car count at i.h.r.a. opener

[Pat Joffrion]

Guys,

Just to inform all of ya'll, I tried to get the SportsNationals moved back two weeks, without success. I spoke to both the IHRA & NHRA division directors to resolve the schedule conflict.

The reason for NHRA placing the S/N the week behind Houston was to help out the racers with their towing expenses. We had 40+ racers that came over from Houston on Sunday and Monday to "camp out" with us.

I don't like getting into a pis*ing contest with any other track, and I will continue to try and avoid schedule conflicts in the future. I have raced NHRA and IHRA events. I learned a lot from both sanctioning bodies. Personally, I prefer to race 1/4-mile. But the idea to save racers tow money seemed to make good sense, and I have submitted my thoughts to NHRA to try and get their pro series to "connect the dots" by scheduling their events starting at Pomona, then Phoenix, Houston, Gainsville, Atlanta, Memphis, Topeka, etc... That would allow the professional (and touring sportsmen) an opportunity to save thousands in fuel costs.

Hopefully, we can avoid the mixup in the future. It is in the best interest of the racers and fans for the tracks to work together.

Pat

[Larry Sullivan]

Gee, Pat, you trying to bring some class to this place, or what?

[Jason Oldfield]

Originally Posted by Pat Joffrion

But the idea to save racers tow money seemed to make good sense, and I have submitted my thoughts to NHRA to try and get their pro series to "connect the dots" by scheduling their events starting at Pomona, then Phoenix, Houston, Gainsville, Atlanta, Memphis, Topeka, etc... That would allow the professional (and touring sportsmen) an opportunity to save thousands in fuel costs.

Pat, Pat, Pat....this is ANOTHER idea that would just make TOO MUCH SENSE! I've thought this for YEARS. It would even make sense from a weather standpoint. But, why have the racers criss-cross the country twice, when you can have them do it at least 7 times?!?!?

As for the car count in San Antonio, I would never expect that either track operator would have wanted this scheduling conflict. But, from NHRA's and IHRA's standpoint, remember that the majority of their revenue comes from the paying SPECTATOR gate. If the stands are full, and there is only 1 car there, NHRA and IHRA would be happy.

Don't believe me? Look at the IHRA race in Edmonton. You want record low car counts, there it is, and it's been that way from day one. Yet IHRA continues to praise Edmonton, and re-upped their contract with them. So, they're obviously not all that concerned about the fact that there was only 150 cars there TOTAL ACROSS 10 CLASSES LAST YEAR (it doesn't appear that they raced T/S or T/D there). The single largest class was Pro Modified with 21 cars, and I'm sure the reason why the pros pulled as many cars as the sportsman classes was because the pros were basically paid tow money. Across those same 10 classes, there was 211 cars in San Antonio (i.e. 33% more cars).

From a racers standpoint, its a shame that both races were scheduled for the same weekend as I'm sure there were plenty that would have gone to both had they been able to. IMHO, IHRA screwed up BIG TIME by scheduling the race the same weekend as the NASCAR race and the Final Four. Maybe the stands were packed on Saturday, but I can't help but imagine that if those other HUGE events weren't going on at the same time that they could have possibly had even more spectators, not to mention more cars (though, maybe their thinking was that they'd try to lure people down to the track on Friday and Saturday that were in town for those big events...I don't know...)

[Dave Ribeiro]

Pat,

Just keep doing the great job you have done over the years on racing & building a great track for the racers... As you know their will always be conflicts and the racers have a choice on where to race...I still don't understand why more NHRA guys don't attend, but I also don't like running 1/8 mile..If I have a choice its 1/4 only, seems like there are many more who prefer 1/4 mile...That being said everyone needs to look at the expense of fuel ontop of the cost of racing .. IHRA and NHRA have their good and bad points, we are lucky to have the option of picking which one to attend.. In some parts of the country they don't have a choice and they pay dearly... I must say IHRA has a great idea in the double events on the same weekend and this does help the racer.. I wish NHRA would adapt the same thing and save the racer some $$$$$$$... It was great when the race was only one day and not 2-3 days as it is today ! Costs are effecting cars counts and it will gets worst as the year goes on...
So lets stop bitching and be glad we still have places to race at, or just park-it and go Boating.................just a couple of cents, Lets race.... Dave,