Stocker almost wins PINKS ALL OUT--Seattle

chris3racing · 08-18-2009, 08:16 AM

I agree. I got some flack for even bringing up Pinks All Out after running the event at Z-Max in Concord. When you enter the event you know it is for television and have to accept the tv cameras, camera personnel and all of the formalities. The stands were packed and at times the sound was like being in a professional football stadium with over 30,000 screaming, standing, waving and flashing camera flashes. When they made a reference to the crowd during the actual tv show what you hear on tv was nothing like being on that track, being in the pits getting ready for the next round or sitting in the stands. I have already made this statement before and I have gotten some flack for it, but NHRA, IHRA and other drag racing events have got to question what is being done here to draw this number of spectators and cars to these events over and over again. As you said these are not multi-million dollar, professional type cars and racers and spectators did not get up and leave there seats for a group of cars. These are the same cars that can be seen in Stock/Superstock events and the week-end foot-brake and bracket events. Like him or not he is filling 450 car fields, classed cars based on your et, in less than 20 minutes on your computer, filling the manufacturer's mid-way and certainly jamming the stands and the pit area with spectators. The spectators and racers are young and old, you have racers who have been racing "for ever" and you have young men and women, 18, 19, 20 years old, racing in 50's, 60's and 70's model cars, wheels up, running the car flat out, there is no brake lights or nose dropping when you runs these races.

John Kelley · 08-18-2009, 11:19 AM

Can you imagine if they held a PINKS ALL OUT at POMONA ????
Or Famoso (Bakersfield) ????
OUTRAGEOUS CROWDS !!!!!

Geerhead55 · 08-18-2009, 02:37 PM

You're right Bill,,,I forgot about the wheelstanding 4-speed Hemi Cuda,,,ol' fart syndrome strikes again!! My apologies to Peter as that car always puts on a good show. You saw him when he chased down the W/SA Pinto at the National Open at Bremerton earlier this summer, in the combo, I hope.
Danny Durham

Mark Lewis · 08-18-2009, 03:39 PM

The biggest draw is the heads up competition between cars that most people can relate to. No throttle stops or spot in the tree and the admission price is reasonable. They make a killing on concessions and souveneirs. Just my thoughts.
Mark

Phil Veldheer Racing · 08-18-2009, 05:32 PM

I was lucky and got one car in the ALL OUT race at US 131. I tried to get all five race cars in, but no luck. They sold out in 3 minutes, The one in Maryland sold 500 spots in 30 seconds. I went looking to have some fun and meet some new racers and I did. Made new friends from Indiana and Northern Michigan. The place was packed and I laughed out loud as the announcers made a 12.50 et race sound exciting and it was. Several stock and super stockers were there, the same weekend as the NHRA Points meet in Stanton, MI. (how many spectators were there) I ran 10.80's and they picked 10.30's. That's what happens...After seeing the well oiled PINKS ALL OUT in action, I asked several racers, "what would you rather OWN?, the NHRA? the IHRA? or PINKS ALL OUT? The same answer from everyone, PINKS ALL OUT. What a gold mine, the PINKS ALL OUT crew liked US 131 and I've heard they will be back in two years.
As a racer who relies on sponsorship to get the race cars to the track, I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY SPECTATORS at US 131 before looking only at SPORTSMAN race cars. The stands were packed and the fences on both sides were 5-7 deep the length of the strip on both sides. I've had "advertisers" of my race cars that have been involved for 5-10 years show up at this race for there FIRST EXPOSURE at LIVE drag racing because they became a fan of the race because they saw it on SPEED TV.. No Top FOOLERS, etc....the SPORTSMAN racers were the SHOW.....not a fill in....and the line up for the PINKS ALL OUT gear was HUGE....I had a camera on myself or my white/gold 69 Camaro around six times, we'll see if the we get any TV action on September 24th on Speed TV or the highlight show later. I had a great time and hope to get a stocker in victory lane at US 131 the next time. PINKS ALL OUT has its faults, but all in all its great for door slammer-sportsman drag racing.

Phil

Terry Knott · 08-18-2009, 06:06 PM

I was involved with PInks at Norwalk last year and it was the most fun you could have for a $50(?) entry. We didn't make the final cut but we still had a blast. I never had so many people inquire about my car before. The crew from Pinks were very accommodating. Norwalk..sold out of seats, it was incredible!!!

bill dedman · 08-18-2009, 11:00 PM

>>>"but all in all its great for door slammer-sportsman drag racing."

But, it's still Bracket Racing... it's not DRAG RACING, per se, because you can still lose by going too quick.

Rich Christensen has rhe smoke an mirrors machiene going full-tilt in order to convince the great unwashed in the stands (and, on TV) that this is heads-up drag racing.

It's not.

It may be the best thing to hit our sport, commercially, since nitromethane, but it's still not drag racing.

Drag racing is where you can outrun somebody HEADS UP with no chance of losing by going too quick.

"All Out" is a misnomer, because if you reset your timing for more performance, and run your car ":All Out," in the next round and go quicker, you wil be disqualified. That's the way it's done in Bracket Racing, and for good reason.

Rich has his lackeys in the tower monitoring the sandbaggers and keeping them honest. That's the only way this game will work.

It LOOKS LIKE drag racing and it SOUNDS LIKE drag racing, and maybe the way things have evolved, this is the best they can do... It sure packs 'em in!

I am elated that it puts butts in the seats, and garners decent TV ratings; Hell, somebody may even acquire a sponsorship because of what goes on at these "races," but in the final analysis, the only REAL drag racing that goes on these days is in Stock and S/S class eliminations at national events, and when two like-classed cars meet in an eliminator "heat."

Too bad the audience at NHRA and IHRA events are not aware of that... they might not head for the concession stands when the Stockers run...

Christensen has found a way to sell a cleverly-conceived product that looks and sounds like one thing, but is in fact, something completely different.

He might be related to P.T. Barnum... ya think???

BOB KIRKBRIDE · 08-19-2009, 09:14 PM

I made the TV show here in Las Vegas with my old Ford Thunderbolt. It was quite an experience for sure.
The stands were packed almost llike an NHRA national event. They even cheered like crazy when you lose!

B Aceves · 08-18-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kelley

Can you imagine if they held a PINKS ALL OUT at POMONA ????
Or Famoso (Bakersfield) ????
OUTRAGEOUS CROWDS !!!!!

Dont Imagine anymore Pinks is coming to Famoso in September 11th 12th has been sold out for a year!!!

08-18-2009, 08:16 AM	#1
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Stocker almost wins PINKS ALL OUT--Seattle I agree. I got some flack for even bringing up Pinks All Out after running the event at Z-Max in Concord. When you enter the event you know it is for television and have to accept the tv cameras, camera personnel and all of the formalities. The stands were packed and at times the sound was like being in a professional football stadium with over 30,000 screaming, standing, waving and flashing camera flashes. When they made a reference to the crowd during the actual tv show what you hear on tv was nothing like being on that track, being in the pits getting ready for the next round or sitting in the stands. I have already made this statement before and I have gotten some flack for it, but NHRA, IHRA and other drag racing events have got to question what is being done here to draw this number of spectators and cars to these events over and over again. As you said these are not multi-million dollar, professional type cars and racers and spectators did not get up and leave there seats for a group of cars. These are the same cars that can be seen in Stock/Superstock events and the week-end foot-brake and bracket events. Like him or not he is filling 450 car fields, classed cars based on your et, in less than 20 minutes on your computer, filling the manufacturer's mid-way and certainly jamming the stands and the pit area with spectators. The spectators and racers are young and old, you have racers who have been racing "for ever" and you have young men and women, 18, 19, 20 years old, racing in 50's, 60's and 70's model cars, wheels up, running the car flat out, there is no brake lights or nose dropping when you runs these races.

08-18-2009, 11:19 AM	#2
John Kelley Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tightwad,TEXAS Posts: 911 Likes: 6 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Stocker almost wins PINKS ALL OUT--Seattle Can you imagine if they held a PINKS ALL OUT at POMONA ???? Or Famoso (Bakersfield) ???? OUTRAGEOUS CROWDS !!!!!

08-18-2009, 02:37 PM	#3
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Stocker almost wins PINKS ALL OUT--Seattle You're right Bill,,,I forgot about the wheelstanding 4-speed Hemi Cuda,,,ol' fart syndrome strikes again!! My apologies to Peter as that car always puts on a good show. You saw him when he chased down the W/SA Pinto at the National Open at Bremerton earlier this summer, in the combo, I hope. Danny Durham

08-18-2009, 03:39 PM	#4
Mark Lewis Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 352 Likes: 65 Liked 209 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Stocker almost wins PINKS ALL OUT--Seattle The biggest draw is the heads up competition between cars that most people can relate to. No throttle stops or spot in the tree and the admission price is reasonable. They make a killing on concessions and souveneirs. Just my thoughts. Mark

08-18-2009, 05:32 PM	#5
Phil Veldheer Racing Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Holland, MICHIGAN Posts: 155 Likes: 43 Liked 26 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Stocker almost wins PINKS ALL OUT--Seattle I was lucky and got one car in the ALL OUT race at US 131. I tried to get all five race cars in, but no luck. They sold out in 3 minutes, The one in Maryland sold 500 spots in 30 seconds. I went looking to have some fun and meet some new racers and I did. Made new friends from Indiana and Northern Michigan. The place was packed and I laughed out loud as the announcers made a 12.50 et race sound exciting and it was. Several stock and super stockers were there, the same weekend as the NHRA Points meet in Stanton, MI. (how many spectators were there) I ran 10.80's and they picked 10.30's. That's what happens...After seeing the well oiled PINKS ALL OUT in action, I asked several racers, "what would you rather OWN?, the NHRA? the IHRA? or PINKS ALL OUT? The same answer from everyone, PINKS ALL OUT. What a gold mine, the PINKS ALL OUT crew liked US 131 and I've heard they will be back in two years. As a racer who relies on sponsorship to get the race cars to the track, I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY SPECTATORS at US 131 before looking only at SPORTSMAN race cars. The stands were packed and the fences on both sides were 5-7 deep the length of the strip on both sides. I've had "advertisers" of my race cars that have been involved for 5-10 years show up at this race for there FIRST EXPOSURE at LIVE drag racing because they became a fan of the race because they saw it on SPEED TV.. No Top FOOLERS, etc....the SPORTSMAN racers were the SHOW.....not a fill in....and the line up for the PINKS ALL OUT gear was HUGE....I had a camera on myself or my white/gold 69 Camaro around six times, we'll see if the we get any TV action on September 24th on Speed TV or the highlight show later. I had a great time and hope to get a stocker in victory lane at US 131 the next time. PINKS ALL OUT has its faults, but all in all its great for door slammer-sportsman drag racing. Phil __________________ PHIL VELDHEER 3455 STK IHRA WORLD Record Holder 2007-08-09-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

08-18-2009, 06:06 PM	#6
Terry Knott Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Western Pa. Posts: 53 Likes: 1 Liked 21 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Stocker almost wins PINKS ALL OUT--Seattle I was involved with PInks at Norwalk last year and it was the most fun you could have for a $50(?) entry. We didn't make the final cut but we still had a blast. I never had so many people inquire about my car before. The crew from Pinks were very accommodating. Norwalk..sold out of seats, it was incredible!!!

08-18-2009, 11:00 PM	#7
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Stocker almost wins PINKS ALL OUT--Seattle >>>"but all in all its great for door slammer-sportsman drag racing." But, it's still Bracket Racing... it's not DRAG RACING, per se, because you can still lose by going too quick. Rich Christensen has rhe smoke an mirrors machiene going full-tilt in order to convince the great unwashed in the stands (and, on TV) that this is heads-up drag racing. It's not. It may be the best thing to hit our sport, commercially, since nitromethane, but it's still not drag racing. Drag racing is where you can outrun somebody HEADS UP with no chance of losing by going too quick. "All Out" is a misnomer, because if you reset your timing for more performance, and run your car ":All Out," in the next round and go quicker, you wil be disqualified. That's the way it's done in Bracket Racing, and for good reason. Rich has his lackeys in the tower monitoring the sandbaggers and keeping them honest. That's the only way this game will work. It LOOKS LIKE drag racing and it SOUNDS LIKE drag racing, and maybe the way things have evolved, this is the best they can do... It sure packs 'em in! I am elated that it puts butts in the seats, and garners decent TV ratings; Hell, somebody may even acquire a sponsorship because of what goes on at these "races," but in the final analysis, the only REAL drag racing that goes on these days is in Stock and S/S class eliminations at national events, and when two like-classed cars meet in an eliminator "heat." Too bad the audience at NHRA and IHRA events are not aware of that... they might not head for the concession stands when the Stockers run... Christensen has found a way to sell a cleverly-conceived product that looks and sounds like one thing, but is in fact, something completely different. He might be related to P.T. Barnum... ya think??? __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 08-18-2009 at 11:28 PM.

08-19-2009, 09:14 PM	#8
BOB KIRKBRIDE Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 62 Likes: 4 Liked 15 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Stocker almost wins PINKS ALL OUT--Seattle I made the TV show here in Las Vegas with my old Ford Thunderbolt. It was quite an experience for sure. The stands were packed almost llike an NHRA national event. They even cheered like crazy when you lose!