2023 Dutch Classic Experience

jeff_kovalik · 10-23-2023, 12:49 PM

I don’t post much on here, but I wanted to take the time to summarize my experience at the 2023 Dutch Classic.

Pros:
The track is just a great facility, I extend my thanks to the owners, and SINCERE gratitude to all the track & Div 1 workers who give their time for minimal pay to make these events happen. Every track worker at every dragstrip deserves a thank you from us racers, believe me they appreciate hearing it. The starting line was good and consistent for me, but others may have had issues.

I was fortunate to make it the 7th round in Stock, which was my first NHRA final round. That of course is a great day. It was a good race with a .010 winning effort by Matt Lisa, my congrats to him on a great performance.

I met so many nice people, it was just great. Many spectators stopped by and chatted, but the fellow racers I interacted with were the best. First of all, Bubba Linke. We ran each other in class round 1 and I was able to stay in front for a win, but then we get paired up again in round 3 of the eliminator. Oh man did he and his gang bring their A game while I brought my B- game. They prepped that Camaro like it was the US Nationals, we waited to be the last pair down, and wow he was ready. My tardiness at the tree about cost me the race as it took 1318 feet to get around him for a .021 MOV at the stripe. Even though I beat him twice in two days, he and Herbie Null were the first to come over after the final, say congrats and give me an ice cold beer. What great sportsmanship! I met Richard Kay, Kim Rhoades, Tony Scopa, James Perrone, Ryan Horensky, Sam Murray, Mike Farrell, Wendell Howes, Matt Lisa and I’m sure more. The D1 guys were great!

No AHFS. Let them eat…

Cons:
If you go on the Div 1 FB page, you can certainly see some grumbling regarding some decisions regarding how the event was run. I’ll let those comments speak for themselves, but I do agree that there were some odd decisions made, that many did not agree with. In my opinion, it was possible to complete class eliminations, and I’m pretty sure every single Stock/Super Stock competitor on the property would have been beyond flexible with the rest of the schedule so that it could happen. The primary reason for me driving 7 hours vs. 3 hours (to Indy) was to compete in, and watch class eliminations. I paid for that experience, and it’s a bummer it didn’t go as planned. I paid a lot in tolls and fuel to come compete and support the track and the event, but I certainly understand the weather is out of our control and someone has to make tough decisions, but the circumstances that were in play seemed manageable. Too often lately it seems these decisions are made swiftly without the thought of what’s best for the customers. I do not want to sound negative, but we are the customers…we pay for a service/product/experience and every effort should be made to be sure the value of that investment is there.

The scale there is well… interesting.

Every race is an experience… and this one was no different. I will be back next year.

10-23-2023, 12:49 PM	#1
jeff_kovalik Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Ohio Posts: 55 Likes: 307 Liked 186 Times in 30 Posts	2023 Dutch Classic Experience I don’t post much on here, but I wanted to take the time to summarize my experience at the 2023 Dutch Classic. Pros: The track is just a great facility, I extend my thanks to the owners, and SINCERE gratitude to all the track & Div 1 workers who give their time for minimal pay to make these events happen. Every track worker at every dragstrip deserves a thank you from us racers, believe me they appreciate hearing it. The starting line was good and consistent for me, but others may have had issues. I was fortunate to make it the 7th round in Stock, which was my first NHRA final round. That of course is a great day. It was a good race with a .010 winning effort by Matt Lisa, my congrats to him on a great performance. I met so many nice people, it was just great. Many spectators stopped by and chatted, but the fellow racers I interacted with were the best. First of all, Bubba Linke. We ran each other in class round 1 and I was able to stay in front for a win, but then we get paired up again in round 3 of the eliminator. Oh man did he and his gang bring their A game while I brought my B- game. They prepped that Camaro like it was the US Nationals, we waited to be the last pair down, and wow he was ready. My tardiness at the tree about cost me the race as it took 1318 feet to get around him for a .021 MOV at the stripe. Even though I beat him twice in two days, he and Herbie Null were the first to come over after the final, say congrats and give me an ice cold beer. What great sportsmanship! I met Richard Kay, Kim Rhoades, Tony Scopa, James Perrone, Ryan Horensky, Sam Murray, Mike Farrell, Wendell Howes, Matt Lisa and I’m sure more. The D1 guys were great! No AHFS. Let them eat… Cons: If you go on the Div 1 FB page, you can certainly see some grumbling regarding some decisions regarding how the event was run. I’ll let those comments speak for themselves, but I do agree that there were some odd decisions made, that many did not agree with. In my opinion, it was possible to complete class eliminations, and I’m pretty sure every single Stock/Super Stock competitor on the property would have been beyond flexible with the rest of the schedule so that it could happen. The primary reason for me driving 7 hours vs. 3 hours (to Indy) was to compete in, and watch class eliminations. I paid for that experience, and it’s a bummer it didn’t go as planned. I paid a lot in tolls and fuel to come compete and support the track and the event, but I certainly understand the weather is out of our control and someone has to make tough decisions, but the circumstances that were in play seemed manageable. Too often lately it seems these decisions are made swiftly without the thought of what’s best for the customers. I do not want to sound negative, but we are the customers…we pay for a service/product/experience and every effort should be made to be sure the value of that investment is there. The scale there is well… interesting. Every race is an experience… and this one was no different. I will be back next year.