Records, Etc @ Gainesville

[Rollins_2241]

I hear all of you. I just think we are living in a new era, not only economically but with race car technology. Think back; in the 60's, the cars were "better than the best track". I grew up watching 8mm film of cars smoking tires all the way down the 1320 because they were making more power than the tires and track prep allowed. Then for a while, the tracks and tires were "better than the best cars", and it became normal to expect to stick all the time anywhere, no matter your setup. Now HP and torque-multiplication is increasing so fast I think we're moving back to trying to adapt to the conditions, and tracks do not have more to spend at the local level on prep. I think the heads-up crowd is far ahead of us on that.

Nobody has to tell me about the emphasis on safety issues. I dare say on that issue, I've "given up" more to this sport than anyone posting on here who ain't a ghost. We all need to suit up right, build our stuff right and have the judgment to abort a bad run.

And it will not fix the problem to spread negativity about any track or organization without offering a solution.

I don't want or need to test the limits of every racetrack like a record-setter in a performance class, but I haven't noticed any real difference or decline in track prep showing up in my results lately.

[SS/GSI]

Mr. Rollins, do you currently race Stock, Super Stock or Comp Eliminator? If yes, please state Class, Car and ET vs Index, if not maybe you need to further educate yourself on exactly how "on the edge" a large portion of the cars in these classes are in order to perform at a high level and set records. No disrespect; however until one gets truly involved in Class Racing, it is hard to comprehend. We are looking for thousanths at times not tenths!

[Bill Grubbs]

John,
Come on in...the water is plenty deep...even a cave man can do it.

Come show us how it is done. C/SA is really fun. Look forward to seeing you.

Bill

[jmarkaudio]

Originally Posted by Rollins_2241

And it will not fix the problem to spread negativity about any track or organization without offering a solution.

There are plenty of solutions, as long as the bean counters aren't worried about stuffing every dime in their pockets. Last I checked, that track is owned by a bunch with little interest in the sport, only making money. And they do it with no thought of what it could be with a little more effort. Other than the Gators, my last trip down that track was in 09, a King of the Hill Wally race. I got down to 3 cars in S/P, and left with $50. I was unaware they combined the purses, something you find at none of the other tracks in Florida except on rare combo nights. And they want to know why cars go farther to SGMP...

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by jmarkaudio

There are plenty of solutions, as long as the bean counters aren't worried about stuffing every dime in their pockets. Last I checked, that track is owned by a bunch with little interest in the sport, only making money. And they do it with no thought of what it could be with a little more effort. Other than the Gators, my last trip down that track was in 09, a King of the Hill Wally race. I got down to 3 cars in S/P, and left with $50. I was unaware they combined the purses, something you find at none of the other tracks in Florida except on rare combo nights. And they want to know why cars go farther to SGMP...

Bingo, and we all know who owns the track. If you look at SGMP's bracket points list and their listed place of residence you'll see there are a ton of racers that drive right by the track on the way to SGMP. When I got my licensing runs with Frank Hawley it was obvious his crew had prepped the starting line better than the "owners" do for their programs. That should give everyone an idea. Shame too, Gainesville use to be one of the premium tracks in the entire country.

[Ed Wright]

Gainsville used to be on my bucket list. Guess I can scratch that one off.

[C and W Racing]

Ed, I don't know if I'd take it off of your list if your coming for a national event. I will say that at the national there, it was the best track I had been down all year. Last year it was very good as well. Just wasn't good at the open race they just had.
Chuck

[Rollins_2241]

Mr. Rollins, do you currently race Stock, Super Stock or Comp Eliminator?

Exactly my point. Never have, and probably never will. I prefer learning and perfecting a different skill set (and racing more often on the same limited budget). But if all you guys talk to is an echo chamber of dissatisfied peers, you probably won't learn much or have more fun anytime soon. I also know that the winners in your classes are managing to get down the racetrack instead of whining about it. No offense, just tough love.

Mark, If the bean counters aren't at least moderately happy, there is no place to race. So it's not a solution to say "the track should be a charity that is willing to lose unlimited amounts of money to make me happy". We're losing tracks left and right because it is not profitable in this economy to pay the note on the facility, much less double the spend on track prep. NHRA could certainly be a more efficient corporation, but that's another discussion. Once again, negativity is how you rationalize staying in the garage maybe, but it doesn't give us more or better places to race.

[Greg Hill]

I can tell you one thing, a bad starting line will kill a drag strip faster than anything. In Louisville we have Ohio Valley which has been there for more than 40 years. Three or four years ago they tried VP traction compound and it killed their car count. They switched back to VHT in 2010 and their car counts came back. No one likes to race on a bad track.

[jmarkaudio]

Originally Posted by Rollins_2241

Mark, If the bean counters aren't at least moderately happy, there is no place to race. So it's not a solution to say "the track should be a charity that is willing to lose unlimited amounts of money to make me happy". We're losing tracks left and right because it is not profitable in this economy to pay the note on the facility, much less double the spend on track prep. NHRA could certainly be a more efficient corporation, but that's another discussion. Once again, negativity is how you rationalize staying in the garage maybe, but it doesn't give us more or better places to race.

I don't expect the tracks to lose money, but if they don't provide what the racers as a whole feel is reasonable they will go to a track that does. SGMP doesn't seem to have a problem paying a normal purse and prepping the track properly. Speed Worlds track prep isn't the best, but the purse is comparable and the entry fee has been the lowest of any of the Florida tracks. And as far as Gainesville, the track is owned and run by NHRA, I doubt there is a note on that one. They could do better with it if they tried...

And the bottom line with any business is to satisfy your customers, otherwise you won't make any money or lose your business. It means they may have to tighten the belt in some cases to keep working, maybe cut back on those 500K salaries a bit... In this case, we are the customers. I'll go where I'm treated fairly. even if it means passing Gainesville on the way...

And last, we already have several tracks that have switched to IHRA in this state. IHRA must be doing something right.