"Just A Thought"
 

What if Div.1 was split into 2 Separate Divisions ??

Think about this, there are 200 Stockers & 142 Super Stockers total right now.

The travel cost will decrease for every racer because:
A. You wouldn't have to travel as far for a Divisional
B. You might be able to run it in 2 days instead of 3.

Let's say Div.1 A: Consists of these states: Canada, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Mass., Rhode Island & Conn.
Div. 1 B: Consists of states: NY, NJ, PA., MD., Delaware, West Virginia & Virginia

The only thing is: The tracks that host the Divisional's might have to host 2 instead of 1.

1 thing for sure: The boys n girls from Canada wouldn't have to make long tows to NJ
or PA or MD.

As i said its just a thought.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

While they are at it they could divide the western divisions too. You want some travel costs come out west.

Jeff

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

The only real problem that Pete is D1a only has Napierville and Epping for NHRA event tracks. Doesn't really solve the travel issue for everyone in Canada or esstern New England.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

I guess you can throw Lebanon Valley in there too Doug, since it's part of ASRA.
Other than that you are right, only 3 tracks up in that area, kinda sux for you guys.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Yes Jeff you have a valid point for travel costs if you race out west.
Wouldn't trade you though.

Div.7 Has: 71 Super Stockers & 114 Stockers compared to Div. 1 is half the cars.

I do understand your point though.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

interesting..... maybe division 5 too...... It's kinda big....
and unbalanced.?

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Double events or eliminations at one event and you save 1/2 the travel and food and etc. Only problem would be time to complete events. I always enjoyed going to that many events as a family outing though.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Div. 1 already has a comparatively easy travel schedule. By splitting the Division, you dilute the car counts you have, increase contingency costs & points awards, staffing, scheduling, etc. Part of what makes Div. 1 what it is, is the large car counts and stiff competition.

A couple of times, IHRA divided up Division 2 for their Bracket Finals events, at one time having as many as 3 subdivisions "to make travel easier". All it did was make the events smaller and less prestigious.

$.02,

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

I can see an advantage and that racers can attend the other Divisional races.

NE is fairly compact compared to the rest of the country.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Or, if you don't like your local Division, you could always move.........

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Pete, or any D1 guys,

What is the typical travel to a divisional race in hrs one way? It's all relative to your location and how many tracks you have to pick and chose from.

Sean

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Hey Pistol Pete, are you sure this is not one of those Red Sox / Yankees thing. It sure looks that way to me.

Beard is on the money with his observation.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA Patriots vs Billsgiantsjets

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Sean
I'm close to 4 tracks for my Divisional Races.
I'm not complaining for me, it's the guys up in Canada, Mass, N.E. area that have far more miles to tow than i do.

The other benefit would be 8 Divisions, easier for the Jegs Allstars...

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Pete, sounds like your campaigning for a division job!!!!!!!!!!

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Never know Jim, retiring soon.

Hey save me a spot by you & have Plenty of Cold Yuengling's & a power outlet.

My car will never be as clean as yours but I'm sure your parked on pavement.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

I proposed to NHRA quite a few years ago this option.
If a racer travels more than 500 miles to an event,open or LODRS, give the racer
TWO grade points.
Never heard from them again.
Go figure!?
Terry K

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Thanks Pete,

I was just curious as to what is too far? For me if its more than a 7 hr drive one way, that's too far and gets very expensive in fuel. But from where I live in D5, D3 and D4 have an event, open or LODRS that make more sense to attend and are well below the 7 hr drive of some of the other D5 tracks. D5 has 4 tracks that are less than a 7 hr drive from me.

To cure the distance issue, we need to help support the tracks that we do have, that is the main problem. Otherwise the track that may be in your backyard may be a housing subdivision away from being extinct.


Sean

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Pete, are you looking at making a run for D1 points next year and trying to figure
costs of hitting ALL the tracks?

One GOOD thing about the current schedule is that at least 5 tracks on the schedule
are near the I-95 corridor...a major thoroughfare in the NE...which makes them farely
easy to get too. On the BAD side...just about everyone else uses the road too!

I've got to get off the computer now but will come back later with a few extra thoughts....

My .02 on this comment...always felt that Virginia was D2....

Agree with Mike B. on trying to "split."

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

The issue in D1 isn't the distance, it's the roads and traffic. We have the worst roads to travel in the country. Put NYC and the Hudson river in the middle of the division and it is a nightmare. There are 3 bridges that cross the river and they all are falling down and overly congested. Ct. is brutal, you have 95 and 84, both are very heavily traveled. From New Haven to the NY line has to be the busiest section of highway in the country.
I have to hand it to the D1 racers, they still go for it and battle their way thru. One thing about D1, most can hit all the races and still get to work on Monday.
Interesting thought Pistol Pete.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

So well said.. There are many great cars and racers in our area that
do not support our local track. If it is gone many racers will be done.
there is not much other than bandimere speedway in colo. area.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Yes George your on the money with the roads you New Englanders & Canadians have to take in order to race in NJ, PA, Virginia, or MD. God Bless you guys for doing it.
I95 is a nightmare unless you leave real early in the morning to avoid some of the nonsense.
My Intent was thinking on all of you N.E. Racers to split Div.1 because of travel time plus expense.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

A good portion of America just happens to live in the Northeast...can't get away from
that!

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

A few ideas.....

Delete the Richmond event from D1 and send it back to Numidia. Now you have 2
LODRS events north of...and 1 west of NYC....

Look into getting Sanair back for LODRS (or National Open) race...not sure of track's
status?

Look into bringing the Leicester,NY track into the NHRA D1 fold...place has the room
(and shut-off) for a Lucas event...would benefit racers from upstate NY, western PA,
and Ontario area...some New England racers have been there before also.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Another option might be to just remove Richmond from D1 schedule and go back to 6
races. Less races, less travel, right? You don't HAVE to go to EVERY LODRS
event, right? Southern D1 enthusiasts in MD,PA,DE, and other locations might not
agree with Richmond dropped...

Pete, your idea sounds interesting but let's keep the Division intact. Lets call NYC the
dividing line between D1a and D1b. Adding Sanair or Leicester (if possible) would
give the northern D1 racers 3 LODRS events north of that line...The only reason I've
mentioned Leicester is I believe there's a "void" out there for western D1 racers...
( including the Toronto area.)

Sean, to answer your question, I believe the bulk of the D1 racers might have something
of a 2-5 hour tow...on average...depending on location. The guys in the fringe areas
have it tough...can't imagine how long a trip from the Canadian Maritimes to let's say....
Cecil County...or even worse, Richmond! Racers in Buffalo and/or Pittsburgh almost as
bad...but will opt for D3 usually....

Anybody know what's happening at Sanair?

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Ss wannabe
Good idea to give the Northern racers more
Div Races up in there area
I think the downside is track owners have to pay
nhra for a divisional race to use their track
I could be wrong on that.
But your idea sounds better than splitting the division

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

I would LOVE to see Sanair come back into the fold. The Grandnationals was always one of my favorite races.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Pueblo Motorsports Park is 100 miles south of Denver. Because of lack of support it's in the position it's in. The operator is not a drag racer but a road course person. Most Bandimere racers don't want to lower themselves to race at PMP.

Jeff

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

As far as East Coast racers, it's not very friendly here anymore. I live on the PA-OH line, an hour or so northwest of Pittsburgh. It's three hundred miles, or more, to any NHRA D-1 race. Norwalk is 2 1/2 hours, Columbus is three hours. Pittsburgh track (IHRA) is a little less than two hours. Those are the only three tracks within five-six hours of me for NHRA/IHRA. Compared to Div 4-5-6-7, I still have it made, but I'm in no man's land compared to Philly/Jersey area racers. Basically a thousand dollars (or more) every time I would go race (I quit in 2007 at age twenty-seven). I would have to move either to Harrisburg and east, or to the Ohio-Indiana line if I wanted to go back racing (which I don't). SO the proposed ideas here don't make anything better for some racers.

Is it bad to be excited about seeing gas the other day for $3.38 in eastern Ohio....? lol

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

I think the racers from Mike's area, western PA, Pittsburg, have it the worst. In New England we now have 2 LODRS, 2 opens and a National event. Far more than we did 10 years ago. The guys from the Canadian Maritimes are just in a tough situation. Most are 12 plus hours from Epping, 20 from Maple Grove.

Pete, where did you get the car counts? I think there are many more cars sitting in garages inactive. I have often thought, how many cars would there be if everybody in the division showed up at one race. I remember 135-145 a couple of times back in the late 90's, I think over 150 at the Dutch.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

I know a fair shake of bandimere racers that would race at
pmp., esp. this year with e.t. finals in denver.
I believe pmp. had a 5 race season that was over
a while ago... Ya word has it the money for them is in the
road racing with lower overhead.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

George,
If you go on Div. 1's website, you go to Points & it will list every driver.
It was either last yr or 2 yrs. ago Div. 1 had 212 Stockers.

Naturally you can do this for ALL divisions.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Guys. I'm not proposing anything just replying to Pete's comments. And I'm not running
for division director either!

BUT if you had let's say...Lebanon, Epping, AND Sanair...for the northern tier D1
racers....and E-town, Atco, Cecil, and Maple Grove for the southern tier...that makes
a lot of sense to me...in an effort to reduce distances....

A big question is the status of Sanair...I know they ran a Stock/SS combo during
Labor Day weekend a few years back...not sure what they're doing today. They
WERE a D1 WCS track many years ago...and of course hosted the Grand-
national as well....

Mike Carr, I see your point....you've got to be the furthest D1 racer out in the western
tier...Got a question for you...have you ever run at Numidia and/or Beaver Springs
and how long to get there?

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Thanks Pete, but my guess is that's only the racers who entered a race that year. I wonder how many hold permanent numbers. I bet it's over 300 in stock.

Re: "Just A Thought"
 

Numidia is roughly 260 miles, 4 1/2 hours, Beaver is 275 miles the 'easy towing' way (I-80 to US 15 south to US 522, but way out of the way, 75 miles to get there off of 80 going this way but avoids huge hills and 2-lane roads--might be quicker to take the PA Turnpike out and come up). The Turnpike is another issue. Just over a hundred dollars round trip to go to Maple Grove. Atco, E-town and Cecil would be more. And the Pike is going up again next January. I know racers in the Philly/south Jersey area have it made. I met a guy years ago that said everything was within three hours (Numidia was their 'long' tow, at three and a half, before Epping came to NHRA). Numidia was an hour more for me, and was my short tow. And other than Norwalk and Columbus, Div. 3 isn't any better (two or three tracks less than four hundred miles). For me, Indy and Cecil are roughly the same distance at 375; Bowling Green, Charlotte and Lebanon Valley the same at 525, Chicago at 425 not much further than E-town, Atco, Delmar or Bristol. Epping is, I am guessing, around 700 miles, not a whole lot closer than Atlanta. Compared to many D-1 racers, us and the far north are in no-mans land. lol And IHRA is just as bad (one track less than three hundred miles, being Pittsburgh).