Div 2 Pts Meet @ South Ga.

[Woodro Josey]

I don't know if there is anything we as racers can say or do, but we need to get behind Rowland Wood and the SGMP and try to get NHRA to work with him and give us our Divisional race there in 2010. It is one of the nicest tracks in the country for a Divisional race, its clean, paved and run by some really nice folks. They make the sportsman racers feel like pro's, so NHRA, we need this track for a Div 2 points race.

[TOM WARD]

X-2. Woodro is correct on this one. Give SGMP all the support we can.

Tom Ward
Division Director SSSSA

[art leong]

I agree. Let me know what I can do.

[Bill Harris]

It would help to know what the problem is. Is it the case that the track owner wants a Divisional race and the NHRA doesn't? Or is the the other way around?

I, for one, know squat about the business side of the tracks, but I have read on this and other forums that most tracks don't make any money on Divisional events, mainly since there aren't many (i.e., none) spectators. So I could see where the track might not want to hold a Div race and lose money, especially if there is some other event that they could hold and turn a profit by getting more butts in the seats.

However, if it is the case where our division director doesn't want to hold a race at a particular track then that is a major problem. It is inexcuseable to not hold an event at a centrally located, top notch facility that wants to have the race, especially when there are no divisional races from early March until mid-September.

If this is the case, then as NHRA "members", we should be pounding the division and national offices with firm but polite requests for a sixth race.

[Craig Couris]

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm told it's an Alcohol Class problem. None of the tracks want them because they take one third the purse, incur a disproportionate amount of the expenses (they all blow up), pay nothing to get in and bring in very few spectators. If this is in fact the case, once again everyone else loses because of NHRA's addiction to the "Mechanical Rain Delay" cars.

If this is true, then this Eliminator needs to financially stand on its own and not be underwritten by Stockers, Super Stockers the rest of the Sportsman Racers and the track operators, period. If everyone wants to see them then give them a percentage of the gate just like any other Circus Act.

It would be funny if it wasn't so sad but NHRA actually believes that their best customers are the spectators that go to one or two races a year and not the Sportsman racers who pay entry after entry all year long while getting less and less value along the way. Has anyone noticed how many time runs we now receive?

These people are brain dead and have no clue on how to run a successful, profitable business that builds value for its best customers. Think about it, the only other industry that treats its best customers the worst are the airlines and they have all gone bankrupt.

Craig Couris, 404-274-1003

[Greg Wood]

Originally Posted by Craig Couris

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm told it's an Alcohol Class problem. None of the tracks want them because they take one third the purse, incur a disproportionate amount of the expenses (they all blow up), pay nothing to get in and bring in very few spectators. If this is in fact the case, once again everyone else loses because of NHRA's addiction to the "Mechanical Rain Delay" cars.

If this is true, then this Eliminator needs to financially stand on its own and not be underwritten by Stockers, Super Stockers the rest of the Sportsman Racers and the track operators, period. If everyone wants to see them then give them a percentage of the gate just like any other Circus Act.

It would be funny if it wasn't so sad but NHRA actually believes that their best customers are the spectators that go to one or two races a year and not the Sportsman racers who pay entry after entry all year long while getting less and less value along the way. Has anyone noticed how many time runs we now receive?

These people are brain dead and have no clue on how to run a successful, profitable business that builds value for its best customers. Think about it, the only other industry that treats its best customers the worst are the airlines and they have all gone bankrupt.

Craig Couris, 404-274-1003

AMEN, Craig

[Robert Simpson]

This is a E-mail from Tim Fleming. The responce was from me asking why Valdosta was not on the schedule.

"Robert I appreciate your kind words but because of decreasing car counts and the cost of what we have to pay to have the event (NHRA fees,staff,VHT) and to pay the alcohol classes that which bring nothing in it just not a good date for us.The first the three division races and the Gators now you add Z-MAX two weeks later just to much by the time are date gets here.However we did try to work out a date with Bill Holt but could not get it worked out we will do one if he can move are date.Please understand its not that we don't want to do one we are just tired of losing money on it.We do feel like we have one of the tracks in division 2 and we have the worst date.If you come to the race this weekend this weekend I will happy to explain the rest of logistics.Thanks"

This backs up what others had heard. I sent this e-mail as soon as the schedule came out.

[Rollins_2241]

At the National Open, SGMP was able to pay larger purses to every eliminator, despite lower car counts than an early-season Divisional race, have three bracket races (Fri, Sat, Sun) with both Super Pro and Pro, and generally do well yet finish before 9 PM every day. SGMP came out fine.

The racers were happy because they had more chances to race, ran for Wallys and grade points in addition to more money than usual despite one or two fewer rounds and a lower entry fee, and the Stock/SS guys rewrote the record book (OK, that's luck with the weather, but still).

The only thing missing was points for Div. 2 and Jegs Allstars, and no contingency payout - a problem with bookkeeping, not racing.

Admittedly, with 25-30 cars in each eliminator things go more smoothly. But even with double the NHRA cars, we would have had time for a bracket race on Fri and Sat which finished by 10 PM.

Maybe Division 2 will see that this should be how races are run.

[Stephen & Horace Johnson]

Originally Posted by Woodro Josey

I don't know if there is anything we as racers can say or do, but we need to get behind Rowland Wood and the SGMP and try to get NHRA to work with him and give us our Divisional race there in 2010. It is one of the nicest tracks in the country for a Divisional race, its clean, paved and run by some really nice folks. They make the sportsman racers feel like pro's, so NHRA, we need this track for a Div 2 points race.

I totally agree WJ. this track is top notch.


Stephen Johnson #2162
Horace Johnson #2167
SS/D 427 Ford Fairlane NHRA-IHRA

[Mack Reeves]

I totally agree we need our Division race at SGMP!!!!!!!!!