[Dave Casey]

Joe is correct on this, when i looked around sat am, it was not raining, but looked ugly. Still, the staff dried the track and we dodged the rain until 3pm and many cars got runs on a day that I thought would be a total washout.

After 3 pm saturday there was a huge downpour that lasted a few hours. I saw flooding that I have never seen at Maple Grove before. The rain stopped after dark and shortly after that there was equipment on the race track getting the water off. Bob and his son cleared off the heavy water Sat night and the track was dry early sunday because of their efforts .

For those racers that have never been to Maple Grove or the Dutch Classic national open, put it on your list of races to attend someday. It is a great time of year to be in that area.

There is plenty to do beyond racing. Some of which are - Shop at the outlets, eat at the Shady Maple, tour Pennsylvania Dutch country, visit the gold rush trailer facility, there are many more.

As far as the event goes, It doesn't get much better, Usually the air is at least good(this year), and some times it is mineshaft conditions. You,ve got record runs and a good teardown facility, class eliminations, the hemi race, you see racers that are not regulars in D1, there is nothing like standing at the fence at the finishline and watching some of the runs that are made.

There are only 2 events that I put in this catagory as MUST ATTEND,

The Dutch at Maple Grove
The Sportsnationals at Pat's No Problem Raceway

Do it next year, life is short, enjoy