Support your local Combo/Association races!!

[MikeMoller]

I joined and have been going to the Carolina Class Racers combo's last year and this year. The turnouts have been faily good this year, some 30 or so cars at several of the races. I think we really need to support these races so we have something besides what IHRA and NHRA provide. I really like these one day events, for some decent prize money(haven't collected any yet).

Maybe we could get several of these organizations together and as a group convince some of the manufacturers to contribute. They may get a better bang for thier buck, and it would be nice to be able to add to the purse of some of these local shows.

I also like the idea of adding a Nostalgia show to be run in parallel with but seperate from teh s/ss combo, or some additional show to help with promotion of a combo. Need more crosstalk between groups.

I think we really need these type races, and we need the racers to support them so those that can't afford or don't want to race the big shows can still participate in the sport we all love.

Mike Moller
RFRL

[BKSG1198]

Mike,

I understand your frustration with the series and having to dish money out of your own pocket. I must tell you from experience that you need to do what you need to do to run the series. Unless you are doing something wrong don't ask for feedback from the members...I know it sounds harsh but, we sent out a survey following the 2010 season for the Super Comp Guys regarding what tracks they would want to go to for the 2011 season. We got the polls back and all the racers said Cecil, Maple & Atco. The Cecil vote was something like 17 to 2 in favor of a race there. So we scheduled a race the week before the Maple Grove Divisional race (Maple grove was booked). This way it would give drivers some test and tune options before the divisional and 2 days of great weather and we had 6 cars on Sat & 9 cars on Sun. It was quite a dissapointing turn-out and way to start off the season.

I'd be more then willing to help you out with promoting the series for 2012 through Facebook site (Similar to what we have for MASCA & MASGA) and I have a lot of contacts through Nat Dragster, Drag Race Online, Etc, Etc that I could help you out with getting the word out. Let me know....

Rob

[Nitro Joe Jackson]

Rob you are so right, set up your own rules and stick by them, every-time you ask for opinions everybody has one for there own agenda.
I do got to say my SST Series is doing well

And like Mike says at times Jeff & I have raised our hands and said what do we need to do to get cars besides giving free entries. (that's not happening, don't even go there)

Last thing, anybody that has a SS/Stock series, send me your schedule and I'll get it into the calender that i post on this and my web site and will start posting a section in the stats book all year

[tim worner]

A lot of times scheduling is a problem because of so many races.

[Jim Wahl]

Mike,

I have sort of sat back and just watched what was posted here before I posted. maybe I shouldn't even offer a reply as I am too personally involved in the S/SS Association thing. If I had the magic answer for the car count problem we would have 100 cars at our events instead of 30 - 45. I get all the same reasons for not attending that I'm sure you do. We have posted our rules online and follow them. We have no heads up runs, this allows everyone who wants to run class to have an equal chance. We get everyone from World Champions and National Record Holders to "Joe Beginner" race with us. We random weigh at our races. It keeps honest racers honest. Number one qualifier means nothing, no first round bye, no cash reward, nothing. We allow all NHRA, IHRA, NMCA, and NSSA cars to race with us. We use IHRA indexes and classes where applicable for the same reason as stated for heads up runs. It has taken 4 years to refine our rules and as in the major associations we are constantly evolving.
I don't know how you do this all by yourself! Props to you! We have a board and there is no way one guy could do it all and remain sane! Jim

[Jack McCarthy]

bowling green runs nhra combo, no ihra... and with a qualifying ladder and pairings, scale all heads up... i go there whenever i can they had 48 i think 3rd weeekned october...

other than the lack of tech it is perfect... but tech would be great, with protests.

jack

mike you might wanna tighten up your rules ?

[Mike Carr]

-Rob/Joe, I ask for input just to see if the racers feel something could be better, or if I personally am doing something wrong to keep racers away.

-Jim, my mom was a big help this year at the track, to me, it's not all 100% me only. Especially at Hagerstown, we both worked our asses off with so many cars (73). Dad didn't take off work this past year for the races, and I can't blame him for not wanting to miss a day's work for 15 cars.

-Jack, the tracks do not have qualified tech people, or as qualified, as Bowling Green, Ohio Valley, some of the other tracks etc. If you (or anyone) would like to send me money so I can hire someone (are there any good NHRA/IHRA tech people in eastern OH/western PA?), I am all for it.

[BKSG1198]

Mike,

I understand the whole asking for input from the racers to make the series stronger and find out what you are doing wrong....even if your doing nothing at all. The only problem that comes from this is no matter what you do or try people will find something to complain about. Rather it be something like you lined me up in the wrong lane during 1st round to the bulb was burnt out on the left side scoreboard. It is a "Thankless" Job!

I know each year once the National & Divisional Schedules are announced I put together a word file for myself and Lucky to find out what opening weekends we have to put races at. This year we are getting together with Dave Ley to put together SG,SC & STk/SS races all at one weekend. I found out first hand that no matter what you schedule people will go to NHRA Races over yours. I scheduled the .90 Event on an open weekend in 2010 except for the Bowling Green D-3 event, later on in the season they announced Charlotte was getting a divisional. To me I thought that was no biggy as both of these tracks are over 600 miles away for most D-1 racers, then came the phone calls and e-mails telling me they are going to drive 800 miles to Ky or 600 miles to NC over 100 miles to Numidia. Luckily enough a Hurricane came up the coast and we had to postpone it till this year. I would look into maybe into doing 3 to 4 double weekends at one or two tracks on non-nhra race weekends...

I took a look over the 2011 schedule that you had and even though people live in Ohio, Ky or Western Pa they will drive to a D-1 or D-3 Race Rather then come to yours, trust me it's nothing you are doing wrong at all cause you pour your heart in soul into the series and post on all the sites about the series but, people look at the schedule in the beginning of the year and go "can't make that race, it's on top of this, can't make that, it's on top of that" then all of a sudden they go I guess I'm not going to run Mike's Series this year. We learned our lesson a few years ago with MASGA cause we put a race on top of Mother's Day and had a horrible turn-out and we still get some flack from people if we put one on top of Norwalk or Columbus but, sometimes you have to look at it and bite the bullet....

April 2nd -3rd - Too Early, People are not ready for the season yet. Heck I know a lot of people who aren't even ready for Maple Grove at the end of May
May 29th - On top of the MG Divisional
June 4th - E-Town National Event
Sept 10th - E-Town / Tri-State Divisonals
Sept 17th - Charlotte National Event

[norm saibene]

i am behind stock super stock races 100 percent i am going to race in as many as i can in 2012 i cant waite

[Don Kennedy]

I would support the local STK and Super Stock races , IF they prep the track for the higher HP cars ,if no prep then I will NOT race there period, It is Just like this when the Points races have test and Tune for what ever the cost is , I used to do this but no more no Prep no pay the money and no race .