2023 Dutch Classic Experience

[jeff_kovalik]

I don’t post much on here, but I wanted to take the time to summarize my experience at the 2023 Dutch Classic.

Pros:
The track is just a great facility, I extend my thanks to the owners, and SINCERE gratitude to all the track & Div 1 workers who give their time for minimal pay to make these events happen. Every track worker at every dragstrip deserves a thank you from us racers, believe me they appreciate hearing it. The starting line was good and consistent for me, but others may have had issues.

I was fortunate to make it the 7th round in Stock, which was my first NHRA final round. That of course is a great day. It was a good race with a .010 winning effort by Matt Lisa, my congrats to him on a great performance.

I met so many nice people, it was just great. Many spectators stopped by and chatted, but the fellow racers I interacted with were the best. First of all, Bubba Linke. We ran each other in class round 1 and I was able to stay in front for a win, but then we get paired up again in round 3 of the eliminator. Oh man did he and his gang bring their A game while I brought my B- game. They prepped that Camaro like it was the US Nationals, we waited to be the last pair down, and wow he was ready. My tardiness at the tree about cost me the race as it took 1318 feet to get around him for a .021 MOV at the stripe. Even though I beat him twice in two days, he and Herbie Null were the first to come over after the final, say congrats and give me an ice cold beer. What great sportsmanship! I met Richard Kay, Kim Rhoades, Tony Scopa, James Perrone, Ryan Horensky, Sam Murray, Mike Farrell, Wendell Howes, Matt Lisa and I’m sure more. The D1 guys were great!

No AHFS. Let them eat…

Cons:
If you go on the Div 1 FB page, you can certainly see some grumbling regarding some decisions regarding how the event was run. I’ll let those comments speak for themselves, but I do agree that there were some odd decisions made, that many did not agree with. In my opinion, it was possible to complete class eliminations, and I’m pretty sure every single Stock/Super Stock competitor on the property would have been beyond flexible with the rest of the schedule so that it could happen. The primary reason for me driving 7 hours vs. 3 hours (to Indy) was to compete in, and watch class eliminations. I paid for that experience, and it’s a bummer it didn’t go as planned. I paid a lot in tolls and fuel to come compete and support the track and the event, but I certainly understand the weather is out of our control and someone has to make tough decisions, but the circumstances that were in play seemed manageable. Too often lately it seems these decisions are made swiftly without the thought of what’s best for the customers. I do not want to sound negative, but we are the customers…we pay for a service/product/experience and every effort should be made to be sure the value of that investment is there.

The scale there is well… interesting.

Every race is an experience… and this one was no different. I will be back next year.

[Frank Castros]

A question for veteran D1 racers.
Have Class Elimination ever been run from beginning to end at the
Pennsylvania Dutch Classic?

[Hacksaw]

Not that I ever remember.

[Nick Heath]

Class eliminations were run to completion as recently as 2021, with the only exception being that the single-car classes were not run to completion as a combo (like at NHRA national events).

I share Jeff's disappointment with the schedule. I was originally going to attend on Saturday but decided against it when class eliminations were effectively canceled.

September/October will forever be a wildcard in D1, but there has to be a better way. The same thing happened last year.
Maybe schedule Friday for qualifying and class eliminations, Saturday for eliminations, and Sunday is the rain date?

[KimRhoads426]

First let me congrats you on your runner up finish in stock. Second I met Sean Dornan last year at the Dutch with my friend Richard Kay great time. Sean,Mike Flintone and you Jeff are first class people and will always be welcome at my home. It was an honor to meet you and great job on your runner up finish.

[James Perrone]

The Dutch Classic has lost some luster when I started it as the place to be to go fast and race badass car . It had got watered down by including jr dragster and bracket cars
But it’s back to the set up just Nhra classes
But the end of along season take atoll on entries
Weather is the main problem when forecast is iffy
But like every year I meet new people and make friends
Good to meet Jeff unfortunately I couldn’t wait to leave 😂
Also love Kim’s car. Pleasure to meet you sir

[CMcAllister]

I expected the remaining class to be run in front of and as part of the Saturday morning Q run, with everyone one else called in behind them.

I also didn't expect it to get done Saturday night.

Took time to get the track dry and there's only so many hours in the day I suppose.

[KimRhoads426]

Hi Jeff check out auto city classics for rad

[Ryan Horensky]

It was great meeting you Jeff. Your car is beautiful. It was nice chatting with you in the lanes. In my opinion, I think the right call was made to cancel the remaining rounds of class, give everyone a time shot, and run the race to completion on Saturday. It was windy and cold on Saturday. The forecast was colder with worse wind on Sunday. I live less than 2 hrs from the track and Sunday was miserable weather without a doubt. If the race was finished Sunday we may have been put in the situation of running 1/8th mile to even finish the thing. October races in D1 are definitely at the mercy of the weather. Some years it’s good, other years it is not.

[BKSG1198]

Originally Posted by James Perrone

The Dutch Classic has lost some luster when I started it as the place to be to go fast and race badass car . It had got watered down by including jr dragster and bracket cars
But it’s back to the set up just Nhra classes
But the end of along season take atoll on entries
Weather is the main problem when forecast is iffy
But like every year I meet new people and make friends
Good to meet Jeff unfortunately I couldn’t wait to leave ��
Also love Kim’s car. Pleasure to meet you sir

I can agree with you on this James, the Dutch used to be one of my favorite events of the season. I think mainly because it was the last "Hoorah" to see a lot of friends from far distances before we packed it in for the winter and see them in March / April. I still remember when it was a 5-day event with it starting on Wednesday. I know I spoke to Kyle Friday Night and he told me they had a total of 249 cars (150 were Stock / SS) because he asked me my thoughts on going right to R1 Saturday Morning. I basically said if no new entries were coming in (Can tell by the online tech cards to qualifying sheets) then go to R1 but, I don't get paid to make those calls. I know Kyle couldn't believe all the other events that were on top of the Dutch (Rockingham, PDRA VMP, Indy Open) and then the weather forecast didn't help. I told him that's where car counts were for a lot of other classes. I mean I'm not sure what the future of the Dutch holds but, I think over the past two years it hasn't been as popular as it was before.

I'm not sure if they need to do a points series like they used too, I mean they have proven at LVD & Epping the car counts are not worth a standalone weekend, do we do something like D2 with Sunday being an Open race? I mean Canada is doing one, look into getting sponsors to help the purse? I mean they had a killer purse for the Hemi's that was originally $5,000 and I think topped at $7,250 and only 5 cars showed up. Hate to see the Dutch go by the wayside but, we all know if it was a legit D1 points race, the place would be packed because we all know to hit the popular National Events you need 8 to 7 grade points to get in, can get lucky at some other less popular tracks or someone drops you get in but, for places like Gainesville, Norwalk, Vegas, Pomona you need high GP.