Jr Dragsters At Divisionals
Since Bobby's thread has gone way off topic, I thought that I would start a new one on the role of Jr's in NHRA competition.
My opinion is that there are no negatives. The Junior program is a great educational opportunity. It brings families together. It also adds a little income for the hosting facility. These kids are the future. Sure, a good percentage will move on to something else. On the other hand, we have quite a few kids that came from Jr's racing with us in Stockers in Division 2. I will add that six of this year's Champions came from Jr's. |
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I could not agree more. I had two kids in juniors and we had great family fun. Travelled a lot as a family and it keeps your kids excited about racing and away from many bad influences.
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That was a ton of fun, both kids in Jr's! We went thru 4 cars and they both went into S & SS! I'd do it all over yet today!
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Anyone that can't see the value the Jr's bring to our sport or the future of our sport is being just plain selfish. It's kind of like some of the people that complain about the .90 classes, if you can't see that there is value in the other classes your just living in your own little self centered world.
You should be commended also Daren for your support of several Jr racers also it doesn't go unnoticed even though I know that's not what it's about to you. Yes some of these kids will move on to something else but every one that keeps going is vital to the future of our sport. |
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I can see the huge out pouring of Junior Dragter support here on clasracer... Congratulations Gump!
It's great to see at divisions because it really Shows off the most basic form of "karting". I think it's special that we offer a place for the less fortunate children to show they too can have a place to strut their stuff. I also like that it gives me more time at the track while they take their time to get staged and do mock burn outs to simulate warming up their tires as I reflect at the whole existential crisis of todays world of drag racing and where it has been and what it now has become. At my local track they even went a step further and brought a "KIDS POWER WHEELS" class into to schedule. I'm so excited! Class rules are as follows. 5 volts to 40 volt battery allowed. Helmet required, Bicycle helmet is okay. Gloves, long sleeve shirt, closed toes shoes, knee pads, elbow pads. .500 sportman tree. 10 DOLLAR ENTRY FEE WINNER TAKES ALL Unfortunately this class will not run the full 1/4 mile. :-( I will start lobbying for all these under age classes to start running a full quarter mile because they deserve the whole track and not just the 1/8 mile. Meanwhile in real Karting world of 7 year olds.. https://youtu.be/N7OzIkuUVrw?feature=shared |
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Mojo Risen,
Your post make me thinking of a JR Dragster school summer camp like the Frank Hawley's school for one or two weeks including school class, track time, eating and sleeping at the track. This could be a good way to invest in the future of the sport. |
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Careful what you wish for
In division 1 we get a bunch and it adds quite a bit of time to the program |
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exactly!
As was stated in the "make divisionals great again" thread Quote:
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As I don't manage the Division, I can't speak for the time that they take up. I do know that our Division Director is "All about the schedule". So, I doubt that he would put up with a lot of delays from them. From what I see, they go up when called and make their passes in an organized and timely manner. Super Street is the same. Stock Eliminator is another story. Especially when pairing for round one... Again, I don't see them as anything but a positive. "I don't like them" is not a valid argument. |
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Think they work well in some divisions, but others might be a challenge. Some events in D3 can be over 600 on the regular and was over 700 for the Double at WWT Raceway. I am all for opportunities to welcome in the next generation along with families getting to compete at the same events.
Not sure it's the best idea for all Divisions but should be considered after all the factors are looked at. Now if all events were 2 hits, then race, sure it would work with larger counts. Again, so many factors or directions to go. No wrong or right way to handle in my uneducated opinion. |
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Yes, it's something very different and takes up time and pit space.
But it seems pretty ironic to me that we're arguing about how to gain more new racers at the same time. Check out how many standouts in the top racing series (like F1) started out in karts. It's a bit differnent because it's a different series and venues. But it's still a big shot in the arm for gaining more participants as they age into higher forms of racing. I got into the professional side of drag racing through Pro Stock. And though the early hype was sometimes unsufferable, I'll point out that one of the best drivers I've ever seen (still trying to decide if she is better than Jeg was) went from juniors all the way to being on the edge of setting records for championships. |
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But it seems pretty ironic to me that we're arguing about how to gain more new racers at the same time.
Don't we all "look up" to the next class? -when I had a street car I looked up to a dedicated race car -when I had a bracket car I looked up to S/ST -when I had a S/ST car I looked up to Super Stock -when I had a SS car I looked up to Stock (now I am in trouble) -I have always looked up to Pro Stock, probably won't get there Who do you think the Juniors look up to? ALL of us. I would hate to see Juniors racing outside our community. We need to support them, nurture them and become their friends! Merry Christmas, Ray |
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I think its safe to assume most everyone agrees Junior dragsters are good for the sport. Its important to realize they have their own Junior dragster racing series apart from our series. The question is should they also run at Divisional races.
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No, they take up too much time. When Juniors are running, no cars are allowed to be going to the lanes. They are not allowed to drive back to the pits, they have to be towed. Some of their rigs are of pro racer size.
There are more than enough local, regional and finals Junior races to keep teams busy all season. |
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Merry Christmas, Ray |
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Gump
While it would be nice for the kids to run Jr dragsters at div events, most divisional races already have 10 lbs of ***** crammed in a 5 lbs sack. Heck I quit running most D3 events or leave early because we struggle to finish races before Monday. Now in D2,D5 and D6 you could get away with it because of the lack of total car count at almost all those Divisional events. Its a lack of time issue more then anything else. |
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I can't say I'm surprised by some of the responses and some of them I get. We spend a tremendous amount of time sitting around at divisional races as it is but with that said are we more concerned with a little bit of extra time or the longevity of our sport? Time wise I don't see where it takes any longer for Jr's as say Super Comp or TD, by the time these guys do their burnout, backup, play with their box or whatever some do and decide to stage it can seem like an eternity, same goes for some other people in other classes as well. As I see it it keeps these kids involved in racing and doing something with their family and keeps them from doing God knows what these days. Some people complaining about how long it takes to run them and they just want to get the race finished so they can get home but they will line up on a Tuesday and sit in a field for 3 days before a national event doesn't make much sense to me.....
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it's not the time at all unless the scheduled is being shortened due to weather or other factors. It's the fact that most racers don't want them there because they believe these events are big boy races and not for kids and remember, they only somewhat recently started competing at these events. Juniors have their own Divisional or bracket finals and they have their own National event(s) two.
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I can see both sides of this. When my kids were racing juniors, I had to go racing a bunch more weekends at local events if I wanted my kids to get track time. Juniors at divisional events would mean we all race together and could spend a few more weekends at home.
However, we were able to all run at our local D5 event a couple times, and with my two cars and the two juniors, with how the run order fell, was a complete clown show. I like the divisional events to be 'me time' where I can focus on my program and maybe even relax a little bit. |
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Juniors not allowed at Divisional Sportsman not allowed at Nationals I have never been to a National event as a Sportsmen racer but I hope to soon. Merry Christmas, Ray |
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What part of the truth and the facts don’t you like? That said, National events are great as long as you remember why the NHRA allows you to compete at them.
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The Jr programs are basically non-existent in my area so for my kids this is basically all they are going to get. Typical bracket races around here will have 1 or 2 Jr's show up. I will agree that maybe up in division 1 and 3 with the large car counts it is hard to get all of it done in a timely manner but do we sacrifice some future racers in the name of finishing a race a couple hours earlier. Here in Division 2 I think the tracks need them to help make viable to hold a race when you have 25 or 30 show up on a regular basis which is more cars than Super Street typically draws. |
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Jumping in here as a former JR Driver, and soon to be JR Dragster parent.
Regardless of the venue, take a look at the future of Drag Racing, S/SS specifically. We should be promoting as many ways as possible for these kids and families to get to the track and see different classes and competitors. If you haven't noticed, the influx of young class racers seems to be getting smaller and smaller. As far as the run schedule, typically JRs are the last priority when it comes to qualifying/eliminations and we were always ok with that. |
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More of this please. |
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I have never minded the Juniors at all. The kids are so exited when they are getting in their cars, it reminds me of being 16 again. We should do everything possible to promote them, and all other classes every chance we
have. In Div. 5. I generally see them run very early morning, and they can have that shift every time they want from my point of view. Or I see them run early evening at Beer O'clock, another sacred time slot that they can lay ownership to. I don't have any magic formulas, but my accountant says more is better. Let's do everything we can do to make sure everyone is comfortable and wants to return, and return, and return............. J.R. |
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Where's the great soothsayer Bubski to address this situation when we need him?
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Wait till you get 30 plus jrs
Then you will think differently they take up a lot of time when you get bunch Effect the schedule you will see Also wait till a jr shows up next to you on there race day For some reason they gotta start em up and rev em up at like 8 am Loud like import cars. Enjoy |
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James Perrone…KNOWS! :D
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It is true and when you make this statement
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I guess we could but our cars are not built like a true bracket car that races every weekend. Our cars are purpose built to run our classes. Lots of gear and very high rpm. I guess you could bracket race a pro stock or top fuel too in your way of thinking. |
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And the difference is....a class racer looks forward to that heads up race...even if your car is slower, which brings up the whole AHFS issue which I'm not bringing up. Has nothing to do with anyone being above or below. We long for the heads up competition. If it were up to me I'd eliminate about half of the classes.
2nd point....If you guys could/would see the appreciation the kids have from when we sponsored them this year in D2 you probably have a change of heart. We handed them hats, a trailer check and you would of thought we gave them the world. Also paying the division Jr Dragster champs in each of the 3 categories a $1,000 payout. Talk to one of the jr's running around with the event winner and runner up hats and see what they think. Funny thinking about it, the same reaction was received when the stockers and super stocks got the Top Qualifier awards. Volkman SDS, Inc. |
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Experience= knowledge= credibility Without these three, it's just blather No thanks |
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Ed's assessment of the mentality of many S/SS racers toward the other classes (many; not all) is spot-on. |
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