It's a great time to race - part one
 

After reading a million times this year that you're going to stay home and not race because you hate the NHRA , or gas & diesel prices are up , or everyones horsepower is lower than yours or the weather looks like a maybe or the recession or the unemployment or whatever reason you may have here are some positive reasons why you may want to go ------

Pit space - at the last two events I've been to ( Maple Grove LODRS & Englishtown Supernationals ) parking space has been terrific - when there is a hundred less cars there has to be more space .

No teardown - with the shortage of tech people teardowns have been limited - and lets face it gang we do need them but ten guys pulling pistons this past weekend wouldn't have changed anything as 'lil Joe Santangelo and the Alabama Invader Rampy won their eliminators on good driving as I don't recall either of them having a heads-up .

Low car counts - we don't like to see low car counts but lets take advantage of racing one less round every now and again - ask any of the touring sportsman - they'll tell you .

Less crowds - we all like to race in front of a packed house but its easier when there's less people to run over when you're in a hurry between rounds.

Get home sooner - even if you stay to the end you'll get home sooner because of less rounds / less people and traffic .At Maple Grove we were done early and everyone was home before they expected for the Memorial Day weekend .

OK - bring on the hate mail and we'll start part two .

PS- Gas & Diesel prices dropped more than a dime this past week .

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

The price of getting there is the only negative I see.There's usually quite a few out of division racers at Englishtown.Not this year though.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

On the flip side, when I cover the IHRA points races in the Northeast Division, I see few more NHRA drivers at each event who go to an IHRA race rather than drive out of division. There is a race near Binghamton, NY on the 18th and 19th, It will be interesting to see who shows up there.

Jim

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

I've been told never argue with a cheerleader, but oh well.....for me anyway it's not the nickle and dimeing stuff, the gas prices, entry fees, insurance surcharges, the scooter fee, the renewal fees, the lousy ND content, the 2 yr seatbelt deal, the trans blanket, the certifications, the spotty tech, small haz-mat waste generator fees....naw, none of that, it's just the attitude.....why go you ask, uhh, to see friends, to get away, the adrenaline rush from 1 minute of track time over three days and hundreds of towing miles, or probably the addiction to what once was.....

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Jack, You almost described IHRA to a T....Maybe NHRA is catching on .....lol
Ok, now i'm gonna get smacked....

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Jack
Will this be a new weekly or once a mouth report good start.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Jack, I must agree................

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Jack, Ken Miele and yourself are great Ambassadors for our sports and I love your enthusiasm when it comes to NHRA racing. Both of you would probably have said to Captain Edward "John" Smith the late Captain of the Titanic, " don't worry Sir, it's only a scratch and I'm sure Ken and I can fix it up in a a few hours". Jack, you're right and it's nice to see someone who takes the time to remind us that our glass is only half full, not empty. Some NHRA racing is better than none, just wish that someone at NHRA would be monitoring the different Internet boards, to see that they could do a better job than their doing. I only go to spectate at this moment, until my car is ready or I win the lottery, but could NHRA speed up the pro's a little more, it nearly takes an half hour to run a pair. You don't need to have someone clean out and rake all the tires before they go! Thanks for the reports and the pictures. Claude

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Good points Jack !

It would appear that now is the best time for a beginner to get into the game. :)

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Thanks Claude - Captain Smith - nope ,as there are many racers on here that try to make me feel more like Captain Quigg ........from the Caine Mutiny . But I keep refilling the cup .And I have my own supply of ball bearings ! ! !

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

I for one have used these recent months of low car counts to start racing again after 40 year absence. I am really disappointed that they basically removed 'class' contingency money. Only folks who can afford to go to darn near all the races can be in a position to collect based on 'class' points, and none of the 'sports national' events near where I live. Like to see them reinstate that to some degree. How about contingency money for the top points earner in EACH CLASS for the year, only using points from the races where there is no class contingency paid. And have additional points for highest qualified car in each class at each race.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

There were two dq's at Englishtown this year for reason never explained in your report. I expect there was some kind of teardown?

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

IHRA and NHRA both need the cars car counts are low,they still pay as much as full field with less rounds,I'll be racing as much as possible when my remodel project is done so we have are'nt homeless( sold house living in temporary place)hopefully 1 month.
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

That sounds better then it is now.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Tony - sorry , no teardowns were done at Englishtown ( at least in Stock or SuperStock that I'm aware of ) ..............but plenty of spot checks and of coarse the usual fuel and weight checks .And there were two DQ's - both minor infractions - and those answers should come from the competitors or the NHRA .

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

I remember when most NHRA guys would scream and belittle the IHRA for not having a tear down at some races due to time restraints,weather, or other problems a few years ago. Now you all seem to love it when NHRA does it.....LOL. Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black to me. OK.....fire suit on.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Jack thanks for the information.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Cheerleader ? ? Not sure about that but someone needs to point out the brite side once in awhile ..................and the addiction still is .

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Sorry, I couldn't resist ... :D

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Wow Toby. That just isn't right. LOL

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

There should have been some kind of warning before you did that! You can't un-see something. I think my retinas are permanently damaged!

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Toby,


I see Jackie is working out again ...........

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Toby
You have way to much time lmao.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Well Toby you've outdone yourself this time - but I like being a blonde even better .

PS- thanks for the nice rack ...............

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

With only one week to go before Bristol there 27 Stock entries and 28 SuperStockers - those are five round races - not like before the Great Recession when even 7 looked good - and yes , its for a little less money ............but I'd like to get me a silver Wally ! ! !

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

talk about a butterface

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

The Turismo loses about half a second at Bristol. No factor, no can do.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Put your wife in it and gain back a tenth or two ....................

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

You don't want me unleashing her on the world! 1st round of eliminations of her entire life (Rockingham, Saturday of Memorial weekend last year), she had Dunn-Benson's track champ. Had a better package than his light. LOL Monday morning, go in with no time shots, she ROLLLLS through that 3rd amber... and it comes up green. Chris Plott was watching and said "I almost threw up on my steering wheel." (.005) Be glad she has no grading points and no vacation time! :D

http://www.staginglight.com/photos/jill_burn.jpg

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Jack,

Only 2 (soon to be 3) cars in the 'stock auto' class. If you enter as E/SA you can join up: G/SA, R/SA, BF/S.

Oh, are they 'silver' or 'pewter'?


Mike M

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Mike - It would be much more fun to jump into B/SA where there are already five entries - or A/SA as there are four - totals have jumped to a whopping 32 in Stock and 33 in SuperStock .Call it anything you want but from a racers standpoint its a few rounds short ....................BTW - Those single car class eliminators gained a bunch of popularity in Englishtown .Real racing for sure - and they had fun - just ask 'em .


PS- Pewter does sound better .

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

I hope no one else enters B/FS in Bristol, I kinda want to race in the combo. Can't go to enough races for 'class' points and I really think racing on the index/handicap all out would be kinda cool. Course I have been running well, Bristol may ne another story because of altitude.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Here's the final tally - 51 Stockers and 59 S/S ers - looks like the fast cars will be out in big numbers in Stock as there are 5 AA/SA's - 7 A/SA 's - 6 B/SA's - 4 C/SA's and 3 D/SA's ...........................half the field in 5 classes ! ! !

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

To bad it's not like the old, old, old days-only class winners in elims!

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

x2

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

x 3

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

And rear wheel drive cars only! :)


-Toby

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Ouch! I wish I had one! To hard to drive.

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Yep, that would be great. And a sure way to increase the already dwindling car counts...

Re: It's a great time to race - part one
 

Yep.....you bracket racers would have to work on your combos a little more. Class winners would have to tear down to be eligable to run the eliminator. I respect your driving abilities BUT its just a bracket race unless you have the misfortune to draw a heads up race. Its called the "Dumbing Down" of class racing. Thats the way it used to be and we had LOTS of cars for class. No...I never won class but I did get runner up a couple of times and Im proud of that. I should have worked harder.....LOL.
P.S. This is one reason the AHFS dosent work the way it should. If it was class winners only the HP factors woud be corrected in just a few months.