IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format

Dan Fletcher · 10-19-2009, 09:11 AM

But that's just the point. They are trying to package a 3 to 4 hour "entertainment" package, not an all day affair. Only hardcore car peeps are going to show up at 8am for stock eliminator. That isn't who they are trying to sell tickets to. We still get to race, but they could be holding a separate "xyz" contest later in the day that brings in the main revenue. The way I see it, it's almost like two completely unrelated activities. Reality can be depressing sometimes, but at least we still get a playground...

John Warehime · 10-19-2009, 10:02 AM

I'll give it a try. One less hotel night. No pro oilers in with Sportsman. Sounds like it could work. Time will tell.

Dave Ribeiro · 10-19-2009, 01:31 PM

Dan & Fast Johnny, everyone else....

As I have said before, thank God we still have choices where we can RACE.. If you think its bad now imagine that there was only one place to Race, and the closest track was 5-800 miles away like out west ...If you don't want to travel you can stay local and run IHRA in the East ... We are really lucky to have so many places to run ... No , they aren't perfect but they are handy and it gives us Choices ?
So stop complaining and Go Racing , while you still can ... Also, this is a great time
to support IHRA, Muscle Car and bracket races where you can still play ...

@ The Choice is yours , support your local tracks while they are still around.....

X-TECH MAN · 10-19-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Ribeiro

Dan & Fast Johnny, everyone else....

As I have said before, thank God we still have choices where we can RACE.. If you think its bad now imagine that there was only one place to Race, and the closest track was 5-800 miles away like out west ...If you don't want to travel you can stay local and run IHRA in the East ... We are really lucky to have so many places to run ... No , they aren't perfect but they are handy and it gives us Choices ?
So stop complaining and Go Racing , while you still can ... Also, this is a great time
to support IHRA, Muscle Car and bracket races where you can still play ...

@ The Choice is yours , support your local tracks while they are still around.....

AMEN to that.

Jim Woods · 10-19-2009, 02:46 PM

Very well said Dave,

chevy620 · 10-21-2009, 12:18 PM

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone got off their butt and made a decision.

Things that attract spectators to spend their hard-earned money have CHANGED in the last several years. CONGRATULATIONS to Aaron and the crew at Feld for being strong enough to try something new.
The OLD WAY was dead and NHRA is proving it every week I watch that mind-numbing event coverage.

Even Pinks All Out can pack the stands, when was the last time you watched a National Event on TV with full grandstands? Even Bruton's Charlotte event was a dud, attendance wise. Now there is a guy who will watch the IHRA plans very closely...

The booked in show will probably be better entertainment because they are getting PAID to make good runs.

The "average race fan" doesn't know so-called big name racers from '
"Joe-Shmo". They know noise, fire and smoke and want the ticket price to be affordable and a 3 hour show, period.

What NHRA and some IHRA National events have turned into is more of a marathon for die-hard race fans and there simply are not enough of them to support the sport anymore.

Bring on the CIRCUS, leave the Sportsman Racers alone to race (which they did!!!) and let's go racing.

Kudos to IHRA for being brave enough to lay down their cards and make a "call".

Jok Nicholson

Gary Smith · 10-21-2009, 02:00 PM

Yes!!! I absolutely second what Jok and Dave said. By condensing the Pro show, the boredom factor drops, and many paying spectators may come early to take in some wheelstanding stock & super stock action prior to the main event. Look at circle tracks and how they run their shows...same philosophy.

Right before the show the announcers could even hype up and build some drama for Stock and Super Stock...that's what will draw fans. Between rounds at those SoCal 64 funny car events during the 70s they'd get a handful of bracket cars and pair them up by make...Chevy vs. Ford, Mopar vs. Chevy etc. for grudge matches. When the cars were staging the track announcer would stir up the spectators by screaming "how many want to see the Ford win? How about the Chevy?" and so on. It didn't matter if it was shoe polish or heads up racing... The win light would come on and the fans went wild...sometimes more than the funny car action. Rich Christensen's success can be attributed to similar tactics - always making cars the stars.

Jimi B · 10-21-2009, 04:04 PM

I agree with Fletch. They are a business doing what they feel they have to do to sustain, and or possibly prosper. Shortening the show is probably a good idea. All though if IHRA national events were only 3 days thats not bad (only been to divisionals for ihra). I love being at the track more than anywhere, but its probably a sound decision to save vacation days and the expense for the average sportsman racer. Coincides with the type of decision making all of us are having to make in this time in our country. Leaning out to insure that we are around for the duration.

NHRA could definitely stand for their national events being shorter for the sportsman. Again, I love being at a race for the better part of a week. However as I am looking at taking my first shot at driving at divisionals/national events (grading point contingent) next year I would rather make it to more races then stay all week for some. If NHRA could juggle some classes around and drop maybe 1 rd of pro qualifyiing, perhaps do a round of eliminations saturday, and run more sportsman on sunday, to save sportsman racers an extra day away from their other obligations, I think it would be a big help. (if nhra didnt really view us as dead weight). Im sure espn would not suffer too badly.

As far as being a show, no qualifying etc.. Not so much.

I believe someone was talking about what we can do to save our sport. I think we need to get a class or 2 that go back to the idea behind Pro Stock. Cars that consumers relate to. I love nitro, but I absolutely love Pro Stock, and would not want to get rid of it. But some class that was "part of the show" that was a lot more like what you can buy off the show room floor I think would do a lot for the sport. Im sure I will get flack for this, but perhaps 2 classes like this. One being rwd, and one being fwd or even awd.

10-19-2009, 09:11 AM	#1
Dan Fletcher Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Churchville, NY Posts: 493 Likes: 129 Liked 1,045 Times in 70 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format But that's just the point. They are trying to package a 3 to 4 hour "entertainment" package, not an all day affair. Only hardcore car peeps are going to show up at 8am for stock eliminator. That isn't who they are trying to sell tickets to. We still get to race, but they could be holding a separate "xyz" contest later in the day that brings in the main revenue. The way I see it, it's almost like two completely unrelated activities. Reality can be depressing sometimes, but at least we still get a playground... __________________ Dan Fletcher 1781 STK, SS, COMP, SG, SC DAN FLETCHER TRAILER SALES

10-19-2009, 10:02 AM	#2
John Warehime Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format I'll give it a try. One less hotel night. No pro oilers in with Sportsman. Sounds like it could work. Time will tell.

10-19-2009, 01:31 PM	#3
Dave Ribeiro VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsburg, Va.---USA Posts: 1,827 Likes: 1,612 Liked 56 Times in 27 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format Dan & Fast Johnny, everyone else.... As I have said before, thank God we still have choices where we can RACE.. If you think its bad now imagine that there was only one place to Race, and the closest track was 5-800 miles away like out west ...If you don't want to travel you can stay local and run IHRA in the East ... We are really lucky to have so many places to run ... No , they aren't perfect but they are handy and it gives us Choices ? So stop complaining and Go Racing , while you still can ... Also, this is a great time to support IHRA, Muscle Car and bracket races where you can still play ... @ The Choice is yours , support your local tracks while they are still around..... __________________ Dave Ribeiro 1033 STK

10-19-2009, 02:46 PM	#5
Jim Woods Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: celina, ohio Posts: 623 Likes: 4 Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format Very well said Dave, __________________ Jim Woods

10-21-2009, 12:18 PM	#6
chevy620 Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 188 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone got off their butt and made a decision. Things that attract spectators to spend their hard-earned money have CHANGED in the last several years. CONGRATULATIONS to Aaron and the crew at Feld for being strong enough to try something new. The OLD WAY was dead and NHRA is proving it every week I watch that mind-numbing event coverage. Even Pinks All Out can pack the stands, when was the last time you watched a National Event on TV with full grandstands? Even Bruton's Charlotte event was a dud, attendance wise. Now there is a guy who will watch the IHRA plans very closely... The booked in show will probably be better entertainment because they are getting PAID to make good runs. The "average race fan" doesn't know so-called big name racers from ' "Joe-Shmo". They know noise, fire and smoke and want the ticket price to be affordable and a 3 hour show, period. What NHRA and some IHRA National events have turned into is more of a marathon for die-hard race fans and there simply are not enough of them to support the sport anymore. Bring on the CIRCUS, leave the Sportsman Racers alone to race (which they did!!!) and let's go racing. Kudos to IHRA for being brave enough to lay down their cards and make a "call". Jok Nicholson

10-21-2009, 02:00 PM	#7
Gary Smith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 820 Likes: 9 Liked 132 Times in 30 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format Yes!!! I absolutely second what Jok and Dave said. By condensing the Pro show, the boredom factor drops, and many paying spectators may come early to take in some wheelstanding stock & super stock action prior to the main event. Look at circle tracks and how they run their shows...same philosophy. Right before the show the announcers could even hype up and build some drama for Stock and Super Stock...that's what will draw fans. Between rounds at those SoCal 64 funny car events during the 70s they'd get a handful of bracket cars and pair them up by make...Chevy vs. Ford, Mopar vs. Chevy etc. for grudge matches. When the cars were staging the track announcer would stir up the spectators by screaming "how many want to see the Ford win? How about the Chevy?" and so on. It didn't matter if it was shoe polish or heads up racing... The win light would come on and the fans went wild...sometimes more than the funny car action. Rich Christensen's success can be attributed to similar tactics - always making cars the stars. __________________ Gary Smith "another broke racer spectating"

10-21-2009, 04:04 PM	#8
Jimi B Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 226 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format I agree with Fletch. They are a business doing what they feel they have to do to sustain, and or possibly prosper. Shortening the show is probably a good idea. All though if IHRA national events were only 3 days thats not bad (only been to divisionals for ihra). I love being at the track more than anywhere, but its probably a sound decision to save vacation days and the expense for the average sportsman racer. Coincides with the type of decision making all of us are having to make in this time in our country. Leaning out to insure that we are around for the duration. NHRA could definitely stand for their national events being shorter for the sportsman. Again, I love being at a race for the better part of a week. However as I am looking at taking my first shot at driving at divisionals/national events (grading point contingent) next year I would rather make it to more races then stay all week for some. If NHRA could juggle some classes around and drop maybe 1 rd of pro qualifyiing, perhaps do a round of eliminations saturday, and run more sportsman on sunday, to save sportsman racers an extra day away from their other obligations, I think it would be a big help. (if nhra didnt really view us as dead weight). Im sure espn would not suffer too badly. As far as being a show, no qualifying etc.. Not so much. I believe someone was talking about what we can do to save our sport. I think we need to get a class or 2 that go back to the idea behind Pro Stock. Cars that consumers relate to. I love nitro, but I absolutely love Pro Stock, and would not want to get rid of it. But some class that was "part of the show" that was a lot more like what you can buy off the show room floor I think would do a lot for the sport. Im sure I will get flack for this, but perhaps 2 classes like this. One being rwd, and one being fwd or even awd. __________________ Jimmy Bowling BF/S 3808 www.facebook.com/jimib1980