US 131 Motorsports Park
 

an interesting article. http://www.competitionplus.com/index...time-will-tell

if they switch to NHRA , how long will it take for Mid-Michigan to switch back to IHRA?

Phil

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Considering they moved the Joliet National event date over her points race date at Mid Mich, obviously come more changes are in the pipeline. I really hope US 131 doesn't go NHRA, but I wouldn't blame them either. Right now, they are a showcase for IHRA. They jump in with NHRA and they will be a middle sized fish in a monster pond. Tough choice.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Is 131 really big enough to hold an NHRA national event? I've been there a couple times and just plain didn't see enough acreage to park the nitro travelling circus.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

All they would have to do is buy the land on the north and south ends of the track. Then have the county pave the exit road that goes south.

Phil

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

I don't think that it has enough paved area to have a national event. A points meet would be somewhat of a stretch. Also the only way out is through the staging area. It makes things tough getting out of there at times.:eek:

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

It's not the size of the track, it's how you use it :) Look at Indy. More acreage than any other NHRA track, yet I would rate 131 a better track than Indy. Just walk the 1/4 at Indy and see what you find laying around (bring a bucket). Walk the 1/4 at 131 and you will be hard pressed to find any debris.

Despite what you think of Pinks, just use that show to comapre David and Goliath. The production crew, having just left Indy, said 131 was the most successful event they ever had. Not one single delay, no one turned away because of parking, no fights with the staff, no problems at all. Indy on the other hand, no management skills at all, all kinds of down time when a car would break, track staff getting into it with people, etc.

Turn 131 NHRA and keep the current owners / managers in place and it would be a top 5 facility (location, good air, clean facilities, damn near perfect track, etc). Change the owners or managers and you would have just another Indy. You can always add more pavement, but you cannot add good air or find good owners and good managers.

Just my $0.02

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

another article, this one by an outstanding sportsman drag racing writer, Steve Kaminski of the Grand Rapids Press.

http://www.mlive.com/autoracing/inde..._rolls_in.html

this tells a little bit more than the last article. I hope they stay IHRA.

Phil,

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

What you say about Indy has been true for the past few years, but as they say, there's a new sheriff in town. Word is a new boss has been put in charge at the track and a house cleaning will possibly come at the end of this season. The company has been taking notes this year. There maybe a new crew and a new attitude next season at Indy.

US 131 would make an excellent Division 3 points meet track but is actually too small for a real national event. It is nowhere near the size needed for a big spectator crowd or for a full field of Professional racecars with their huge entourage. With the normal big field of Sportsman entries that attend a NHRA national event, it would clog up the whole area. It is a shame because US 131 is a nice facility.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

NHRA would be a great move for Martin for sure. A national event would need some parking and entrance / exit improvements but the track itself is just as good as any current NHRA track out there.
The article says they have a IHRA nitro jam event, points race and team finals right now and to switch to get a lucas race would not be in the best interest if the track. I disagree look at the nitro jam from a couple weeks ago roughly 260 class contestants pro and sportsman (including Matt Alvey's personal favorite 8 snowmobiles), Mid Michigan pts meet had roughly 340 contestants with no TAFC, TAD, or sleds and is 2 hours further northeast. The 131 facility with a Lucas Oil race would draw a croud of racers similar to the car count at Norwalk and look at what the Baders did with promoting the race and getting spectators in there. This one Lucas Oil race could be as big as the three IHRA races they have now.
Dont get me wrong I have Raced NHRA and IHRA both are great places to race. I also love going to Mid Michigan for a points meet but it would be cool to see Martin at least get their foot back in the door with NHRA and work towards a national event.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

PHIL could you give me one good reason Martin staying IHRA would be good for them? And you being able to keep your 69 as a F/CM is not one. I can't think of any.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

1) Less money spent on Improvements
2) Less money to host an event
3) Nitro Jam is a track rental
4) A move in hopes of a national is Insane. 3 nationals within 4 hours of the track why would NHRA put another there.
5) Comparing Norwalk's Lucas race to anone else is crazy too. Bader could have a packed house for a Chip vs.Chuckie match race.LOL

Bottom line
National event crazy not to change
Any other event crazy to change.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

I still remember the last NHRA event that I raced at, it was a points meet at Joliet. I took two stockers. I was told where to park and parked there. The next thing I know some NHRA flunkie is yelling what are you parking there for,,,,,etc.....

The next race I was at, was one of my first IHRA National events and I had three people thanking me for coming and handing our team coffee and donuts. I think it was many things but being in the sales business, one thing I did learn from Dale Carnigie was to "show sincere appreciation and mean it" well IHRA did it to this sportsman racer.

Crate Motors do NOT play in my decision. I still have my original steel radiator and three complete NHRA 350 stocker motors. It would be an easy switch for me to go back to NHRA, I think if my young friend, Charlie wants one reason, it would be the people at IHRA and they way they have treated ME, the customer.

I do not like everything about IHRA, but when I weigh all the plus's and minus's of IHRA and NHRA and the people that I deal with at an event, IHRA is the winner.

I am still a member of NHRA since 1965.

Phil

87 442-Top Elim.
87 442-Top Elim.
78 Cutlass Top Elim.
69 Camaro-F/CM
97 Firebird B/FIA
99 Camaro 10.5 tire

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Everyone talks about how bad they are treated when at a NHRA race. Well that is BS. I race in NHRA Div 3 and could not ask for better Div and Nat event crew Redman, Leo, Donnie B, Rich, Jack, Luke, Tony, Travis and others. These people always go out of their way to help and are fair. Please tell me how it’s you so bad when you come to a NHRA race.
The tech and staff at NHRA and IHRA races are both great, so I don't see that being a point.
Phil the reason parking is not a problem in IHRA is because of a lack of cars. Don't blame NHRA for having over 500 cars at a pts race

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Coffee and donuts but not much tech. Been there, done that. Would consider going back if they change sanctions.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

CD,
I've never run a NHRA race except for the bracket finals, so I don't get a vote. I hear NHRA can be a horse's butt. I also hear they are great never have a problem. I think a lot of the complainers are just that. COMPLAINERS. It don't matter what they are doing or where it's at.
I'm getting ready to have the EXPERIENCE though. I'm leaving today for my first NHRA divisional. I don't expect it to be like IHRA. That would be like comparing McDonalds and Burger king.
I'm really looking forward to going though.

Back to 131 I have a hard time believing they would make more off a NHRA div race than the 3 events they do have. Remember car counts are not the whole ball of wax, but bottom line is.
Chip Johnson
S/ST 2011

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

It is all in how it is or is not promoted. End of story Bill B showed us that this year at Norwalk. Chip you are right there is more BS on the NHRA side as far as tech goes. What pts race are you going to?

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

I knew the second I typed in coffee and donuts somebody would bring it up.

If US 131 Switches to NHRA and Mid-Michigan stays NHRA, there is no doubt I would switch.

I have reserved pit spots at US 131 and we are there with race cars every week. The moral of this story is I happen to like IHRA better and believe it or not, the management at US 131 does not care if I like IHRA or NHRA better. They are going to do what ever they can to make a profit or a bigger profit on their investment.

If they do switch to NHRA, Charley, I hope it is you and Brad Z in the SS Final...hows that?

The end, I HOPE. I have to get back to work.

Phil

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

CD,
Going to Atlanta. Leaving out this evening around 5 or 6 or 10.LOL
I'm going in with an open mind. I really don't think it will be as bad as eveyone makes it out to be. I go to race, so in my opinion should'nt be much difference.
Chip

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Good Luck Chip. Bring home one o dem Walleys.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Just drive like you did last week at Darlington - You will do great. Satch

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

DW,
I was looking at one of them Wallys last week. I told the guy if I bring that thing home my Ironmen will push that little thing off the shelf.LOL
Leaving out in a couple hours.
Chip

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Now y'all boys know that ain't no racer from them there parts gonna be able to handle dem profeeshonal racers down der. I sures to heck dey would even let dat boy run his hoopty.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Probably for the best. It gives racers that live in this area the opportunity to race NHRA, IHRA, or both. If it would have went NHRA, Mid-Michigan would probably have lost the Div. 3 race to US-131, and the nearest IHRA track other than US-131 would be a minimum of 5-6 hours away. I just hope that the IHRA rebounds and gets back to where it was a couple of years ago.

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

I just returned fom a soggy weekend at the D 5 ET Team Finals where Division 5 track operators had a meeting Friday evening where they were informed that the 2011 ET Finals would be at Martin with at least 6 teams. So this goes with what Jim said that US 131 would be IHRA sanctioned. What a nice place to race. I know I'm getting a little off topic but I had the chance to talk to Jim Woods a couple of times. It sure was nice to have a conversation about Q-Jets and Class racing at an ET race. Thanks, Jim! Also in ending , there was not a sighting of Phil Veldheer ... what the heck Phil?

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Randy-I no longer enter the points race at US 131, even though I've got all the reserved parking spots etc. I make it to all the big races, but do not make it to every weekend bracket race anymore. I discovered bass and pike fishing five years ago when I bought a cottage near Ludington, MI.

I thought off all the bracket racers at US 131 this past weekend and all the rain, two weekends in a row!

Any idea of the newest IHRA addition for next years bracket final?

Phil
"Inducted into the US 131 Motorsports Park Hall of Fame in 1995"
Veldheer

Re: US 131 Motorsports Park
 

Phil, I couldn't get any information on who the new teams woud be. The way my weekend went I should have drove up to Ludington and went "bottle bass" fishing with you.