LIVE from IHRA Sportsman Spectacular @ MIR

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Greg Hill

I can't understand why there aren't more cars at this race. Last weekend at Lebanon Valley there were 110 stockers for a points meet. Only half that many at Maryland this weekend running for a hell of a lot more money. Only 35 super stockers. What's the problem? Andrew and I would have gone if I wasn't recovering from hand surgery. Why don't people race with IHRA?

I don't get it either Greg...you spend less to race, for more of a regular purse (by far), than any NHRA national event, and it's being held in an area that houses the most densely populated collection of sportsman racers anywhere??? Out west I can kind of understand it (although I bet Les Norton is darn glad he patronized his home tracks national event, and I bet Mike Coe & Jim Hughes felt it better to race there with a chance to win $1600 bucks, w/o having to traverse two 10k plus mountain passes to get to the D5 race in Denver)?

For the plethora of races out there in that area (for much shorter tows than out west), I wish I lived out there so I'd have a chance to partake in what IHRA's cooking for us class racers (especially 2x's this year...this wknd, and once more in October)! I'll bet Mark Faul is darn glad he went across the border, to partake in the races he did, because his back pocket was enhanced by his IHRA successes thus making his trip to his latest win at the All Stars easier to get to!!!

I don't get it, but I sure hope IHRA's efforts to expand out west continue to flourish, because with the economy being as it is, and NHRA not showing us class racers that they truly care about our participation in their races (with their higher competition costs, for less overall money and exposure), at least IHRA is offering us a helping of credible racing venues for entry fees not paid to NHRA for a national event in what 10-15yrs?

Keep doing what you're doing IHRA, and Skooter Peaco and others, because eventually the skeptics will see the light, and if they won't then they'll have to continue to read about the successes of those who're winning good money with lower competition costs, thanks to giving the so-called other 'HRA a try!!!

[Lambertcars]

3 reasons that I didnt go. #1 1100 miles round trip for me #2 Carolina race is in 2 weeks and it is only 220 miles round trip and that is a 2 race week end #3 Dont like the BUYBACK format. I think that if you are going to run a big Sportsman race like this it should not be a BUYBACK race.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Dan Fletcher

I really wish I could have been at this race. What an event. Kudos to Skooter Peaco and IHRA for putting on such a fantastic sportsman event. Read the letter from Skooter on the IHRA website with this link. Good job IHRA!!!

http://www.ihra.com/News/2011/07/04/1/

x2 Dan Man!!!

Now I ask you, have you heard this kind of message being delivered to sportsman racers by NHRA's VP towards us, to let us know how much we matter to them...honestly??? All IHRA needs that they don't yet have is a good tv deal, and they'll start blowing the socks off of the tv coverage our cars have been getting lately, and I'm sure that day's coming rapidly too (Speed Channel, USA Network, Spike TV, and TNT I hope someone connected to them is reading this?)!!! If NHRA really cared about us, then they would've tried harder to get ESPN to continue the "Inside Drag Racing" tv show that used to showcase our cars like they did 5yrs ago for starters, and we'd get more tv coverage than just 5-10 minutes (out of a 1hr show), from a show that's supposed to be about Sportsman Racing at national events...I forget our cars are non-alcoholic, or inject nitro into them! Our competition fees have gone up, and our class/regular contingency postings have gone down...go figure. Over and beyond the consolidation of classes, and our indexes being lowered...yeah I certainly feel the love they're showing us (from Glendora), which is why I hope Skooter (and IHRA), continue their western expansion, and I hope that more and more western tracks will realize how good the option for their business dollars, the IHRA's cooking really tastes!

I'm sure that the Glendora group was salivating over the thought of having a national event in IHRA's backyard, but turnabout is fair play, and as long as NHRA continues these enhancements they've been giving us racers nationwide, the western bunch will start to see the light (racers/tracks alike), and give the other 'HRA a try...one can only hope, and it'll be great to have another option for our class racing/points chasing dollars....

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Lambertcars

3 reasons that I didnt go. #1 1100 miles round trip for me #2 Carolina race is in 2 weeks and it is only 220 miles round trip and that is a 2 race week end #3 Dont like the BUYBACK format. I think that if you are going to run a big Sportsman race like this it should not be a BUYBACK race.

All Three points are good ones (especially the the first and the last one's). But the thought of the buyback thing is something that Skooter needs to hear about, because he's interested in feedback (good or bad)....at least he's willing to hear us out, did the Glendora group seem to care much about increasing our competition number costs, or doing away with singles for class wins, or reducing our indexes? I don't think so....

I'm double the miles from there that you are, and I have reservations for the buyback element too, but they'll let us express that concern with the likeliness of overturning it for next years race (if not future like races too).

I wish you well at your upcoming divisional, and thank you for your comments, because these are the thoughts that IHRA needs/wants to hear from us...which (based on the recent year enhancements NHRA's been giving us), is more than I can say for them!

[Dan Fletcher]

yep, thats a great reason. buy backs. with 38 cars in super stock and a $5000 to win GAURANTEED purse, where in the F*** do they get off having buy backs. F***ing communists...

[Michael Beard]

A day of countless hours tuning on the laptop finally yielded some semblance of a baseline. The issue is a combination of suspension and apparently a massive amount of torque. Ihad it blow the tires off but go down the track, hook but not run, spin AND not run... So I threw a Hail Mary at it for first round, combining the fuel and spark maps from the run that it hooked, and the other half from the run it went down the track, along with some very small tweaks. Hooked AND went down the track... And much to my surprise even got a W. Feeling much better now. Car works somewhat, and got both cars in for Rnd 2 tomorrow!

Oh, the in-car pic in the previous post is to illustrate "Real Stockers Have Cup Holders.".

[442OLDS]

Originally Posted by Dan Fletcher

I really wish I could have been at this race.

I really wish you were there too! LOL!

[Larry Hill]

Daryl That is funny!

[tpoh815]

I think if they scheduled the race on a weekend that had no other race I.E. (Chicago and or Jegs All stars) Or any other div race, the place would have been packed. Some racers follow the points over the money :Shrug: However, if you are racing this race your odds are killer.Still great job IHRA.

[Kegracing]

Michael, good job yesterday. Keep the updates and drama coming! Go by and give Chip a little luck for today. He needs it after a rough day yesterday.

Dan, good to see Thomas get to round 2. I know you wish you were there, I'm sure some of the other racers are glad you are not! lol. Is nice to see you offer the support.

IHRA continues to prove they are committed to the sportsman racer. I wish they had a race like this closer to TX, but understand where the biggest car base is. For a race this size, they must to what is best... this is still a business. I am not crazy about buy backs, but I have paid to play when bracket racing. Look at the purse... They had to think outside the box a little. Again, it is a business, and we all need them to stay in business!

We continue to see some of the bigger names cross over and run some IHRA. I know the Jeg's race pulled some to Chicgao along with points... but hard to find a completely open window. Hope the race in Oct. will be even bigger, after people see how this one goes off. Looks like yesterday was clean. Hope for good weather and smooth racing today for all!

Good luck to everyone there today. Wish I was there. Have FUN!

Ken