"Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Hey guys, we are at the Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. Its good to have a National event here again. Yes it is hot here, but its no worse than the D2 race at GALOT. I know some are making it bigger than it is. Guy's many of us have raced in the weather in the past Its not Ideal, but its not the worse thing either. I would rather be racing than working.

I'm in the stacking area, I would guess there are about 70 plus rigs here. Parking starts tomorrow at 8AM.

Anyway, here is another rolling into video.
https://youtu.be/4ZdqwDKrOpc

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

See you tomorrow.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

I'll be there Friday morn!

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Had to laugh at myself Ken. I started watching your video like normal. The video didn't roll 15 seconds and I sent a picture of your rig to my friend Paul Wong. Saying in my next life I need to start sooner on a nice towing set up like you have. Then I watched the rest. Yes I would!

Paul Haszlauer

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Hey Ken,

I sent you a PM on your trailer. I'm interested!

Thanx!

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Did I read this correctly, before the pros go down the track the first time there will be only Four stockers left. Great value for funds well spent.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

When this event format was announced, you knew that Saturday was going
to be very busy for the Pro's. This is also an experiment for NHRA and
the racers. With the exception of Friday night qualifying at some tracks,
Friday could be a losing day for the track and NHRA. When the Pro's do
not run on Friday, NHRA's personnel count drops by 50%. One less day
of wages, hotels, per diem's, etc. If this is a successful experiment, we are
in for more of the same. Of the 207 Sportsman Racers entered, only 18
will remain after Saturday morning at 11:00 A.M. I'm not sure if it is better
to be done early Saturday and on the road home at 11:00, or race Saturday
morning early, and then again Saturday night, sometimes ending at 11:00
or 12:00. NHRA now has T/F, F/C, P/S, PSM, ProMod, TAD, TAFC, Factory X, FSS, and one or two more Show Eliminators. When they can fill a Sunday with heads up only races, we will be remembering fondly when we used to run the semi's and Finals on Sunday.

J.R.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Since I started one of the previous bitch sessions, I have to say that I like this schedule better than having rounds first thing in the morning, and then rounds separated by 10-12 hours last thing in the evening. We had to do something similar to this at Maple Grove in 1999 when there was very little dry ground to park on due to a hurricane in the area earlier in the week.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Hey guys, sorry for the late report. I had an issue at the last race. I had to put new tires on the Cobra Jet. Part 2 with a twist.

I'll we be back later with a ride through the pits. Anyone who does not know the schedule here it is. We get 2 qualifiers tomorrow, 2 rounds tomorrow. 2 early rounds on Saturday.

https://youtu.be/pa29leIpMk0

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Ken ,
are you using the GY radial or crossply ?
Thanks again for the videos , always great to see a new track .

Tex

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Goodyear Radials.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Ok guys, last video for the day. Stock is out first at 9am. Here is the link to the schedule. See you guys in the morning.

https://www.nhra.net/2024/images/NHR...ule_RV1_24.pdf

https://youtu.be/6lrFwk3PwgE

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Good morning all. I will post weather numbers below. There has been lot a talk about the heat. I think its a little overblown. It went up to 89 yesterday, I have been in a lot worse. There was a nice breeze, it was fine. Today it will reach 90, still not bad. I think its kind of funny that we are told to stay hydrated. Most of us are pretty old, and we made it this far... I think we know we are supposed do. I feel like I am getting a service announcement, like I was an uninformed child.

Stock is out first at 9AM, its 7:30 as I type. I was able to get a few photos yesterday. I will back later with more... its going to be a busy day.

Temp 69
Humid 85%
Bar 30.01
DA 1531ft
Water Grains 93
Wind calm

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Sounds like it will be a bit warm....not quite August in Bowling Green warm though...

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Some of these weather people haven't been to Numidia in July when the wind isn't blowing or Columbus.....I bring extra changes of clothes for the extra shower I take in sweat....lol.

Ken, I think it's the world we live in, the older crowd knows what to do but the younger crowd unless they hear it on social media or the news would sit outside with a jacket and ski pants on....lol

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Nah, it's more like we've become soft and weak as a society. Our enemies are laughing and waiting!

That said, what we do is a warm weather sport yet we now have tracks that have canceled this weekend's programs due to the heat. .:rolleyes:

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

We have met the enemy and he is us.

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Ken, thanks for the videos. Kinda reminds me of the videos that Larry and Patsy Hill have done.

Love seeing the tracks I may never get to visit due to distance. Good luck to all and a safe, fun weekend.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Hi gang - well I must tell you this racer must be in a different zip code than some of you including Ken .Also I must tell you I'm the one who is usually cold and here it's just not the case as this afternoon it's friggen hot outside .Funny thing is even with all the heat the traction is super and the air is well .....you'd think you are at New England Dragway .


Round one for Stock is coming up in an hour or so .Today there is a lack of spectators - probably because of no Pro's ......seems strange not to see people walking around .

Later ...............

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Hey Ken, really enjoyed your videos of entering and riding through the pits of VMP. Andrea and I have a lot of great memories of racing there from the late 90s to early 2000s. In fact you were riding through our wedding venue, LOL! We were married in our pit area during the Pennzoil Nationals, April 2000. There was a tv news crew from Richmond that saw us setting up for the wedding and filmed our ceremony for the evening news!!! So we had 30,000 race fans and the sound of pro stock truck running in the background and were on the news that night! Great memories.
Thanks for what you do!

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Hey guys, round one is done and round 2 should be coming up shortly. Comp is running now. We hit 90 today, it is hot, but in the shade its just fine. No luck for first round, I have some issues with the race car. I think I fixed it, but I spun pretty bad and not sure if the issue is fixed.

Anyway, going to hit the road... I need to figure this out before Columbus. I have photos and videos in the lanes. I will post them tomorrow.

Thanks for the support everyone.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

The new tires maybe? They need a few runs to get right sometimes. But you know that. Stay safe on your way home.

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Anybody there have a guess as to the number of spectators came out today? I ‘m sure NHRA and the track made a lot of money by making the schedule change.Not.

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I just got home and could not leave you all with out a walk through the lanes. Just finished up the editing on Stock, Super Stock up in a little bit. Sorry for bailing so early, but I need to get some issues straighten out, only 2 weeks until Columbus.

Its not a tire issue... engine issue. The left lane for some reason went away. Lots of Super Stockers spinning.

https://youtu.be/bntjOCUsxaY

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Super Stock in the lanes, I will have photos tomorrow.

https://youtu.be/IPlv7PLzuVU

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

I hate to say it but I think this was the plan from the beginning, look at it this way less overhead for the track & NHRA with one less day, you don?t need 20 people directing traffic or parking, don?t need 10 people doing tickets or selling shirts. Tracks that are smaller or get a smaller crowds this might become the norm in 2025 if VMP is successful. I know VMP is big but since they got rid of the right side grandstand in favor of camping, not sure if they hold more or less now. The one thing I always heard since VMP got their NE back then not back then back again was they never made money on it. Now let?s face it 2 years ago I believe it rained the whole weekends except Sunday so I?m sure it was a wash, we also don?t know what deals were made with VMP to host the NE, they could have said lower your fees and we?ll host the race, with losing Denver & Topeka they might have had to work something out but we will never know. I?m telling you now don?t be surprised if you see more of these type events if it?s a success, if they sell out Sat & Sun it?s a big feather in the cap for them to plaster it all over Social Media and TV.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Good morning - Seems like a bit strange yesterday not seeing fans/spectators walking around on Friday afternoon at a NE and was disappointed not being able to watch a Pro show last evening .I understand they ( the NHRA) have to make money but this step in my mind isn't good .With weather that is coming today (99 degrees) and tomorrow 100 with a feels like 103 a Friday evening show would be welcomed .As Ken mentioned there were alot of S/S cars that spun in rd 2 so who knows if the Pro's would have done well .

Can't believe I'm saying this but i'll be glad to be on the road in an hour headed home as my car worked well but the driver not so much .....see you all down the road .

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Hey folks, Super Stock action Q1. Sorry but know Stock photos, I just did not have enough time to get it done. Races like this I usually just take one hit, so I can get Stock. With the issues I was having... I needed another hit. I will make up got it at Columbus.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Next batch...

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No apologies necessary Ken, your first priority should be your own program, helping us is just gravy. I briefly thought about doing a live report once, thankfully I came to my senses LOL

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Sorry about your problems. Get straight and be ready for Columbus. Great pictures of SS. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for all you do.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Ken you do great work on all of your "Live From's"............. The level of your work is unmatched and we all thank you.

Patsy and Larry

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

Not only was the right side of the track lined from start to finishline with wall to wall campers, at $900 to $1200 A SPOT ,3 ROWS DEEP. ...they also opened up the pit side to campers from the new equipment garage all the way to the score boards, at $500 to $700 a spot. ... Contrary to what others observed ,I thought there were quite a few spectators there on Friday ,especially in the afternoon . Probably due to the Pro Mods getting their first qualifier at 5:00 in the afternoon. Saturday ,the place was packed. I left at 2:00 and they were still coming in . With the track temps over 145 at the peak of the day they probably should have scraped the track more frequently because after the SS cars were all spinning, they scraped the track and Super Gas went out with no problems.

Re: "Live From" Virginia Nationals
 

If it still holds true from when I worked at MG before Kyle bought it, I believe any of the camping in house - so like at MG the Suite side / Right side near the scoreboards that are normally 5-8 deep NHRA gets a good chunk of that profit (think it's 60-70%), also parking they get 60% of the $10 or $20 they charge. I know the camping over near the office in the actual Campground is controlled by the track, so they make that, but the costs aren't as high because you're not right up against the track. It sounds like they will be back to VMP next year, they were telling people to renew their tickets for 2025.