Some Englishtown observations.

[goinbroke2]

Originally Posted by Signman

Sportsman racing is not dying.

Those participating may be older but there are plenty of young people who would come out if they could afford it. The economy sucks for producing expendable income. Racing is expensive most cannot afford it until they are financially established in their 30s-40s.

As an example of young people interest we have a teenager who got interested in the new factory cars, got on the COPO list and is out racing with us. His dad raced a little when he was young but never really spoke of it his son did it on his own. Of course dad bought the car but this is something they are learning and doing together. You think his buddies are not watching him thinking how cool his car is and dreaming? I watched drag racing on TV as a 10 or 11 year old and grew up watching muscle cars drive by, always loved drag racing but did not get involved until my mid 30s after doing other things, built my first car and started driving in early 40s.

As expensive as Stock is we are always the largest car count in Div. 1 and nationally Stock has the most NHRA licensed drivers.
There is a problem with Super Gas, but Super Comp is well attended with dragsters being attractive to young people and the best bang for your buck in sportsman and bracket racing. The type of racing we do is not generally spectator friendly in it requires the acquisition of some basic knowledge of rules for each eliminator rules. BUT track operators and NHRA lack of interest in finding a way to market these events have conceded racers are their only customer demographic.

Raceway park is my favorite track but management has issues mostly driven by money or lack of. The track used to be the best in the region and maybe the country but that requires maintenance and grooming all week every week during the season not just on race days. They have some dedicated people but it costs money in labor equipment and materials. One issue is materials: The traction compound sprayed on the track has been modified to meet EPA regulations it works in hot but not cool and vice versa, needs to be cut but how much for best traction and stretch the material. Some real engineering needs to be done.
Everyone is getting flats at RP more than any other track. Pavement in the pits is getting old and we are dragging so much gravel up to the burnout box they can probably use what is swept up to fill some pot holes.Swap meet weekends are important to the facility financially brings so much metal shrapnel and broken glass we are getting flats. Most racers will police their pit area but the main roads especially along the lake should be swept before events it would be great if some sort of magnets were dragged around during to week to pick up the metal.

We have the factory cars bringing so much attention to our sport especially Stock, we have so many young drivers buy men and women, even with the weak economy there are new cars and new faces, the sort is not dying it moving with the times.

X2 Signman, well put. One line though " dragsters being attractive to young people and the best bang for your buck in sportsman and bracket racing." This is a point (perhaps this isn't the forum, but since you brought it up) that my kid brought up to me. He's out of junior dragsters soon and wanted a bigger dragster, I told him they're too expensive and you have to be in Super Pro here which is 11.50 and faster. His next question was thought provoking.."Why, why do you have to go so fast in a dragster, why can't you start out say 12 seconds?" Hundred reasons why but the point was valid, we made juniors for kids to rejuvenate the sport..why not give them (or anybody) the next stepping stone and allow 12 sec dragsters?
Yes I said he can drive my mustang in Stock elim but that's not the point. He grew up in dragsters and wants to continue in dragsters but I don't have the pockets to do it.

Hope he likes a slow, boring, full bodied car to race next....

[cmracing]

This has nothing to do with racing, just following-up on comments above in regards to E-Towns facility. Yes, there are pot holes, yes, they are very annoying, and yes, they are going to get fixed.

The entire facility was rented-out right after Sandy hit to several different companies to store flood damaged cars before going to auction or getting crushed. Those companies really damaged that place. The 400 lot (next to staging lanes and lake/fuel area) got completely destroyed. Was always the last lot to get fixed in the past, still is.......

Hopefully it all gets done before the 2017 season starts again.

They pocketed a lot money doing this. Made more money than the drag racing operation did.

Originally Posted by cmracing

This has nothing to do with racing, just following-up on comments above in regards to E-Towns facility. Yes, there are pot holes, yes, they are very annoying, and yes, they are going to get fixed.

The entire facility was rented-out right after Sandy hit to several different companies to store flood damaged cars before going to auction or getting crushed. Those companies really damaged that place. The 400 lot (next to staging lanes and lake/fuel area) got completely destroyed. Was always the last lot to get fixed in the past, still is.......

Hopefully it all gets done before the 2017 season starts again.

[James Perrone]

Billy right on! Thanks for liking my little Nova .Luv that Neeses Pieces Nova .
I about pooped when I figured out what it cost to run 2 cars at a divisional
$170 x 2 $120 for 10 gallons of VP $ 200 to fuel up rv and truck
Cocaine is a terribe drug!! Rick James t
Try drag racing!

[Frank Castros]

James,

Where can we see pictures of your Super Stocker?

[Rich Biebel]

Stop bitching.....You can't put a price on a good time...


I was at the very first WCS race at Englishtown.....1966

We flat towed there and the pits were dirt...

I won the Summernationals
I won the Lucas race there twice
I won Super ET there
I have been to finals in Pro.....S/St....S/Pro...

It's a great facility and needs a freshen up.....but compared to other dumps It's still great. One of the first super tracks...

8 and 9 second stockers on 9" tires.....and you expect perfect conditions every run in 100degree heat.......that's hysterical...

Did you race back before concrete on 7" tires......in the summer with a stick car......??? You either adapted or spun your butt off....and lost....


Oh yea the invocation and national anthem busts me up too....
And I won in 2005 when it was 9/11 and that day really got to me in the morning.....I wound up in the winners circle....and the trophy and et slips sit right in front of me....very memorable...

The payout problem is nothing new at all and will not change anytime soon for the better...

If all you care about is money your in the wrong sport...

This past weekend was hot as blazes......Didn't get to me really all that bad....I was out in rd 1.....No bitching from me.....I had a good time....

I hope they do some improvements but the sport and everything with it is in a decline unfortunately......enjoy it while you can....

[Larry Hill]

Bowling Green track works very well when its hot, maybe its the .................

[Jack Matyas]

[QUOTE=Rich Biebel;514745]Stop bitching.....You can't put a price on a good time...


I was at the very first WCS race at Englishtown.....1966


t's a great facility and needs a freshen up.....but compared to other dumps It's still great. One of the first super tracks...

8 and 9 second stockers on 9" tires.....and you expect perfect conditions every run in 100degree heat.......that's hysterical...



the payout problem is nothing new at all and will not change anytime soon for the better...

If all you care about is money your in the wrong sport...


/QUOTE]

Rich - I'm not as old as you - but I won the 1974 WCS at E-town and it paid $200 to win and no sticker money - round one had 129 cars .On top of that I drove my racer there .And I never did get the trophy - it's still in the mail !!!!

My oh my how things have changed - it's still a super track but I agree some lipstick would be nice .And even with the high temperatures I expect to hook - everywhere ! ! We all paid our entry fees expecting a workable track surface .

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

even with the high temperatures I expect to hook - everywhere ! ! We all paid our entry fees expecting a workable track surface .

and that's not what you got!

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

1320racer has his way of saying things, but he's usually not far off. I started racing as a fairly young kid, at 17. I'm pushing 40 now, and I'm still one of the 'kids' in the staging lanes!

Lenny...KNOWS!

[Signman]

Originally Posted by goinbroke2

X2 Signman, well put. One line though " dragsters being attractive to young people and the best bang for your buck in sportsman and bracket racing." This is a point (perhaps this isn't the forum, but since you brought it up) that my kid brought up to me. He's out of junior dragsters soon and wanted a bigger dragster, I told him they're too expensive and you have to be in Super Pro here which is 11.50 and faster. His next question was thought provoking.."Why, why do you have to go so fast in a dragster, why can't you start out say 12 seconds?" Hundred reasons why but the point was valid, we made juniors for kids to rejuvenate the sport..why not give them (or anybody) the next stepping stone and allow 12 sec dragsters?
Yes I said he can drive my mustang in Stock elim but that's not the point. He grew up in dragsters and wants to continue in dragsters but I don't have the pockets to do it.

Hope he likes a slow, boring, full bodied car to race next....

We must always race within our budget no matter.