Re: Dear Len Imbrongo, NHRA, and all the other people who dont care about sportsman c
I know Ed isn't the most popular person on this board, but I tend to agree. Really...why should there be any distinction among the sportsman racers? And I'm not even saying that any of the greats would even ask for any differentiation. I know Dan Fletcher and Peter Biondo personally, and they're two of the most humble racers out there. I've never met David Rampy, but have heard the same about him. Its really a shame that money plays into it.
That said, I'm a realist, and nobody ever said life was fair. From a racing perspective, I'm a nobody and though I'd love to be treated the same as Dan Fletcher or Peter Biondo, that's just not going to happen, especially since they're involved with companies that spend their advertising dollars with NHRA. So, if I want to be treated the same as the big name sportsman racers, I know I'm going to have to go out and earn it.
As for the weather, I feel bad for all you guys that ended up having to wait around. But, that's the way it goes. Sorry your first event wasn't a memorable one, but it could have been worse. Your first event could have been Houston earlier this year that was postponed a week for some, and MONTHS for others (S/St won't be run until Dallas(!) this fall). My first national event ever from a competition standpoint was the 1990 Springnationals in Columbus. It was FLOODED out. The water was up to the bottom of our trailer. We were lucky though...we actually loaded our car in the trailer overnight. Many others didn't, and came back to the track the following morning to find their car with 2 ft. of water in it. I don't remember when the make-up race was, but we couldn't go back. So, the conclusion of our first race was run at the 1991 Columbus Springnationals. My 2nd NHRA national event? The 2004 fall event at Chicago (I didn't have the best pit spot there either...I was one of about 20 rigs parked on the wrong side of the track).
Anyway, I'm not trying to make you feel like you shouldn't be disappointed with the way your first national event went. But, my guess is that your expectations were unrealistically high. Feel lucky that you even had the opportunity to go, as you never know what might come up in life that keeps you from attending again.
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Jason Oldfield
S/G & S/St 1838
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