What would U change @ IHRA

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Real Racer

STOTT LEAVING IHRA
Written by Bobby Bennett; Photo by Roger Richards
Monday, 20 October 2008
Quain Stott has come a long way in IHRA competition. From his humble beginnings of racing on a shoestring budget to making the most of a modest one, the Inman, S.C.-based driver scored a world championship in 2006 and picked up nine national event victories in 14 finals.

After entering his 144th consecutive event at Rockingham, N.C., Stott says he's made a tough decision regarding his future. He’s walking away from the series in 2009, at least in terms of chasing a championship.

Stott says the troubled U.S. economy didn’t make the decision. He’s adamant that customer service or lack thereof from the sanctioning body did. He’s under the impression his comments won’t be taken seriously.

You left out a very important sentence.He complained that the pros have to actually PAY an entry fee to race.My heart bleeds for them.I guess that must cut into their beer money.

Ed F.

[herbjr]

If every racer quits racing that has said he was going to NEVER go back really does our sport would have been gone long ago. Ive had over 15 racers tell me int he past 18 month they will never be back to Piedmont. guess what,,,,,,,,,all have been back. We all lash out when we are pissed off. I just wish some of these racers who make these comments would really quit.

Herb jr

[Dan Fahey]

Here is an Idea.
There are several Eliminators
Market one Eliminator to ONE Track.
Spread them out.
One Eliminator Meet at ONE track.
ON the same Weekend
Spread out over several tracks.
Maybe have two Eliminator at one track.
But you get my idea.

Have One Big
Stock
Super Stock
Modified
Competition
ET, .x90 races.
Pro Classes at another.
More time for each class
Each class has a different unique draw and inspection routine.
Make and market each Eliminiator as special as the Pro Categories.

Each Class can be Marketed for that Track.
Make it a big deal rolling the Divisional and Points meets from one track to another.
If more business is brought to a smaller track they can afford upgrades the following year.

Being a ole' Stockers guy myself.
Advertise the old Jr Stock mysteries...Increase incentives.
Turnout would be large enough that Class Run Offs could be a major thing again.
Each class would being in a different set of fans.
Instead of a grinding hurry up and wait 3 -4 day Meet.
Now it is a better paced 2 day Meet.

The advantages would be a in National in scope but more manageable.
Make them each Eliminator special to the fans.
More runs, more bragging, more run offs, Class Records.
Make a big Deal out of it.

Think BIG.

Have the IHRA Media post the races results in the NYT, WPost, Sun, USA Today
With a small blurb to describe the event.
Build the volume of fans and attendee's

If you can reduce the time, costs and increase the fun factor.
You can suck the business away from NHRA.
AND get home for work Monday morning..

Dan Fahey
(my old nick name was "Mr. Flat Tow". Because that is how I got to the track with my car.)

[cambria]

Lots of great ideas but in the end the sportsmen got F'ed.The theory is the pros put people in the seats.That is probably true but there is a way to make all of this better.First as they did in Epping run the sportsmen after the pros at night especially when you know it is going to rain the next day..Take advantage of the weather every time you can.Especially if they are right and the fans don't care about sportsmen no reason not to run them as long as you can after the pros at night it would just be a bonus for the fans who stayed.
Next cut out all the side show crap.Run your jet truck or school bus but that is it one of those not the whole dog and pony show.
Next bring back TOP Stock and run it with the pros.People like to see real cars do big wheelstands probably more than a jet motorcycle(although that guy was nuts)
I agree start friday and have one time shot saturday morning for those who come late.
Try to find a big track.We lost Virginia and Norwalk and they were great.Too bad the tracks are not neutral and open to both sanctioning bodies.So you could run IHRA ans NHRA at Norwalk or anywhere else for that matter in the same year.
As far as Scooter,Baker,Aaron I don't have any beef with them they are doing the best they can with what they have and what we are facing.Fuel and the **** economy has hurt all tracks on both sides of the isle.From what I saw happened to BO it does not look like it is much fun to race NHRA,its like being in catholic school every time you turn around somebody is slapping your hand or paddling your *** or telling you how to live or run your life.Who needs that ****.I go to the races to race my car and hang with my family and friends and have fun.My biggest beef is wasting time by not racing the sportsmen after the pros.
Shoot out races are great for the shooters but frankly I dont think the fans give a **** about those either.Fans want to see speed,crashes, and wheelstands and that is the truth face it.

[jdfpam]

I can tell you one thing that fans and racers are tired of seeing................Pro's oiling down the track. I think it is as simple as that. Until someone can find a way to cover the race tracks and pits to eliminate rain delays, the next best time saver would be to cut back on oil downs. I am not sure how to go about that, maybe giving some sort of penalty to repeat offenders to start.
Rockingham was a real disappointment. It only rained from 3 pm Friday until about 1 am Saturday. That is something that usually happens at 3 day races. It should have been able to be absorbed, but it couldn't because of all of the oil downs and all of the cars that had to be run down the track. I don't know what the best answer is, but something has got to change. If it doesn't, I know a few people including myself that will be doing something different next year.


Jeff Day
#3731

PS...Kudo's to Hank and company for lobbying for the stockers not to go down the slick Sunday night track. I think that most of us were not all that disappointed to have put them away for the evening.

[fatshoe]

i hope mr feld was paying attention at rockingham after the last promods ran on sat night the stands almost emptied i was kind of suprised but after watching several runs of the shake and bake crowd i too left the stands who wants to sit in the stands and watch the cleanup equipment make laps? being a long time sportsman fan and racer i was dissipointed also that when i got there at 10.45 am the sportsman cars were done they ran the pros and i did not see any other sportsman runs except the sss cars make 1 run, just a bad show for me even though i did get to hang with some of my buds in the pits oh well maybe next year will be better signed,Steve Wilson

[THE LEGEND]

Jeff,
It rained Saturday morning around 5:00 a.m.
Paul,
That time of year it's hard to run after the pro's. I have been down that track more than most of ya'll have been down every track. When it's damp and cold it gets slick.

I think IHRA needs to look at 4 day events at the bigger races: Rockingham-Milan-Martin. Do 1 run Thursday. 1 run Friday a.m. 1st rd friday afternoon. 2 rds on saturday. I talked to Earwood on Tuesday and he was all for it.

The bigger picture:
More Sportsnationals I Like that Idea
More races in the South. I like that one too.
Doubles in ALL divisions. I like that.
All divisions need the same amount of races.
Shootout for the world championship: If that rumor is true I don't like that.
Chip Johnson