Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Sparse turnout for Stk/S/Stk,about 12 to 14 cars combined
Temp is low 80s,baro is 29.76,44% humidity and winds from
the SSE@ 13.

Due to IHRAs contractual obligations I cant go trackside until
the Pros run so i will do the pit shots and shoot from the stands
until 5.30(first round of Pro).

These are some random pit shots and the 2nd round of Stk qualifying.
These are low res jpegs as I am shooting RAW along with jpeg.
Hope you like them.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...erstuff034.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...erstuff032.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...nio2011011.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...nio2011013.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...nio2011010.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...nio2011012.jpg

Yes that fwd stocker did make it from Tempe,the only thing is he
left Tempe,went to Wyoming and then Colorado to get the car and then came to
San Antonio.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Thanks for the report! Man, what's else is going on? They never had huge car counts there, but a lot better than that! Nice track, too.

The Cuda looks really nice.

Glad to see Gary made it there.... not showing up on the Q sheet though?

That race is going to be a paycheck for somebody... IMO, those who stayed home can't do math. :rolleyes:

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

x-2 Mr Beard

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Offically 8 Stockers and 5 S/Stk on the qualifiying sheets.
I will post q throught the 2nd round in at the end of this post.
The CM Cuda is having a real hard go of it as you will see.
Some staging lane photos and the 2nd round of S/Stk.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt3001.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt3002.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt3003.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt3004.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt3005.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt3006.jpg

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Stock qualifying sheet

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt3022.jpg

Super Stock qualifying sheet

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt3023.jpg

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Qualifying done for the day,will post 3rd round when available.

The VW in S/Stock is loaded up,I think he is done for the weekend
from what someone said.

The number 1 qualifier in Stock is driving R.J.Sledges Fairlane.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Very sad turn out
How can the car count be that low ?
What could be the reason there has to be many more stock and SS cars in that area?

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Maybe because its a non-points event Mark?

Super Stock photos,second round.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt2002.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt2003.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt2004.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt2005.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2011pt2006.jpg

Ed Cs SS/H has the clutch and trans out and they are thrashing it for Sat.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Yes, San Antonio, like the rest of the Nitro Jam events, is not a "points race".
But what use to be called a "national", is now an event that retains IHRA national event payout and contingency AND qualifies the winner for the World Finals Tournament of Champions. As they say: "Win and you’re in". The selling point is to be able to have a shot at the world championship at the final race without spending a substantial part of your vacation and budget trying all year to earn enough points like in the previous format.

http://ihra.com/article/4143.html

I'm surprised there aren't more cars also.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Good luck Mr. Hampton!

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Wish I was there... seeing the car count just makes it that much worse. I am 5 hours away, with a car sitting in the trailer ready to go.
Work had to come first this week, and the Friday - Saturday schedule just killed my opportunity.
Wish everyone there the best!

Ken

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Ken,
You can still qualify in the morning. Hit the road son.
Chip

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

smracer 2002,

Thanks, for the great pictures & reporting ... Can't understand why more cars don't show - up .... We need to support the people who support us racers , I hope we aren't all Sorry someday ... We need to have choices where we can race, not just NHRA ? Time will tell , let's hope racers wake-up ... Good Luck to all who are racing @ San Antonio ....

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

I agree with Dave.100%.......

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Stock and S/Stock get 1 time shot in the am and then into eliminations.
While the IHRA was buying time for the Pros to start they offered a free
time shot for class cars.Only Latino and Hampton took them up on it as it
was a long time after the 3rd qualifying run.
They never did post the 3rd rd of Stock but in the 3rd round of S/Stk
there was a small change as Blackmons car picked up to a 10.5855 to
go to -.5145 under.

The rest of the night was Pro Fuel(A/Fuel Dragster)
Top Fuel,Nitro Harleys,Jet cars,Monster trucks,a wheel stander,
Top Sportsman,Top Dragster,Nostalgia Funny Car,and AA/FAs.
And a triple engined Jet Semi.A good show for the family side of
the Nitro Jam as the stands got packed after 6.00pm.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Thanks ,Dave.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

For the life of me I can't understand why there are not more cars in San Antonio. What is IHRA doing to make people not want to come to their races? When i lived in Texas I raced quite a few IHRA races and it always seemed there was fairly good turnout. San Antonio is a nice race track, the money is decent, not great and it's a two day race. The IHRA folks always are very hospitable and treat racers really well. Why aren't you Texas racers supporting this? I'm only asking because I guess I don't understand.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

unless I missed one, I didn't see one car from Texas on the S/SS qualifying list at the Las Vegas NHRA National. So where is everyone? According to one website I just looked at, the population of the greater San Antonio metropolitan area is 2,142,508. That is larger than the population of my state! (1,852,994) You can't tell me that there are only 13 people with class cars among a population that large that want to race. When the day comes that there is only one game in town, none of us will be able to afford to race.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Isn't texas experiencing some unusually hot weather this weekend?

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

when i read that there was just a few super stocks there and a handful of stockers, i had to scratch my head and say HUH?, somebody is gonna leave San Antonio smiling,,, What`s up racers? is because it`s a IHRA event? someone is trying to give us , both IHRA and NHRA a place to race and i see is well it`s this and it`s that that i don`t agree or like what they do, so i`ll just keep my toy at home and will not go, and 2 months later well we need more events, points meets

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

For me it was just a simple issue, I had to work... project schedule changed, and I cant get away this weekend. I was looking forward to it, as this was probably my only Nat. this year.
I am not sure why there are not more cars there. Yes, it is hot this weekend but not that hot... and this is TX... Actually very nice day in Dallas today.
I am trying to support IHRA, and local bracket tracks when I can. Cost of fuel is just a small pain in the rear... not really that much more money at the end of the weekend.
I wonder is people are getting nervous again, with the gas prices going up daily. While the extra cost of fuel is not really that much on a trip, it drives the prices up on everything. Food, clothes, everything. The fuel hits all companies and it will hit the economy again, if something does not happen soon. I know what it did to our business. Sales go down, as people watch what they are spending money on. Only buy what they must have, being careful with their pay.
The fuel cost really hit the normal working person a couple of years ago, and the economy was just coming out of it.
What will happen this time?

Wish I was in San Antonio
Ken

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Would a payout structure like T/S bring more Stockers and Super Stockers than the 13 T/S cars that showed up? hmmmmm. I know they would have gotten plus one car in each class for sure, and I really don't think I'm alone on this one.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Hagen, I hear what you're saying. I think IHRA has a great opportunity to attract more racers right now but their payouts are not good. I would either hire someone to try and get the contingencies up or use someone that is already working for the organization to do the same. It's kind of like the chicken or the egg, which comes first? If they had bigger payouts I know their fields would increase. I guess I still don't know why some racers will tow 600 miles for an NHRA points race and won't go 200 miles for an IHRA one.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

IHRA’s biggest sportsman races coming in July, October. In 1971 a man by the name of Larry Carrier decided to start his own sanctioning body with the hopes of providing racers a new way to enjoy the sport they love. More info click here

The biggest sportsman class race in IHRA history will feature $5,000 to win in each IHRA class and is open to all racers. All IHRA and valid NHRA memberships, licenses and chassis certifications will be accepted. In addition to the big payout, each Sportsman Spectacular will feature national event contingency, an IHRA Ironman and automatic entry into the Summit Racing Tournament of Champions for all winners.


If the click don't work ,just go to side bar on class racer forum.

See how many ( ? ) travel for these two races...

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Thats something I have been saying for a while. The time to do it is now. You have to override people's emotional attachment to NHRA with a financial one to IHRA. I really hope it works. I predict a bunch of IHRA newbies. Glad IHRA is finally puttin a bunch of eggs out there.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

I hope it works too.
As for contingincy(?) IHRA is going to have to start drawing more cars to get more contingincy $$$..
I can see them not wanting to pay if a lot of cars are not running.
Be like running a tv advertisement at 2 in the morning ..


We do need both sanctions and the combo races to keep our sport alive....
It is nice to have choices .....
HOPE TO SEE A LOT OF YOU THERE....
Scales & heads-up are going to be there too.....

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Danny,
Don't you have to be an IHRA member to qualify for the TOC at these races?
Chip

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

The last i heard ,yes. But you may want to e-mail someone at IHRA for sure....I am kinda retired right now.....

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

I'd got 3 rounds for $4K every day of the week if you let me... :rolleyes: Oh, well.

Pretty sure David Latino can do math... :cool: Haven't seen the final results yet, but he's going into the finals in both Stock and Super Stock.
Good for him, congrats!

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

David Latino took the W in Stock and runner up in SS.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Thanks for the photos, who's fairlanes are they? Is one of them RJs What engines are they running. Thanks Robbie

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Yeah likewise. I never have and never will understand why local racers refuse to support a local IHRA race. I've heard so much bitching about NHRA over the years (myself included) where IHRA has taken notice and provides solutions to the gripes everyone makes. Granted, there's no comparison to the commercialism of NHRA. But what are you there for...racing, or a chance to get your "Hollywood walk of fame" trophy? If more racers would support the IHRA, it would only improve the organization "glamor factor". You can also bet we wouldn't be thrown under the bus as progress improves....the IHRA knows who we are, and who built them....unlike "the other guys". If nothing else, you guys are missing out on a really good time, good racing. and what it's like to be treated with the respect we all deserve.

Oh, and for the question "okay, so where was your name on the ladder from last year" my junk was apart but I still went to the race to support it. The only griping I did: "Damn, I wished my car was together so I can be out here having as much fun as everyone else". Ask the IHRA crew if you don't believe me.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Well well we had an interesting weekend. Yes the turnout was poor. David Latino and I had a discussion about it before our first rd race. I can't explain why no one shows up. The race was run well. Nice track. I've never seen that many people show up for an IHRA race. It was packed. Hell when I left there was still a huge line trying to get in the place. We had just put a new clutch in the car the night before at 1 in the morning. Our first pass it tried to turn over backwards on me. We took some clutch out and on the second run it was even more aggressive and pulled the wheels as high in second gear as it did on the starting line. We took a little more out. It responded by doing the same thing as the second run only now it pulled the wheels in 3rd gear. Well after the run I had no clutch at all after I crossed the scales. Rob uses a bigger throwout bearing for his clutch. The t/o bearing had pushed threw the fingers on the clutch. My daughter had a playoff soccer game that night. I had to leave. So my son stayed back and took it apart by himself and got it all back together with some help from Shawn Allsup who was just there spectating. Thanks Shawn. My son Brent is the man. He loves to work on that car. Without him I wouldn't be racing. Against David Latino I cut a good light .018 but I used up the entire track on the pass and couldn't run the number. We had fun and met alot of new people. Ed

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

The sad thing is with the car counts IHRA is having at NitroJam races the handwriting is on the wall.
Nitro Jam will turn into a Fuel show with a bracket race. Stock up on you shoepolish it's coming.
Chip

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Red one is RJ's they had it in D/SA this weekend. The green one is Kirk Morgan's car. If I'm wrong ill hear it from RJ, but I think it's a 390. Ed

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

They are both 390 cars.
The green one has more weight
and ran F and RJ took weight out
and ran D.

I had something come up Friday pm and
couldnt make it back on Sat to finish up
the thread.I apologize for that but some things
cant be helped.

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Ed is correct both cars are 390 powered, good to see Kirk go the final, there is not a finer person in the pits as far as I am concerned, he helps me out alot. Brent Carpenter is in the same catergory, and its good to see some young people involved. Ed you are indeed a lucky man. Congrats to David Latino, on his Stock win and his Runner up in SS. It was a trying type of day with the 95 degree weather and changing track conditions. Thought that IHRA did a pretty good job on the starting line considering the heat. I believe that most of the Stockers had to dial it for spin during the day and then take there best guess when the sun went down. Overall we had a good time, it was close to home and Kirk was in the final.

It really is a mystery as to why more S/SS racers won't come from the Houston (157 miles away) and Dallas (225 miles away) areas. It cost us $80.00 for the Membership and car number and $200 to race. Kirt will hopefully collect around $2000.00 for his Runner up in Stock and David Latino will collect at least 4 or 5 times or more than that for his S/SS showings. Not a bad two day pay check

They must have had 30,000 specators for the race and that should make IHRA happy. I have never seen a bigger crowd at SAR and that includes Pinks.

Later RJ

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Yes that was some haul, but this experience was more than worth it! I thank GOD I had the opportunity to do this, and the nearly 1200 miles I traveled to Wheatland, Wy., plus the over 1100 miles from there to San Antonio? Wow, that was a lot of fuel stops, but since my Colorado was getting nearly 14 mpg. (with 4300lbs of trailer/car behind it, as opposed to bigger trucks, and 23mpg w/o the trailer behind it), I wasn't feeling too bad.

The people here were great, it was nice to meet you smracer, and I was also glad to meet Dave Carpenter, and meet and hang out with David Latino...I however was hoping that the photo you showed of Dave and I in qualifying, would've been the final (since we were on opposite sides of the ladder, and would've only met in the final)?

I'm bummed that I lost that 1/4 final (1st rnd) race by .0029, but he was a good guy to meet and chat with, and maybe next year we'll get a rematch? Moreover, I had a chance to see just how close that race must've been since I just saw a race involving Larry Morgan, in which the margin was .0026...that was a close one...I wish I didn't have such a soft spot in my heart for Pearl Harbor, because I chose the 15.41 because that tragedy happened in '41. I spoke with my bud Craig about the .42. If I would've gone with that instead, that outcome would've been different (and the picture could've become the final, at the finish line)? As they say, that's racin', and it was the closest stock race of the meet.... :)

How can you beat talking with the VP of racing operations (in the tower no less), and although I didn't win the race, I had a great time, met some old friends of mine from Pueblo Motor Sports Park, in Colorado (Terry, Larry Meyer, & Jeff, from the WWS Team..."We Want Steak")!

If I could, I'd transfer my work out here in San Antonio (I'll be talking with my BIG boss about this when I get back to Az.) I'm already looking forward to coming back here next year, and also Salt Lake Cities "Nitro Jam" race (2mths from now)! :)

Thanks Hawk, and Michael for wishing me well, I had fun, and will be looking forward to my next IHRA race, but now I'm visiting with friends, so I'll be back here in 3days....

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

I had a great time at this event, even though I was just spectating. The car count was extremely low, but filled with some seriously good people!

I spent most of the weekend talking with the S/SS guys in the pit area. Ed & Brent Carpenter, Gary, Kirk, Latino/Hollingsworth crew and even the "WWS" crew of Larry, Terry & Jeff...all Top Notch guys! Hell, Mr. Hollingsworth even pulled me into the winners circle photo with their Stock & Super Stock cars.

This event has opened my eyes to the IHRA side of things purely based on the caliber of people I met at this race.

On another note, the place was crawling with people. WOW!!!

One thing I did learn was that I will be adding a small lanyard to the trunk key in my car. While David Latino was up running the Stock final, their SS car was sitting in the lanes. Myself and Phill Hollingsworth came back to the car after Stock ran and there were several little kids and one drunken spectator hanging around the car. Phill was watching them closely and had a weird feeling so he did a quick walk around of the car. Good thing he did because the drunken guy had walked off with the trunk key out of their SS Cobalt. Phil confronted him, and all the theif said was... "You caught me".They are probably laughing about it now, but it could have been a bad deal if they needed in there for something.

Take care guys!!!

Re: Live from San Antonio IHRA
 

Thanks for the responds (Ed, RJ & SMRACER2002). Looking for a 66 2 door sedan street car project now. Are there any in your area? Here's a photo of our ride, we've had it 25 yearshttp://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/...urdayam004.jpg