Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Good afternoon gang and welcome to the 28th edition of the NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals .I must admit we're not exactly live as I'm still packing .Rumor has it that we're to go in early tomorrow but because the ground might be soft we'll have to wait and see .If it keeps going like today it will be necessary to set fire to the rain or start building an ark .The weather for tomorrow is so-so but the rest of the week looks terrific .

When we came to the first "Keystone Nationals" in 1985 everyone wondered how it would go - as it turned out the racers - the track and even the NHRA were happy with the event - can you imagine that - everyone happy at the same time - it was a different world then .

I dug far into my archives and came up with a few momentos from that event ..........Stay tuned as this is to be a record breaking deal .........and the Stock - SuperStock action will be the best ever .

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Leaving Canada tomorrow at 7 :) should be there around 3pm !

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

For those of you coming in on the Pennsylvania Turnpike westbound consider yourselves lucky as I told with the construction going on the traffic was so heavy this morning that many were parking at the Plymouth Meeting Mall and waiting it out ............

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Will they still be letting us park tomorrow morning? Are there lots of rigs in the field?

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Bon voyage Mat, lots going on at this race around the late Bill Jenkins, some of his great cars and drivers (Lombardo & Lepone) will be there.
Hate to miss the action, but c'est la vie......
MB

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

I just got here at 9pm. They are parking rigs in the staging lanes. They are not parking anymore rigs in the field due to all the rain they had here today.

Ron Infantino
1049 G/SA

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Yep, after yesterday the weather looks great, just great...and I bet the grounds look neat as a pin, too...

http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day...+USPA1077:1:US

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Good morning - Instead of talking about racing here we are talking once again about that ugly four letter word --- RAIN -- what was to be a extremely nice week turned once again - today it is to clear up after lunch time and be nice into Saturday -- that said --Saturday / Sunday at this moment are not looking too terrific .Lets keep our fingers crossed ..........later .

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

jack,can you post when they start parking, we have not left yet and we can wait out the congestion as we are about 1 hour away.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

I arrived at 8:45 AM, and was directed to gate 5, which is the one at the end of the shut down area on Kachel Rd. We are being staged on the paved pit roads now, as the staging lanes are full.
It is my understanding that the decision to begin parking has not been made. The tech crew expects an announcement around noon.
There is a little standing water on the low spots of the grassy knoll, but nothing like the saturation we've seen in the past.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

10:15 UPDATE -- At this moment this has not been any parking yet - let you know as soon as they start ...........

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

1:45 - For the last hour or so they have been parking rigs on the lower end of the track - several rows of them already there past the finish line .................

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Well this is a first for me. I just pulled in and they parked me on the track. Here a few photos. Anywhere there is asphalt there are rigs. I parked at the end, and I heard they will park all rigs today. Hats off to NHRA for trying to make this race work for the sportsman.

Its muggy and cloudy, but no rain.

Jack, this thread is useless without pictures, will you get to work already.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Jack, does this mean those rigs "parked at the lower end of the track", are pitted there? ( or they are waiting to get pitted -like the ones on the track)?

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Looks like 295 on the way home from work on some nights!

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Tom, from what I can see very few rigs are parked and no sportsman on the asphalt. We are just waiting on asphalt, track, staging lanes, entrance to the track and anywhere there is asphalt until they are ready to park us for the race in the fields.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Letting the first 25 rigs park for the weekend. Luckily mine is one of them :)

Gotta love a home game!

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

NHRA posted they hope for one Q pass tomorrow and quickest qualifier wins stock classes...and sportsman racers can withdraw without penalty. They must not think the field is going to hold many rigs given the conditions.

http://www.nhraracer.com/content/gen...929&zoneid=175

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

I have to admit... I am now glad I couldn't make this one, even though it is 1 1/2 hours from home.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

I'm with drawn , not sitting around all weekend watching it rain or stuck in the mud . At least in Bristol we were on the asphalt . Good luck to all that are staying

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

The lines are starting to move, they are pulling in 25 rigs at a time. Still no rain. They are going to try to park as many as they can.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

5:30pm they're still parking
said they will park till dark ,then finish tomorrow.
Not starting untill 3:00pm tomorrow afternoon with 1 run for all classes,Stock class Elims,probably fast qualifier wins class.
1 Q run Thurs ,weather permitting, 1 Qrun Fri.
link to revised schedule.
http://www.nhra.net/2012/images/NHRA...d-Schedule.pdf

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Hi gang - well , I'm in and parked but believe it or not I'm already stuck in the field - up to my rims in mud - it looked OK but I sunk like a rock in a pond .Other than that its going to be a long weekend - tomorrow we don't go down the track until 3pm - maybe I'll hitch a ride to Macy's in the morning and do a little shopping - shoes or some fat jeans or whatever ......beats doing nothing .Or hangout in the perfume dept - never know who you'll bump into .

Guess I'm better off being pitted than those who are not in yet and must stay out on the track tonight .Gotta go dinner is ready ...........

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

I have wondered about this before and I guess this is a good place to ask. If you get stuck at a National Event. Do they have someone and something to pull you out or are you on the hook for the tow truck bill? Just curious.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

In the past they have a local guy with a tractor to pull you out. Also at the dutch have had to get pulled out didnt cost any money.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

weather update, just watched local phila weather channels for next few days all 3 major channel's wed 11 pm weather forecasts clearing late am thursday, sunny and high of 80 friday . saturday warm clear am then clouding up and rain. sunday cold and rain as front moves in. They all sounded firm on thurs and friday.

saturday and sunday. sounded like they did not have a clue what is going to happen

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Good morning and welcome to day 1 at the 2012 edition of the Auto-Plus Nats .When I awoke this morning I was greeted by a very unfriendly sound - the pitter-patter of raindrops on my coach roof - not a good sign .The weathermen did call today right for once - they said it would rain this morning and it is .Last night I was told the one sure way they knew of for it not to rain at this race - for me to stay home ! ! Thanks guys ...........I 'd leave this morning to help out but I'm already stuck and can't move ..........

This is going to be a very , very long day ..........not sure what the NHRA's plan is but I'll pass it along when I get it .The only good news for today is that its very unseasonably warm but that has brought with it some huge fog banks .

Overheard last evening - " Have to finish this bottle of wine so I can put the empty out - tomorrow is recycling day " .........hmmmmmmmmmm. We all do our part .......

Even though the grounds are very soft Lex Dudas and the staff here at Maple Grove have the place looking very spiffy - now if we could only race .

Later ............

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

It will be interesting to see how many folks go down the track during your first qualifying pass. According to the event registration page there has only been 3 withdrawals each from Stock and Super Stock. Have to hand it to you D1 folks, you're die hard racers to the core. Hope it dries up for a pass today and the surface holds up.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Noon update -- I've got good news and bad - they pilled the plug on today as it just wasn't going to happen .Good news is I just got pulled out of my mudhole and relocated to higher ground - wish I could tell you the racers name who pulled me out but I couldn't thank him enough for hooking up his dually Ford Diesel ( yes, Ford ) 4x4 and yanking me out .

And since I'm handing out thanks I'll throw some at my friend Penny Bender for the nice ham and egg breakfast this morning .

Its raining again ..........

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Hey Jack and Ken just a heads up. It is pouring here in Hershey so I assume you guys have what an hour or so. Thought about coming down tomorrow but with the spotty weather and the possibility of limited runs for sportsmen I will just wait till next week at the dutch. Good luck everybody and god bless.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Thanks Skills, but I think it might miss us. Like Jack said they pulled the plug for today. Tomorrow we all get one run and then later in the day first round for stk and ss. Here is a link to the schedule.
http://www.nhra.net/2012/images/NHRA...d-Schedule.pdf

Here are some shots of the pits from the top of my motorhome. Anywhere there is a dry spot they are parking rigs.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Man I don't miss the Maple Grove Mud Fest....been there ...done that....glad I'm home working

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

I am with you Joe!
Was at the Dutch last year.....Monsoon conditions....LOL

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Ken and Jack,

That is a dam shame you guys are having to live through that crap. Hopefully not Indy all over again!!!

Mike

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Al's Diamond Cabaret.
Relive some TENSION!

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Believe it or not the big storm that was coming missed us - everyone has spent the day digging out or helping someone get pitted .Or get teched -- or just plain standing around bench racing or --- well, you get it - what a waste of a day .

And there are still rigs parked in the staging lanes .

If you're looking for some free swag - stop by the Chevrolet Performance area - sign in with your email and they'll give you a nice backpack bag - did I mention the free word ?

Later ........

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Joe:
Could it be the Curse of the Bambino 2 ???

JimmieC

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

With not much to do this afternoon I went roaming around the pits for some new shots - first , I found Jim Boburkas' new 2012 Chevy COPO Camaro 427 LS7 car - it a beauty as you'll see .

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Next it was off to the Ford camp - I wanted to check out the new CobraJet C/S of Mike Ficacci .This Anthony Bongiovani owned CJ with help from Resource One and Micro Strategies is a work of art on wheels - you've got to check it out .

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Auto - Plus Nationals
 

Damn shame what went on out there today, by 3:30 the sun was out and the skies were Blue!!