IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format - Page 5

Chris1529 · 10-19-2009, 07:32 AM

you are right Herb.

buzzinhalfdozen · 10-19-2009, 07:41 AM

Does this mean that in the contingency sponsors eyes the IHRA has ceased to be an actual sanctioning body? It seems to me that they have basically decided that they can't sustain an actual "PRO" format so they've went to a "theatrical" performance instead. Don't get me wrong after many races waiting for the Pro's to finish qualifying, waiting to run first round which rarely ever happened, I would not miss all the oildowns and delays which affected all the sportsman racers. I just wonder what their contingecy sheet will look like with this "new deal". How many times can you change your format without a COMPLETE overhaul? Can all of this be explained by the current economy, I'm not sure that's entirely true as most every NHRA race we attended had what I consider large fields of cars. I really hope the best for IHRA I hope that can regroup and return to their normal mode of racing I guess time will tell. Personally I have little faith in Arron and Scooters ideas of what works but who am I to tell them how to do it?Joe Hope I don't get alot of hate over this but WTF is the deal of running TS and TD as part of the "pro" show? I mean how hard is it to make one of these cars run in the 7's? I don't see anything unique about these classes, hell there's some Rod class cars that could qualify.JMO

danny waters sr · 10-19-2009, 08:18 AM

Please look at the post i gave on NHRA lay-off topic. TOO lazy to post twice and not smart enough to copy and paste.

Dan Fletcher · 10-19-2009, 08:34 AM

I agree with Danny. I don't know why everyone is so quick to pile on IHRA. Obviously, I make my living primarily with NHRA, but I do run IHRA stuff as my schedule will allow. It's a different deal for sure, but I don't see how the Pro format change impacts us one bit. The contingency money was already decimated last season, so I can't see it dropping much more, and I know first hand that IHRA management really does care about the Sportsman racer.

Like Danny said, the only time my friends and family ever watch the Pros is on a Saturday night (with a cooler in tow), and we generally have a lot of fun. I can honestly say that I NEVER watch a Pro car go down the track at an NHRA event. So really, what do we care if it's a booked in monster truck type deal, as long as we're treated well and have a good place. I don't mean this negatively, but their Pro cars were already leakers, so what do we care if they don't run on a traditional race format. Maybe they will be less inclined to run "on the edge" and oil the track as frequently. I'm sure that if one shows the propensity to be an oiler, they won't be invited back again.

Give them a chance. Just like any business they are doing what they feel they have to do in an attempt to survive, dare I say prosper. At least they didn't double all our fees over night and then tell us we don't even pay our own way. Sorry, I'm still a little bitter over that one...

Now if they move all sportsman eliminations to non-adjustable rollout pro tree practice tree tournaments, then I've got a problem...I'm still a little bitter about that one, too...LOL...
__________________
Dan Fletcher 1781 STK, SS, COMP, SG, SC

Eric Merryfield · 10-19-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny waters sr

Please look at the post i gave on NHRA lay-off topic. TOO lazy to post twice and not smart enough to copy and paste.

I don't mind the change from 3-2 days, the only thing I would miss, would be the Friday night qualifying show.....night of FIRE!. Did two national events this season, and it got rained out twice at Epping, and the kids wanted to eat on Friday PM at MIR so I missed it, then it rained on Saturday. I did like the 4pm start for qualifying since it gave me time to tow down. This might actually be the optimal setup for the tracks, since they would lose Friday nights revenue under the new plan.

The new format may actually give the contigency advertisers a better buy than before. More focused fans, arriving early for the Nitro show, see the wheelies of Super Stock, and Stock could attract the Pinks plus crowd. Maybe if they started off the morning with say the Wheelstanders, followed by sportsman wave one, followed by Jet car/truck followed by sportsman, etc., then the pros. Wouldn't it be nice for the stands to be filled with AM fans!

Wait and see.

Tim Kish · 10-19-2009, 08:57 AM

Maybe if they actually advertised that racing started at 8-9am rather than mid afternoon'/evening with the first session of the PRO show. Add a line to the advertisements that states "Wheel-standing sportsman racing starts at XX and Nitro racing starts at YY" Most events I've heard or seen the adds for you wouldn't know there have been cars racing for a day and a half by the time the Pro session starts.

Jeremy · 10-19-2009, 09:02 AM

I seem's to me some people think it's a PLUS to take a three day race and have it in two or a four day race and have it in three or less for the same amount of money as they used to pay even thu at most races no one makes them attend all the days.

Personally I don't like racing less days, and for the same money as I used to pay for a four or three day race for sure.

I like going to the races, I like being there and IF I did'nt like to race or I didn't like being there I would find something else to do, not campain to take race day's away for other people.

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.....

10-19-2009, 07:32 AM	#41
Chris1529 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,366 Likes: 6 Liked 70 Times in 29 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format you are right Herb. __________________ Chris Bowman The Mountain State Mustang 1984 Mustang GT350

10-19-2009, 07:41 AM	#42
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format Does this mean that in the contingency sponsors eyes the IHRA has ceased to be an actual sanctioning body? It seems to me that they have basically decided that they can't sustain an actual "PRO" format so they've went to a "theatrical" performance instead. Don't get me wrong after many races waiting for the Pro's to finish qualifying, waiting to run first round which rarely ever happened, I would not miss all the oildowns and delays which affected all the sportsman racers. I just wonder what their contingecy sheet will look like with this "new deal". How many times can you change your format without a COMPLETE overhaul? Can all of this be explained by the current economy, I'm not sure that's entirely true as most every NHRA race we attended had what I consider large fields of cars. I really hope the best for IHRA I hope that can regroup and return to their normal mode of racing I guess time will tell. Personally I have little faith in Arron and Scooters ideas of what works but who am I to tell them how to do it?Joe Hope I don't get alot of hate over this but WTF is the deal of running TS and TD as part of the "pro" show? I mean how hard is it to make one of these cars run in the 7's? I don't see anything unique about these classes, hell there's some Rod class cars that could qualify.JMO __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117 Last edited by buzzinhalfdozen; 10-19-2009 at 07:52 AM.

10-19-2009, 08:18 AM	#43
danny waters sr VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: lagrange,nc Posts: 2,224 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format Please look at the post i gave on NHRA lay-off topic. TOO lazy to post twice and not smart enough to copy and paste. __________________ Danny Waters, Sr / 73 Duster "340"

10-19-2009, 08:34 AM	#44
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 I agree with Danny. I don't know why everyone is so quick to pile on IHRA. Obviously, I make my living primarily with NHRA, but I do run IHRA stuff as my schedule will allow. It's a different deal for sure, but I don't see how the Pro format change impacts us one bit. The contingency money was already decimated last season, so I can't see it dropping much more, and I know first hand that IHRA management really does care about the Sportsman racer. Like Danny said, the only time my friends and family ever watch the Pros is on a Saturday night (with a cooler in tow), and we generally have a lot of fun. I can honestly say that I NEVER watch a Pro car go down the track at an NHRA event. So really, what do we care if it's a booked in monster truck type deal, as long as we're treated well and have a good place. I don't mean this negatively, but their Pro cars were already leakers, so what do we care if they don't run on a traditional race format. Maybe they will be less inclined to run "on the edge" and oil the track as frequently. I'm sure that if one shows the propensity to be an oiler, they won't be invited back again. Give them a chance. Just like any business they are doing what they feel they have to do in an attempt to survive, dare I say prosper. At least they didn't double all our fees over night and then tell us we don't even pay our own way. Sorry, I'm still a little bitter over that one... Now if they move all sportsman eliminations to non-adjustable rollout pro tree practice tree tournaments, then I've got a problem...I'm still a little bitter about that one, too...LOL... __________________ Dan Fletcher 1781 STK, SS, COMP, SG, SC __________________ Dan Fletcher 1781 STK, SS, COMP, SG, SC DAN FLETCHER TRAILER SALES

10-19-2009, 08:57 AM	#46
Tim Kish Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 281 Likes: 2 Liked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format Maybe if they actually advertised that racing started at 8-9am rather than mid afternoon'/evening with the first session of the PRO show. Add a line to the advertisements that states "Wheel-standing sportsman racing starts at XX and Nitro racing starts at YY" Most events I've heard or seen the adds for you wouldn't know there have been cars racing for a day and a half by the time the Pro session starts. __________________ Tim Kish 3032 SS/GS

10-19-2009, 09:02 AM	#47
Jeremy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 95 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: IHRA's Polburn announces 2010 format I seem's to me some people think it's a PLUS to take a three day race and have it in two or a four day race and have it in three or less for the same amount of money as they used to pay even thu at most races no one makes them attend all the days. Personally I don't like racing less days, and for the same money as I used to pay for a four or three day race for sure. I like going to the races, I like being there and IF I did'nt like to race or I didn't like being there I would find something else to do, not campain to take race day's away for other people.

10-19-2009, 09:11 AM	#48
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	#49
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	#50
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