all it is my opion. By the way who is your friend.
Chip Johnson

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

Thanks for reply chip, it's Tim (TOO SWEET) "sugar cane farmer" Hebert. and normally I don't get on here and vent. BUT I own a car and race and supported IHRA,NHRA and SSSSA last year but this year is different with money tight I dont see why our sanctioning bodys don't want all the cars they can get. On your response: why are all the quailfied people not allowed in 09 race ? because they did not sit threw the b... s....,?THATS CRAZY!!!!!!!! So bottom line they lost my brother Kevin (2), Tims and partner Little Joe (3)and I from the local race next weekend in lufkin and any other race from now on. Plus any one I can warn about them being sportsman frendly, thank you IHRA for helping my budget. now maybe I can go up north while its hot down here and run Englishtown etc. don't get me wrong I love stk/ss and I will race but dont say one thing and do something else. just my 2 cents

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

Scott,

I have to agree with you. I could see them not letting him race if it was a regular national event, but this is NOT a regular race, it's the freakin' Tournament Of Champions! They are racing to decide who the World Champion is. Since he's qualified he should get to race.

Pretty lame if you ask me.


-Toby

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

What about the winners from Edmonton, AB. where because of time and money can not make it back. Accomodations should be made for all who have qualified!

And...a World Championship should be decided on "Sustained Performance."

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

I just got off the phone with Baker from IHRA and he told me the same thing. Me and my Dad are also qualified for the stock field in the TOC. Doesn't make sense that we used our heads to not go sit in the rain and now being told you can't come back.

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

What day is the tournament of champions running on?

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

Friday

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

If you quailify for the race, you should be allowed to race. If the race was postponed before any runs....it never happened...there was no race! How can you be eliminated from something that never happened. You can't be charged with a crime...if there was never a crime commited. The only time that you can,t come back is if you miss first round. Don,t penalize a person because he made a good call. What's next....your out if you run dead-on with a "0". What is this about tech closed? Tech will be open.....to tech cars. I would think they will re-tech the cars that were there last time??? Folks that did not show last time would have been out, if the race had been run. They took that chance, and alot of others wish they had as well.
The objective is to bring more folks into the sport...not run um off ! If the rules clearly state, you will not be allowed to compete in a rescheduled TOC if you fail to show for the origonal date...then I would say OK. (my opinion)

Wade Mahaffey

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

I can’t believe our IHRA faithful Mike Beard and Myron Piatek have no opinion on this. They will surly stick up for their IHRA.

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

While I can't say that I agree with IHRA at all on this issue, as I think they should let all that have qualified come back to the race if they can, Wade just put a statement in his last post that may be a reason why IHRA is doing it the way they are. "Folks that did not show last time would have been out, if the race had been run."
It was and is truly an unfortunate situation for all involved.

Also, expecting people to travel from Alberta or the northwest to North Carolina to race is a bit of a stretch anyway regardless of the circumstances.

I think they could still have a champions race, but they should still decide the world champion based on "sustained performance" as Bill Grubbs puts it. They could still have a race of champions winner, but that person just wouldn't be called world champ.

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

I have an opinion, and I expressed it to IHRA.

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

Your no fun Mike

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

I have a Duck on my car. I am a great deal of fun. But I'm funnier around Scott Helms. After coming down with Bell's Palsy the beginning of March, I'm also a little funnier looking than normal, too! :cool: Starting to get back to "normal", though, little by little.

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

Bill,
What is the difference between the TOC and the way NHRA decided the champs in the early 70's. If I remember correctly NHRA brought the top 5 in each class of every division to Pomona for a WORLD CHAMPION RUNOFF. If you lives on the east coast you drove to Pomona for a one race shot at the championship. NO DIFFERENCE.

Sustained performance. One way to qualify for the TOC is to finish top 3 in your division. To do that is quite an accomplishment.
Chip Johnson

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

One more thing. I'm sorry for the guys that did'nt come the first time. I'm sorry for the guys that can't come back.
I personally think they should've kept us there until it was finished.
Chip

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

and Mr. Chip if they would have stayed and till they ran it we wouldn't have this problem...but they didn't....I have been to races before and gotten time trials and then it rained and they stilled opened the race back up for competitors....this is different, i'm not wanting them to open for competitors....i've already qualified for the race....if the shoe was on the other foot and the TOC was in San Antonio and some of you guys didn't come that far because it was 100% rain predicted for the weekend...I would be all for you all coming back....I would surely be on your side.....

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

You're right, there is no difference, except that the NHRA doesn't do it that way anymore. Why do you think that is?

It's just as lame now as it was then.


-Toby

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

the problem with this whole situation is that you qualified for this race and if you wanted to be a part of it than you should have came the first time if you live 15 hours away and the forcast calls for rain and you decide not to come and it doesnt rain...what do you do then complain about the weather man...i understand the conflict of travel and costs to do this and travel that far for some of you....but if IHRA feels that the people who showed up and took the chance at the weather stayed for 4 days away from work and family then they should be the ones to get the chance to race again not the one who said oh its gonna rain so lets no go and we can come back later when the weather looks good.....im not saying that this is the best solution but this is there decesion like it or leave it......

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

Weak Brandon
That is very easy for you to say you live what less then 3 hours from the rock?

It is very simple
If you qualified for the TOC you get to race in it. No matter what weekend the race is held. With the economy being how it is I would think IHRA would want to help ALL there races anyway they could. I believe that was the whole point of the TOC to begin with. I guess not.
Decisions like these are the reason IHRA will never thrive like they could. It’s really too bad. Every time IHRA starts to head in a good direction crap like this holds them back.

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

Often you see posts from not-current-racers getting flamed by people who say "you don't have a dog in this fight, you don't race, your comments don't count." If you weren't there in October and/or weren't ever qualified to enter, why do you care and why are you commenting? It doesn't affect you. Please don't stir up more controversy - this mess doesn't need it.

FWIW, I agree with Brandon. If you didn't make the effort - the EXTREMELY long and character building effort to be there through the whole thing, then why should you get the chance to come back? It was not like the whole weekend was a complete rain out. Quite the opposite.

I know this because I was there. I believe I was the local reporter in a thread about this . . . . click here to read it. What actually happened is well chronicled with time stamps and everything. We raced every day, quite a bit of the day in fact. For Saturday and Sunday it wasn't rain but cold & wind that made it difficult. This created a track that offered a lot of challenges that took time to work out. We even raced Monday off and on until mid-afternoon. It was not a complete rain out at all. Those of you NOT THERE wouldn’t know that.

Turn out was extremely high for the final event to gain entry to the TOC. So high in fact, we started four hours late on the first day that was gorgeous waiting for all the people to get through tech. Then we had oil downs from both sportsmen and pros, multiple crashes, problems with the tree, lots of time prepping the track trying to get it to hook then they decided it hooked too much.

People who now say they stayed home in October because of the weather is a copout. That's not the reason for the postponement. Those of us who were there know this. It's what killed the idea of staying another day to finish it - Tuesday and Wednesday WERE complete wash outs. I know, we watched the radar the whole two days going home in the motorhome. IHRA knew this too, that’s why they called the race Monday afternoon and sent us home.

I believe (and it's a good decision, one of the few that came out of this mess) if you didn't suffer with the group in October, didn't make the good faith effort to be there for the first race, why should you get to come back?

If you were there and believe I am wrong, then flame away.

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

I was not going to comment on this but Beth you and Brandon hit it on the head and are dead on with an egg. I was there even longer than the racers and believe me it was a BAD DREAM. Hope to see all that was there before be able to make it back and GOOD LUCK once again. See ya in tech.

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

You can still come for the National event on Sat/Sun.. well assuming it doesn't rain and the tracks not death defyin or anything.. :)

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

p.s. Get well soon Mike Beard, I'll have to remember to stay away from your pits, I'm funny enuf lookin already... :)

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

I don't have a dog in this fight. But I did have one before, and will soon be there again. I have no problem racing in the IHRA and will be glad to be there. I would like to see these things worked out, as I am headed that way. My point is to follow the rules set forth by the rules makers IHRA,NHRA, etc. The sport evolves and things change from time to time. This requires rule ammendments (new, old, modified, adjusted, thrown out) what ever. Rule changes should occur prior to the game beginning. In extreme situations, rules could be changed during the coarse of the season. If the rules are changed/adjusted during the season, there should be a place where everyone could find them, in order to come up to speed on the changes. NHRA and IHRA have that in place right now! If it's not in the rules anywhere, it should be accepted. If it is in the rules...than enforce it!

As far as expecting some to sit in the bad weather like some of you did is not right. Personally, I would have been there with you, but cannot expect another person to have the same amount of effort as I do. If that was the case I would be mad at most (not all) of the people racing. Just because I build my own car, (chassis, roll cage, suspension, fiberglass body modification, paint, assemble the engine, headers, electrical, plumbing, all fabrication and design) by myself. That my friend is effort...I don't look down on the next guy because he/she can't, of won't put forth that same effort the way I do!

Wade Mahaffey

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

A big part of the mess this situation is in is due to the fact that contigency plans were not made in advance, so there weren't "rules" pre-set regarding this, at least none that we were made aware of. When the re-run was announced, at the track, they said the field for the TOC is closed to new entries that day. Those of us who were there knew it before we left the grounds. If you were there for the TOC, you made a time run Monday morning.

Lots of errors were made, and hopefully were learned from so no one has to go through the waste of time and expense again. For racers AND the IHRA. We all paid dearly that weekend.

Re: How do you close tech for a race?
 

and everyone said "AMEN"!