Records, Etc @ Gainesville

[Rollins_2241]

Mr. Rollins, do you currently race Stock, Super Stock or Comp Eliminator?

Exactly my point. Never have, and probably never will. I prefer learning and perfecting a different skill set (and racing more often on the same limited budget). But if all you guys talk to is an echo chamber of dissatisfied peers, you probably won't learn much or have more fun anytime soon. I also know that the winners in your classes are managing to get down the racetrack instead of whining about it. No offense, just tough love.

Mark, If the bean counters aren't at least moderately happy, there is no place to race. So it's not a solution to say "the track should be a charity that is willing to lose unlimited amounts of money to make me happy". We're losing tracks left and right because it is not profitable in this economy to pay the note on the facility, much less double the spend on track prep. NHRA could certainly be a more efficient corporation, but that's another discussion. Once again, negativity is how you rationalize staying in the garage maybe, but it doesn't give us more or better places to race.

[Greg Hill]

I can tell you one thing, a bad starting line will kill a drag strip faster than anything. In Louisville we have Ohio Valley which has been there for more than 40 years. Three or four years ago they tried VP traction compound and it killed their car count. They switched back to VHT in 2010 and their car counts came back. No one likes to race on a bad track.

[Ed Wright]

Something I have experienced that surprised me. Our local track, Tulsa Raceway, Mike Edwards rents the track to test his Pro Stock car all the time. He talks about how good it is. Myself and the other local SS cars can hardly ever hook here when we rent it. I tried to run a bracket race for practice before going to the Topeka race. Mike tested there the week before. I tried both lanes and just blew the tires off instead of changing the car all around I said "heck with it". Went home and got ready for Topeka (Nationals). We have rented the track, told them it was too slick, they say "That's just how we prep it for Mike."
I got to Topeka and about flipped it over backwards.
I was thinking ( How is data from Tulsa of ant value to Mike is all he runs is National events with starting lines like this?" so went went to ask him. I said "The starting line here is really good isn't it?" Mike says "It is." I asked "How is test data from Tulsa any value here?" Mike said he couldn't tell any difference. He never wants the starting line at Tulsa sprayed. Now, when Indy went away he had the same problem SS cars had.

[C and W Racing]

Pro stock cars like a track totally different than all the other classes want. A fast track for them is usually junk for us.
Chuck

[Ed Wright]

But, Chuck, he couldn't tell any difference when it was good for us at Topeka. Unless they are changing the track prep for us and them during the day. Doubt it. :-)

[Kenny Wigington]

PS almost always follows the fuel classes, so they set up for that. They have the run data, to haul *** at that track"setting". As said above, when they test, its usually junk for us. All the fuel guys would strip the centers out of their tires, if they tried to run when ours is good.

[C and W Racing]

Pro stock uses the clutch to get down the track. A sticky track slowes them down due to the drag on the tires. Loose is fast for them.
Chuck

[jmarkaudio]

Originally Posted by Rollins_2241

Mark, If the bean counters aren't at least moderately happy, there is no place to race. So it's not a solution to say "the track should be a charity that is willing to lose unlimited amounts of money to make me happy". We're losing tracks left and right because it is not profitable in this economy to pay the note on the facility, much less double the spend on track prep. NHRA could certainly be a more efficient corporation, but that's another discussion. Once again, negativity is how you rationalize staying in the garage maybe, but it doesn't give us more or better places to race.

I don't expect the tracks to lose money, but if they don't provide what the racers as a whole feel is reasonable they will go to a track that does. SGMP doesn't seem to have a problem paying a normal purse and prepping the track properly. Speed Worlds track prep isn't the best, but the purse is comparable and the entry fee has been the lowest of any of the Florida tracks. And as far as Gainesville, the track is owned and run by NHRA, I doubt there is a note on that one. They could do better with it if they tried...

And the bottom line with any business is to satisfy your customers, otherwise you won't make any money or lose your business. It means they may have to tighten the belt in some cases to keep working, maybe cut back on those 500K salaries a bit... In this case, we are the customers. I'll go where I'm treated fairly. even if it means passing Gainesville on the way...

And last, we already have several tracks that have switched to IHRA in this state. IHRA must be doing something right.