IHRA Edmonton AB

theworm · 07-05-2014, 09:12 PM

Why don't the Canadian S/ SS racers support the race there this weekend? pretty poor turn out for a big race in there back yard.

Mike Semeniuk · 07-06-2014, 05:34 PM

There is no simple answer to your question and the last 5 years have added to the myriad of reasons why the turn out has been dropping. Some things that occurred years ago still linger with some racers. In a nut shell think in terms of Politics, policy, program, parking, weather and of all the S/SS racers in Alberta, the majority race NHRA division and national events in BC and the Pacific Northwest. So sometimes the decision is time and expense to get to places and race VS time at home waiting for the program to move forward. In addition, this year there are a few cars not race ready. This may be oversimplified- but should be insightful.
Alberta was a hub of S/SS for 40 years, times have changed with Top Eliminator cars moving to the forefront and some S/SS cars locating south of the border for the race season.

We need younger racers to come on over- and in that respect S/SS is the same all over.

The Edmonton race is no longer a " national event" like most are familiar with, and no records can be set on the division race- so ------

BTW- this is as I see it and others may not see it the same way.

SPS · 07-06-2014, 08:49 PM

I agree this appears to be a problem in the west.

But, the recent IHRA Mopar Nats at Grand Bend was well supported
in both Stock and Super Stock by local racers, both Canadian and American..
This was especially true by members of our Can-Am Stock SuperStock Assn.

I think our guys realize - you don't support it - you loose it.

FJ

Mike Semeniuk · 07-07-2014, 01:04 AM

Couldn't agree with you more FJ. Your Can Am series keeps the interest high and racing consistent and the class cars in the mind of spectators and other racers alike. I attended one race as a spectator a few years back, thought it was great. In the mid to late 90's we ran a Prairie Racers series that was very successful, although it was mostly a local series with about 35 racers. With the distances involved (depending where you live -it is 10-12 hours to mission, 9-11 to Spokane and 13-15 to Seattle.) Attempts to resurrect the series have failed to date due to lack of local track and racer support. There is still hope though,

casper · 07-07-2014, 01:25 AM

Don, I supported the Rocky Mountains for about 7 years, sometimes entering multiple cars. Between the annual pre-parking fiasco, the annual pit parking fiasco, the annual run around fiasco it just became too much. My last race there I was treated like a second class citizen and have now decided to vote with my wallet. Haven't been in a couple years, and don't miss the BS. I do miss hanging with my racing buddies, but I'll see them at another venue, another time.
Mike Pruss

Darcy Clarke · 07-07-2014, 09:16 AM

I think both Mike's have answered the question but I think the key words are "It Has To Be Fun" and unfortunately that hasn't always been the case.

Darcy Clarke
6254
A/SA SS/JA

Tom Nolan · 07-07-2014, 10:03 AM

The parking at this event is crazy! Pre park at an offsite venue on the Monday before the event to receive a number lets say #27 to go in to park. Thursday you line up to pay, wait to go in an orderly manner......drive over to the track and guess what it its *%@#! full !!!! What???? The parking police finally find a spot big enough for one car but we have 4, set things up, unhook, then someone comes over and says "you cant have that spot that's for the Burn Out King!" When IHRA and the management of the track figure out how to park I maybe back? Jr Dragsters, several bracket class's, and the dog and pony show also add to the frustration.....but mostly the parking!

Tom P · 07-08-2014, 01:28 AM

Is that for all classes or just some? So many quality racers within an easy drive of the track it's a shame they can't showcase that. They could abolish some of the classes that seem strange to be at a National event (validating Doug Herbert's Hillbilly Association quip) and have good fields in Stock and SS if they were the least bit intelligent.

07-05-2014, 09:12 PM	#1
theworm Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 50 Likes: 1 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	IHRA Edmonton AB Why don't the Canadian S/ SS racers support the race there this weekend? pretty poor turn out for a big race in there back yard.

07-06-2014, 08:49 PM	#3
SPS Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cayuga, Canada Posts: 298 Likes: 37 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: IHRA Edmonton AB I agree this appears to be a problem in the west. But, the recent IHRA Mopar Nats at Grand Bend was well supported in both Stock and Super Stock by local racers, both Canadian and American.. This was especially true by members of our Can-Am Stock SuperStock Assn. I think our guys realize - you don't support it - you loose it. FJ

07-07-2014, 01:04 AM	#4
Mike Semeniuk Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta Posts: 99 Likes: 19 Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts	Re: IHRA Edmonton AB Couldn't agree with you more FJ. Your Can Am series keeps the interest high and racing consistent and the class cars in the mind of spectators and other racers alike. I attended one race as a spectator a few years back, thought it was great. In the mid to late 90's we ran a Prairie Racers series that was very successful, although it was mostly a local series with about 35 racers. With the distances involved (depending where you live -it is 10-12 hours to mission, 9-11 to Spokane and 13-15 to Seattle.) Attempts to resurrect the series have failed to date due to lack of local track and racer support. There is still hope though, __________________ Mike Semeniuk 632 GTMA

07-07-2014, 01:25 AM	#5
casper Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 112 Likes: 3 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: IHRA Edmonton AB Don, I supported the Rocky Mountains for about 7 years, sometimes entering multiple cars. Between the annual pre-parking fiasco, the annual pit parking fiasco, the annual run around fiasco it just became too much. My last race there I was treated like a second class citizen and have now decided to vote with my wallet. Haven't been in a couple years, and don't miss the BS. I do miss hanging with my racing buddies, but I'll see them at another venue, another time. Mike Pruss

07-07-2014, 09:16 AM	#6
Darcy Clarke Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 200 Likes: 22 Liked 493 Times in 34 Posts	Re: IHRA Edmonton AB I think both Mike's have answered the question but I think the key words are "It Has To Be Fun" and unfortunately that hasn't always been the case. Darcy Clarke 6254 A/SA SS/JA

07-06-2014, 05:34 PM	#2
Mike Semeniuk Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta Posts: 99 Likes: 19 Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts	Re: IHRA Edmonton AB There is no simple answer to your question and the last 5 years have added to the myriad of reasons why the turn out has been dropping. Some things that occurred years ago still linger with some racers. In a nut shell think in terms of Politics, policy, program, parking, weather and of all the S/SS racers in Alberta, the majority race NHRA division and national events in BC and the Pacific Northwest. So sometimes the decision is time and expense to get to places and race VS time at home waiting for the program to move forward. In addition, this year there are a few cars not race ready. This may be oversimplified- but should be insightful. Alberta was a hub of S/SS for 40 years, times have changed with Top Eliminator cars moving to the forefront and some S/SS cars locating south of the border for the race season. We need younger racers to come on over- and in that respect S/SS is the same all over. The Edmonton race is no longer a " national event" like most are familiar with, and no records can be set on the division race- so ------ BTW- this is as I see it and others may not see it the same way. __________________ Mike Semeniuk 632 GTMA

07-07-2014, 10:03 AM	#7
Tom Nolan Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lacombe, Alberta, Canada Posts: 182 Likes: 0 Liked 64 Times in 11 Posts	Re: IHRA Edmonton AB The parking at this event is crazy! Pre park at an offsite venue on the Monday before the event to receive a number lets say #27 to go in to park. Thursday you line up to pay, wait to go in an orderly manner......drive over to the track and guess what it its *%@#! full !!!! What???? The parking police finally find a spot big enough for one car but we have 4, set things up, unhook, then someone comes over and says "you cant have that spot that's for the Burn Out King!" When IHRA and the management of the track figure out how to park I maybe back? Jr Dragsters, several bracket class's, and the dog and pony show also add to the frustration.....but mostly the parking!

07-08-2014, 01:28 AM	#8
Tom P Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 707 Likes: 30 Liked 239 Times in 94 Posts	Re: IHRA Edmonton AB Is that for all classes or just some? So many quality racers within an easy drive of the track it's a shame they can't showcase that. They could abolish some of the classes that seem strange to be at a National event (validating Doug Herbert's Hillbilly Association quip) and have good fields in Stock and SS if they were the least bit intelligent.