Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

Well yesterdays T&T had a couple bumps in it. A T/ S car (I beleave) crashed pretty hard the driver was OK and there where a couple big oil downs. The track was in great shape and the car count is way up from last year. I've even seen some new cars to a IHRA race. Yesterday DA was running around 2200/2500 ft, temp 87deg. Today theres a chance of rain but hopefully we'll be good. Wade Mahaffey put a in car camera in my car for a couple runs. that was interresting you sure do a lot of stuff in there that you don't think about. I'll try to get some photos today.

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

We had rain off and on today. They just announced that they are going to run the Jr dragsters and the ET race tonight. They will run the IHRA classes tomorrow starting at 9am.

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

Well as you know the rains came. It rained earlier and they dryed the track and started time runs for Top, Mod & JD they also got in half of Top 1st round. Then it rained again about 9PM and that was it. Today is going to be a busy day with alot to get done. We had a cookout thanks to Calvin, Brenda, Heather & Teresa and the food was great as usual. Alot of friends came by and it was good see everyone. The weather for today is a chance of showers and warmer,hope they can get it done. Good luck to all.

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

A few photos
http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/...tacular376.jpghttp://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/...tacular375.jpghttp://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/...tacular374.jpg

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

Well I lost in the second round, but I've never had this happen. We had Identical red lights -002. Just another story to tell went I get old ( I mean older)

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

Great pics Robbie! Thank you for sharing them.




Hey Dan Moore, you're #1. :D

RIP Mark Graham & WB Hutto

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

No problem Joe, glad you liked them. How's your summer going.
Congratutations to the .90 winners and RUs
H/R Doug Wood RU James Williamson
S/R Steve Furr RU Mike Daymude
Q/R Jake Milstead RU Bo Upton

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

Congrats to all the winners down at MIR over the weekend....My Boy Derek Clark almost pulled it off in Super Rod. That sure would have been a nice B-Day gift for big Mike!

So unfortunatly I couldn't make it down to MIR as I'm in Florida for work but, if IHRA is to have another one next year I will not let work get in the way of this event. I mean I can't really say much because I was not there but, my question is why wasn't there more .90 Cars there? Was it because of Epping this weekend (I'm sure we'll see 60 S/C & 50 S/G Cars up there), The forcast of rain?, The economy (Gas is bad but, it's not as bad as it has been in years past and I think most of us have started to know how to live off these prices), Naperville NHRA Race, The fear of having killer names come in for big money races and you not feeling you have a shot? The Buybacks?

I mean I know no matter how hard you try you will never figure out why people don't come but, 26 cars in Super Rod, 33 in Quick Rod and Stock & SS was even not that great. I mean MIR is one of the premier tracks in the country that is not NHRA Sanctioned and they are putting up 5 GRAND! I mean I know it's not a little golden wally & 1800 dollars but, I'm baffeled how the cars counts were actually lower then last year and it looked like more NHRA guys came out to play....Clark, Goldman, Livezey, Cultrera, DiBartolomeo.

Hopefully IHRA doesn't get fed-up next year after seeing the car counts at San Antonio & MIR because I plan on being there next year as long as the motor is 110% and I am not working.

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I think the Heat kept a lot at Home. The car count was not great but better than any other IHRA race we went to this year. I think for these races to make people will have to accept the Re-Entry format and the NHRA racers will need to swallow their pride.
If I was running IHRA I would'nt be as concerned with getting new racers to come out as much as I would be why past racers are not coming back.

Chip Johnson

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

I feel like the weather was a issue for some, the mixed forecast had me thinking about the decision to go or not mid week but decided to go anyway. The WFC at Bristol pulled some people also but I feel alot of NHRA guys are probably just not willing to come because their budgets don't allow it. By the time they run their divisional and national races on their schedules there may just not be the time or money left so I can respect that. I think this may be the reason for them not participating more than some of the reasons we often think about, just don't think that its because its IHRA or the format. But then again, what do I know? Maybe some of the guys can let us know if I'm right or not.

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Cooter,
Good Job. How bads your Bullet.
Chip

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

Thanks Chip, its more like a pea shooter. It was nothing really, starting leaking around rear main seal a little and when I'd go on the brake it would spray a little. DRC thought it was worse than that. We cleaned it up but I didn't really want to take the chance of messing up the track for everyone else so I decided to not go on the last run. Time for a vacuum pump and a diaper, both have been on the shopping list for a while just haven't done it yet. Glad to see you got yours squared away.

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Nice job ,Cooter. , congrats

Glad you only had little damage.......

Get that ride fixed and go back out there and finish the job...

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Call DRE and get a diaper.

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u da man coot! Hell Broadway is retired now I think u should take over the driving job for him. Tell him to leave the keys in that big ars rig and them high dollar cars and u will go turn some w's on. Congrats...... I would have oiled that track in a minute son for a w. Oh wait a minute i was next pair out with a 9 hr. ride home. u done the right thing.

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

Bo,
I thought the same thing. They would have had to back me off because I'm at least gonna stage.
I tried to stage with a Broke axle in the semis at Baton Rouge years ago.LOL
Chip

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

I think the car count was pretty good compaired to last year. I did see some new faces this year, hopefully they enjoyed themselves and will come back and bring others next year. I'm sure the weather forecast kept some home, and the buy backs stop some from coming (If the car count get strong enough maybe they'll drop that). All in all the race went pretty good considering the weather and other circumstances.http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/...tacular398.jpghttp://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/...tacular397.jpghttp://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/...tacular396.jpg

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

According to my calculations 256 this year and 254 last year not counting bracket cars.

Re: Live from the Sportsman Spectacular
 

Robbie, great pics (even tho i aint in em) Just wanted to give props to u guys at MIR. In that kind of heat that was by far the best track i have been on all year. Thanks to IHRA for a great race and purse. For all those who are on the other side who think their to good to come over (we know u just scared) missed a well run show , awesome purse and track. Thank the Koncen family for me on their hospitality. I will be back to MIR that place is great.

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Bo, it was good having you and your family up here. MIR is one of the nicest facilities I've ever been to and when preped for a big race hooks better then most. I'm glad you came away with enought to pay for your weekend congrats. I'll tell Dale & Brenda (we are in SOUTHERN Maryland we know about hospitality too hehehe). I've got a photo from a couple years ago, here you go. Is this your superman pose?????? Your bud behind you was given the victory sign. I missed it but it was funny. http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/...sville3010.jpg