"Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals

[Ken Miele]

Random photos from Saturday's eliminations.

[Wade Mahaffey]

Wow, were Sportsman racers making some kind of statement with sub-quota entries across the board? Or are they really... slowly but surely... going away from NHRA? It looks like things are a little better in Bristol. Before quotas we had over a hundred in all the sportsman classes it seemed like. It doesn't look very good to a person thinking of jumping in (the waters fine). I still try to follow Stock and Super/Stock even though I competed in Super/Gas. And I'm halfway there with a Super/Stock 58-60 Corvette package. But I gotta admit, have been a bit on the fence about cutting out all of the 4130 roll cage, and just putting it on the street. The resale would be easier as a street rod as well. I could use a little push in the form of a positive outlook, with regard to the health of Super/Stock Racing as we know it. I do realize that Super/Stock folks have enough on their plate already. But I've always said, It's important to promote the things you love! Kinda like campaigning for office, position, or promotion. You know, to keep the interest fresh, and keep the following strong! I understand the issues with the internet from Richmond, but sure wish I could have seen more posts here on CR. It seams that most of the Sportsman stuff was over by lunch time on Friday and Saturday. That should have allowed plenty of time for some Stock, Super/Stock promotion on the Web, even if you had to put it up once you got a good connection like Ken did. I would think that those that love this stuff would try to hang on to any like minded folks, and throw them a bone when ever possible. Like they always say "leave it better than you found it" and at least don't let it die! Talk about it, Share it, Promote it!

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by Wade Mahaffey

Wow, were Sportsman racers making some kind of statement with sub-quota entries across the board? Or are they really... slowly but surely... going away from NHRA? It looks like things are a little better in Bristol. Before quotas we had over a hundred in all the sportsman classes it seemed like. It doesn't look very good to a person thinking of jumping in (the waters fine). I still try to follow Stock and Super/Stock even though I competed in Super/Gas. And I'm halfway there with a Super/Stock 58-60 Corvette package. But I gotta admit, have been a bit on the fence about cutting out all of the 4130 roll cage, and just putting it on the street. The resale would be easier as a street rod as well. I could use a little push in the form of a positive outlook, with regard to the health of Super/Stock Racing as we know it. I do realize that Super/Stock folks have enough on their plate already. But I've always said, It's important to promote the things you love! Kinda like campaigning for office, position, or promotion. You know, to keep the interest fresh, and keep the following strong! I understand the issues with the internet from Richmond, but sure wish I could have seen more posts here on CR. It seams that most of the Sportsman stuff was over by lunch time on Friday and Saturday. That should have allowed plenty of time for some Stock, Super/Stock promotion on the Web, even if you had to put it up once you got a good connection like Ken did. I would think that those that love this stuff would try to hang on to any like minded folks, and throw them a bone when ever possible. Like they always say "leave it better than you found it" and at least don't let it die! Talk about it, Share it, Promote it!

Hey Wade, I don't know if you noticed but this race filled up at 5 grade points in Stock and SS filled at 5 or possibly very early 4 and stayed that way until Sunday before the deadline. I'm not real sure why so many dropped but it seems to becoming a trend, people enter early taking up alot of the spots and possibly don't like the weather forecast and drop last minute which makes it difficult for other racers to make plans last minute to attend that otherwise might have entered given more time. I myself along with Greg Rowe entered last Friday when another racer called and folded me him and his dad were dropping, at the time we felt fortunate to get in. Unfortunately this is the system we have to work with as far as National events go but I think if you look at the division race numbers I think our classes are quite healthy and improving all the time.
As far as promoting the sport that a whole different ballgame, I myself as well as Ken and Ms Patsy and others do the best we can with keeping the "Live" reports interesting and informative but as far as myself is concerned I don't let this get in the way of my family having a good time when they come to the races with me. It takes up alot of time to take pictures and post them and so on but when my kids are with me this kind of takes a back seat.

[1855sc]

Wade, NHRA has the all access you can buy for 100 or so. seems like you already rely on the internet for info. This gives it all.

[Wade Mahaffey]

I saw the posts from the Jegs Sportsnationals, that looked pretty good with more than twice the posts and close to twice the cars. I guess that's the future, and I'm certainly
OK with that! As far as the "All Access" ... I really like that, but was waiting for them to get all the bugs out. I kept seeing folks saying, Its on, or it's not on, picture but no sound etc, etc. And my understanding is nothing on Thursday ... that's OK for a 3-day race, but I miss all the good stuff when it's a 4-day. I like the D3TV and the D1TV ... but it sure would be nice with a finishline camera. I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO GET MY STUFF DONE ... AND COME AND WATCH IT LIVE WHEN I'M NOT IN THE SEAT !!! LOL I just love the stuff and would like to see it THRIVE !

[Pistol Pete]

Wade
I think in Virginia's Race (and any sportsman racer that was there can say i'm wrong)
but if you have 5 Pro Classes with all of their extra vehicles that they bring in to the pits, their probably wasn't enough room to have more Sportsman Cars to be entered cause their's only race cars parked on 1 side of the track.

Some tracks have higher quota's because they have the room to park more.
Let's face it, in today's race world I'd say 80% of Sportsman racers have Motorhomes.
And I'm not in any way saying that as a bad thing.
So you only have so much room to work with and each track is different on what they can hold.
Just my .02 cents.