"Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open - Page 4

Jack Matyas · 04-03-2009, 08:13 AM

Update -- Its raining so hard that even teardown has been postponed to at least noon .This afternoon it looks like most racers will tune up their TV's and breakout the adult beverages and nachos .Wind is also starting to pick up some speed .

Bob Aceves -- I'd love to try Vegas again -- maybe? You're right - two runs for a hundred is stiff .

More later as it unfolds ........

Jack Matyas · 04-03-2009, 10:04 AM

Here's the latest -- 11:20AM -- all racing today has been canceled-- even teardown -- things to resume tomorrow at 8:00am --- stay tuned for more info ............

junior barns · 04-03-2009, 10:12 AM

No records then????????????????

Bruce Noland · 04-03-2009, 10:19 AM

They will probably have tear down tomorrow for the racers who want their records.

david ring · 04-03-2009, 10:30 AM

Any news if they are going to try to get it done in one day?

SC1317 · 04-03-2009, 12:18 PM

The website says 2 time runs and run as much as they can and finish on Sunday if need be

Jack Matyas · 04-03-2009, 02:37 PM

Update -- 4 pm EST -- You won't believe this but we all know what happens when you cancel the days activities -- you guessed it -- the Sun is out and it sure feels like 65 degrees.........will it last ? What next you say -- Round 1 @ Joe Sways' famous Tiki Bar and Lounge right here in the pits at Atco....come and join us .Later......and probably with some great gossip .

Conversation overheard early yesterday morning while visiting the Diamond RV compound -------- I've lost my pants during the night -- any idea where they are ? Hmmmmmm..........

Update 6:45 pm EST -- Just started raining again with temps in low 60's but the wind is starting to pick up bigtime...........and the Sun is out ! Weird , just plain weird.
Think I'm gonna put the Dish down..............

Gary Parker · 04-03-2009, 03:42 PM

Talked to Bob Lang. Tear down is 8:30 sat. mornng.

dean ribeiro · 04-03-2009, 07:01 PM

Jack:
I would have stayed had i known you were buying??? Congrats to you and Bill on the record. Not all that good air for Atco!

Dean

Ken Miele · 04-03-2009, 08:53 PM

Not much happening today, Jack has pretty much covered it all. I would like to give everyone some food for thought about how lucky we are in this sport of drag racing.

Everyone knows the problems I had at this race. I would like to share what happened to me on Thursday. I hope it may help some of us realize, although NHRA is not perfect we have a pretty good racing deal.

I met a stock eliminator racer named Thomas Sundstrom, he is from Sweden and we met through Class Racer. He started emailing me about how good my stocker ran and he told me about his. We became friends through email, its very interesting how they race stock over in Sweden. They only have about 40 to 50 stock super stock cars. They police themselves, they don't have an NHRA tech, but they follow our rules right down to the horsepower ratings. They only race 6 times a year. They do not have a track they can go to every weekend to even test. The events are setup at airfields and they must get permission to race. They setup all the equipment and when there done its all packed up and taken to the next race. These guys love the sport and are grateful they have a place to race.

Thomas emailed me a few months ago and said him and a two of his friends that also race were coming to the USA to watch drag racing, stock and super stock racing to be exact. He ask what was a good race to go to in the beginning of April, I told him that the Atco Open would be a great race to see fast s/ss cars. He said that's great I will be there. I was not sure he was serious, but he was. He also asked if there was a speed shop near by to get some autolite racing plugs, they hard to find and expensive in Sweden, I told him I would get them for him. Well he showed up on Thursday night right form the airport. Him and his friends had not slept for 30 hours. I was trying to find a ride back home to get my spare rear. I was trying not to have to unhook the motorhome, it would be so much easier just to get a car and shoot home, about 35 miles. It was late and most racers were gone. Thomas said I will take you home and bring you back, no problem. I could not believe it, 30 hours and a guy I never met gets me out of a jam with no thought about finding a hotel and getting some sleep, just thinking about helping a fellow racer.

What I'm am trying to say is, we have it pretty good even when we think its not. These guys would love to have as many races as we have and a place to test anytime you want. So they next time you think NHRA is the worst place to race, think of these three guys who would loved to have the opportunities that we take for granted.

Thanks so much Thomas and Stig Ottosson, and Bo Nylund for the help, it made my night so much easier and gave me a greater appreciation for what I have.

04-03-2009, 08:13 AM	#31
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,927 Likes: 406 Liked 2,050 Times in 398 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open Update -- Its raining so hard that even teardown has been postponed to at least noon .This afternoon it looks like most racers will tune up their TV's and breakout the adult beverages and nachos .Wind is also starting to pick up some speed . Bob Aceves -- I'd love to try Vegas again -- maybe? You're right - two runs for a hundred is stiff . More later as it unfolds ........ __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO

04-03-2009, 10:04 AM	#32
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,927 Likes: 406 Liked 2,050 Times in 398 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open Here's the latest -- 11:20AM -- all racing today has been canceled-- even teardown -- things to resume tomorrow at 8:00am --- stay tuned for more info ............ __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO

04-03-2009, 10:12 AM	#33
junior barns Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 541 Likes: 11 Liked 20 Times in 14 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open No records then????????????????

04-03-2009, 10:19 AM	#34
Bruce Noland VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,855 Likes: 83 Liked 444 Times in 145 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open They will probably have tear down tomorrow for the racers who want their records. __________________ Bruce Noland 1788 STK

04-03-2009, 10:30 AM	#35
david ring Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oneonta.,NY Posts: 889 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open Any news if they are going to try to get it done in one day?

04-03-2009, 12:18 PM	#36
SC1317 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NY Snowbelt Posts: 113 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open The website says 2 time runs and run as much as they can and finish on Sunday if need be __________________ Michele Corigliano

04-03-2009, 02:37 PM	#37
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,927 Likes: 406 Liked 2,050 Times in 398 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open Update -- 4 pm EST -- You won't believe this but we all know what happens when you cancel the days activities -- you guessed it -- the Sun is out and it sure feels like 65 degrees.........will it last ? What next you say -- Round 1 @ Joe Sways' famous Tiki Bar and Lounge right here in the pits at Atco....come and join us .Later......and probably with some great gossip . Conversation overheard early yesterday morning while visiting the Diamond RV compound -------- I've lost my pants during the night -- any idea where they are ? Hmmmmmm.......... Update 6:45 pm EST -- Just started raining again with temps in low 60's but the wind is starting to pick up bigtime...........and the Sun is out ! Weird , just plain weird. Think I'm gonna put the Dish down.............. __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO Last edited by Jack Matyas; 04-03-2009 at 05:21 PM. Reason: update

04-03-2009, 03:42 PM	#38
Gary Parker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Westfield Mass Posts: 529 Likes: 368 Liked 425 Times in 56 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open Talked to Bob Lang. Tear down is 8:30 sat. mornng. __________________ Gary Parker 1617 STK

04-03-2009, 07:01 PM	#39
dean ribeiro Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: candia, nh Posts: 517 Likes: 58 Liked 235 Times in 75 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open Jack: I would have stayed had i known you were buying??? Congrats to you and Bill on the record. Not all that good air for Atco! Dean

04-03-2009, 08:53 PM	#40
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,861 Likes: 456 Liked 16,554 Times in 1,522 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atco,NJ-PC Richard National Open Not much happening today, Jack has pretty much covered it all. I would like to give everyone some food for thought about how lucky we are in this sport of drag racing. Everyone knows the problems I had at this race. I would like to share what happened to me on Thursday. I hope it may help some of us realize, although NHRA is not perfect we have a pretty good racing deal. I met a stock eliminator racer named Thomas Sundstrom, he is from Sweden and we met through Class Racer. He started emailing me about how good my stocker ran and he told me about his. We became friends through email, its very interesting how they race stock over in Sweden. They only have about 40 to 50 stock super stock cars. They police themselves, they don't have an NHRA tech, but they follow our rules right down to the horsepower ratings. They only race 6 times a year. They do not have a track they can go to every weekend to even test. The events are setup at airfields and they must get permission to race. They setup all the equipment and when there done its all packed up and taken to the next race. These guys love the sport and are grateful they have a place to race. Thomas emailed me a few months ago and said him and a two of his friends that also race were coming to the USA to watch drag racing, stock and super stock racing to be exact. He ask what was a good race to go to in the beginning of April, I told him that the Atco Open would be a great race to see fast s/ss cars. He said that's great I will be there. I was not sure he was serious, but he was. He also asked if there was a speed shop near by to get some autolite racing plugs, they hard to find and expensive in Sweden, I told him I would get them for him. Well he showed up on Thursday night right form the airport. Him and his friends had not slept for 30 hours. I was trying to find a ride back home to get my spare rear. I was trying not to have to unhook the motorhome, it would be so much easier just to get a car and shoot home, about 35 miles. It was late and most racers were gone. Thomas said I will take you home and bring you back, no problem. I could not believe it, 30 hours and a guy I never met gets me out of a jam with no thought about finding a hotel and getting some sleep, just thinking about helping a fellow racer. What I'm am trying to say is, we have it pretty good even when we think its not. These guys would love to have as many races as we have and a place to test anytime you want. So they next time you think NHRA is the worst place to race, think of these three guys who would loved to have the opportunities that we take for granted. Thanks so much Thomas and Stig Ottosson, and Bo Nylund for the help, it made my night so much easier and gave me a greater appreciation for what I have.