Where were you TEXAS, & D4 racers???

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by R J Sledge

Gary

If makes a difference if you put an extra150 lbs in the trunk, which several people do when running at San Antonio. Track prep is virtually non- exsistent after initial "morning" prep. San Antonio is my home track and I have made a pass or two down it. Hawk is to be congradulated for the win, but he was running 12.60's, not exactly a high HP combo, good thinking on his part to not risk spinning a tire. Didn't see any 65 Cornet running Stock/Superstock, big tires/glides do make a difference.



And you ask why there were only a handfull of people at the race!!! Here are some questions and answers you should remember. Most people down here with Fast Stockers know from bad experiences about the lack of track prep by IHRA, its Summer Time and its Hot, high HP cars running 9" slicks have a real problem, why would IHRA schedule a race in San Antonio this time of the year, duh!! and why don't they take a few lessons from NHRA Div 4 starting line personnel about how to prep one. I have been in Houston for a Div 4 race and temperature around 100 degrees and never had a problem, the difference is the people in charge of the starting line and the powers that control them. Its all about money and really not caring about the racers who depend on a consistent starting line and being limited by Class to a 9" tire. Run the Race in the Spring or Fall and it would be competely different, you would have thought that somebody in charge would realize that.

So you really answered your own question about the lack of turn out.
How many times have you had a unpleasant experience while spending your own dime and wanted to repeat it.

An extra $200 spent on starting line prep and it would have been different. Too bad they did not start doing it a few years ago when it would have made a difference.......then and especially now.

RJ

The '65 Dodge Coronet was in the Box ET category, and was a 9.6sec runner...oh btw, I never said it was a Stock or Super Stock car, because I knew that when I saw it cruising by my pit area, just by looking at the hood. Funny how you didn't mention Jerry Emmons car, because in Stock Eliminator, his car is in the faster half of all the classes Stock has, and again he didn't have any traction issues. Furthermore, Pete Peery and Jerry Miller had the two quickest Super Stockers out there, and I hung out with them and Jammin' Jerry, and don't recall any of them having any issues with the track that day (they were 9.97 & 10.05 in final qualifying too, with high powered race cars), sorry but I don't recall cars running GT/FA, or SS/FA being low hp class cars, so try again man because all three of those guys had fast half Super Stock, or Stock cars, and look who won...the quickest and fastest of all the class cars out there....bad track? Maybe in the past, but this race was not like those races were, and neither of these cars would've ran worth a darn if they had traction issues, because of the heat.

As for the holiday comment, I recall when the "Cajun Nationals" were run around this same time of year, in Louisiana, and was frequently run on Memorial Day weekend (or the weekend nearest to Memorial Day....fact(s) of the matter, are:

1. Yes Memorial Day Weekend is the time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us to be able to enjoy our freedoms, our families, AND RACING!!!

2. Memorial Day Weekend has always been the biggest weekend for racing throughout the land...The Indy 500, and The Coca Cola 600, as well as the now defunct Cajun Nationals, were proof of that.....sorry US Nationals, but your race and a Nascar race don't upstage what Memorial Day means for followers of the Indy 5 and the CC 6!

Regardless of the weather, this race deserved better than it got, and now North Carolina will get it, and even if at the same date, I bet they'll get double the car count!!!

[RJ Sledge]

Gary

Glad you got to race and hang out with your buds, hope you enjoy the race next year in North Carolina.

Just living a dream here in Texas

RJ

[Alan Warman]

Look what I got in my e-mail tonight. Do you thank the other H.R.A. would have done this.

Alan,


I noticed that you were not in San Antonio this past weekend for the Summit Sportsman Spectacular but was there for the Nitro Jam event in March and was wondering if you could share with me your reason for not coming. We are always looking to improve and any input you would give would be greatly appreciated.


thanks,


Frank Kohutek | Division Director 4&7 / Feld Motor Sports, Inc / IHRA Motorsports
972.285.3333 office / 419.706.6610 cell / 972.289.1233 fax
ihrasouth@att.net / fkohutek@feldinc.com
1001 Barclay dr, | Mesquite , Texas , USA | 75149

[Super Sport]

When a track gets a bad reputation such as a slick starting line, it takes a long time to live it down.

[THE LEGEND]

I would bet they could have this race anywhere east on Christmas day and have more cars.
Just Saying.

[kevintscott44]

Dear Gary!

I am a Texas racer and support both IHRA and NHRA. But with the way the economy is and especially with my job as a paramedic it is hard to get time off like I use to. Lot's of racers here do there best to get out there when we can. Anytime you wanna pay my way and freshen up my engine for me I will be more then happy to let ya!. Unfortunately I am having to pull my engine and send it off to get freshened up. I had planned to go to San Antonio and support this race. Hope you have fun in where ever you race

[Harry 6674]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

I'm asking this because of the shockingly poor turnout that this race had from you guys...especially since Scooter Peaco told me yesterday that Texas has the second largest IHRA membership (second only to North Carolina). I don't get it given I, Matt & Chuck Hawk, as well as Steve Mikus, and Joe Harper, traveled through other states to get here to participate in this race that you guys begged IHRA to offer you?

Well guess what, your poor showing here, just insured that this race won't be back here ever again (per Scooter Peaco, vp of racing operations)! You had the biggest paying race in your categories that any HRA could/would provide, and you didn't show up....I'm waiting to read a collection of reasons why people stayed home, and failed to support this so-called wanted event!!! I read the other website about this thread, and in it I noticed only two racers (so far), had good reasons to not attend...what about the rest of you???

Guess what, North Carolina, you'll be getting this race next year, and given that your state loves IHRA drag racing so much, that you have your own division, Texas's loss will be your gain!!!! I hope you're happy with yourselves Texans, I know the North Carolinans will be!!!

Gary for a guy that whines and crys about the high cost of NHRA races you seem to be able to absorb the high cost of traveling.Just sayin.

[Emmett Mikolajczyk]

Hey--it is sad that there was not a turn out because it cost a lot of money to put on a race, but just because somebody scheduels a race does not mean everyone will come-I live right here and have a BARN FULL of stockers and super stockers and did not attend !! I hope no one holds that against me--I have gone to 2 races in 2 years--unlike some places we have a terriable economy and I hope that the owners of the local race track take this to Heart--I dont think IHRA is to blame but I will agree with R J , the local track cant treat racers like they are cattle and expect them to come back--stock and super stock has had pleanty of reasons not to show up!!--I dont look for it to get any better any time soon and rightfully another track should be rewarded--I think that that was a good venue and should be at a track that draws alot of stockers and super stockers (there are grand total of 7 stock and super stockers that live in our area--for it to be a successful you have to depend on the out of town cars) please dont beat up the Texas racers--It is what it is--Emmett

[Jacob Pitt]

San Antonio Raceway which is a track I like but it does not have a good reputation for being a good hooking track and for good reason. It is the only track that the Volare has ever spun at each time it has ever been there. I ran the car heavy at the Spectacular so I had a better chance of staying hooked during the race. That worked but the starting line was still lacking teeth as in the final of Stock the front tires scooted in the beams with the brake pedal to the floor at 2800rpm. I tried to compensate my light but still missed it with a -.018 red. Not making excuses for my lose just stating facts as to an insight as a possiblity to the low turn out. Brimer was the fastest stocker left in competition in the semi's and he spun against Hawk and then broke his transmission. My no box car was also spinning all weekend with extra weight in the trunk. I dialed it soft all day and then decided to trust the track in the finals and spun more in the final than I had the last three rounds and couldn't catch Hawk. Again not an excuse. Hawk whooped my tail twice and that's that! One last example of the track condition. My uncle was still in competition from the Baton Rouge Pro Am rain out that they finished friday night. He had no issues getting down the track in boggy and hot Baton Rouge but the first hit friday he shook the tires so hard he decided to change tires before eliminations started. I do wish there would have been more cars but I know of more than a few racers that didn't go because they didn't think the track would be good.

[kevintscott44]

Amen emmett!!!!!!!!!!!!