No room in the pits

Fred Elsass · 06-16-2022, 02:44 PM

This is being posted by someone who towed a 4 dr. 1965 Biscayne from Abilene, Texas to Dragway 42 in West Salem, Ohio and to Tucson Dragway with a 1965 4dr Impala using a tow bar and tow hubs. We always had room. I now have a 2009 F250 and an open aluminum trailer. I would suggest that there would be a lot more room and many more racers allowed to enter events if all the Professional Sportsman racers would park there huge motor homes in a designated area outside the pits. Got no problem with huge trailers. Got my flak vest on, so go for it.

Sarge

Mike Pearson · 06-16-2022, 04:32 PM

Most races there is plenty of pit space. NHRA quit parking rigs at the nationals a few years back. Some racers take more pit space than needed. I have a toter and a 40 ft gooseneck trailer. I only take what space I need. I like to work off the back of my trailer.
To each their own on the type of tow rig they want. One of my friends has 6 cars and a toter with a 53 ft stacker trailer. So he gets a few more pit spots with that rig and all the cars.
We enjoy the camping aspect when we are at the race track. I prefer to park on the grass for that reason.

tommy d · 06-16-2022, 04:44 PM

Every neighborhood has THAT guy.Kidding.

FED 387 · 06-16-2022, 05:30 PM

Fred--part of the problem is that the PRO'S have their hospitality areas in the pits adjacent to their cars THEN they have 2 semi tractor trailers PLUS 2 motorhomes and this huge "picnic" area for which sometimes is the equivalent to 2-3 or 4 cars maybe even a support trailer with machine shop capabilities and souvenir sales too for 2 entries - Now is seems almost "every sportsman" has some kind of a motorhome plus a huge trailer to complicate matters-- Plus almost everyone works out of the side of their trailer not in the back . So if you add up all the "potential" pit spaces taken by all of these extra or oversized rigs plus working out of the side of the trailer you cut down the available pit space which is partly why I THINK the quota system came into play--- NO PLACE to put 500 cars if you have 300 cars taking up that same space--fewer cars might also mean increased entry fees to compensate for the reduced number of cars that can be entered--Less entries , bigger haulers , more motorhomes ETC.ETC. You see my point- You can't put 10 pounds into a 5 pound bag ain't gonna happen--- MY 2 cents--- FED 387

Dave Casey · 06-16-2022, 06:36 PM

Sarge , do I qualify ? towed my stocker on an open trailer with my 78 el camino from Massachusetts to Cedar Falls Iowa for a points meet and then to Indy for the Nationals, then back to Mass.

Times change, now 36 ft motorhome and 26 ft trailer.

I do not think room is commonly the problem, track time is. Rain, oil downs etc added in to the mix make it tough to finish it all.

Frank Castros · 06-16-2022, 08:44 PM

Bock Drags Star?
Remember NMW Tow Bars and Hubs?
If a street car had NMW tabs it was a car to be revered.
Ah, those were the days.........
Do I belong on Jalopy Journal?
Sorry to blow up this thread, but my mind works this way.

rboyle · 06-16-2022, 09:18 PM

I tow an enclosed 24' trailer with my Suburban but usually stay with my friend in his motorhome. The pit spaces aren't usually an issue at most D1 races I've been to.
The only byproduct with some downside is that the spectators who wander the pits don't get to see as many cars when they're in enclosed trailers and us racers when between rounds tend to babysit our pit or cool off inside the coach rather than go watch racing in the stands. We tended to do the stands more when the station wagon was the only refuge and it had no AC.
But that is evolution.

Casey Miles · 06-16-2022, 10:23 PM

If you go to a shipping company, they charge you by the size and weight of your box being shipped. So, let's say the track facility is the truck and you are bringing in a box (your rig) is the item being shipped in the truck. NHRA could get additional revenue from charging you for the size of your rig if they determined a maximum size, like 50', let's say before being charged an additional fee for parking in the track. Any rig bigger than 50' would be changed per foot past the determined size.
I'm not saying this should happen, but if NHRA wants to control the pits, this could be an avenue to follow.

Casey Miles
Stock

Bob Sherwood · 06-16-2022, 10:53 PM

I can remember way back when------ we were happier than s### to just have a place to race !!! Don't want to see that again !!!

mrfast · 06-17-2022, 07:06 AM

Casey Miles your giving them advise on more enhancements

06-16-2022, 02:44 PM	#1
Fred Elsass Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 127 Likes: 1 Liked 292 Times in 41 Posts	No room in the pits This is being posted by someone who towed a 4 dr. 1965 Biscayne from Abilene, Texas to Dragway 42 in West Salem, Ohio and to Tucson Dragway with a 1965 4dr Impala using a tow bar and tow hubs. We always had room. I now have a 2009 F250 and an open aluminum trailer. I would suggest that there would be a lot more room and many more racers allowed to enter events if all the Professional Sportsman racers would park there huge motor homes in a designated area outside the pits. Got no problem with huge trailers. Got my flak vest on, so go for it. Sarge

06-16-2022, 04:32 PM	#2
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,417 Likes: 597 Liked 1,880 Times in 562 Posts	Re: No room in the pits Most races there is plenty of pit space. NHRA quit parking rigs at the nationals a few years back. Some racers take more pit space than needed. I have a toter and a 40 ft gooseneck trailer. I only take what space I need. I like to work off the back of my trailer. To each their own on the type of tow rig they want. One of my friends has 6 cars and a toter with a 53 ft stacker trailer. So he gets a few more pit spots with that rig and all the cars. We enjoy the camping aspect when we are at the race track. I prefer to park on the grass for that reason. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

06-16-2022, 04:44 PM	#3
tommy d Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 829 Likes: 1,588 Liked 359 Times in 135 Posts	Re: No room in the pits Every neighborhood has THAT guy.Kidding. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Who owns this car, with the peace sign,mag wheels, and four on the floor? Last edited by tommy d; 06-16-2022 at 04:49 PM.

06-16-2022, 05:30 PM	#4
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,400 Likes: 482 Liked 320 Times in 172 Posts	Re: No room in the pits Fred--part of the problem is that the PRO'S have their hospitality areas in the pits adjacent to their cars THEN they have 2 semi tractor trailers PLUS 2 motorhomes and this huge "picnic" area for which sometimes is the equivalent to 2-3 or 4 cars maybe even a support trailer with machine shop capabilities and souvenir sales too for 2 entries - Now is seems almost "every sportsman" has some kind of a motorhome plus a huge trailer to complicate matters-- Plus almost everyone works out of the side of their trailer not in the back . So if you add up all the "potential" pit spaces taken by all of these extra or oversized rigs plus working out of the side of the trailer you cut down the available pit space which is partly why I THINK the quota system came into play--- NO PLACE to put 500 cars if you have 300 cars taking up that same space--fewer cars might also mean increased entry fees to compensate for the reduced number of cars that can be entered--Less entries , bigger haulers , more motorhomes ETC.ETC. You see my point- You can't put 10 pounds into a 5 pound bag ain't gonna happen--- MY 2 cents--- FED 387

06-16-2022, 06:36 PM	#5
Dave Casey VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hampden, MA Posts: 1,194 Likes: 233 Liked 758 Times in 160 Posts	Re: No room in the pits Sarge , do I qualify ? towed my stocker on an open trailer with my 78 el camino from Massachusetts to Cedar Falls Iowa for a points meet and then to Indy for the Nationals, then back to Mass. Times change, now 36 ft motorhome and 26 ft trailer. I do not think room is commonly the problem, track time is. Rain, oil downs etc added in to the mix make it tough to finish it all. __________________ Dave Casey 1330 STK

06-16-2022, 08:44 PM	#6
Frank Castros VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Lowcountry. Posts: 2,933 Likes: 2,509 Liked 2,552 Times in 934 Posts	Re: No room in the pits Bock Drags Star? Remember NMW Tow Bars and Hubs? If a street car had NMW tabs it was a car to be revered. Ah, those were the days......... Do I belong on Jalopy Journal? Sorry to blow up this thread, but my mind works this way. Last edited by Frank Castros; 06-16-2022 at 08:47 PM.

06-16-2022, 09:18 PM	#7
rboyle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 600 Likes: 1,449 Liked 560 Times in 160 Posts	Re: No room in the pits I tow an enclosed 24' trailer with my Suburban but usually stay with my friend in his motorhome. The pit spaces aren't usually an issue at most D1 races I've been to. The only byproduct with some downside is that the spectators who wander the pits don't get to see as many cars when they're in enclosed trailers and us racers when between rounds tend to babysit our pit or cool off inside the coach rather than go watch racing in the stands. We tended to do the stands more when the station wagon was the only refuge and it had no AC. But that is evolution.

06-16-2022, 10:23 PM	#8
Casey Miles Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 699 Likes: 123 Liked 475 Times in 88 Posts	Re: No room in the pits If you go to a shipping company, they charge you by the size and weight of your box being shipped. So, let's say the track facility is the truck and you are bringing in a box (your rig) is the item being shipped in the truck. NHRA could get additional revenue from charging you for the size of your rig if they determined a maximum size, like 50', let's say before being charged an additional fee for parking in the track. Any rig bigger than 50' would be changed per foot past the determined size. I'm not saying this should happen, but if NHRA wants to control the pits, this could be an avenue to follow. Casey Miles Stock

06-16-2022, 10:53 PM	#9
Bob Sherwood Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 153 Likes: 70 Liked 388 Times in 60 Posts	Re: No room in the pits I can remember way back when------ we were happier than s### to just have a place to race !!! Don't want to see that again !!!

06-17-2022, 07:06 AM	#10
mrfast Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2021 Posts: 27 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts	Re: No room in the pits Casey Miles your giving them advise on more enhancements