Sony & P.C. Richard.com Does it Again

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Jim Carter

Ed:
So what's the excuse for not having an open at E'town??
Canada??? Oh well.

JC

Jimmy;
The current ownership has no use for our type of racing,especially an open.They are more geared up
for fart pipes and warped tour shows.And of course the VW waterfest.They also have curfew limitations .
If they booked in some fast exhitition stuff and advertised it they could probably put some asses in the stands.But I think that would be too much work.
Joe;
I wasn't aware of the tree problems.I think those problems could be worked out.I always have a good time when I go to Island.
And I just noticed they killed the early season open at MG.What's with that?

Ed

[Jim Carter]

Joe:

I see your points you made. I think those issues could all be remedied with a meeting with the East Coast S/SS leadership team and the track management.

I would prefer to work with the owners and sort things out rather than condemn the situation and walk away.
We need every track we have, especially those with history.

I also think if things were sorted out, more people would go there than making the trek to accross the border.

And Eddie F;
Your suggestion for E'town is on target also. Again, lets sit down with the track management and find a common ground. I'd rather see the Open combined with another attraction, and advertised as you mentioned, than just cancelled. (No Water Fests please!) And make sure it's not during the hot muggy days of July or August!!

Just my 2 cents.

JC

[Mike Meier]

Regarding E-town they only have a certain number of "noise days" where they can have unmuffled vehicles. #1) I think all of them are spoken for. #2) Even without the alcohol cars we'd still need 3 days because then they'd wanna run Top Dragster / Sportsman. I wouldn't hold my breath on getting 10 noise days dedicated to NHRA races.

Call me crazy, but what about ESTA Safety Park and Spencer Speedway in northern New York? I have never been to either but I wouldn't mind paying a visit if I were given an incentive to make the long trip (an open or a divisional). Were points races or national opens ever held at either one in the past? Or are they too small to handle something like that? Likewise with Capital Raceway in Maryland?

[Adam Strang]

For once Ed F.and I agree on something I had no problems at Island and was looking foward to going back next year.

Jim what`s your problem with having some races in Canada?Too far to travel for ya?It does give some of the northern guys a chance to race at their home tracks.

[Owen S Quirion]

Ed, I'm just happy that even with the tough economic times, Gary has stepped up to sponsor the shorter four race series.

Mike, I used to race at ESTA quite frequently when I lived closer to Syracuse. I like the people that run the place a lot but the facility is not what you are used to. They recently did a lot of work to the racing surface and installed nice scoreboards but space would be a problem for an open. They do have a Stock/SS combo race usually in August. Tjhat might be a good time to try the place out.

[John Beasaw III]

Spencer Speedway is currently a 1/10 mile dragstrip. Although the starting line has teeth due to some hard work by the officials. They added scoreboards this past season and are talking about making it an eigth mile. When i was a kid they ran class cars there. These days just brackets with alot of restrictions from the town.

Not the best choice for the open series.

[Jason Oldfield]

Originally Posted by John Beasaw III

Spencer Speedway is currently a 1/10 mile dragstrip. Although the starting line has teeth due to some hard work by the officials. They added scoreboards this past season and are talking about making it an eigth mile. When i was a kid they ran class cars there. These days just brackets with alot of restrictions from the town.

Not the best choice for the open series.

Totally agree. I know lots of people that race there on a weekly basis that swear by it (they primarily like the entry fee vs. payout structure), but it is definitely not suitable for an open race at this time.

Are there really that few NHRA member tracks in D1 now that somebody would seriously suggest Spencer? Looking for tracks that we don't currently visit for LODRS events or opens, the quarter-mile list includes:

- ESTA
- Island
- Mason-Dixon
- Capitol
- Delmar
- Luskville

The only track I've ever been at on this list is Delmar, which I didn't think was terrible (I always DID terrible there, but I could never blame it on the track). That said, I have to say that looking at the division from a geographical standpoint, ESTA is about as near in the center as you can possibly get, with Island the next closest.

From a central location to population density though, I don't think you could pick any better from that list than Island.

[Lynn Hoosigian]

Jason, I agree with you on the other tracks.
Mason-Dixon was a nice track with GREAT people running it! Elmer did a lot of improvements to it over the last few years. Problem is the amount of money the tracks have to pay NHRA to hold any Open or Divisional. Heard it was pretty steep and with everything in this country going the way it's going, maybe they don't want to take the chance of losing their shirts!!!

[Jim Bob]

Originally Posted by Jason Oldfield

Totally agree. I know lots of people that race there on a weekly basis that swear by it (they primarily like the entry fee vs. payout structure), but it is definitely not suitable for an open race at this time.

Are there really that few NHRA member tracks in D1 now that somebody would seriously suggest Spencer? Looking for tracks that we don't currently visit for LODRS events or opens, the quarter-mile list includes:

- ESTA
- Island
- Mason-Dixon
- Capitol
- Delmar
- Luskville

The only track I've ever been at on this list is Delmar, which I didn't think was terrible (I always DID terrible there, but I could never blame it on the track). That said, I have to say that looking at the division from a geographical standpoint, ESTA is about as near in the center as you can possibly get, with Island the next closest.

From a central location to population density though, I don't think you could pick any better from that list than Island.

Two big reasons, Safety and Economics ...

ESTA: Currently no guardrail trackside. Very limited pit space and very short staging area. Also probably not interested in making a big investment based on the history of the Island and Mason Dixon races. Remember, these track owners and operators do talk to one another.
Island: Thier choice to stop. No money to be had with and average of 120 cars in 3 years.
Mason-Dixon: Thier choice to stop. Again, no profit. Great folks just looking out for thier business.
Capitol: Lack of pit space as I understand it.
Delmar: Owners choice to stop. Doubt they will ever come back.
Luskville: ??

Remember too, most of you guys only park and race at the track. Very few of you buy at the concession stands or souvenier shops. That is where a track makes money. You bring all of your own supplies. And since these races do not draw much in the way of crowds, nobody is selling much of anything.

Bottom line is thank goodness for a guy like Gary Richard and his undying support of D1 racing.

[Jim Carter]

Hey Adam:
The owner of the baddest Firebird stocker on the planet!! I knew that I would draw you out, based upon our conversation at the Grove with Tom.
You are right! It does give the northern guys a place to race somewhat locally. And I do respect the travel that you and the other racers from up there endure, when you trek down this way. I am just not sure how many guys from down this way want to spend the extra cabbage for fuel, if they can race locally and maintain a budget. Especially given the current economics.

Soooooooooo, to eliminate Island that might have more racers within a given radius and move it to an outer extremity, north OR south, just seems to test logic. How about an Open at both??
Bang!! There ya go!!

Take care and have a great holiday season.

JC