Live from Maple Grove - NHRA DIV 1 LUCAS OIL SERIES #2

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by tommy d

Did you tell them to "Get off my lawn"? Sheesh!

That one statement sums up a big chunk of the "Old Timers" on here!

[Kevin Panzino]

FWIW, I have zero problem with the Jr's. I think its a fabulous program. It encourages family time with a common passion, and gives the kiddo's something far more rewarding than twitter, communist China-run Tik-Tok, and gory video games. As well as helping to introduce the next generation into our sport.
I was however not thrilled at seeing, when it was all said and done, probably at least 6 hours of the program time spent on that 8.5 index class.
No disrespect to those guys, but I really get frustrated with the non-nhra classes that are continuing to being added to our races. A divisional in 1 is now $230. Did those 8.50 index folks pay that entry? They also got the finest pit spots on-site. And it now seems like every event we struggle to get a points race done in 3 days...


Its even more of a craw in my jaw when I see the non-nhra classes at a national event... With quotas so low for all of us, its hard to swallow the inclusion of the small tire, big tire, local bracket hero crap to a national event thats become very difficult for the core classes to even attend.


Im not a NHRA basher, I almost always stick up for them, but these non-nhra class additions to the schedules are not very easy to swallow.





Kp

[BKSG1198]

Originally Posted by Kevin Panzino

FWIW, I have zero problem with the Jr's. I think its a fabulous program. It encourages family time with a common passion, and gives the kiddo's something far more rewarding than twitter, communist China-run Tik-Tok, and gory video games. As well as helping to introduce the next generation into our sport.
I was however not thrilled at seeing, when it was all said and done, probably at least 6 hours of the program time spent on that 8.5 index class.
No disrespect to those guys, but I really get frustrated with the non-nhra classes that are continuing to being added to our races. A divisional in 1 is now $230. Did those 8.50 index folks pay that entry? They also got the finest pit spots on-site. And it now seems like every event we struggle to get a points race done in 3 days...


Its even more of a craw in my jaw when I see the non-nhra classes at a national event... With quotas so low for all of us, its hard to swallow the inclusion of the small tire, big tire, local bracket hero crap to a national event thats become very difficult for the core classes to even attend.


Im not a NHRA basher, I almost always stick up for them, but these non-nhra class additions to the schedules are not very easy to swallow.





Kp

So the unfortunate part is these tracks need to make money to survive, as someone who is a promoter, deals with a lot of tracks in the Northeast, I’ve had to add classes to my series just to even get dates. Trust me I hear it from my .90 guys, why did you add Juniors, Why Top & Top, why this and that because banking on 60 .90 cars showing up at $50 a car or having a T&T with 300 cars at $100 a pop is way more appealing.

The days of “hey I’m bringing 50 stock / SS” cars to the track can you give me a full weekend are over, you better well be bringing at least 200-250 cars with you to get a weekend at the track or renting the track for $20k a day or most tracks won’t even answer your phone call. The reality is tracks don’t want Lucas Races for the most part, it’s now why D1 is $225 to get in, the track owners asked for a raise in the entry with the additional $25 to go to them, it was dam near $50 but the vote was turned down. MG had 581 total cars, probably a great $$ weekend for them, had a decent crowd for the “Night of Chaos” and the concession stand and souvenir stand were somewhat packed but, how much advertising did they have to do to get about 1,000 people? Also you had it start at 3pm just as the sky’s were starting to look blah, so I’m sure some stayed home and it started pouring at 7 - 7:15pm.

The thing is they added the 8.50 index deal back in January / February and we know Memorial Day weekend at MG can be a crap shoot for car counts, so your not sure how many cars will show, I think the counts were great because some were going straight to Epping or Norwalk, some missed Cecil and the Association race was rained out last week at Cecil and they just want to go racing. look at Cecil was with the weather, from what I heard at Cecil they had over 75 tech cards abandoned that were filled out online but because of the weather they didn’t show, so that about $17,000 there of lost income but the track is committed to running the event. It's the one bad part of preregistration without payment, you wake up the weekend looks blah….ehhh I’m staying home, the track has your tech card but not that $225.

I think the 8.50 guys paid $150 and it was $3k to win but they also bring sponsors, they have a big fishing pole company that backs them and puts up alot of money. I’ve told guys before we want more money we need to start looking at having our own sponsors support the classes.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Kevin Panzino

I was however not thrilled at seeing, when it was all said and done, probably at least 6 hours of the program time spent on that 8.5 index class.
No disrespect to those guys, but I really get frustrated with the non-nhra classes that are continuing to being added to our races.

Newsflash, they are not your races, never were!

More important, the 8.50 index class actually brings in fans, assess in the stands, which stock and super stock does not!

[Keith 944]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Newsflash, they are not your races, never were!

More important, the 8.50 index class actually brings in fans, assess in the stands, which stock and super stock does not!

Only grudge I have with them is they should have to drive them to the lanes and back to trailer. Gezzzz guys you aren’t pros, actually your car is about as fast as a middle of the pack 10.90 car…..

[John W. 1711]

I heard there will be 10.00 Index at the Dutch Classic. If so, I will bring 2 cars. See you at Maple Grove.

[Duane Eiskant II]

Originally Posted by John W. 1711

I heard there will be 10.00 Index at the Dutch Classic. If so, I will bring 2 cars. See you at Maple Grove.

and motorcycles

[CMcAllister]

Some of these whipper snappers coming out of Jrs into big cars with 7 or 8 years of experience do a pretty good job of cleaning the clocks of the old dudes sometimes. So there must be some benefit to coming up through that program vs. getting started at 16 or 17.

[Mike Gray]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

Only grudge I have with them is they should have to drive them to the lanes and back to trailer. Gezzzz guys you aren’t pros, actually your car is about as fast as a middle of the pack 10.90 car…..

Did they also bring crew to the starting line to help them stage! LOL

[1700camaro]

I like to keep an open mind, we all like to think our little part of drag racing is about our car/class.

I don't like certain NHRA classes. The ones I don't like, I'm glad they're supporting NHRA/tracks. In-case you haven't noticed, tracks are closing at a higher rate than building new.

We need any drag racer to support drag racing/tracks. We need to get over ourselves, thinking we're special or our class deserves more; maybe so or maybe not.

I'm happy to be racing at any open racetrack, it beats the alternative! If it takes NHRA catering to the 8.50 index or JR's. If it keeps the sanction going & the tracks open, well !!!