Have you heard what IHRA is thinking of doing with the points?

[THE LEGEND]

Herb,
If you really want to help the racers, get IHRA to do something about the schedule. Instead of running our first 3 races in March they need to be spread out. It's too cold that time of year and schedule is to packed in.

Chip

[Angela Macy]

It seems like IHRA is really out of touch with their races and what they want or care about - maybe they need to form a committee of several racers, one representative from each class atleast to arrange to get feedback from - to run these major change making decisions by racers before they commit to anything. That is if they actually care what the racers think or would like to see. It's hard to set here and say they only care about their bottom line, because without us there is no them, so it seems that this whole idea is more out of lack of knowing any better than selfishness.

Scott would be one of the 23 who maxed out on National and Divisional claims - he also had a gold card to use. We were in contention to win the World Championship early on, which motivated us to go to Pittsburgh for their SN, to get that extra claim. We already had to go to Martin for the Moser deal. We're not eligible for that race next year, we also have no gold card. So the trip to Martin is not happening next year (thank God). We might not even go to Maryland's National Event or the Pittsburgh Sportsman National event - especially under this new format, and depending on what the weather is. Its apparent that if there is the slightest amount of rain the whole race is thrown off schedule and we race on Monday. Both of those events would require us leave on Thursday to get there, if there is rain and you race on Monday, that means Tuesday we might end up having to travel home. With us owning our own business, its difficult to shut down shop for 2 days as it is, 4 days potentially is not good. And so what if he wins, that's not business income, that $$$ doesn't pay the shop's bills. It's one thing to feel obligated to chase it, when you're in contention and the gold card thing, but if Scott snags a win at a Divisional close to home, there isn't much incentive for us to travel much further from home.

[j gardiner]

I don't see how this new points system is going to bring anymore cars to these events. The reasons car counts were so off this year wasthe economy and the price of gas. The price of gas might be better next year but the economy will probably be worse. They can come up with all kinds of different points systems, heck they could pull a card out of hat and the guys who are going to race are going to race and the ones who aren't won't.

[tpoh815]

im with jeff g on this one. also my main reason for not going to all of my claims was the cost of fuel, add that to the fact that the economy has alot of racers (myself included) worried about not racing well enough to offset the tipping point of when to go and what to go to! it is about the money and i especially applaud ihra for the double events and the sportsmans nationals. if i was wealthy enough to forgo an $800 loss i would go to all of the races and then some. my 1st year i chased points, i went to 11 total events this was in 05. look at everything that went up to double and triple the cost! my point is keep the system the way it is. the guys that want to chase points can certainly afford it and the guys that cant and follow it . well thanks for racing beyond your means as the economy may have been affected by this very thing. i am sorry if i offend anyone im just stating my beliefs. i will however campaign my car in 09 when i can and feel like it. just not sure that if i won a world championship in 8 hrs makes me truly feel like the champ! im andy rooney and good night!

[jdfpam]

Of course it is about making money. Who cares, IHRA is a business and like any other business has to make money to survive. I am sure that their profit isn't quite that of Exxon. However, I would like to see them race the payout some. They are currently paying the same to win as any local Saturday night bracket race. That is sad, as lot of class cars cost many times what a bracket cars needs to, and that isn't even considering the cost to travel. Also, the contigency keeps getting worse for sportsman, even though they keep saying that it is better.
Can't wait to see what news the banquet will bring.

Jeff Day
#3731

[THE LEGEND]

Jeff,
How much bracket racing do you actually do?
Bracket racing sucks.
In NC you have double entries,2 rds of buybacks, and 7-9 rds to win $1,000-$2,000 in top or $600-$1,000 in Footbrake.
When is the last time you went more than 6 rds to win an IHRA race?
In NC you normally have to go 3-5 rds just to get $25-$50 bucks.
Not a good comparison there.
Contingency is O.K. my win at the World Finals was worth over $8,000 grand with the purse and the contingency. It could have been more.
I've won divisionals that paid close to $3,000.
Not bad either.
Chip

[mcaruso]

Originally Posted by THE LEGEND

Contingency is O.K. my win at the World Finals was worth over $8,000 grand with the purse and the contingency. It could have been more.
I've won divisionals that paid close to $3,000.
Not bad either.
Chip

Chip- The problem is that a National in 2000 paid $8,000 to win with contingency. Everything has gone up but the purse & the contingencys have gone down.