"A" Stick Nationals at Indy!!

james schaechter · 07-19-2008, 08:04 AM

I get tired about all of the class controversy out there. I love the class battles, especially at Indy. I want to help in whatever small way that I can. I am highlighting the A stick class for Indy. I will try and add some contingency of my own through folks that also support class racing. I did this a few years back at Topeka. (J stick). I see 4 quality A stick cars so far and hopefully Bob Gipson will get the 396 back in his 65 Vette to join in. Maybe others.

My hope is to have more people on the fence join in to A stick.I also would like to highlight one of my favorite class battles. ( Some people who haven't raced class can't understand the addiction) I think that it can be fun, maybe we can sweeten the pot, not only for the winner, but hopefully a thing or two for the quickest Non qualifier in A stick as well.

I have a few things going and will add to the list. If anyone wants to kick in, I am happy to administer and take pics etc at the track. Last time at Topeka, we got some good attention from the track announcers and had a great time. If anyone has questions or wants to contribute, send me an e mail at jimschaechter@earthlink.net.

Mike Keener · 07-19-2008, 11:51 AM

Jim,

I would love to come to Indy with my two A stick cars but unfortunately zero grade points doesn't get it with NHRA, and I have no desire to go to several points meets just for the right to enter a National Event. I wish you and the rest that do attend the best of luck and I would like to add a $100.00 check to the winner of this great class.

PS I will guarantee the winner won't have to wait for their money like some sponsors do. If I receive the address of the class winner the check will leave my office before the rest of the race ends!

Team Checkmate Race Cars

Mike Keener

Alan Roehrich · 07-19-2008, 12:16 PM

Mike, this year you might get in to Indy with 1 or 2, no faster than Stock is filling up. I only have one, and didn't go to Memphis. But then, I doubt we'll go to Indy. I got into Bristol with zero. Could have gotten in to Atlanta or St. Louis too. Had to withdraw from St. Louis.

Mike Keener · 07-19-2008, 03:05 PM

Good point Alan.* The way fuel prices are restricting the sportsman racers travel plans zero grade points may get into even more races next year.* I would love to think I could run Columbus, Indy, and Norwalk without having to go to any points meets. LOL!* Right now it's probably even money we will haul at least one car to the Dutch and run Top Stock in October.* If we're makin the steam I would do it for no grade points just to support Dave but that's too far into the future to predict right now.* Our 396 R & D program is just getting back into full swing so we'll just have to see how it goes.

Hey, will one grade point have any chance of getting into those three events...I doubt it?

MK

Alan Roehrich · 07-19-2008, 05:24 PM

Mike, there's no longer a National Event at Columbus. If I could get in as many events as I could this year, so far, with zero or one point. I'd bet you can get in Norwalk next year. Not only that Columbus has a National Open this Fall (I think we'll be going), and I think you can go to that and get a grade point, because I got one for the National Open at Bowling Green.

It remains to be seen about Indy. Some are withdrawing with the new rule about qualifying, and I think the car count was going to be down anyway. As I said, I don't think we're going. Stock was not filling up fast at all. I don't think you'll get in with no grade point, but I think getting in with two may be possible, and maybe with one.

Just Observing · 07-19-2008, 06:03 PM

The race @ Columbus in September is a Sports NATIONAL event. Not a open. And you can get in at the gate with no grade points. Indy has the Fall Classic in October which is a Open event. It also has Top Stock being contested!

Mike Keener · 07-19-2008, 09:29 PM

Man you would think I should know about the Indy Fall event since I'm a cash sponsor of Top Stock!LOL

Hopefully it's not the same weekend as the Dutch?

MK

Just Observing · 07-19-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Keener

Man you would think I should know about the Indy Fall event since I'm a cash sponsor of Top Stock!LOL

Hopefully it's not the same weekend as the Dutch?

MK

2 weeks before. Oct 12-13. Also the week before, OCT 5-6, there is a National Open @ Ohio Valley in Louisville with TOP Stock being contested.

james schaechter · 07-20-2008, 08:01 AM

Some support coming in!

Mike Keener $100.00 pledge

Joe Veronda $ 50.00 pledge

Other items so far:

2- $50.00 gas cards

Free set of Cometic Head Gaskets- made to order from Kevyn Kistner at Cometic.

More to add as they come in.

The cash pledges, are great too. you all know Mike. Joe Veronda is new to class racing and has an I stick car. Racer just like you and me trying to help out.

This is the real power of the internet and a lot more fun than all of the pissing and moaning!

If you have any contacts or wish to contribute, please let me know. We have already surpassed the contingency payout from NHRA! We can and will get more too. I will add as updates come in.

Thanks, Jim.

mloboda · 07-20-2008, 06:47 PM

James,
The United Manual Transmission Racers (UMTR) will give 50.00 to the "A" Stick Nationals winner and 25.00 to the runner up at Indy. While our organization is made up primarily of bracket stick racers. We do have class racers that join us from time to time- Ernie Price, Joe Martens, Dave Watson, Brad Zaskowski, PJ Ballog to name a few. We support your efforts to highlight stick shift drag racing at the sportsman level.

Mike Loboda
Director, UMTR North

PS 51 stick cars showed for the UMTR Milan rain out this Saturday !

07-19-2008, 08:04 AM	#1
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,988 Likes: 1,288 Liked 1,428 Times in 296 Posts	"A" Stick Nationals at Indy!! I get tired about all of the class controversy out there. I love the class battles, especially at Indy. I want to help in whatever small way that I can. I am highlighting the A stick class for Indy. I will try and add some contingency of my own through folks that also support class racing. I did this a few years back at Topeka. (J stick). I see 4 quality A stick cars so far and hopefully Bob Gipson will get the 396 back in his 65 Vette to join in. Maybe others. My hope is to have more people on the fence join in to A stick.I also would like to highlight one of my favorite class battles. ( Some people who haven't raced class can't understand the addiction) I think that it can be fun, maybe we can sweeten the pot, not only for the winner, but hopefully a thing or two for the quickest Non qualifier in A stick as well. I have a few things going and will add to the list. If anyone wants to kick in, I am happy to administer and take pics etc at the track. Last time at Topeka, we got some good attention from the track announcers and had a great time. If anyone has questions or wants to contribute, send me an e mail at jimschaechter@earthlink.net. __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK

07-19-2008, 11:51 AM	#2
Mike Keener Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 294 Likes: 102 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: "A" Stick Nationals at Indy!! Jim, I would love to come to Indy with my two A stick cars but unfortunately zero grade points doesn't get it with NHRA, and I have no desire to go to several points meets just for the right to enter a National Event. I wish you and the rest that do attend the best of luck and I would like to add a $100.00 check to the winner of this great class. PS I will guarantee the winner won't have to wait for their money like some sponsors do. If I receive the address of the class winner the check will leave my office before the rest of the race ends! Team Checkmate Race Cars Mike Keener __________________ Mike Keener A/S B/S C/SM Last edited by Mike Keener; 07-19-2008 at 11:57 AM.

07-19-2008, 12:16 PM	#3
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,111 Likes: 1,570 Liked 1,812 Times in 413 Posts	Re: "A" Stick Nationals at Indy!! Mike, this year you might get in to Indy with 1 or 2, no faster than Stock is filling up. I only have one, and didn't go to Memphis. But then, I doubt we'll go to Indy. I got into Bristol with zero. Could have gotten in to Atlanta or St. Louis too. Had to withdraw from St. Louis. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

07-19-2008, 03:05 PM	#4
Mike Keener Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 294 Likes: 102 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: "A" Stick Nationals at Indy!! Good point Alan.* The way fuel prices are restricting the sportsman racers travel plans zero grade points may get into even more races next year.* I would love to think I could run Columbus, Indy, and Norwalk without having to go to any points meets. LOL!* Right now it's probably even money we will haul at least one car to the Dutch and run Top Stock in October.* If we're makin the steam I would do it for no grade points just to support Dave but that's too far into the future to predict right now.* Our 396 R & D program is just getting back into full swing so we'll just have to see how it goes. Hey, will one grade point have any chance of getting into those three events...I doubt it? MK __________________ Mike Keener A/S B/S C/SM

07-19-2008, 05:24 PM	#5
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,111 Likes: 1,570 Liked 1,812 Times in 413 Posts	Re: "A" Stick Nationals at Indy!! Mike, there's no longer a National Event at Columbus. If I could get in as many events as I could this year, so far, with zero or one point. I'd bet you can get in Norwalk next year. Not only that Columbus has a National Open this Fall (I think we'll be going), and I think you can go to that and get a grade point, because I got one for the National Open at Bowling Green. It remains to be seen about Indy. Some are withdrawing with the new rule about qualifying, and I think the car count was going to be down anyway. As I said, I don't think we're going. Stock was not filling up fast at all. I don't think you'll get in with no grade point, but I think getting in with two may be possible, and maybe with one. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

07-19-2008, 06:03 PM	#6
Just Observing Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 138 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "A" Stick Nationals at Indy!! The race @ Columbus in September is a Sports NATIONAL event. Not a open. And you can get in at the gate with no grade points. Indy has the Fall Classic in October which is a Open event. It also has Top Stock being contested!

07-19-2008, 09:29 PM	#7
Mike Keener Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 294 Likes: 102 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: "A" Stick Nationals at Indy!! Man you would think I should know about the Indy Fall event since I'm a cash sponsor of Top Stock!LOL Hopefully it's not the same weekend as the Dutch? MK __________________ Mike Keener A/S B/S C/SM

07-20-2008, 08:01 AM	#9
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,988 Likes: 1,288 Liked 1,428 Times in 296 Posts	Re: "A" Stick Nationals at Indy!! Some support coming in! Mike Keener $100.00 pledge Joe Veronda $ 50.00 pledge Other items so far: 2- $50.00 gas cards Free set of Cometic Head Gaskets- made to order from Kevyn Kistner at Cometic. More to add as they come in. The cash pledges, are great too. you all know Mike. Joe Veronda is new to class racing and has an I stick car. Racer just like you and me trying to help out. This is the real power of the internet and a lot more fun than all of the pissing and moaning! If you have any contacts or wish to contribute, please let me know. We have already surpassed the contingency payout from NHRA! We can and will get more too. I will add as updates come in. Thanks, Jim. __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK

07-20-2008, 06:47 PM	#10
mloboda Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: cleveland Ohio Posts: 124 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "A" Stick Nationals at Indy!! James, The United Manual Transmission Racers (UMTR) will give 50.00 to the "A" Stick Nationals winner and 25.00 to the runner up at Indy. While our organization is made up primarily of bracket stick racers. We do have class racers that join us from time to time- Ernie Price, Joe Martens, Dave Watson, Brad Zaskowski, PJ Ballog to name a few. We support your efforts to highlight stick shift drag racing at the sportsman level. Mike Loboda Director, UMTR North PS 51 stick cars showed for the UMTR Milan rain out this Saturday !