PINKS vs Class Racing

[Floyd Gomez]

Harry, Gary and Chris,
You are all on a class racer forum trying to convince class racers to go to an event that is heads up all out. Class cars are built for a specific index. K cars are not built to run with A cars and vice versa. The only way to get more class racers involved is to keep the current system with bigger coverage. I can run an A stocker all out every pass and it still wont help any other class that showed up. Most of us want to race not time trial. Make a system where that is possible and you will have more stockers and super stockers than you ever imagined. But putting us against inexperienced drivers with 4K junk cars and nitrous just doesnt work for a lot of us.

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Floyd Gomez

Harry, Gary and Chris,
You are all on a class racer forum trying to convince class racers to go to an event that is heads up all out. Class cars are built for a specific index. K cars are not built to run with A cars and vice versa. The only way to get more class racers involved is to keep the current system with bigger coverage. I can run an A stocker all out every pass and it still wont help any other class that showed up. Most of us want to race not time trial. Make a system where that is possible and you will have more stockers and super stockers than you ever imagined. But putting us against inexperienced drivers with 4K junk cars and nitrous just doesnt work for a lot of us.

Floyd...you're preaching to the choir...I own and drive an L/Stick Mustang and have been getting my hands dirty with class cars since the mid 70s. This also isn't a time trial event. Full stands with respectable TV coverage for sportsman racing hasn't happened since original Beech Bend NHRA Sportsnats. Because the complications of shoe polish racing, and time allotment for television, this may be the only way we can showcase our stuff to the masses. The days of Stock and Super Stock the way we've known it for so long is on borrowed time. The costs involved for policing tech, dwindling sticker support, and lack of fan appeal has made it a liability. The cost of racing the cars has spiraled almost vertically. If we don't come up with something new, our cars will become very expensive bracket racers. I believe when you bitch about something, you must be willing to offer a solution too. This is my offering. If you don't like what I'm trying to get, you don't have to participate.

[Floyd Gomez]

Class racing has been a liability. However, it is a liability that NHRA knows it has to live with. I agree we need more contingency money. I agree we need more TV time. I do not agree that pinks is the answer. We need a format that all class racers can attend and have a shot at winning. We need to ensure an even playing field and to do that with the multiple classes we have it has to involve some sort of handicapped start. I agree with index and CIC. If you set index per NHRA and use a .600 CIC penalty you give every class a chance at winning. Also, how long do you think it will take NHRA and IHRA to threaten track owners of pulling their national events should it start taking money from their pockets. Then you end up at mom and pop tracks that are run down and very dangerous. The solution lies with getting NHRA and IHRA to understand the importance of our breed of racing. I offered a few years ago to assist anyone who wanted to start a True Sportsman Racing Association. I had everyone wanting to do it just no one willing to help.

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Floyd Gomez

Class racing has been a liability. However, it is a liability that NHRA knows it has to live with. I agree we need more contingency money. I agree we need more TV time. I do not agree that pinks is the answer. We need a format that all class racers can attend and have a shot at winning. We need to ensure an even playing field and to do that with the multiple classes we have it has to involve some sort of handicapped start. I agree with index and CIC. If you set index per NHRA and use a .600 CIC penalty you give every class a chance at winning. Also, how long do you think it will take NHRA and IHRA to threaten track owners of pulling their national events should it start taking money from their pockets. Then you end up at mom and pop tracks that are run down and very dangerous. The solution lies with getting NHRA and IHRA to understand the importance of our breed of racing. I offered a few years ago to assist anyone who wanted to start a True Sportsman Racing Association. I had everyone wanting to do it just no one willing to help.

Floyd, IHRA isn't a problem. But their class racing program isn't as challenged as NHRA. NHRA has the resources to put together a spectacular package but will not take away from their pro program to make it happen. Why? again...lack of fan appeal. OR, they could do it like PINKS, having a final 8 and running them "out the back door". And it still isn't heads up racing. Look at the present landscape in drag racing: here in South Florida bracket racing is dying. Why? because electronics over complicated things and chased away frustrated racers. The growth of heads-up index and outlaw racing has taken over because the tracks can now fill the stands unlike bracket racing ever could.

Don't get me wrong, I prefer class runoffs, but it would take the caliber of Indy at every race to even start to get something decent. Runoffs at other races have lost appeal from the casual fan. Not to mention the hosting costs have become too prohibitive to keep it at that level. The PINKS format has potential to attract support that our categories haven't seen in quite some time.

[James Perrone]

Sorry Folks
PINKS is not racing.In fact it gives DRAGRACING A BAD NAME.
People who watch the show thinks PINKS is the way real racers race..
Glorified time run fest for the remote chance you can GET ON TV or GET INTO A MEANINGFUL RACE..
Besides Rich Christenson... Dont know ANYTHING ABOUT CARS OR RACING..
And besides HE IS A H O M O and a WANNABE car guy
Its about them getting your money..
PINKS dont care about CLASS CARS
They get more than enough

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by James Perrone

Sorry Folks
PINKS is not racing.In fact it gives DRAGRACING A BAD NAME.
People who watch the show thinks PINKS is the way real racers race..
Glorified time run fest for the remote chance you can GET ON TV or GET INTO A MEANINGFUL RACE..
Besides Rich Christenson... Dont know ANYTHING ABOUT CARS OR RACING..
And besides HE IS A H O M O and a WANNABE car guy
Its about them getting your money..
PINKS dont care about CLASS CARS
They get more than enough

James post something constructive or take it somewhere else. I'm not interested in hearing comments from your piehole.

[Floyd Gomez]

Originally Posted by Gary Smith

Floyd, IHRA isn't a problem. But their class racing program isn't as challenged as NHRA. NHRA has the resources to put together a spectacular package but will not take away from their pro program to make it happen. Why? again...lack of fan appeal. OR, they could do it like PINKS, having a final 8 and running them "out the back door". And it still isn't heads up racing. Look at the present landscape in drag racing: here in South Florida bracket racing is dying. Why? because electronics over complicated things and chased away frustrated racers. The growth of heads-up index and outlaw racing has taken over because the tracks can now fill the stands unlike bracket racing ever could.

Don't get me wrong, I prefer class runoffs, but it would take the caliber of Indy at every race to even start to get something decent. Runoffs at other races have lost appeal from the casual fan. Not to mention the hosting costs have become too prohibitive to keep it at that level. The PINKS format has potential to attract support that our categories haven't seen in quite some time.

Gary,
I still dont see the support mechanism. sponsors will not spend advertising dollars on cars that may or may not make the field. they want a car and driver that has a chance of winning as much as possible to give their product as much exposure as possible. Sponsors know that losing or not qualifying doesn't help the general public rush out to buy their product. They also know what it cost for advertisement and they are not willing to waste one penny on a program that their investment has less than a ten percent chance of getting in the show much less winning. As far as attracting support for our categories It is NOT possible under the current PINKS format. The fans don't care what class your car is neither is it advertised. You also mention electronics but a ton of cars on pinks use them. Most of the cars in the actual race atleast have a trans brake. Here in the Carolinas and back in Louisiana the bracket racing is getting bigger and bigger. I think some areas just have suffered more over the economy. Anyway my point is PINKS is a heads up competition run what you brung. Way to many class racers will be left out in the cold and have paid 60 bucks for 2 time trials unless you can figure out how to handicap it. Otherwise build a 10 second street car with nitorous and go have fun.

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Floyd Gomez

Gary,
I still dont see the support mechanism. sponsors will not spend advertising dollars on cars that may or may not make the field. they want a car and driver that has a chance of winning as much as possible to give their product as much exposure as possible. Sponsors know that losing or not qualifying doesn't help the general public rush out to buy their product. They also know what it cost for advertisement and they are not willing to waste one penny on a program that their investment has less than a ten percent chance of getting in the show much less winning. As far as attracting support for our categories It is NOT possible under the current PINKS format. The fans don't care what class your car is neither is it advertised. You also mention electronics but a ton of cars on pinks use them. Most of the cars in the actual race atleast have a trans brake. Here in the Carolinas and back in Louisiana the bracket racing is getting bigger and bigger. I think some areas just have suffered more over the economy. Anyway my point is PINKS is a heads up competition run what you brung. Way to many class racers will be left out in the cold and have paid 60 bucks for 2 time trials unless you can figure out how to handicap it. Otherwise build a 10 second street car with nitorous and go have fun.

Floyd you might think I fell off the turnip truck but I've been around drag racing and other forms of motorsports since the '60s. I also know what's involved with running a business and advertising as we were a track sponsor for almost 20 years. Sponsors/supporters look at one thing only..return on investment. There are class racers out there who go really fast, win class, but get little press coverage. That equates to little exposure that I wouldn't waste time or money on. But someone who could guarantee exposure, whether it be tv time, magazines, web, or what ever, that's who I want. Furthermore the compensation would be relative to the market. I'm not talking John Force sponsorship, but something better than what we have now.

If it weren't for my last minute decision to make the event, I would have easily obtained local support as I had some stuff lined up. So you're wrong about not being able to attract support under the PINKS format. Fact is when talking to several local automotive businesses in our area, just mentioning PINKS practically sold itself. Not so for the stocker. They don't know L/Stock from a dune buggy. And you're right, the average fans don't give a hoot about classes, but they will once we have a way to make class racing palatable again.

Bracket racing may be growing there and Louisiana, but have you followed the trends the last few years? Tracks across the country are scaling back their weekly bracket programs in favor of imports, grudge racing, and heads up events, with some dropping brackets all together. My statement on electronics was about the effect it's had on bracket racer participation at a local level and nothing to do with PINKS. Again, your preaching to the choir.

Sticker sponsors began pulling the plug well before the economy tanked as a result of racers taking advantage of programs and fraudulent claims instead of being true product representatives. Racers trying to collect like they are under contract forced others to reconsider too. That's sad because it makes us look like money siphons. Years ago my father wrote Champion about trying certain plugs. They sent him stickers and a couple sets of plugs. He put the stickers on the car, took pictures, and wrote them back thanking them along with the photos. He also gave them a briefing on the product. This resulted in a 4 year deal with shipments of various heat range plugs every month. That's how we should think.

And what's wrong with spending $60 dollar entry fee? You get at least 4 runs, not 2. You pay $250 or more for NHRA and lucky to get 2 runs before first round. What's the difference? Many bitch about how they're treated, about time slots or being filler, complaining we don't get adequate exposure. But when something like PINKS comes along everyone's quick to tear it apart. NHRA glory days are OVER. We're riding the coat tails of the pros, and we're stuck paying the bill. Pretty soon that bill won't cover our welcome and we'll be replaced with something more practical. Jeggie, Garlits, and others won't be enough to save class racing. We need to roll with the changes, or the changes will roll over us.

To every Stock and Super Stock racer reading this, I've elected to search for a solution to the complaints we've all made instead of whining about what I don't like. But I'm only going to waste so much time looking for a way to make a difference with this, then I'm going to move on. The decision rests with everyone. See my other post with Rich's request to us.

(p.s...to those trash talking Rich Christensen...go to his website www.richchristensen.com and learn a little about the guy before you pass judgement.)

[B Aceves]

Gary,
Dont think this is falling on deaf ears, We took three cars to the Pinks in Sonoma last year and had aprox 10 other people we new with car's running, I will say we did have a great time, pulled the stickers off and made em look like street cars, Did we get picked NO but had a very close shot at the mid ten second field. Three cars in the range of 10,11,12 seconds. The biggest thing I noticed was my familly was able to handle sitting and watching as we ran down the track, No long drawn out delay or sitting by the trailer for 4 hours between runs always cars going down the track.
The Cool thing I enjoyed when sitting in the staging lanes was watching guys scratch there heads and the looks on there faces when the hoods were up in the lanes, Had a few guys asking where the NOS was hidden lol.
There are three other guys in our camp that have been racing NHRA since the sixties and for them to say they had a great time it meant something.
So when Pinks is back in Sonoma this Sept for 60 bucks for a chance at winning 13 grand like my friend George Diaz did last year and almost again in Bakersfield
IM IN !!! And you get the cash before you leave the track...

Bob Aceves #746 E/SA

[chris3racing]

Floyd, I see that you are really not interested in racing Pinks All Out. However, I would like to really help anyone who has been thinking of trying it, to make the decision to give it a try. You mentioned advertisers and I will relate a story. Several racers, who were registered at Z-Max, were at Rockingham on a Saturday night a few weeks prior to Z-Max. Steve had the Mopar Show there during the day and at 6:00 pm the track was prepped and cars testing and tuning for Z-Max ran 1/4 mile runs. We were in the pits and was approached by a lady and her husband about putting a "Pink" decal on our car to advertise her jewelery and candy company at Pinks All Out at Z-Max. She does various craft shows, etc. She had the oval decals printed, gave us money to help cover expenses to Z-Max. Guess what, look at the re-run of Z-Max Pinks All Out. When they demonstrate the "go or go-home" box, the tape stops just as that silver Duster crosses the finish line, and there is that little "pink" oval decal. You can't read the decal on TV; however, NHRA Photographers, put together photos from the race and there, in the photo, that little "Pink" decal.

Bob, when we raced at Pinks, the racing was non-stop from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm on Saturday. As you know they have 12 classes and they ran non-stop at Z-Max due to being able to switch lanes. Oil down in the left pair of lanes, we switched to the right pair while they cleaned the left. We race as a family, my wife has been dealing with drag racing in our family for over 35 years. At Pinks All Out the whole family went, children, grandchildren, the whole group. Every crew member has a seat ticket, therefore, between qualifying runs they could go up in the stands and watch the races. An my family did the same. They stayed there until they would hear our class called to staging and then meet us in the staging lanes. At Z-Max, there were actually some vendors there that catered to children, games, etc. and the ladies at the races, along with the usual tee shirts and parts vendors. As you said, in the staging lanes at a Pinks All Out event is even fun. The next classes are called to staging far enough ahead that everyone is just standing around, bench racing, waiting for their class.

If you are undecided about Pinks All Out, do yourself a favor, take the same $80 to $90 that you would use as an entry fee to a Stock/ Superstock combo race, for one day of racing, beginning at 2:00 pm, enter Pinks all Out. Be sure to go on Friday, your entry is for two full days of racing, run 4 or 5 runs, have fun with everyone there on Friday night when the cooking begins just don't eat too much. Then up early on Saturday morning walk out into the pit area. There are 450 to 500 competitors there, all with the same type of cars you like to race, the coffee is going at almost every pit spot. You are called to the staging lanes at 7:30am and the runs down the track begins.