"Live From" the NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals.

[Ken Miele]

I guess by now everyone knows that there is no parking until Thursday for all sportsman. I hit the road at 2pm and had no idea the schedule had changed. I'm only a 110 miles from Maple Grove, but decided to stay. I can catch up with most of my work from my laptop.

There are about 75 rigs parked in the field. Bellow are some shots of what the field looks like. The entry in is starting to get a little muddy, but most rigs are parked on solid ground. In spite if all the rain its not as bad as I though it would be.

The first picture is the Philadelphia skyline on my way to Maple Grove. The rest are the rigs lined up and the parking field.

It would be nice if NHRA would just change the schedule to end on Monday. This way all the sportsman can get the runs they are suppose to, along with running class. I guess that would be to much to ask.

I will be back tomorrow with pictures of the pits.

It stop raining in the morning here and has not rained all day, though it is cloudy and cold.

I guess the only thing we can do tomorrow is have a mud wrestling match, anyone know a few young ladies that would be interested.

[Dan Fletcher]

It's all good...at least the Pros share the burden with all the Sportsman that ponied up with the $270 to get in. Instead of 4 runs for the stellar field of nitro stars like..well, I won't name names...they cut them back to ONLY 3 runs to make the very stout bump to get in...

Oh, wait a minute, no they didn't...they all still get 4 runs to qualify for a field where virtually anything that doesn't piss all over it's own shoes gets in...

And we get one whole ONE run, and then are sent into first round. Someone that loses first round in Stock can physically be on the grounds for less than Five hours...

That's awesome...

Believe me when I tell you...I've erased way more of this post than what remains...I haven't had quite enough Ultras to fully speak my mind!!!

[hookdaddy]

Agreed Dan but, there are only two words that matter to the powers that be and they are SPECTATOR GATE not sportsman racers.

NHRA publications love to point out how sportsman racers are the "backbone of the sport", well now I think we all need a good chiropracter.

[Brian VP]

Actually I was examining the schedule and NHRA has one heck of a job in front of them. Apparently the posted schedule is staying the same and just filling us in. Well On Friday they start at 8:45 and Comp runs at 11 o'clock. So in 2 hours and 15 minutes they need to get 50 Super Street, 100 Stockers, 80 Super Comp, 80 Super Stock, and 80 Super Gas cars a time run. That is 390 cars in 2 hours and 15 minutes. 195 pairs in 135 minutes. That is a pretty good click. Looking at the rest of the schedule there is not really enough time to fit any class in for another entire round. from 11 on they have to run 2 sessions of comp, 2 of tafc and tad, 2 PSB, 2 PS, 2 TF, and 2 FC. And they plan on being done by 7 o'clock. Which is probably a good idea looking at what happened when the sun went down last week and what happens when it gets dark at the Dutch. I would be really surprised if any sportsman car get's a round in on Friday. It is going to be a long weekend.

[joe176]

Originally Posted by Brian VP

Actually I was examining the schedule and NHRA has one heck of a job in front of them. Apparently the posted schedule is staying the same and just filling us in. Well On Friday they start at 8:45 and Comp runs at 11 o'clock. So in 2 hours and 15 minutes they need to get 50 Super Street, 100 Stockers, 80 Super Comp, 80 Super Stock, and 80 Super Gas cars a time run. That is 390 cars in 2 hours and 15 minutes. 195 pairs in 135 minutes. That is a pretty good click. Looking at the rest of the schedule there is not really enough time to fit any class in for another entire round. from 11 on they have to run 2 sessions of comp, 2 of tafc and tad, 2 PSB, 2 PS, 2 TF, and 2 FC. And they plan on being done by 7 o'clock. Which is probably a good idea looking at what happened when the sun went down last week and what happens when it gets dark at the Dutch. I would be really surprised if any sportsman car get's a round in on Friday. It is going to be a long weekend.

Brian...it's only a long weekend if your willing to go and sit it out.
This is typical of NHRA....why not give racers the option of withdrawing from the event..because they have our money.....I for one am willing to take the $270 hit and stay home if it comes to that...I'll save money. I race for the sport and the fun of it...I don't need this to feed my family or promote my business....too costly to go and just sit around all day with NHRA's revised schedule...had enough of that at Atco !!!!!!!!

[Brian VP]

Believe me Joe, I am real close to staying home. If it weren't for the fact that, it is a national event, and all I want to do is win one of these things so I can quit, I would stay home. And things like this will make that decision, if I am ever lucky enough to be able to make it, that much easier.

[joe176]

Originally Posted by Brian VP

Believe me Joe, I am real close to staying home. If it weren't for the fact that, it is a national event, and all I want to do is win one of these things so I can quit, I would stay home. And things like this will make that decision, if I am ever lucky enough to be able to make it, that much easier.

LOL...Brian..you and I are in the same boat...I feel your pain.

[sprnova]

Originally Posted by Brian VP

Believe me Joe, I am real close to staying home. If it weren't for the fact that, it is a national event, and all I want to do is win one of these things so I can quit, I would stay home. And things like this will make that decision, if I am ever lucky enough to be able to make it, that much easier.

This statement sounds like something that would come out of Don Kennedy. Weird!?

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by joe176

Brian...it's only a long weekend if your willing to go and sit it out.
This is typical of NHRA....why not give racers the option of withdrawing from the event..because they have our money.....I for one am willing to take the $270 hit and stay home if it comes to that...I'll save money. I race for the sport and the fun of it...I don't need this to feed my family or promote my business....too costly to go and just sit around all day with NHRA's revised schedule...had enough of that at Atco !!!!!!!!

And there is the problem......How many would show up if they didnt already have your entry fee money in advance?

[joe176]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

And there is the problem......How many would show up if they didnt already have your entry fee money in advance?

It costs me ballpark of $800 to go to a national event.....entry fee, fuel for RV, fuel for race car, tolls, food - breakfast, lunch and dinner for two people so on and so forth. Why would I want to spend this kind of money on a weekend away to not have a good time....if any one of us planned a vacation to anywhere would you still go and spend even more money if the weather looked crappy and you were going to park in mud and the resort pool was closed for one day when you really enjoy that part of it.....I'd cancel that vacation in a heartbeat !!!