One More Year at BIR!

[Joe Demarais]

I talked to the BIR management a week ago and they will run S/SS this year at their bracket events, but they would like to see more than 15 cars there.If we can better our car count they will probably keep us in the future races, if not, we'll be running brackets. I am guilty of not having a good attendance also, so I am committing myself to make all the bracket races. It would be a shame if we lost that opportunity to race S/SS at their local events. The more cars, the better the payout.
Thank you, Joe Demarais

[Dyno]

I'll try to attend more this season if they can finish the program on time. Dyno

[ron mattson]

well put big joe, we need to get more cars there and support this unless you "LIKE" to
drive 6-8 hrs for a s/ss race. hear that all minnesota,wisconsin and dakota boys and girls
bir wants us there and i mean all of us not just one or two whiners that if things dont go
exactly their way they refuse to play with all the other kids....c-ya in may!!!!!!!

[Tim Lisson]

What a great idea, support the only 1/4 mile facility we have available that holds a s/ss racing point series.... There has been a group of us that have been saying this for 3 years now. Last year they raced us on Saturday only. Three hits, on to eliminations. If you wanted you could run brackets on Sunday.

It's really an easy decision for me. There is racers who want to chase Divisionals and/or drive to Iowa for USA races, if you can do it and it makes you happy so be it, just don't bitch when we lose the oppurtunity to race at one of the nicest facilities available to us.

Tim

[5919 SSKA]

Those that know me, know I have beaten my head on this issue with BIR for years! Those that don't, I will spell it out one more time.

If the payout/entry fee were more in line that would be a different story for a lot of drivers (myself included). I can't cost justify running a Super Stock car for $350 to WIN (which is about what it's been in the past), with a $110 entry fee to boot. I've raced a few times there in the past with my Super Stocker when I have need to test for one reason or another. Otherwise, I have a bracket car as well and run that for less entry fee and a higher payout...it just makes sense.

It would be fantastic to see 32 plus car fields of S/SS cars at the races. Especially for me, as the track is only 62 miles from my home. I think the track should guarantee a $1000 minimum to win as well. A higher GUARANTEED payout is the only way I see BIR getting cars to come from outside Minnesota. Let's face it, Minnesota isn't exactly a hot bed of S/SS racing.

The track needs to do some advertising, have solid track prep from Test-n-Tune thru eliminations, not nickel & dime the racer's for everything when you enter the gate, and get some fans in the stands during these weekend series. That shouldn't be the racer's responsibility too.

Last season, Ron Zenzen and myself tried to organize a S/SS combo at Interstate Dragways in Moorhead, MN. Another track that would LOVE to have a regular S/SS program. And there was a VERY POOR turn out. Perhaps it was the weekend, but there wasn't a single NHRA race in the 5 state area. I believe we had something like 10 cars, and still paid fairly well with what we had. We are planning it again the same weekend this season (July 24-25)---race both days.

YES, it would be fantastic for BIR to keep S/SS racing as part of their regular program. But as Al Corda told me a few years ago when we were talking about this very thing---'Trailer's do have wheels you know Travis.'

[ron mattson]

here is my take on this, i went to topeka a few years ago and lost in the semi's, went to get
paid and got 180.00 total.. now let me see it cost me 2 days work,gas to go 11hrs one way
hotel for 2 nights at 100.00 pr night meals for 3 days to the tune of approx 1000.00 out of
my pocket for 180.00 now that was a good deal....F... me yeah right.. i can drive a little over
a hour to brainerd go 3 rounds and make more. with little expense.. besides that unless
you are of Biondo or Fletchers ability i wouldnt count on this as a "source of sustainable income" as it was put to me by the IRS. also the trailer tires uncle al spoke of are about
200.00 each last time i checked and they do wear out also. so if any local "hitters" are
doing this for the money i would take a good look at your wallet and see if there is any more
in it in sept than may, doubt it..this is a HOBBY for 99.9 % of us so get used to it.

[5343stk]

Money is an important issue to most racer's. I believe most racer's race for the chance to win the winner's purse. Round money is nice, but doesn't really impact the checking account.

I grew up at BIR. I love the place as much as anyone.

I don't believe BIR's problems stem from the payout structure. I think we are all smart enough to realize you can't pay out more than you take in on entry fee's.

I have a hard time looking forward to racing at BIR Bracket Races for numerous reasons :

1. It is like an act of congress to even gain access to the facility. How many people do you need to see to pay your money?
2. Every time we go, I pay a different amount. Why not pay a flat rate for racecar, pit vehicle, dogs, goats, etc. ? Is the yearly golf cart fee that important to BIR's bottom line?
3. Why do we have to pay extra to park on blacktop. Shouldn't it be first come first serve? If I come early, I shouldn't have to pit in cat litter.
4. Why does Tech take so long? I think I went thru teardown at Indy in 2009 faster than I could tech 2 cars at Brainerd.
5. Why are license runs more important than actual competing racers? How many times have we been ready to go in staging, only to be held back for a license pass.
6. Have a defined run order and follow. The thing I like most about NHRA races is a schedule. If I'm only gonna get 1 run a day let me know. Don't hold the racer's hostage while you try to complete too much in a day.
7. Get car's down the track faster. Most racers can do their burnout and will not stage until the track is clear. Open another turn-off for the jr's and slower cars if possible.

I feel as a group we can try to make this work. I will attempt to make a few races this year. I may only let my wife drive, but atleast it will be one extra car. I would have a hard time with the pace of time trials and eliminations on 1 day while helping my wife and kids.

That said, BIR is one of the premier facilities in the country. I believe with a combined effort it may work for parties.

Hopefully with Pat & Joyce, BIR will have some continuity in leadership. This may be the step in the right direction we all need.

Jamie

[JRyan]

I think Jamie brings up some very good points. It's been a few of years since we've attended a S/SS race at Brainerd but a lot of what was said held true when we did attend.
You can argue purse and round money until you're blue in the face and nobody will ever be satisfied. We put together a race at Interstate a couple years back and had some help with USA and it paid okay for the amount of car's and Travis tried one last year as well with roughly the same success. We went because for us it was close and we liked Interstate.
I like Brainerd as well but for us it's over a five hour drive one way. Which means I'd have to leave right after work Friday to get there by midnight and either spend an addtional night in a hotel or front seat of the truck. This also means sometimes we wouldn't get home until around midnight and that can make for a long weekend when you don't have much vacation to use. This is also the reason why the purse does mean something to us. I like Jamie would at least like to trick myself into thinking if I do well I at least covered my weekend. It can be tough to swallow if you win a race and still come home in the hole for the weekend.
You can't ask for Brainerd to take a loss on the class but the regulars could with some assitance from the track maybe come up with some area businesses or suppliers that would throw in $100 here or there. If you find a half dozen or dozen over the year that will put in a little money it can add up in a hurry. This is what we try to do around here and that usually lets the track get a decent cut and still guarantee at least a fair purse. Maybe this has been tried I don't know.
One question as I don't remember do they run two separate S/SS races one on Sat one on Sun? Or is it just a single day during the bracket weekend? That too has an impact on attendance. That's my take on the issue. If there are two days of racing and a decent payout I'd try my best to attend a couple if possible. But, if it's just a one day deal and the other day you have to run a bracket class anyway I'd assume do it much closer to home.

Rick Ryan

[Joe Demarais]

A lot of good thoughts guys, I talked to A BIR staff member a couple of weeks ago, and a lot of your complaints are being worked on. Their payouts are posted on their web site, paying to get into the track is being made easier, buying your entry to race what class you want to is easier, i think parking is easier as long as you don't park in a reserved spot, and a lot of the spots have a plug-in you can rent very reasonably. They are trying to make things easier to race there. I, myself, don't want to drive 5 or 6 hours to race everytime I want to hit a S/SS race, and some of you guys want to go to pts races and nat events which is great, but for every one of them there are 5 of us that really don't like the idea of not being able to race 2 hrs away at a grade A track. A friend of mine has already been to 2 divisional races this year, entry fee's were $210 and 230, he was parked in the rubarb, BIR is looking like a deal. Again this year they will race us on Saturday, and if you want, you can run brackets on Sunday.
PS BIR is the only track where I have red lighted and still won the round!!! Right Larry!!!!

[MEXJOE]

Originally Posted by 5343stk

Money is an important issue to most racer's. I believe most racer's race for the chance to win the winner's purse. Round money is nice, but doesn't really impact the checking account.

I grew up at BIR. I love the place as much as anyone.

I don't believe BIR's problems stem from the payout structure. I think we are all smart enough to realize you can't pay out more than you take in on entry fee's.

I have a hard time looking forward to racing at BIR Bracket Races for numerous reasons :

1. It is like an act of congress to even gain access to the facility. How many people do you need to see to pay your money?
2. Every time we go, I pay a different amount. Why not pay a flat rate for racecar, pit vehicle, dogs, goats, etc. ? Is the yearly golf cart fee that important to BIR's bottom line?
3. Why do we have to pay extra to park on blacktop. Shouldn't it be first come first serve? If I come early, I shouldn't have to pit in cat litter.
4. Why does Tech take so long? I think I went thru teardown at Indy in 2009 faster than I could tech 2 cars at Brainerd.
5. Why are license runs more important than actual competing racers? How many times have we been ready to go in staging, only to be held back for a license pass.
6. Have a defined run order and follow. The thing I like most about NHRA races is a schedule. If I'm only gonna get 1 run a day let me know. Don't hold the racer's hostage while you try to complete too much in a day.
7. Get car's down the track faster. Most racers can do their burnout and will not stage until the track is clear. Open another turn-off for the jr's and slower cars if possible.

I feel as a group we can try to make this work. I will attempt to make a few races this year. I may only let my wife drive, but atleast it will be one extra car. I would have a hard time with the pace of time trials and eliminations on 1 day while helping my wife and kids.

That said, BIR is one of the premier facilities in the country. I believe with a combined effort it may work for parties.

Hopefully with Pat & Joyce, BIR will have some continuity in leadership. This may be the step in the right direction we all need.

Jamie

I will agree with the way time is wasted at BIR
they could use some tips on time efficiency!
At the gate and the tech line has gotten quite extreme.
I did see we now have the option to pre-enter (GENERAL ADM.)and pay for racing entry at the tower?????

What I don't understand is how TRI-STATE can take care of all the cars it gets with 3 ladies an old cash register and a garden shed.
While BIR Has 8 OR 9 young people running back and forth with Digital Scanners, Clip Boards with a bunch of paperwork on and a Big Fancy Gate House, and still ......just can't seem to take some money from you & let people (Goats & Dogs) in in a timely fashion ???????

I do however,.. like that BIR goes to the effort to have a S/SS program for us & the scale is maned.

BTW
(Goats ?????) Maybe that's why it a GOAT ROPE!!!

I will go and take it!
But it is easy when I race by myself.
I don't have any family going along
I can see how it can get TO BE $$$$ !!! For those who do.

Nothing is perfect and never will be.

I am just happy to have a place to race and I am thank-full
some developer didn't buy BIR and build a bunch of new homes and townhomes
that, would likely be sitting empty, We would have no race track at all.
Just the memories of all the good times and fine people that
we had the chance to race with at BIR.