Houston Cancellation Article
 

Here is an article on Competition Plus about the Houston National Event Sportsman cancellation. It has responses from NHRA and Seth Angel of Royal Purple Raceway.

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-...-cancellation-

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

Very good article. I am surprised at how much was really laid out on the table. Pleased to see that, but this part chapped me from Seth Angel.

“We wish that everyone could be parked on asphalt, and it’s no secret our family is in the paving industry,” Angel said. “At the end of the day, the economics of owning a drag strip doesn’t allow for us to pave miles and miles of pit area. We’ve made improvements over the years and will continue to do so. But when you have your biggest weekend of the year, have 450 cars, all of which are not on paved asphalt you’ll have these kinds of situations.

“It’s happened at NHRA owned tracks and this [flooding] isn’t the first time it’s happened to sportsman racers and likely won’t be the last. It’s a problem, there’s no doubt and we will keep making improvements in the coming years. We just can’t do it all at once. We cannot spend three or four million dollars paving a sportsman pit area that we use one time a year. The economics of our business simply doesn’t allow for it. And I believe the racers can understand that.”

Excuse me? I have been attending 3 races per year at that track for at least the last two years (maybe three) and I have yet to park anywhere other than the grass/dirt. It is not just the Spring Nationals that we are out there. It is every race.

And there is nothing saying they have to do it all at once. A little effort would go a long way.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

I went to race at Baytown for the first and last time in about 1996.You would think that SOME improvements would have been made in the last 17 years,but I guess not.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

Well...I have to admit that they did repaint the wall that I retouched. People are getting stuck in the pits and nobody is getting stuck to the walls. You bounce right off them sumbishes.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

Let me say first, I don't have a dog in this fight but... I been going to this track from the time they built it. Yes it's bad what happen. Been pulled out of this track many of times. I understand the drive time of Brad and others. Would I be mad yes. Did NHRA do the right thing. Give "ALL" the sportsmen money back even 1st round losers(sorry) Yes they did.
Not NHRA fault it's the Angel's fault. They needed to make upgrades that don't have to do with the Pro's. (Not dishing on Pro's). They can't afford to put paving down(they are in the paving business really).
Maybe if all Sportsmen( Quit) going to this POS track for 1 year its could get their A**** H**** Attention.

Please don't jump on my A**. I would have been there but had neck operation and no release from doctor. Yes I would have been mad but NHRA did the right thing with giving all money back. It's the track owners issue. Royal Purple should pull their name. We as sportsmen racers pay for their products.

What would happen if DSR and John Force racing was put passed the water outlets????

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

:rolleyes:

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

Paving may not be the option, but even compacted rock would be a major improvement

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

They could have used you at the Houston National Kyle, your helicopter ride would have helped to dry the pits.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

If the track owners can't afford to operate the track in the manner it requires, NHRA should pull the race. Problem solved.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

Whatever Ennis has in the far end (S & SS) pits seems fine to me.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

Nothing like a little publication to apply some pressure on NHRA. I know they won't be happy about the bad publicity even though it may not do much.


In regards to the track, can any landscaping/construction/concrete guys give us some information on costs/difficulty involved in implementing a better drainage system. It would seem to me that their probably isn't any drainage in the pits other than general grading type landscaping. Its been a while since I've been to HRP, so I'm not certain of that but that would be my assumption. Would it not be cheaper and advantageous to place an industrial style of french drain in the pit area vs. paving it? Just my thoughts but this is not my area of expertise.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

Just adding dirt would have been a major improvement. At least the water could have drained away from the pits instead of draining toward the pit as it did.

There has been a lot of dirt added about a 100 yards north of where they pitted us, for what reason I do not know.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

It would have helped, but the crew was in a hurry to leave so they could buzz the Girls Gone Wild, Baytown Edition. At least that is what they told me....damn neck brace.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

You need to carry a mirror with you next time...lol

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

ya'll should read all the comments posted below that article--- not speaking highly of NHRA or the HRP owners/mgmt staff---- went there years back(20+) and the weather went from balmy to almost borderline freezing and rain---- the track as a whole at that time was OK nothing spectacular but then again most tracks were nothing to brag about either--- FED387

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

NHRA did NOT do the right thing in Houston. Once eliminations began, the race should be completed. This is a gross injustice to the racers running for the National Championship. You give the R1 losers a mulligan to get another chance at the points. Just giving people their money back isn't always the right thing to do. This race should've been completed at another venue later in the year. We still had races in Belle Rose and Tulsa and Houston. By giving the R1 losers their money back only benefits NHRA in the sympathy department.
This was not the right decision.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

Light added, with the exception of those who had raced and been eliminated, both their entry and insurance fees will be refunded. However, Light added none of the drivers will be forced to claim the race in points competition.

Losers will not get their money back according to Light.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

might need to check with some of the first round losers on here and see if they got their money back. I thought I had read some posts that said they did get a refund even though they had lost first round...

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

That's not what dimlight stated in his quote, "with the exception of"!
It's a damn travesty to get ripped off for an entry fee and crew passes at a race that "never was"!
Amazingly they are letting the class winners keep their trophies even though most of them are getting refunds?
Several years go at Baytown it rained and rained some more. They pitted us in the infield of the circle track and that worked fine!
Why not this time?

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

As far as the class trophies are concerned.....Molon Wally!

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

I talked with a R1 loser and he has received a notice, from the ticket company, about his upcoming refund for his crew pass. I don't know anyone who has the National Event credit yet. It appears that R1 loser are getting there money back.

Re: Houston Cancellation Article
 

I show a credit for National Event entry and was already reinbursed for crew member tickets. I was really suprised they refunded the crew money instead of a credit. I'm not sure why they didn't do the same with the driver entry money. In the past I have lost both driver and crew money due to not being able to return for a rescheduled race. At Montgomery, AL for a divisional race, I pulled up at the track right after a huge rain storm came through. They collected my entry and two crew member passes paid in cash. I was there a total of about 15 minutes and they pulled the plug and rescheduled the race. My wife was pregnant and the rescheduled date fell the same week she was due. I pleaded my case and was told Sorry no refunds what so ever. I was not a happy camper! Makes me wonder why I keep going back to these races? Getting the refund and a credit was the right thing to do. although I think when a race gets cancelled or postponed before eliminations start, all money should be refunded. It should be your choice where you spend your money in the future not NHRA's. Its bad enough when you loose all of the travel expenses and vacation time from work, but you should not have to loose entry fees for a race you were not allowed to participate in.