Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2

Chad Rhodes · 10-13-2010, 02:55 PM

With the changing of the guard in D2, what would you like to see for the LODRS D2 schedule?

I think they need to quit front loading the schedule (no more than 2 races before the gators, and only if one is the week before), some races later in the spring (april and may), and go beyond just FL/GA. I know we won't get a race at Charlotte or Bristol but there has got to be a few more tracks to hold races at. Its a shame NHRA turned their back on Montgomery and some of the other tracks. As much as I don't like it, maybe we need an 1/8 mile points race or two just to spread things out. Maybe as "extra" races, or national open races.

KingReptile · 10-13-2010, 03:28 PM

Charlotte would be the **** .Montgomery was such a sweet track and great atmsoshere..Fayettville is IHRA but that would be a great place to have one

Robert Simpson · 10-13-2010, 03:55 PM

I would like to see.

Bradenton
Orlando week before Gators pre testing etc.
Gators
Valdosta
Southern Nationals
Gainesville
Z Max
Atlanta
Valdosta

Or instead of the G'ville points race have a two-three race "open" series. I wish there were more tracks in Div 2 but there does not appear to be.

Alan Roehrich · 10-13-2010, 04:30 PM

Bruton Smith is in business as a track owner to make money. If he can make a decent profit holding LODRS events at his tracks, he'll hold them there. Properly scheduled and managed, they will make money.

Division 2, being the southeast division, is going to have some period of time where the heat is a huge factor in keeping the car count and the spectator count down. The best thing to do to resolve that is to start out in the south, move steadily north during the spring and early summer, avoid mid summer as much as possible, then start moving south again in the early fall.

For example, run two LODRS races in Florida in February and March, along with the Gators, getting those done early. In late March to mid April, go to South Georgia or Reynolds. From there go north, Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, in no particular order, take your pick, for two LODRS races, done by the end of May, or mid June at the latest, along with your other 3 National Events in the spring between mid April and mid June. Take July and August off, then after Indy, with at least a weekend off, work your way back south, starting at the track you didn't run at in late spring, Atlanta, Bristol, or Charlotte. Pick up your 5th National event in Division 2. Then go further south and pick up two more LODRS races, you can race down there until the end of October, at least.

The National Events need to be 3 day races, not 4 day races. If it is necessary to have a 4 day event, then the best thing to do is have one of the LODRS races the weekend before, the closest one.

The Atlanta LODRS race being the weekend before Charlotte isn't bad, except for the fact that had it the weekend after Indy, and most of the people who went to Indy went to the Division 3 LODRS at Bowling Green the weekend before Indy.

You cannot do that without hurting the car count, that's a month solid nearly, because you had a 3 day LODRS at Bowling Green, then a whole week at Indy, then three week days open/off, a 3 day weekend at Atlanta, followed by a 4 day National Event at Charlotte.

Had they been reasonable and moved the Atlanta LODRS back at least one weekend, giving people at least 3 days to work after Indy, maybe 4, then another 4 days the next week before Atlanta, then on to Charlotte, more people could have hit all of those races.

Finally, they've got to stop punishing the track owners and the racers just so they can make 10-12 alcohol racers happy. They simply cannot force alcohol classes on tracks where they obviously are not even coming close to paying their way.

Mike Pearson · 10-13-2010, 04:44 PM

I dont care what the order of the tracks that the races are run at. I would like to see at least minimum 3 weeks between any races in the division including national events. We are all used to racing in the heat down here in the southeast division. The stupid schedule that we have had under Bill Holts tenure as director has really hurt our division. We had all our races bunched up in a 2-3 month time span. the rest of the year we just sat around banging away on these keyboards. Spread the season out and the car counts and participation will improve. Hopefully the new guy will listen and do something with the schedule. Time will tell.

Alan Roehrich · 10-13-2010, 05:19 PM

Mike, if I'm counting correctly, we have 5 National events in Division 2. Ideally, we'd like to have 6-7 LODRS races. The Division 2 season pretty much runs from mid February to the end of October. It's going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get 11 or 12 races in that time period with a minimum of 3 weeks separating them. Especially when you consider there must be at least some allowances for out of division LODRS races and National Events. You're asking for at least 11 races in 9 months with three weeks between them.

For example, you can go ahead right now and take the last weekend of August and the first weekend in September out to accommodate Bowling Green and Indy. You can also take a weekend out to accommodate the Bowling Green SportsNational Open. So now you're down to what amounts to 8 months to have 11 races with three weeks between each race.

Now, I suppose you can ignore the rest of the LODRS races in the bordering divisions, as well as the Fall Classic at Indy, and a couple of other events. But you do so at the risk of losing a lot of cars from the northern part of the division when you do that.

The reality is that we're not going to get the 3 weeks between all of the races. Maybe some, but not all. And if you do not get any LODRS races north of Atlanta, and end up doing all your racing from Atlanta south, it's going to hurt the car count, especially if you want to run on into the hot part of the summer to get your 3 weeks. The heat and humidity we have in Division 2 from mid June through September hurts car counts and spectator counts, no matter how much you say we're all used to it.

I know plenty of people who stayed home this year, because they just were not going to spend up to $1K to go race in the heat in this economy. That has to be considered in order for the tracks to make a profit. You can't continue to ask the track owners to suffer low car counts in this economy.

Stephen & Horace Johnson · 10-13-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad Rhodes

With the changing of the guard in D2, what would you like to see for the LODRS D2 schedule?

I think they need to quit front loading the schedule (no more than 2 races before the gators, and only if one is the week before), some races later in the spring (april and may), and go beyond just FL/GA. I know we won't get a race at Charlotte or Bristol but there has got to be a few more tracks to hold races at. Its a shame NHRA turned their back on Montgomery and some of the other tracks. As much as I don't like it, maybe we need an 1/8 mile points race or two just to spread things out. Maybe as "extra" races, or national open races.

I agree, how about having a race at huntsville like they used to yrs ago. It was always july 4 and there were a bunch of us there. The div 2 schedule does need to not be spread out.

Bill Grubbs · 10-13-2010, 05:41 PM

Races early in the season, and close together are what brings the car count to Div II. Racing in the summer surely won't; at least not in FL, GA, or AL. Personally, I like the spring and fall races.

The only problem I see with back to back races is if there is a problem with the car, then I do not have time to properly prosecute the problem and get testing in. That is what has bit us these past couple of years. But I still like the schedule the way it is. Just add a couple of more tracks to fill up the schedule.

Alan Roehrich · 10-13-2010, 06:07 PM

I see no reason we can't run in Division 2 all the way up to at least the 1st weekend of November. The only conflict there is the possibility of losing some cars that would go west for the end of the season if they were in the hunt for the championship.

If we open the schedule up a little, running from mid February to the 1st weekend of November, we can get a 7 race LODRS schedule in along with our 5 or so National Events.

If we had the first fall LODRS after the fall Charlotte National event, the same weekend as the Dallas National Event, that would allow all of October and the first weekend of November to get two LODRS races in. Now, again, that leaves a conflict with Dallas, and possibly with Reading, so the effect of those conflicts on the car count would be a factor. Of course, they're not likely to run the Atlanta LODRS that weekend, since NHRA owns the track.

Keith Bennett · 10-13-2010, 11:57 PM

I say we get Alan for President.

10-13-2010, 02:55 PM	#1
Chad Rhodes VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Where the Green Grass Grows, AL Posts: 2,375 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2 With the changing of the guard in D2, what would you like to see for the LODRS D2 schedule? I think they need to quit front loading the schedule (no more than 2 races before the gators, and only if one is the week before), some races later in the spring (april and may), and go beyond just FL/GA. I know we won't get a race at Charlotte or Bristol but there has got to be a few more tracks to hold races at. Its a shame NHRA turned their back on Montgomery and some of the other tracks. As much as I don't like it, maybe we need an 1/8 mile points race or two just to spread things out. Maybe as "extra" races, or national open races. __________________ Chad Rhodes 2113 I/SA

10-13-2010, 03:28 PM	#2
KingReptile Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 257 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2 Charlotte would be the **** .Montgomery was such a sweet track and great atmsoshere..Fayettville is IHRA but that would be a great place to have one

10-13-2010, 03:55 PM	#3
Robert Simpson Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 805 Likes: 7 Liked 20 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2 I would like to see. Bradenton Orlando week before Gators pre testing etc. Gators Valdosta Southern Nationals Gainesville Z Max Atlanta Valdosta Or instead of the G'ville points race have a two-three race "open" series. I wish there were more tracks in Div 2 but there does not appear to be.

10-13-2010, 04:30 PM	#4
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,066 Likes: 1,486 Liked 1,630 Times in 378 Posts	Re: Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2 Bruton Smith is in business as a track owner to make money. If he can make a decent profit holding LODRS events at his tracks, he'll hold them there. Properly scheduled and managed, they will make money. Division 2, being the southeast division, is going to have some period of time where the heat is a huge factor in keeping the car count and the spectator count down. The best thing to do to resolve that is to start out in the south, move steadily north during the spring and early summer, avoid mid summer as much as possible, then start moving south again in the early fall. For example, run two LODRS races in Florida in February and March, along with the Gators, getting those done early. In late March to mid April, go to South Georgia or Reynolds. From there go north, Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, in no particular order, take your pick, for two LODRS races, done by the end of May, or mid June at the latest, along with your other 3 National Events in the spring between mid April and mid June. Take July and August off, then after Indy, with at least a weekend off, work your way back south, starting at the track you didn't run at in late spring, Atlanta, Bristol, or Charlotte. Pick up your 5th National event in Division 2. Then go further south and pick up two more LODRS races, you can race down there until the end of October, at least. The National Events need to be 3 day races, not 4 day races. If it is necessary to have a 4 day event, then the best thing to do is have one of the LODRS races the weekend before, the closest one. The Atlanta LODRS race being the weekend before Charlotte isn't bad, except for the fact that had it the weekend after Indy, and most of the people who went to Indy went to the Division 3 LODRS at Bowling Green the weekend before Indy. You cannot do that without hurting the car count, that's a month solid nearly, because you had a 3 day LODRS at Bowling Green, then a whole week at Indy, then three week days open/off, a 3 day weekend at Atlanta, followed by a 4 day National Event at Charlotte. Had they been reasonable and moved the Atlanta LODRS back at least one weekend, giving people at least 3 days to work after Indy, maybe 4, then another 4 days the next week before Atlanta, then on to Charlotte, more people could have hit all of those races. Finally, they've got to stop punishing the track owners and the racers just so they can make 10-12 alcohol racers happy. They simply cannot force alcohol classes on tracks where they obviously are not even coming close to paying their way. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

10-13-2010, 04:44 PM	#5
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,417 Likes: 596 Liked 1,879 Times in 562 Posts	Re: Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2 I dont care what the order of the tracks that the races are run at. I would like to see at least minimum 3 weeks between any races in the division including national events. We are all used to racing in the heat down here in the southeast division. The stupid schedule that we have had under Bill Holts tenure as director has really hurt our division. We had all our races bunched up in a 2-3 month time span. the rest of the year we just sat around banging away on these keyboards. Spread the season out and the car counts and participation will improve. Hopefully the new guy will listen and do something with the schedule. Time will tell. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

10-13-2010, 05:19 PM	#6
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,066 Likes: 1,486 Liked 1,630 Times in 378 Posts	Re: Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2 Mike, if I'm counting correctly, we have 5 National events in Division 2. Ideally, we'd like to have 6-7 LODRS races. The Division 2 season pretty much runs from mid February to the end of October. It's going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get 11 or 12 races in that time period with a minimum of 3 weeks separating them. Especially when you consider there must be at least some allowances for out of division LODRS races and National Events. You're asking for at least 11 races in 9 months with three weeks between them. For example, you can go ahead right now and take the last weekend of August and the first weekend in September out to accommodate Bowling Green and Indy. You can also take a weekend out to accommodate the Bowling Green SportsNational Open. So now you're down to what amounts to 8 months to have 11 races with three weeks between each race. Now, I suppose you can ignore the rest of the LODRS races in the bordering divisions, as well as the Fall Classic at Indy, and a couple of other events. But you do so at the risk of losing a lot of cars from the northern part of the division when you do that. The reality is that we're not going to get the 3 weeks between all of the races. Maybe some, but not all. And if you do not get any LODRS races north of Atlanta, and end up doing all your racing from Atlanta south, it's going to hurt the car count, especially if you want to run on into the hot part of the summer to get your 3 weeks. The heat and humidity we have in Division 2 from mid June through September hurts car counts and spectator counts, no matter how much you say we're all used to it. I know plenty of people who stayed home this year, because they just were not going to spend up to $1K to go race in the heat in this economy. That has to be considered in order for the tracks to make a profit. You can't continue to ask the track owners to suffer low car counts in this economy. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

10-13-2010, 05:41 PM	#8
Bill Grubbs Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Magnolia, Texas Posts: 414 Likes: 1 Liked 557 Times in 65 Posts	Re: Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2 Races early in the season, and close together are what brings the car count to Div II. Racing in the summer surely won't; at least not in FL, GA, or AL. Personally, I like the spring and fall races. The only problem I see with back to back races is if there is a problem with the car, then I do not have time to properly prosecute the problem and get testing in. That is what has bit us these past couple of years. But I still like the schedule the way it is. Just add a couple of more tracks to fill up the schedule.

10-13-2010, 06:07 PM	#9
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,066 Likes: 1,486 Liked 1,630 Times in 378 Posts	Re: Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2 I see no reason we can't run in Division 2 all the way up to at least the 1st weekend of November. The only conflict there is the possibility of losing some cars that would go west for the end of the season if they were in the hunt for the championship. If we open the schedule up a little, running from mid February to the 1st weekend of November, we can get a 7 race LODRS schedule in along with our 5 or so National Events. If we had the first fall LODRS after the fall Charlotte National event, the same weekend as the Dallas National Event, that would allow all of October and the first weekend of November to get two LODRS races in. Now, again, that leaves a conflict with Dallas, and possibly with Reading, so the effect of those conflicts on the car count would be a factor. Of course, they're not likely to run the Atlanta LODRS that weekend, since NHRA owns the track. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

10-13-2010, 11:57 PM	#10
Keith Bennett Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakeland FL Posts: 198 Likes: 463 Liked 70 Times in 36 Posts	Re: Speaking of Divisional Schedules: NHRA D2 I say we get Alan for President. __________________ Keith A/S 2990/Terri A/SA 2991 "Imagine what you'd attempt, if you knew you could not fail!"