Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Hello members and guests - Seems like I was just here a few days ago and we're back again - nothing like coming to your home track .As usual the place is groomed to a 'T' and the ground is dry everywhere .Can't ask for much more - well read on.

So I'm reading the schedule and you could knock me over with a feather - four -count 'em 4 Q runs for Stock .Three Thursday and one before 1st rd Friday.I can't remember the last time we've received that kind of treatment .Geez -I'll need a round of stickers if I make it to Saturday .

Just to keep everyone up to date racers are still in a holding area outside Gate 4 till tomorrow morning but no one is sure exactly what time they will start letting us roll in.Lots of rumors but nothing official .Think we're up to seven lines …..

Weather for tomorrow - party cloudy in the AM - then 50% chance of t-showers in the afternoon - high of 83 degrees .And remember ---I'm just the messenger ! ! !

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Do you know how late they are parking tomorrow night?

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Thank you Mr. Matyas for starting the thread. Parking is supposed to start a 8am this morning and as I type this we are rolling in. We don't have to drive outside the track and come in the back way. If you are a D1 racer you know what I mean. Its nice to just go right into the track.

Todd, the schedule shows Wednesday parking to finish at 6pm.

Guys, I'm so sorry I did not make Indy, but a dear friend passed away and Indy did not seem that important. Showing respect at the funeral services was much higher on my list.

I hope to make up for it here!

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Hey guys, just a quick note... I have to hand it to the NHRA parking staff. The stacking area is empty, everyone was parked in a timely manner. If you rolling in now, you will have no wait, and the fields look good for parking.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Kudos to you Ken for taking time out to pay respect to your friend. There are times that life shows us what is really important. Sorry for your loss and go get 'em this weekend.

Good luck to all at this race.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

This schedule shows 2 rounds of eliminations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. http://www.nhra.net/2021/nhraracer/n...chedule_v1.pdf

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Afternoon gang- So the t-storms that were forecast haven't arrived .So far its been blue skies and sunshine with temps in the high seventies with the rest of the week looking super with zero chance of rain they say .We''ll see --it's Maple Grove ! !

Folks today are just working on their stuff and cleaning it - not much else to do .

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Good morning all, well it rained pretty good last night and we may get a shower this morning before the front moves through for what looks to be great weather all the way to Sunday.

We were supposed to start at 9am, but I don't think that will happen, I will keep you all posted.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Top of the morning to everyone - as Ken said the early morning start won't happen and more than likely the 3 run day they promised went down the drain along with the rain water .But the rest of the week is looking super after the Sun comes out later today .

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Hey Ken or Jack or anyone else there if ya see Dave Thomas there, tell him to call me thanks Brian

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Looks like some are working on their averages, and who can blame them. What a great system and no, I don’t have a good fix either.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

I think there was at least 1 Camaro in every pair of stock.. Sure isn't like watching division 5 races.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Hey guys, here are some shots from the staging lanes. I don't have my NHRA media credentials for the event, so I wont get any starting line shots. I'll head to the top end in a bit for finish line photos.

We are still on schedule for 3 runs. Its cloudy but no rain.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Another batch...

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

So I must eat my words - the NHRA is trying very hard for everyone to get their three passes in today - is this part of the new NHRA? Most categories have had two already with time for the third .Sheets are a little slow in coming but I'll do what I can.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Well everyone got their three runs down the Maple Grove surface and S/S finished their class runoffs .....Then the rain hit -not sure how much we are to but at least it held off .And just for the record I did stop off to pickup sheets and they were closed ! ! !

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Jack congrats on #1 qualifier! Okay well there at the last minute you moved to #2 congrats though LOL

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Top end action from Stock eliminator...

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Next batch...

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

temperature = 56.3 deg f
relative humidity = 90 %
uncorrected barometer* = 29.36 inHg
corrected barometer* = 29.93 inHg
wind speed = 7.14 mph
wind direction* = NW (314°)
more info: current metric | historical | forecast | help
dew point = 53 deg f
saturation pressure = 0.457 inHg
vapor pressure = 0.411 inHg
grains = 61.8
air density (w/o water vapor) = 99%
air density (w water vapor) = 97%
density altitude = 886.15 ft

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

All that plus it's brite and sunny ---------Oh yeah -and it's faster than the past two days .

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Good morning all, 8:45 start for Q4 and then we go into eliminations. The were looks great... Here are some top end action shots of Super Stock.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Next batch...

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Ken, thanks for all the photos. I especially love the top end shots.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Congrats to Greg Gay! The last SS qualifier was also the final round runoff of the weather shortened Epping LODRS between Greg Gay and Lincoln Morehead. Greg says he won by inches (margin was .00096!). Congrats to both!

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Hey guys, well the sportsman are done for the day, we all got two rounds of eliminations. I have to say its been a very smooth day, with very little down time. I can't remember going to NHRA national that ran this smooth.

It almost feels like they actually like us... but I dream ;)

Here are some more random shots in particulate order.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

A few more top end shots...

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Hey guys, I almost forgot... check out this heads up class final in Super Stock.

https://youtu.be/y8719Cwm-oQ

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Wow, that would be just under 1/4" to be exact !!!
Congrats to Lincoln as well. What a race!!!

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Good Morning all, another great weather day for racing. Stock and Super Stock get two more rounds today. I hope to get some top end shots. I have to repeat myself, this race is has been one of the best National events I have been to in a long time. Everything running so smooth. I have not heard of any complaints from the racers this week.

This track also has a strong market, the fans are just rolling in, this place will be packed. Stock should be out at 9:45.... more letter.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

To day
temperature = 62.97 deg f
relative humidity = 83 %
uncorrected barometer* = 29.65 inHg
corrected barometer* = 30.23 inHg
wind speed = 3.3 mph
wind direction* = SW (252°)
more info: current metric | historical | forecast | help
dew point = 58 deg f
saturation pressure = 0.580 inHg
vapor pressure = 0.481 inHg
grains = 71.8
air density (w/o water vapor) = 98%
air density (w water vapor) = 97%
density altitude = 1065.85 ft

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

I couldn't agree more. Really well done. And this track is just so incredible. Absolutely gorgeous setting, great location. By far, my favorite track. NHRA needs to do whatever it can to make sure this track stays a track !!

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Dang , Fazio is driving his tail off today. Giving us Ford guys some hope!

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

OK-OK so I've been slackin' a bit but i'll make up for it and use a whole bunch of Ken's space with a zillion pics I took today so far .Had a great tribute to 9/11 before the race started and more before the Pro's went out .Even the guy that sang was pretty good - sorry,I didn't catch his name.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Like that famous guy from Chicago would say -'page two'

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Hey guys, racing is done for the day. Actually we finished about an hour ago. Another smooth day of racing with no major issues. It just feels like a great national event, just like in the past.

As you can see from the first photo, the fans were already packing the stands, this was early in the day before the pros. Some more top end shots during eliminations.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Good morning all, we are still here. I hope to get some more top end shots along with some winner circle photos. Looks to be another nice weather day, but it will be warmer. Maple Grove weather at the national events tend to be on the rainy side, but this week has been good.

Be back later...

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

The only complaint I have is NHRA has to stop denying racers entries and open up the quotas ... the entry limits they have set for nationals has rubbed many racers the wrong way, myself included

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Careful there Jack. You're "broadcasting" your age when you mention him.

Re: Live from Maple Grove -NHRA MOPAR Express Lane Nationals
 

Surprisingly, there were only 57 cars in SS, I know it was full at one point but maybe it pays to check back if one really wants in. I got there Thursday and seeing the condition of the pits from the rain and the type of spots that were left I thought it was good that there weren't more entries. I was entered last year so they had my money already so we went. Thankfully got in and out without getting stuck. I was out first rd , this was the first national event I was a participant and probably my only. Just too much expense and time commitment for me with the low purse. Don't get me wrong I would love to win one and have even more respect for those that have. I like the div1 races and the smaller races. Glad I don't have to worry about grade points anymore.