What's wrong with you folks?

Adger Smith · 06-14-2009, 02:46 PM

Just add my name to the list not there...but I was a wannabe.
It's just a sign of the times. Hard economy, fuel prices going up, weather issues. I don't think IHRA,NHRA,ZHRA or NobodyHRA could change those facts. Why all the negativism?
I was planning on being there but my tow truck spit a head gasket on the way home from the race at Memphis (only race I've made in 2 1/2 years) & I've been a little under the (health) weather, lately. The economy dictates I spend my time at the shop working instead of off racing. If I had been ready the weather forecast would have been an issue. We have had a cold front stalled on Oklahoma, Texas & Arkansas for over a week now. Anything could happen with those type weather systems. I've had to do my yard work in stages, between storms & showers & heat. It's not the track, IHRA, or their programs that kept me from being there.

buzzinhalfdozen · 06-15-2009, 06:22 AM

Don't need an excuse, as is typical of most IHRA races West of the Miss. poor Class turn outs. I saw there were only 19 T/S cars. IHRA has almost always had poor car counts when they go West, probably because historically they've been an East coast org. I'm not really sure why they continue to try to run these races out of their neighborhood. I'd like for it to work for them but I don't see it happening especially with the economic climate we're in. Oh yeah I believe there were only 12 H/R cars also, so don't point the finger at Stock Super Stock guys for not carrying them. It really doesn't make sense to make the trip out there when there's plenty of N & I races within a 5 hour tow. Also with the contengencies WAY down you can go run a race like the Buckeye S/SS combo's and win about the same money. Joe

Michael Lyons · 06-15-2009, 10:28 AM

potetial prize money vs cost to attend race? Goin head to head with a divisional at Joliet didn't help probably any either. Lots of cars starting with a 5 in their number at Joliet...

THE LEGEND · 06-15-2009, 11:16 AM

Joe,
I don't know about you but I can still get 5 or 6 grand from winningan IHRA race. Not to bad for 5 rds.

We were talking Saturday about the fact IHRA was founded in the South and will probably always be a Southern Organization. The reason they keep going west is they put people in the seats at these places.

Chip

buzzinhalfdozen · 06-15-2009, 11:32 AM

I agree, they do put butts in the seats .....but how many times can they bring a "short show" to town and expect a good spectator turn out? Don't get me wrong I want the IHRA to do well however it's almost always been the same story when the go outside their yard.... short car counts. Yeah I realize a racer can still win some decent money at a Nat event, I guess we have to weigh the travel expense, the entry fee and the missed days of work, to the payouts. One things for sure you can't argue with the numbers, I doubt IHRA was very happy with the numbers...so what to do? keep trying or work harder on the stuff that does work? I still don't see this as being a viable plan when it's been pretty obvious that their "core racers" wont support them that far West.. Just my opinion. Joe

Ed Wright · 06-15-2009, 01:06 PM

Spectator turnout was light, but with rain in the forecast you could expect that. The SS car counts has been about the same to all I have been to, except I think there may have been 20 cars at Baton Rouge.

As for the "slick track"comment, it has been better at all the Tulsa IHRA races than Houston or Topeka this year. This year it has been the best hooking track I have raced on. Houston used to be great, but Topeka has been crap every time I have gone there. Don't know why I expected anything different there this year. My Houston customers have been complaining all year. Too bad, in the past it was a place I looked forward to racing. They tell me HRP no longer uses VHT.

We talked about "Where is everybody?" in the staging lanes a couple of times. Same rules, same cars, just not all showed up. I was the only turkey there, the rest were good cars.

will prater · 06-15-2009, 01:34 PM

I don't have a dog in this fight but from reading on here over the years all the comments dealing with the NHRA "enhancements" that seem to keep coming at the sportsman level a person might think more racers would want to try IHRA racing.

06-14-2009, 02:46 PM	#1
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: What's wrong with you folks? Just add my name to the list not there...but I was a wannabe. It's just a sign of the times. Hard economy, fuel prices going up, weather issues. I don't think IHRA,NHRA,ZHRA or NobodyHRA could change those facts. Why all the negativism? I was planning on being there but my tow truck spit a head gasket on the way home from the race at Memphis (only race I've made in 2 1/2 years) & I've been a little under the (health) weather, lately. The economy dictates I spend my time at the shop working instead of off racing. If I had been ready the weather forecast would have been an issue. We have had a cold front stalled on Oklahoma, Texas & Arkansas for over a week now. Anything could happen with those type weather systems. I've had to do my yard work in stages, between storms & showers & heat. It's not the track, IHRA, or their programs that kept me from being there. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

06-15-2009, 06:22 AM	#2
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: What's wrong with you folks? Don't need an excuse, as is typical of most IHRA races West of the Miss. poor Class turn outs. I saw there were only 19 T/S cars. IHRA has almost always had poor car counts when they go West, probably because historically they've been an East coast org. I'm not really sure why they continue to try to run these races out of their neighborhood. I'd like for it to work for them but I don't see it happening especially with the economic climate we're in. Oh yeah I believe there were only 12 H/R cars also, so don't point the finger at Stock Super Stock guys for not carrying them. It really doesn't make sense to make the trip out there when there's plenty of N & I races within a 5 hour tow. Also with the contengencies WAY down you can go run a race like the Buckeye S/SS combo's and win about the same money. Joe __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

06-15-2009, 10:28 AM	#3
Michael Lyons Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Garden City, MI Posts: 226 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What's wrong with you folks? potetial prize money vs cost to attend race? Goin head to head with a divisional at Joliet didn't help probably any either. Lots of cars starting with a 5 in their number at Joliet...

06-15-2009, 11:16 AM	#4
THE LEGEND VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fayetteville, n.c. Posts: 1,411 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: What's wrong with you folks? Joe, I don't know about you but I can still get 5 or 6 grand from winningan IHRA race. Not to bad for 5 rds. We were talking Saturday about the fact IHRA was founded in the South and will probably always be a Southern Organization. The reason they keep going west is they put people in the seats at these places. Chip

06-15-2009, 11:32 AM	#5
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: What's wrong with you folks? I agree, they do put butts in the seats .....but how many times can they bring a "short show" to town and expect a good spectator turn out? Don't get me wrong I want the IHRA to do well however it's almost always been the same story when the go outside their yard.... short car counts. Yeah I realize a racer can still win some decent money at a Nat event, I guess we have to weigh the travel expense, the entry fee and the missed days of work, to the payouts. One things for sure you can't argue with the numbers, I doubt IHRA was very happy with the numbers...so what to do? keep trying or work harder on the stuff that does work? I still don't see this as being a viable plan when it's been pretty obvious that their "core racers" wont support them that far West.. Just my opinion. Joe __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

06-15-2009, 01:06 PM	#6
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: What's wrong with you folks? Spectator turnout was light, but with rain in the forecast you could expect that. The SS car counts has been about the same to all I have been to, except I think there may have been 20 cars at Baton Rouge. As for the "slick track"comment, it has been better at all the Tulsa IHRA races than Houston or Topeka this year. This year it has been the best hooking track I have raced on. Houston used to be great, but Topeka has been crap every time I have gone there. Don't know why I expected anything different there this year. My Houston customers have been complaining all year. Too bad, in the past it was a place I looked forward to racing. They tell me HRP no longer uses VHT. We talked about "Where is everybody?" in the staging lanes a couple of times. Same rules, same cars, just not all showed up. I was the only turkey there, the rest were good cars. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

06-15-2009, 01:34 PM	#7
will prater Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carthage, MO Posts: 108 Likes: 2 Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Re: What's wrong with you folks? I don't have a dog in this fight but from reading on here over the years all the comments dealing with the NHRA "enhancements" that seem to keep coming at the sportsman level a person might think more racers would want to try IHRA racing.