Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

The reason that, more often than not, that the smaller Combo and Association races do not succeed, is that, often there are too many 'Wally Chasers", and not enough drag racers.

People complain, weekly/daily on here, about how they are treated at NHRA and IHRA races. Sitting there for three days, making two runs hours apart (if you get to run at ALL that day) for one race, paying $150-$300+ entry to race, getting parked in the bad sections of the pits, getting shuffled around during the weekend racing schedule, at times being forced to run on sub-standard tracks at odd hours of the weekend, and having all the motel, gas, etc expenses. And for what? Winning a Wally? I have three Wally's. And they take up the same space and collect the same dust as my local bracket racing trophies that I paid $20 to enter and maybe won, at most, $40 prize money.

Yet, when good-deal races come along, races that have a much lower entry fee, pay as well or BETTER than the big races, require 1/2 to 1/4 the time away, less than HALF the expense in towing, gas, motels, etc, the racers are nowhere to be found. Because they are too caught up in Wally-chasing. I guess the chance at winning a trophy at a big race will lead racers to spend absurd amounts of money chasing them.

Next season (2012) will likely be the last season for our local S/SS Association, UNLESS things improve. For years (since 1999), I've beat my head against a wall to provide racers places to race, at my own expense of time and money. One day meets, $100 entry, that can pay $1,000 to win or more with a good car count. Other than the annual Hagerstown November race, we get 12-17 cars per race. Usually pays $600-900 win, and 300-400 r/u. Last year was a perfect example. We had a race on Memorial Day weekend at Quaker City in Ohio. We had about 16 cars there. But about that same number (12-15 or so) local racers opted to travel 250 miles to Maple Grove, spending all the money on fuel, tolls, motel and entry, rather than travel 50 miles for a one day race that would have paid more (23 cars guarantee's $1,000 to win/500 r/u in my races) than what they would have won at the Grove (minus sticker money they might have had coming, IF they got paid it at all) and had probably 1/4 of the total expenses.

Point is, the writing is, and has been, on the wall. NHRA doesn't really want us at the races, and all the things they have changed over the past 10-15 years have shown that. Yet racers STILL flock to these events like they are Woodstock or something. It's time for racers to step up and support their local Association races (S/SS Assn's, the .90 series', and the bigger money races like VanPoppel/Zane, Rob Keister, etc have tried). In the future, they might be all we have left for us. If they are not supported NOW, they will go away. And then you'll be stuck with ONLY getting to run the big xHRA races. And if (when?) the xHRA's decide to do away with S/SS racing, and/or Sportsman racing in general, what are you going to have left? Other than an over-priced local bracket car that doesn't fit anything but Super Pro or Pro.

So what's it going to be, racers? Are you going to step up and support the people/series who support you? Or are you going to continue to lay out $500-1,000 per weekend trying to chase a Wally?

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mike ,
I know what you mean.Our Buckeye S/SS races have experienced the same problem to a degree. I know many racers have parked their cars because of the economy but you would think many of those guys would dust them off and race the combo races.We have a core group of racers that are at almost every race, and others that race when they feel like it. That's OK , but when it is not feasable to run these races they will wish the Combo races were still here.
I also think the other S/SS series are experiencing some of the same problems.Some are allowing the NMCA Nostalgia S/SS cars to run with them( we've been doing this since the Buckeye S/SS started) to help with car counts. Think about that Mike,that may help out some.
These are some of the most fun races that a racer can run and not invest a lot of time into.
Jeff Ross

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mike - Sorry you feel that way ........why you ask ? I've got some of those Wally's you're talking about and let me tell you - most of them I feel like I earned ...and now cherish....not the ones that were given because of singles or freebies or whatever but the ones that were earned thru good old fashioned run it out the backdoor racing .

If all I wanted to do was to earn money I'd stay at work - why bother going to the track at all.

Maybe there is a reason your car count was down at other events you held --- but don't hold it against the diehards like myself or you'll end up with even smaller fields - people do remember ..................

BTW , Those three Wally's you have - you might as well put 'em on E-Bay as they don't have much meaning to you .

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

But Jack, You love Wally World !
Mike 's post was primarily addressed to those who are always complaining about .
(and rightly so, in my opinion).
*** note; Jack has supported the independent events too. At least, ours.

We typically get 6-8 cars at our combos . It's just a segment of our total program, but the fans do love it ,as do the dedicated racers that we do get, each and every time
There are about 40 S/SS'ers in Az alone, so you tell me ???
Someday, I suppose when Wally World goes away, we'll see a bigger count.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Hi guys. I want to thank you both for the continued effort giving us good races and a option to race somewhere other than Divisional /National events. I have talked to Mike a little on this subject, and this is only mine ( and my brothers) opinion.But, I think MANY Class racers are not interested in Bracket racing. Traditionally,the only fast guys that will come are ones that have something to test. So they come to use your race as a "test session". And it makes sense really....If I have a REALLY fast car, I'm not interested in getting my butt kicked buy someone in my own class with shoe polish.Or for that matter, not being allowed to show up and deliberately put their car in MY class trying to get me in a heads up. All that strategy is gone. Even if it is only remotely possible,class racers want to race heads-up, given the opportunity.. And be feared for their accomplishments.Shoe polish eliminates all that......All you have to do is have scales, you could skip the fuel check. Let people run any fuel they want. I do not think anyone is going to go buy ultra expensive fuel for a Stock/Superstock Combo.If they do, cross that bridge when you get to it. We would probably SMELL any funny gas,so everybody would know what their up to.For that matter, just weight for heads up runs only. As far as tech,we are pretty good at policing ourselves on the bolt on stuff that is visible to the eye without teardown. Nobody wants to be toredown at a combo race, as they are suppose to be fun and kind of a kicked back type of deal. But alot of people think heads- up is Very fun..........Like I said, just my opinion

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Jack, trust me, I wish I would have someone to race for those Wally's. I was very disapointed that three years in a row at Indy, the other dozen or so racers in the country in my classes were not there. Maybe they lacked the same confidence I had in myself and my (actualy Billy's) car. Shame on me. When a former S/S world champ asked my dad if I won class at Indy '02, Dad quoted me and said "Yeah, but he was disapointed that no one was there to run him, and said it sucked". The Champ said to my dad "That trophy doesn't say how many cars were there, it said you won Class".

As far as the other races, I truly have no idea why they are not supported. We get 40-45 cars every year in Hagerstown. 55 last year. 73 this year. Pittsburgh, Quaker City, Numida, Beaver Springs, Quarter Aces and other tracks? 17 or less every time. I already explained why the May Quaker City race was down last year--too many of my racers went to the Grove. Every year, this time of the year, I ask for input from racers as to what they want to see in our program. I get little to no feedback, and when I act on what I do receive, nothing changes, and most often, the racer(s) suggesting the changes still aren't there. Maybe if I had a nice trophy to offer...

Oh, and I don't have to worry about offending the "die-hards"--they don't come anyway.

Wally's ARE important, to a point I spent thousands of dollars to get them (figuring the costs to go to races to earn the necesary grade points). Indy was the only National I ever raced at, or ever wanted to race at. Too many years as a travelling semi-pro spectator, and seeing how some of the Nat'l events were run, turned me off. Of the three shelves of trophies I have, the three Indy trophies get the top shelf. However, I just don't see NHRA trophies/awards as the be-all, end-all that many other racers apparently do.

People (racers) just need to realize there ARE other, equally fun, equally well-paying, games in town. It's not just NHRA.

Like I said, in a few years, when there are no local series to compete in, and NHRA decides to get rid of us, there will be a lot of racers probably thinking to themselves "I wish we would have supported those other races more..."

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

-Jeff N, heads-ups are something I would consider. Pittsburgh has no scales (for the IHRA Div'l races, they use the IHRA temporary scales 'weigh with the front tires, weigh with the back, and add it up' method), so there would be no heads-ups there at Pitt. Quaker and Hagerstown, assuming their scales are accurate and still work, we could work with.

I would have to pay (another expense) a qualified tech person (or at least knowledgeable person) to run the scales. Maybe not so much for the tradtional S/S and Stock cars. But for SS/GT, for example. Not saying you or anyone would do it. But let's say you're running your car, GT/FA 1975 400/180-328 (or whatever it's rated at now). And you claim it as such. But it actually has some other, higher-rated combo in it (427/425, 396/375, etc or something similar) and runs silly fast (same with a GT car with a 327/250 and claiming it as a 283/220) or fast enough to win a heads-up. The average Weekly Joe tech person won't know what combos can or can not fit whatever GT, SS/AM, or even some Stock classes. He certainly wouldn't know the difference between a SS/DA legal 427/425 and some guy that claims it, with an LS-6 454/450 in it.

Again, I don't know how many, if any, would try it, but it could certainly lend itself to MORE potential cheating, more than that could be done now.

As it is now, with no scales, heads-ups or qualifying, any edge gained by cheating is nullified. Going two seconds under would not gain any advantage to anything (no bye, no easy Class win). Other than Hagerstown, the only automatic SS/GT cars we had were all GT/HA or lower (except Gene McBean GT/BA), so I doubt you'd get a heads-up, even if we chose to scale and do them (unless you can get your car legally to H weight).

-Jeff R, Nostalgia/SS I have talked to our members about in the past. And it always meets a 98% (or more) resistance, since the N/SS have little to no rules, compared to legal class cars (as one former racer said, "why would you want to let older bracket cars in our race?"). And if I allow them, and we get five N/SS cars and lose 10 regular S/SS cars, I've gained nothing. Again, it's something I could consider, but we'd have to see what the members would want.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

I joined and have been going to the Carolina Class Racers combo's last year and this year. The turnouts have been faily good this year, some 30 or so cars at several of the races. I think we really need to support these races so we have something besides what IHRA and NHRA provide. I really like these one day events, for some decent prize money(haven't collected any yet).

Maybe we could get several of these organizations together and as a group convince some of the manufacturers to contribute. They may get a better bang for thier buck, and it would be nice to be able to add to the purse of some of these local shows.

I also like the idea of adding a Nostalgia show to be run in parallel with but seperate from teh s/ss combo, or some additional show to help with promotion of a combo. Need more crosstalk between groups.

I think we really need these type races, and we need the racers to support them so those that can't afford or don't want to race the big shows can still participate in the sport we all love.

Mike Moller
RFRL

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mike,

I understand your frustration with the series and having to dish money out of your own pocket. I must tell you from experience that you need to do what you need to do to run the series. Unless you are doing something wrong don't ask for feedback from the members...I know it sounds harsh but, we sent out a survey following the 2010 season for the Super Comp Guys regarding what tracks they would want to go to for the 2011 season. We got the polls back and all the racers said Cecil, Maple & Atco. The Cecil vote was something like 17 to 2 in favor of a race there. So we scheduled a race the week before the Maple Grove Divisional race (Maple grove was booked). This way it would give drivers some test and tune options before the divisional and 2 days of great weather and we had 6 cars on Sat & 9 cars on Sun. It was quite a dissapointing turn-out and way to start off the season.

I'd be more then willing to help you out with promoting the series for 2012 through Facebook site (Similar to what we have for MASCA & MASGA) and I have a lot of contacts through Nat Dragster, Drag Race Online, Etc, Etc that I could help you out with getting the word out. Let me know....

Rob

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Rob you are so right, set up your own rules and stick by them, every-time you ask for opinions everybody has one for there own agenda.
I do got to say my SST Series is doing well

And like Mike says at times Jeff & I have raised our hands and said what do we need to do to get cars besides giving free entries. (that's not happening, don't even go there)

Last thing, anybody that has a SS/Stock series, send me your schedule and I'll get it into the calender that i post on this and my web site and will start posting a section in the stats book all year

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

A lot of times scheduling is a problem because of so many races.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mike,

I have sort of sat back and just watched what was posted here before I posted. maybe I shouldn't even offer a reply as I am too personally involved in the S/SS Association thing. If I had the magic answer for the car count problem we would have 100 cars at our events instead of 30 - 45. I get all the same reasons for not attending that I'm sure you do. We have posted our rules online and follow them. We have no heads up runs, this allows everyone who wants to run class to have an equal chance. We get everyone from World Champions and National Record Holders to "Joe Beginner" race with us. We random weigh at our races. It keeps honest racers honest. Number one qualifier means nothing, no first round bye, no cash reward, nothing. We allow all NHRA, IHRA, NMCA, and NSSA cars to race with us. We use IHRA indexes and classes where applicable for the same reason as stated for heads up runs. It has taken 4 years to refine our rules and as in the major associations we are constantly evolving.
I don't know how you do this all by yourself! Props to you! We have a board and there is no way one guy could do it all and remain sane! Jim

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

bowling green runs nhra combo, no ihra... and with a qualifying ladder and pairings, scale all heads up... i go there whenever i can they had 48 i think 3rd weeekned october...

other than the lack of tech it is perfect... but tech would be great, with protests.

jack

mike you might wanna tighten up your rules ?

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

-Rob/Joe, I ask for input just to see if the racers feel something could be better, or if I personally am doing something wrong to keep racers away.

-Jim, my mom was a big help this year at the track, to me, it's not all 100% me only. Especially at Hagerstown, we both worked our asses off with so many cars (73). Dad didn't take off work this past year for the races, and I can't blame him for not wanting to miss a day's work for 15 cars.

-Jack, the tracks do not have qualified tech people, or as qualified, as Bowling Green, Ohio Valley, some of the other tracks etc. If you (or anyone) would like to send me money so I can hire someone (are there any good NHRA/IHRA tech people in eastern OH/western PA?), I am all for it.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mike,

I understand the whole asking for input from the racers to make the series stronger and find out what you are doing wrong....even if your doing nothing at all. The only problem that comes from this is no matter what you do or try people will find something to complain about. Rather it be something like you lined me up in the wrong lane during 1st round to the bulb was burnt out on the left side scoreboard. It is a "Thankless" Job!

I know each year once the National & Divisional Schedules are announced I put together a word file for myself and Lucky to find out what opening weekends we have to put races at. This year we are getting together with Dave Ley to put together SG,SC & STk/SS races all at one weekend. I found out first hand that no matter what you schedule people will go to NHRA Races over yours. I scheduled the .90 Event on an open weekend in 2010 except for the Bowling Green D-3 event, later on in the season they announced Charlotte was getting a divisional. To me I thought that was no biggy as both of these tracks are over 600 miles away for most D-1 racers, then came the phone calls and e-mails telling me they are going to drive 800 miles to Ky or 600 miles to NC over 100 miles to Numidia. Luckily enough a Hurricane came up the coast and we had to postpone it till this year. I would look into maybe into doing 3 to 4 double weekends at one or two tracks on non-nhra race weekends...

I took a look over the 2011 schedule that you had and even though people live in Ohio, Ky or Western Pa they will drive to a D-1 or D-3 Race Rather then come to yours, trust me it's nothing you are doing wrong at all cause you pour your heart in soul into the series and post on all the sites about the series but, people look at the schedule in the beginning of the year and go "can't make that race, it's on top of this, can't make that, it's on top of that" then all of a sudden they go I guess I'm not going to run Mike's Series this year. We learned our lesson a few years ago with MASGA cause we put a race on top of Mother's Day and had a horrible turn-out and we still get some flack from people if we put one on top of Norwalk or Columbus but, sometimes you have to look at it and bite the bullet....

April 2nd -3rd - Too Early, People are not ready for the season yet. Heck I know a lot of people who aren't even ready for Maple Grove at the end of May
May 29th - On top of the MG Divisional
June 4th - E-Town National Event
Sept 10th - E-Town / Tri-State Divisonals
Sept 17th - Charlotte National Event

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

I'm pretty sure the car count at the last Bowling Green race was 66 cars.

Bowling Green has a good program for several reasons.

The track supports it, the payout is good, the entry fee is fair, and there is a points program.

Other businesses support it. NitroPlate, TCI/Comp Cams, Quick Fuel, and a few others support the Bowling Green races.

The location is good, there are a lot of really good racers with really good cars close by, or at least within reasonable driving distance.

We have heads up races, a regular ladder, and NHRA classes, and we have that because that is what the racers want. I honestly think that if we did away with the ladder and heads up runs, we'd lose maybe 30% of the car count.

No, we do not have "tech inspection". We have the "honor system". Everyone who races at the Bowling Green combo races knows everyone else there. I don't think it would work out well for anyone to try to get over on the group that races at Bowling Green. There are enough people at Bowling Green who know enough about Stock and Super Stock to know real quick if there is anything going on. The group takes it seriously, it's a matter of pride and reputation. These people love to race, if anyone tried to pull something, they'd be caught, and I doubt they'd come back.

As one guy who races the Bowling Green series has said, "if you got caught cheating here, and you would if you did it, I think the "blanket party" held in your honor would make it unlikely you'd ever do it again".

Yes, we'd like to have tech inspection. I'd bet Travis would do it for us, and at a fair price. But asking one man to tech 60 cars is asking a lot, of him and the schedule. We'd like to have fuel check as well. Again, time and man power is a problem.


Honestly, heads up races are not common, we have a pretty good split between Stock and Super Stock, there are rarely more than 3 cars out of a 60+ car field in the same class. We're usually part of the three car groups, in SS/EA it's Ryan Haag, Rusty Perkins, and us, in AA/SA, it's the Knight brothers, Thomas Arnett, and us, depending on which car we bring, this year it has been the SS/EA car. I think in the last 2-3 years, we've had maybe 2 or 3 heads up races.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

not sure whether y'all are lucky or lazy, lol. Last race down here is the combo is this weekend and the first divisional is the 2nd week of february. Y'all have it easy

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mike, I support the combo races in Bowling Green and go to Ohio Valley when I can. The BG deal is the best because it's run just like a points race, with a ladder, heads up runs and scales that work. Plus the track is almost always really good. That being said we rarely have any one race with us that travels more than 200 miles. I feel that is probably about as far as you can draw for a $1000 to win combo race. Maybe you don't have enough cars in your area to support them or maybe something else is keeping them away.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

We try to support our local association as much as we can, we've raced Div. Nats. and these combos. Last year was a wash for us as I hurt both my engines, however I still want to support the local deal. For me the Nats. are just too much money and days off work, if I didn't live a stones throw from Norwalk I'd skip it, we argue each year wether to go or not I hate to miss 2 days work when the race is 15 miles away. Even the Div. stuff requires I take Fri. off. I've not made concrete plans for next year but plan on keeping it as local as possible. If I can win the arguement with Jacque I wont go to any Nats this year... the cost is just too HIGH. I've had some guys tell me they won't run the combos cause they don't want to run Stockers in their S/S car, me I don't care it's still racing. Heck I sometimes go to the local track and run No-box I built my junk to race not be a conversation piece. Granted there are many with much nicer and higher dollar cars than mine that may just think anything but a NHRA race is just beneath them, thats fine with me but I want to RACE, that's why I built this stuff. Joe

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

That is so true !
Doesn't matter how well a race is planned or executed, there will be at least one driver that will complain, and it usually is something petty.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

I brought heads-up eliminators as an added bonus for Southern Stock S/S Association...first as "gentleman" racing, or gamblers style. 2 or more cars in the same class go head to head & a racer can decide to teardown to prove his point. Sort of old school. Then let the shoe polish racing begin for those into it. Bottom line to every class racer out there....the writing is DEFINITELY on the wall. I've stepped away and returned various times to witness NHRA S/SS racing over the last 34 years. Although it's progressively gone down hill during those years, it's taken a major nosedive in the last 7. Pomona was always a thrill, even as a spectator, to walk through the gates & see the sportsman pits with everyone warming up, making last minute changes before the first run. However this last Winters I was appalled almost to depression to see what is now the "15 minute scramble" for the first run just so the pros can take their time & run during premium slots, while the sportsman racers get brushed aside until the day is over. FOR WHAT?????? WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO PAY A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE PRACTICALLY OUTCASTED FROM THE EVENT?????? At Association races YOU ARE THE SHOW. You get treated with respect and your fees are greatly appreciated, not to mention an actual return on expenses. And Hell, is the damned wally trophy patented? A win is a win!!!!!! I surrender my soapbox.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mike, I know exactly what you are saying, Even when assured a certain payout , some just will not come out and play. Everyone has their reasons . It seems the ones who complain the most rarely attend the races in the first place. I thinkif all the associations would get together and compare notes we may be able to help each other succeed. I agree with you , I have been saying the same thing for a while, soon there will be no place to hold a race because tracks will not see enough support from the racers to consider having a race.I commend all the associations and participants for keeping class racing alive at the local levels.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mike - I'm not sure if you're aware of the fact that at your last race you had three past and current tech people in attendance that I know of - I'm sure with little or no expense you could get some qualified help if needed ..................

Mark - Thanks for the vote of confidence - I not only supported your group but also the East Coast Assn. and the Tri-Staters - And although I've not raced with the New Englanders I've tried to support them any way I can .We do need these Associations - that said I'm still chasing those elusive Wally's ............And will continue to until they pry the steering wheel away from me .

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Well,I have nothing against these association races,but I'll give a few reasons:

1) The track prep at National events is usually pretty good.Its not always perfect,but the NHRA Safety Safari generally does a great job.

2) The Contingency Sponsors pay pretty well for a National Event Win (Thanks to ALL of them!)

3) The Wally (especially the Pewter 60th anniversary Wally is pretty cool!)

4) The finals were broadcast on ESPN 2

5) Got lucky and made the cover of National Dragster!

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

I am extremely proud to own a Stock Eliminator car, and consider myself fortunate to have numerous competition options. The group offering exceptional value for Stock, Super Stock and NSS racers in my neighbourhood, the Can Am Series, is about to enter its 16th year of action in the region surrounding the Eastern Great Lakes. Without the local schedule, my budget would restrict me to 2 or 3 races each season under IHRA or NHRA sanctioning, for which both driver and car would be ill prepared. Call these combo series the minor leagues, if you choose, but I credit the members of this group with providng the means to hone my driving and preparation skills in advance of National or Divisional entry. These guys are tough, and challenge me to be at my best. The track record of our membership is exemplary! There are no heads-up runs, but I know where my stuff ranks against national standards - we have Nitro Joe to thank for that.

The example I offer is similar to the successful history of many of the associations represented on this forum. I think it's exciting to think that some basic groundwork could result in an annual BIG event comprised of 3 or 4 series with numbers to rival car counts of the past.

In retirement, I plan, God willing, to travel further afield and chase along the trail - if it still exists. Until then, I will enthusiastically support any grassroots organization within my reach.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

i'm dying for a heads up... only heads ups ive had in 4 years have been against that damn caddy !!!!!!!!!! (im 0-3 but got him HP twice)

race when ya can, if ya can afford it, and have fun...
captain

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mike, I truly hope people support the tri-state stock/ss association this year. I always enjoy racing with you. But at the same time, I don't think racers should be criticized for taking their class cars to other divisional/national races that are farther away. That is why most people build class cars. It is nice to the have option of the association races, but if guys choose to take their cars to another race, so be it.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Chris I agree. The combos should not take away incentive to race on a larger stage.I will tell you that it is terribly difficult to schedule races for our series(BuckeyeS/SS) when you take into consideration the N&IHRA divisional and national events. You also have to consider if a racer will run your event after coming home from a 3 or 4 day event.Many will not. That is why we will probably have 4 to 5 events thru the season.
Mike,I like what you do as far as scheduling your races with special events at some tracks such as Pittsburgh and Quaker. National Trail had us there for their Night of Fire event and that place had a gad of people.Probably the largest crowd of spectators that many racers have run in front of.It was exciting!! (except for the traction problem for many)
You schedule several events and you may look at that. Sometimes less is more!
Jeff Ross

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

i am behind stock super stock races 100 percent i am going to race in as many as i can in 2012 i cant waite

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

I would support the local STK and Super Stock races , IF they prep the track for the higher HP cars ,if no prep then I will NOT race there period, It is Just like this when the Points races have test and Tune for what ever the cost is , I used to do this but no more no Prep no pay the money and no race .:mad::(

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

The All Star Racing Association is a well oiled machine IMO and the people running it would be a good source to contact for ideas.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Seems to be a problem everywhere!

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Not at Bowling Green. It can be 100 degrees air temp and 130 plus track temp and it hooks, or it can be 50 degrees and it hooks. You have to have track owners that care.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Sorry Mike , I was not aware you ran your own stk/ss ser. I do run all of Dave Lay's stk/ss combo races at atco (east coast stock superstock asso.) . I try to talk as many racers into coming out to race , so I get what you are saying . Its local , track prep is good , competion is great , & you run for points & $ . Wish I had an answer for you Mike . I can only say I will take a look at your ser. schudule for 2012 and pass the word along to the racers I know ...... P.S What was that thing they used to scrape the track with at haggerstown , I was watching very carefully if you know what I mean saturday night ...lol..... Thank you for your efforts I / the races do value what it is that you do .

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Gee, we're a little spoiled here aren't we?
We used to race at the home track with no glue, whatsoever.. Bring your own!
You guys know the the glue just went up $300 a barrel? Get used to it. The local tracks make their money with T&T nights. A little spritz here and there...That's it.

Don, I've got this Bonneville here...You could build it with the pocket change you put on your dresser every night.
You could run the combos ,opens etc
Make lots of runs ..Get lots of hits and practice, just like the 2 car, touring pros..
What do you say?

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Markie - You're a born salesman - why not un-retire and move back East - I could use a guy wth your talent..................

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Mark, I could not disagree more. A track owner is selling a product. That product is a well prepared race track that offers solid consistent and reliable traction. If my car won't hook, why would I pay good money for his product? Honestly, if I load up and drive 60-100 miles, that's $80 worth of diesel for the round trip. Add to that 5 gallons of race fuel, at $12 a gallon. Then add $50 for test and tune. Even if I leave out the cost of oil and tires, not to mention wear and tear, I've spent near $200, if I don't buy anything to eat or drink. If the track does not hook like it should, I cannot learn anything other than how to avoid hurting myself or the car on a slick track. Hardly worth my $200 cash outlay, and a day's time.

The cost of doing business for everyone has gone up. Would you cut corners on a transmission you built for a racer, because it cost you more to build it? I know I will not, I refuse to offer a lesser quality product because it costs more to build a quality product.

It is inexcusable to have races decided on the quality of track preparation. That's a plain simple fact. If a track owner, promoter, or sanctioning body is cutting corners on track preparation to turn a profit, then they are stealing from their customers, both racers and spectators.

We work very hard and spend a considerable amount of hard earned cash to make our cars work extremely well. To have a track owner, promoter, or sanctioning body negate our hard work and hard earned cash with poor track preparation, after taking more of our hard earned cash is ludicrous.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Alan, you know what happens when you start to rationalize the cost versus the fun factor.....???? BTW, I could use another golf partner!

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Arnold, I'm not really analyzing the cost vs. fun factor. But I do see your point.

Track owners who decide to cut costs by skimping on track prep are going to be wondering where their customers went. Just like anyone else who loses customers because they give them a lot less for their money. Racers are tired of being short sheeted by NHRA, the solution is not for track owners to short sheet racers, track owners who want more racers should be doing a better job of track prep, not a worse job.

I tried pasture pool, just never could get into it. I've got lots of stuff I can use to hunt and fish, if it comes to that.

Re: Support your local Combo/Association races!!
 

Dallas Jones owns Union Hill (Nashville,Tn) and Beech Bend(Bowling Green,Ky).

Union Hill had the best weekly combo program in the country, until Rick Gonzales. Rick is Dallas' son in law. He is not a racer or a good race track manager. Rick took something that was not broke and "Fixed It". The track used to hook but not any more. Start of elminations was at 7:00 pm. finals were 10:30 to 11:30. Car count was 18 to 25 most Saturdays. Rick's improvement was to have all finals at the same time. If you won you got your check about 1:30 am. S/SS Racers quit racing, due to poor track prep, waiting for hours for the next round, and with the late finish time it lost its famliy appeal.

Beech Bend is run by Clay Jones, Dallas's son. Its a GREAT place to race. For those that haven't been to Bowling Green, you need to put it on your list of places to race!! The two day combos are the best, we race Sat. nite and Sunday. Arrive Friday and spend the night in the campground and go to the park on Sat.