It's a great time to race - part one

[Jack Matyas]

After reading a million times this year that you're going to stay home and not race because you hate the NHRA , or gas & diesel prices are up , or everyones horsepower is lower than yours or the weather looks like a maybe or the recession or the unemployment or whatever reason you may have here are some positive reasons why you may want to go ------

Pit space - at the last two events I've been to ( Maple Grove LODRS & Englishtown Supernationals ) parking space has been terrific - when there is a hundred less cars there has to be more space .

No teardown - with the shortage of tech people teardowns have been limited - and lets face it gang we do need them but ten guys pulling pistons this past weekend wouldn't have changed anything as 'lil Joe Santangelo and the Alabama Invader Rampy won their eliminators on good driving as I don't recall either of them having a heads-up .

Low car counts - we don't like to see low car counts but lets take advantage of racing one less round every now and again - ask any of the touring sportsman - they'll tell you .

Less crowds - we all like to race in front of a packed house but its easier when there's less people to run over when you're in a hurry between rounds.

Get home sooner - even if you stay to the end you'll get home sooner because of less rounds / less people and traffic .At Maple Grove we were done early and everyone was home before they expected for the Memorial Day weekend .

OK - bring on the hate mail and we'll start part two .

PS- Gas & Diesel prices dropped more than a dime this past week .

[Ed Fernandez]

The price of getting there is the only negative I see.There's usually quite a few out of division racers at Englishtown.Not this year though.

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

The price of getting there is the only negative I see.There's usually quite a few out of division racers at Englishtown.Not this year though.

On the flip side, when I cover the IHRA points races in the Northeast Division, I see few more NHRA drivers at each event who go to an IHRA race rather than drive out of division. There is a race near Binghamton, NY on the 18th and 19th, It will be interesting to see who shows up there.

Jim

[Randall Klein]

I've been told never argue with a cheerleader, but oh well.....for me anyway it's not the nickle and dimeing stuff, the gas prices, entry fees, insurance surcharges, the scooter fee, the renewal fees, the lousy ND content, the 2 yr seatbelt deal, the trans blanket, the certifications, the spotty tech, small haz-mat waste generator fees....naw, none of that, it's just the attitude.....why go you ask, uhh, to see friends, to get away, the adrenaline rush from 1 minute of track time over three days and hundreds of towing miles, or probably the addiction to what once was.....

[danny waters sr]

Jack, You almost described IHRA to a T....Maybe NHRA is catching on .....lol
Ok, now i'm gonna get smacked....

[Dennis P Chapman]

Jack
Will this be a new weekly or once a mouth report good start.

[Bob Bender]

Jack, I must agree................

[cicero819]

Jack, Ken Miele and yourself are great Ambassadors for our sports and I love your enthusiasm when it comes to NHRA racing. Both of you would probably have said to Captain Edward "John" Smith the late Captain of the Titanic, " don't worry Sir, it's only a scratch and I'm sure Ken and I can fix it up in a a few hours". Jack, you're right and it's nice to see someone who takes the time to remind us that our glass is only half full, not empty. Some NHRA racing is better than none, just wish that someone at NHRA would be monitoring the different Internet boards, to see that they could do a better job than their doing. I only go to spectate at this moment, until my car is ready or I win the lottery, but could NHRA speed up the pro's a little more, it nearly takes an half hour to run a pair. You don't need to have someone clean out and rake all the tires before they go! Thanks for the reports and the pictures. Claude

[ALMACK]

Good points Jack !

It would appear that now is the best time for a beginner to get into the game.

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by cicero819

Jack, Ken Miele and yourself are great Ambassadors for our sports and I love your enthusiasm when it comes to NHRA racing. Both of you would probably have said to Captain Edward "John" Smith the late Captain of the Titanic, " don't worry Sir, it's only a scratch and I'm sure Ken and I can fix it up in a a few hours". Jack, you're right and it's nice to see someone who takes the time to remind us that our glass is only half full, not empty. Some NHRA racing is better than none! Thanks for the reports and the pictures. Claude

Thanks Claude - Captain Smith - nope ,as there are many racers on here that try to make me feel more like Captain Quigg ........from the Caine Mutiny . But I keep refilling the cup .And I have my own supply of ball bearings ! ! !