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Mike Bassin · 12-06-2011, 07:39 PM

I sure hope we will see a 2nd Annual Combo in the Hills race in 2012 at Numidia. Lee and Brian did an excellent job putting this event together. The payout was huge for entry fee charged and the sponsors added even more to make this a great event for the racers that participated. Bob Dimino and family gave everyone a great track. The Dimino family gets it, they love all forms of drag racing and are really big on sportsman class racing. Friday nights gamblers race for the early arrivals was fun. It seemed the racers really liked the two hours, 4 - 6 pm where track was all theirs only. Some racers made five or six passes, that's never gonna happen anywhere else other than maybe a private track rental. Friday nights street car group also loved watching the big wheel standing cars run while they were doing their usual friday night deal.

Now to the lower than expected car count. As the race approached my guess would be about 125 cars or so would show on race day. At my home track, Quarter Aces Drag-O-Way, Boiling Springs, Pa. any time a long range weather forecast shows any sign of rain on the weekend, even as little as 30% chance of rain on race day we can count on a big drop in car count and race fans no matter what type of race we have scheduled. Give us a good, clear race day forecast and we have a solid car count and lots of race fans. Most of our racers are within an hour drive or tow to the track, those who make longer trips are going to think twice before coming if the weather forecast shaky. Secondly, every time we run a "Wally" race, which is twice a year, we get much bigger car counts. Seems everyone wants a "Wally". When I announced at Maple Grove at our 2004 awards banquet the five track champions received a fabulous trophy that anyone would proudly display, it was a Autometer 5" tach mounted a solid wood base and a brass engraved plate with the class, year and racers name. This thing would make anyone proud to own and display. Is it possible that money matters a lot to the racers but also when it has been spent a great award lasts for years. I still cherish the trophies and awards won and received in this sport and think everyone else feels the same about their "hardware" that they aquirred over the years.

These are just two thoughts that may have played into the car count. I sure hope we have another Combo in the Hills II in 2012. I had a great time announcing it and would love to do it again! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all on this site!

Mike Bassin

12-06-2011, 07:39 PM	#2
Mike Bassin Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: East Berlin PA Posts: 134 Likes: 0 Liked 120 Times in 19 Posts	Re: 2nd Annual Combo in the Hills??? I sure hope we will see a 2nd Annual Combo in the Hills race in 2012 at Numidia. Lee and Brian did an excellent job putting this event together. The payout was huge for entry fee charged and the sponsors added even more to make this a great event for the racers that participated. Bob Dimino and family gave everyone a great track. The Dimino family gets it, they love all forms of drag racing and are really big on sportsman class racing. Friday nights gamblers race for the early arrivals was fun. It seemed the racers really liked the two hours, 4 - 6 pm where track was all theirs only. Some racers made five or six passes, that's never gonna happen anywhere else other than maybe a private track rental. Friday nights street car group also loved watching the big wheel standing cars run while they were doing their usual friday night deal. Now to the lower than expected car count. As the race approached my guess would be about 125 cars or so would show on race day. At my home track, Quarter Aces Drag-O-Way, Boiling Springs, Pa. any time a long range weather forecast shows any sign of rain on the weekend, even as little as 30% chance of rain on race day we can count on a big drop in car count and race fans no matter what type of race we have scheduled. Give us a good, clear race day forecast and we have a solid car count and lots of race fans. Most of our racers are within an hour drive or tow to the track, those who make longer trips are going to think twice before coming if the weather forecast shaky. Secondly, every time we run a "Wally" race, which is twice a year, we get much bigger car counts. Seems everyone wants a "Wally". When I announced at Maple Grove at our 2004 awards banquet the five track champions received a fabulous trophy that anyone would proudly display, it was a Autometer 5" tach mounted a solid wood base and a brass engraved plate with the class, year and racers name. This thing would make anyone proud to own and display. Is it possible that money matters a lot to the racers but also when it has been spent a great award lasts for years. I still cherish the trophies and awards won and received in this sport and think everyone else feels the same about their "hardware" that they aquirred over the years. These are just two thoughts that may have played into the car count. I sure hope we have another Combo in the Hills II in 2012. I had a great time announcing it and would love to do it again! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all on this site! Mike Bassin