Racing fairness versus Circus attendance

[Jim Wahl]

I went back and attended several IHRA races this year. I was pleasantly surprised! They are much more laid back but the races seem to flow better and are well organized. The biggest thing that stuck out was they really seem glad you are there! I like that! Jim

[Dick Butler]

Micheal, I am talking about planning an event for NEXT year early as a test of support and test of ideas. Attending PRI for support, Collecting a group of experienced promoters and talking to a track who would offer a combined good site and family appeal to make it an "event" for all in the family. You know like Bowling Green with the park or ....a picnic in evening. A special outing to enjoy racing and friends.. with knowledge it is a "test" event for gauge of support.

[Michael Beard]

Well, folks (aka, customers), start rattling off what it is you'd like to see. What kind of race would you support? What are your priorities? What's an acceptable entry fee/payout? Facility? (the fancier the race track you have to have, the less money can go back to the racers, as track rental fees vary wildly) Class Runoffs? Quick 32 CIC Comp-Style shootouts? How important is event coverage (online, magazine, TV)?

If someone knew that you could draw 300+ cars again like the US Class Nationals, a promoter would put one together in a heartbeat. But YOU the customer have to speak up and let it be known what it is you want, when & where, and most importantly, that you would truly show up and support an event. YOU are the ones that make it happen.

[Daran Summerton]

Bowling Green! Bowling Green! Bowling Green!

[treessavoy]

Michael,

Just a thought to throw out there: A King of the Hill Race, Stocker's against SS'er's

How about a Stock/SS shoot out. Stockers against SS'er's. Each round would be a Stocker against a SS car, run off the IHRA indexes (IHRA indexes may allow more racers to attend) .

You could decide the winner by the last man standing...Stock or SS.

Just a thought.

JimR

[Mike Carr]

I think THE US Class Nationals would be a good starting point, to make a model of an event like this. Quick 32 for Stock and S/S each, run like Comp, with no CIC, and Class Eliminations in both were run there. For a planned future USCN, Run Class on Friday, Q-32 Saturday, or vice versa. If there is a Thursday Test and Tune, do a small-entry Gambler race for S/SS in the afternoon ($20. If you get 30 cars, $600 total purse, pay back to the 1/4 finalists. $25 1/4, 50 semi, 100 r/u, 300 win). Only issue I would see for a Q-32 is a car that can run in NHRA or IHRA, where Indexes can vary greatly. Example: SS/AH in NHRA, 9.30 Index. SS/AA IHRA, 9.95 Index. Same with FWD, NHRA has five classes, IHRA has sixteen. My car, NHRA natural DF/S, 15.60 Index. IHRA natural FF/SA, 16.30 Index. Same with some of the HP ratings that differ by sanctioning body, and an FI car running NHRA C/SA or IHRA B/FIA. Something would need to be worked out for some cars/classes. I think this would be a good starting point.

The USCN in 2001 was one of the coolest races I have ever attended, it ranked right up there with Indy. I'd love to see another USCN-type event happen.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

I think THE US Class Nationals would be a good starting point, to make a model of an event like this. Quick 32 for Stock and S/S each, run like Comp, with no CIC, and Class Eliminations in both were run there. For a planned future USCN, Run Class on Friday, Q-32 Saturday, or vice versa. If there is a Thursday Test and Tune, do a small-entry Gambler race for S/SS in the afternoon ($20. If you get 30 cars, $600 total purse, pay back to the 1/4 finalists. $25 1/4, 50 semi, 100 r/u, 300 win). Only issue I would see for a Q-32 is a car that can run in NHRA or IHRA, where Indexes can vary greatly. Example: SS/AH in NHRA, 9.30 Index. SS/AA IHRA, 9.95 Index. Same with FWD, NHRA has five classes, IHRA has sixteen. My car, NHRA natural DF/S, 15.60 Index. IHRA natural FF/SA, 16.30 Index. Same with some of the HP ratings that differ by sanctioning body, and an FI car running NHRA C/SA or IHRA B/FIA. Something would need to be worked out for some cars/classes. I think this would be a good starting point.

The USCN in 2001 was one of the coolest races I have ever attended, it ranked right up there with Indy. I'd love to see another USCN-type event happen.

Call and email Alex D. he has had lots of experience at it. Mike....You cant race because you will be WORKING.....lol. Bowling Green is a great idea BUT it is an NHRA track and you know how NHRA likes to throw a monkey wrench into using one of their tracks. Use the NHRA SS/AH index as the engines in those things now are not even close to being S/S legal today. They would never pass an IHRA tear down with all of the mods they are allowed to do for the HEMI shoot outs in NHRA. If someone still races a legal SS/AA or stick Hemi from the old days using S/S rules then let them run SS/A and automitic. But be prepared to be inspected ! Simple.

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Call and email Alex D. he has had lots of experience at it. Mike....You cant race because you will be WORKING.....lol. Bowling Green is a great idea BUT it is an NHRA track and you know how NHRA likes to throw a monkey wrench into using one of their tracks. Use the NHRA SS/AH index as the engines in those things now are not even close to being S/S legal today. They would never pass an IHRA tear down with all of the mods they are allowed to do for the HEMI shoot outs in NHRA. If someone still races a legal SS/AA or stick Hemi from the old days using S/S rules then let them run SS/A and automitic. But be prepared to be inspected ! Simple.

I would say that you would make everyone run off of the NHRA indexes where one exists. If there is no NHRA class (GT, CM, FWD) then use the IHRA -.3 that would be the only truly fair way to do it.

[FED 387]

Why not offer Comp cars an entry too??? I think the success to the whole event will be to

1) pick a centrally located track so that it would encourage many cars to attend
2) pick a weekend date that does not conflict with other big races/dates if that is possible
3) have a large enough payout starting maybe with money first round to give a racer an incentive to come and maybe pay/win some of his expenses
4)limit the classes run to maybe stock/superstock/comp --- NO .90/bracket cars/motorcycles or anything else to detract from the space or time needed to conduct the event they already have their own races/events
I don't know if any of you remember the Fall Gas Coupe sedan races conducted every fall at Byron near Rockford,Il years ago but the place was crawling with cars from as far east as Penn as far south as Tenn/Georgia as far west as Colorado and as far north as Minn and parts of Canada too. Do not know if he made $$ or not but always a large attendance not only racer but spectator wise too.Just my thoughts---comp 387

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by FED 387

Why not offer Comp cars an entry too??? I think the success to the whole event will be to

1) pick a centrally located track so that it would encourage many cars to attend
2) pick a weekend date that does not conflict with other big races/dates if that is possible
3) have a large enough payout starting maybe with money first round to give a racer an incentive to come and maybe pay/win some of his expenses
4)limit the classes run to maybe stock/superstock/comp --- NO .90/bracket cars/motorcycles or anything else to detract from the space or time needed to conduct the event they already have their own races/events
I don't know if any of you remember the Fall Gas Coupe sedan races conducted every fall at Byron near Rockford,Il years ago but the place was crawling with cars from as far east as Penn as far south as Tenn/Georgia as far west as Colorado and as far north as Minn and parts of Canada too. Do not know if he made $$ or not but always a large attendance not only racer but spectator wise too.Just my thoughts---comp 387

and don't do it in the middle of summer