Houston Sportsman cancelled - Page 5

RJ Sledge · 04-29-2013, 05:44 PM

Bobby B

I called Jennifer at NHRA and ask her if we were going to get another Entry and Crew member reinbursement and she said I already had a National Event Credit and would credit my Credit Card for the Crew member expense in the next few days. I was a 1st round runner up!!.

We shall see

RJ

Toby Lang · 04-29-2013, 05:57 PM

Nice mulligan there, RJ.

Dan Fletcher · 04-29-2013, 06:15 PM

I particularly enjoy the fact that the NHRA website makes NO, ZERO, NUNCA, mention of the fact that the sportsman program was 100% cancelled. It simply states "event complete".

Act as though it never even happened. No explanation, no justification, no nothing. Even if they didn't say "sorry", I would think it would still qualify as "news" of some sort. An unprecedented situation and its not even remotely acknowledged by the company website. Thats 'effin awesome...

BTW, the K&N Spring Fling is opposite of the Topeka national. The PEAK Super Stock Camaro will be in Bristol...

RJ Sledge · 04-29-2013, 06:18 PM

Toby at my age I'll take'm anyway I can. Hope to see you soon.

Hey, I just ran out of Janet's dial in treatment, any chance of getting some. I sure do miss seeing her at the races. Quite a Lady.....

RJ

Jeff Teuton · 04-29-2013, 06:31 PM

There was no good answer for Houston. We were there, it was terrible, it flooded. Many of us got stuck. My 45,000 lb motor home got pulled out by a very large machine with tires 2 ft taller than me. SS and Comp got no first round. The other 4 (Stk, S/St;, S/G, S/C) made the first round. There were quite a few cars that could not have gotten to the line (or out the trailer for that matter) even though they were still in. Monday forecast was not good, Atlanta was next weekend, No Problem Points not an option, Houston in the fall, who knows. I talked to lots of racers about what to do, and there was absolutely no agreement and the answers changed with the time. I would not have liked to make the call on what to do. Lots of rumors about when the call was made. It was not made early, as the sun was out, but the water and mud in the rear of the track was not going anywhere. You get a year credit, you get your money back for your crew (except R.J.), and I assume the ladder and the data on all runs disappear. Stock Class was complete. Maybe they allow it in the Class Points race? The race does not count in your points quest. The Stock trophies are, I'm sure not going back.
I think the main thing was as mentioned before the racers on site and in the race could not compete was just not an answer. It was as bad as it gets. I don't know how much it rained, but it was plenty. We had 4 cars (3 made the first round and the 4th was a ss) in the race. There are a gillion things that made it worse, but that is for future discussion. It happened, the call was made, I think it was as good a call as could be made under the conditions. Surely not everyone agrees, but do you leave racers in their trailers while the class runs, or finish 3 months from now, or whatever the 4,384 solutions I heard during the day. Making the best of a bad situation is what it is called. I will email NHRA about the other stuff if it is not already posted.

Greg Hill · 04-29-2013, 06:37 PM

I haven't been to a National event since 2008 and haven't missed them one bit. In 2008 I was the representative for the sportsman racers committee in d 3 for stock and super stock. That year really opened my eyes to what the top management at NHRA thought about sportsmen racers. Support your local combo races, go to divisionals, go to opens, and go to the sports nationals and you can race as much as most any one would want to. These national events are a joke. It's more like professional wrestling than it is racing. If you're not happy with how you are treated don't go. I enjoy our d3 races and like the people in our division. I particularly like the combo races at Bowling Green. You do have options.

countrypuppy4865 · 04-29-2013, 06:44 PM

They should have a sportsnational style race as a make up. I don't see how you can just throw the race away. It could easily be made a sportsnational even if they don't run class again. This could be run the same weekend as a national event that is not anywhere near d4 maybe northeast? Just a thought.

Jeff Teuton · 04-29-2013, 06:55 PM

Puppy, you are a true wise man. That idea might get legs. Maybe a few calls and emails are in order.

Tom Moock · 04-29-2013, 07:01 PM

Jeff, why doesn't NHRA make the tracks that have national events pave their pits or no national event, You are a car dealer and the factory's make you update your dealership or you lose your franchise, Topeka and Dallas have paved pits. Tom

KRatcliff · 04-29-2013, 07:12 PM

Tom,

Fixing the pits as you suggest at Houston would be logistically beyond the capabilities of the track owners because......wait a minute. The Angel Brothers own a paving business.

04-29-2013, 05:44 PM	#41
RJ Sledge Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 783 Likes: 502 Liked 288 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled Bobby B I called Jennifer at NHRA and ask her if we were going to get another Entry and Crew member reinbursement and she said I already had a National Event Credit and would credit my Credit Card for the Crew member expense in the next few days. I was a 1st round runner up!!. We shall see RJ

04-29-2013, 05:57 PM	#42
Toby Lang VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 2,133 Likes: 2 Liked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled Nice mulligan there, RJ.

04-29-2013, 06:15 PM	#43
Dan Fletcher Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Churchville, NY Posts: 492 Likes: 128 Liked 1,045 Times in 70 Posts	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled I particularly enjoy the fact that the NHRA website makes NO, ZERO, NUNCA, mention of the fact that the sportsman program was 100% cancelled. It simply states "event complete". Act as though it never even happened. No explanation, no justification, no nothing. Even if they didn't say "sorry", I would think it would still qualify as "news" of some sort. An unprecedented situation and its not even remotely acknowledged by the company website. Thats 'effin awesome... BTW, the K&N Spring Fling is opposite of the Topeka national. The PEAK Super Stock Camaro will be in Bristol... __________________ Dan Fletcher 1781 STK, SS, COMP, SG, SC DAN FLETCHER TRAILER SALES

04-29-2013, 06:18 PM	#44
RJ Sledge Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 783 Likes: 502 Liked 288 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled Toby at my age I'll take'm anyway I can. Hope to see you soon. Hey, I just ran out of Janet's dial in treatment, any chance of getting some. I sure do miss seeing her at the races. Quite a Lady..... RJ

04-29-2013, 06:31 PM	#45
Jeff Teuton VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 2,717 Likes: 2 Liked 325 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled There was no good answer for Houston. We were there, it was terrible, it flooded. Many of us got stuck. My 45,000 lb motor home got pulled out by a very large machine with tires 2 ft taller than me. SS and Comp got no first round. The other 4 (Stk, S/St;, S/G, S/C) made the first round. There were quite a few cars that could not have gotten to the line (or out the trailer for that matter) even though they were still in. Monday forecast was not good, Atlanta was next weekend, No Problem Points not an option, Houston in the fall, who knows. I talked to lots of racers about what to do, and there was absolutely no agreement and the answers changed with the time. I would not have liked to make the call on what to do. Lots of rumors about when the call was made. It was not made early, as the sun was out, but the water and mud in the rear of the track was not going anywhere. You get a year credit, you get your money back for your crew (except R.J.), and I assume the ladder and the data on all runs disappear. Stock Class was complete. Maybe they allow it in the Class Points race? The race does not count in your points quest. The Stock trophies are, I'm sure not going back. I think the main thing was as mentioned before the racers on site and in the race could not compete was just not an answer. It was as bad as it gets. I don't know how much it rained, but it was plenty. We had 4 cars (3 made the first round and the 4th was a ss) in the race. There are a gillion things that made it worse, but that is for future discussion. It happened, the call was made, I think it was as good a call as could be made under the conditions. Surely not everyone agrees, but do you leave racers in their trailers while the class runs, or finish 3 months from now, or whatever the 4,384 solutions I heard during the day. Making the best of a bad situation is what it is called. I will email NHRA about the other stuff if it is not already posted. __________________ Jeff Teuton 4022 STK Last edited by Jeff Teuton; 04-29-2013 at 06:33 PM. Reason: spelling

04-29-2013, 06:37 PM	#46
Greg Hill VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville , KY Posts: 1,995 Likes: 68 Liked 279 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled I haven't been to a National event since 2008 and haven't missed them one bit. In 2008 I was the representative for the sportsman racers committee in d 3 for stock and super stock. That year really opened my eyes to what the top management at NHRA thought about sportsmen racers. Support your local combo races, go to divisionals, go to opens, and go to the sports nationals and you can race as much as most any one would want to. These national events are a joke. It's more like professional wrestling than it is racing. If you're not happy with how you are treated don't go. I enjoy our d3 races and like the people in our division. I particularly like the combo races at Bowling Green. You do have options. __________________ Greg Hill 4171 STK

04-29-2013, 06:44 PM	#47
countrypuppy4865 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Donaldsonville, LA Posts: 980 Likes: 17 Liked 228 Times in 70 Posts	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled They should have a sportsnational style race as a make up. I don't see how you can just throw the race away. It could easily be made a sportsnational even if they don't run class again. This could be run the same weekend as a national event that is not anywhere near d4 maybe northeast? Just a thought. __________________ Jimmy "Cooter" Hidalgo, Jr. 4865 E/SA '04 GTO 4865 SS/GA '99 Firebird

04-29-2013, 06:55 PM	#48
Jeff Teuton VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 2,717 Likes: 2 Liked 325 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled Puppy, you are a true wise man. That idea might get legs. Maybe a few calls and emails are in order. __________________ Jeff Teuton 4022 STK

04-29-2013, 07:01 PM	#49
Tom Moock Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 801 Likes: 1 Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled Jeff, why doesn't NHRA make the tracks that have national events pave their pits or no national event, You are a car dealer and the factory's make you update your dealership or you lose your franchise, Topeka and Dallas have paved pits. Tom __________________ Tom Moock 5704 STK

04-29-2013, 07:12 PM	#50
KRatcliff Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 766 Likes: 75 Liked 524 Times in 141 Posts	Re: Houston Sportsman cancelled Tom, Fixing the pits as you suggest at Houston would be logistically beyond the capabilities of the track owners because......wait a minute. The Angel Brothers own a paving business.