question for the 90 guys and gals

[Jim Blankenship]

they gona do the 3 day nats for the sportsman racer's aka a SportNats in each div. we won't go to nats as we know them now. (works for me) jim


ol time s/st racer well back in 2000 anyway
PS go fast gary going south again this year ?

[Jim Blankenship]

opps gary this year = 08 lmao jim

[GaryGoFast]

The plan is to go to 2 of three, at this pt not sure which two Jim

Gary

[sc1153]

Jason,

I would quote your comments but IT IS TOO DAM LONG. So the shortening of the National Event is a thumbs up from my side. (Good call Rock) The reason that you do not understand why we would "STUPIDLY" want to shorten the time we spend at the national events is that YOU DONT RACE THEM! When you work, run a buisness or just take the time away x8 national events ( which I plan on running this year) it is alot of time that could be used more appropriately. For those people who run 1-2 national events per year, you wouldn't understand..

For example to run a national that is (average) 6 hours of drive time. You have to tech on Wednesday so you need to leave on Tuesday night. So that is 3 days off work (if you dont work weekends)

and lets not forget Divisionals only need 1 day off x8 races

3 Days x 8 nationals = 24 days off
1 Day x 8 divisionals = 8 days off
totals 32 days off

Now I am not speaking for EVERYONE but who the hell has 32days to be able to take off to compete in a season. and that is not counting open races, association races, big dollar bracket races ect.

besides we do nothing 95 percent of the time at nationals. CUT US 1 day!

and as far as the class changing......STUPID.....want to go fast....race top dragster / top sportsman! Besides we all know that if the numbers change we all will just have to step the cars up and go faster AGAIN then what?

What the Sportsman NEED is a simple show on ESPN to explain the basics of bracket racing and index racing. I honestly believe that if you can get together a good show that explains and teaches the audience we could 1) Promote our racing 2) get more people to invest in our racing (sponsors, new racers, ect) 3) make people like us (average hobby guys) "somebody" to the TV audience.
Now that is cool!

P.S. Sorry (I feel like Jason)

[wsmracing]

Now Your Talking................enter Bob Frey......the Educator..................sounds Like Good Business...........................not Everyone Has A Chance To Grow Up At The Races, Run A Jr. Then Move Into A Big Car..............................................w ould Be Like An Educated Version Of Pinks, Only With A Little More Hair.............come On Chris......" Build It & They Will Come "..sound Like A Plan

Wsm

[Jason Oldfield]

Originally Posted by sc1153

Jason,

I would quote your comments but IT IS TOO DAM LONG.

Just break it into sections like this Chis...then it doesn't seem so bad!

Originally Posted by sc1153

So the shortening of the National Event is a thumbs up from my side. (Good call Rock) The reason that you do not understand why we would "STUPIDLY" want to shorten the time we spend at the national events is that YOU DONT RACE THEM!

Didn't I put a smiley face after my "stupid" comment? I usually do when I'm being sarcastic. If not, I can understand why people may have misconstrued my "stupid" comment as sheer stupidity.

Originally Posted by sc1153

When you work, run a buisness or just take the time away x8 national events ( which I plan on running this year) it is alot of time that could be used more appropriately. For those people who run 1-2 national events per year, you wouldn't understand..

In short, yes it is true that I do not race as many national events as some on here, and racing in S/St certainly limits my opportunities to begin with. But, whether I hit 1 or 8 national events in a year, my time is STILL VERY VALUABLE to me. I work for whitey, so when I'm taking a day off, I have to request it, and use one of my limited number of vacation days to do so. Plus, unlike most, I work up until the VERY LAST MINUTE before I get on the road to go to a national event. As such, I typically miss my first time shot because S/St runs first, and I'm usually still parked outside waiting to get parked. But, that's what happens when you drive all night on Wednesday to get there (not to mention you get stuck with the worst pit spot in the place).

In addition, in most cases when I go away to a race, I leave my family behind, not because I want to, but because my wife simply finds it too difficult to care for 3 children and a dog by herself while locked up in a motorhome for the weekend.

So, please don't think I don't understand, because I probably understand better than most. And this is not meant as a slam Chris, but if you think your time is valuable now, just wait 15 years and see how valuable it is. Ask your dad...he can tell you what adding a family does to your free time...

Originally Posted by sc1153

For example to run a national that is (average) 6 hours of drive time. You have to tech on Wednesday so you need to leave on Tuesday night. So that is 3 days off work (if you dont work weekends)

Wow...you get to get there on Wednesday? You're lucky.

Originally Posted by sc1153

besides we do nothing 95 percent of the time at nationals. CUT US 1 day!

I hear you there brother, and totally agree.

Originally Posted by sc1153

and as far as the class changing......STUPID.....want to go fast....race top dragster / top sportsman! Besides we all know that if the numbers change we all will just have to step the cars up and go faster AGAIN then what?

Generally agree again. Changing the classes is NOT the answer (and I don't think you meant to insinuate that's what I suggested). Adding a 7.90 class like I suggested MAY help, but even then I don't have an extremely high confidence level in that (maybe 50%).

Originally Posted by sc1153

What the Sportsman NEED is a simple show on ESPN to explain the basics of bracket racing and index racing. I honestly believe that if you can get together a good show that explains and teaches the audience we could 1) Promote our racing 2) get more people to invest in our racing (sponsors, new racers, ect) 3) make people like us (average hobby guys) "somebody" to the TV audience.
Now that is cool!

The problem is that even if you do this, you're still left with one very big problem...the .90 classes are particularly boring to watch from the starting line. Here come all these cool looking cars, doing cool burnouts, only to leave the starting line about as fast as my wife's Caravan. In contrast, the Super Stockers (and some Stockers) are leaving with the wheels in the air, and getting the attention of the spectators (and even they can't hold their interest!)

This is not to say that I don't like the .90 classes, because I personally do, but I also compete in them, so I, along with most of us on this board, are biased. My uncle, who raced professionally, and who goes to just about every race that I do to help me, doesn't sit in the stands to watch the .90 cars run. When he goes to Indy with his Top Eliminator club tickets, when the Pros are over, he leaves. He fully understands what is going on in the .90 classes, they're just B - O - R - I - N - G to watch, and always will be as long as we're racing with throttle stops (and though I'd love to see the elimination of electronic throttle control devices, I'm not even proposing that here - boring racing is just unfortunate side affect of throttle stops, plain and simple.)

Another example is the guy that lives across the street from me. He used to race Pro Gas with his motorcycle (along with bracket racing it at the local track). Again, he knows what is going on as he's watching, but at the same time I can't tell you how many times he's told me, "That class you race is about as entertaining as watching paint dry." What does he love to watch? Yep, you guessed it, the pros.

In the end, I love racing S/G and S/St, and personally would much rather watch a full day of sportsman racing than the Pros. But, you have got to face facts here that we're in the MASS minority, and no amount of education is going to make the casual fan find our type of racing entertaining to watch. Will it be MORE entertaining than it was because they understand it more? Sure. But, it will NEVER, EVER be as entertaining to them as the pros, or any other heads-up, first one to the finish line category.

Let the fargin flames begin!

[bmac]

Jason..As always a long winded whimzical load of horse pucky. First off as far as this dream of working more days due to NHRA awnsering your need for a 3 day National I hope it never happens because so many more people will find it so doable that entry will be filled on 80% of events before it gets to grade 6 level.Its simply a dream come true for way to many AKA if you build it they will come theory. Second AND I SAID IT BEFORE some of us raced with throttle bolts and weight in the trunk and nobody wanted to watch super classes then any more then now.

.If you want people to watch you need to move the grandstands to 1000 ft mark HAHA and only allow nine inch tires on cars with more then 700 HP and do away with traction compond.Get my drift , the fans want a SHOW.


Brian Mac Millan
AKA Fat Bastard
Crew chief Mac Millan & Wife Racing S/G Camaro
past driver in S/ST & S/G

[Paul Neal]

I guess what it really comes down to is this:
The fans in the stands watch the Pros (and this is more directed at TF and NFC) because it's entertainment. The Sportsman classes? We're RACING!!

[CBS]

It's hard to say what the answer is....But certainly any way to make it shorter would be nice...In other forms of motorsports, guys(and gals) don't get to compete on the same track at the same event as the pro's do...and we are a nice cash influx...so we have to come up with win win solution....so both parties benefit...other wise they won't change anything...I'm sure you guys can come up with some solutions.....

How about a couple things you don't like and you solution to remedy it...maybe we will stumble on to something....

Rock Haas's issues
1. Long National events..too much time off work(yes I work)....

Change to 3 day events where possible...2 time runs for super classes

2. NHRA's procedures for anything..They have few...

How about setting some procedures up so everybody knows what happens when this happens or that happens...such as a rain delay....or getting a car approved for stock or super stock...or when you take too long to stage(just joking)....right now you just sit there and hope...

3. Exposure for sportsman classes ...there is little or none..

How about focusing on 1 sportsman class per national event(and rotate them)..I'm not sure what that means but maybe like the sportsman spotlight...so people know that they can do this....and supporters know that they can get involved for less than 2 million...

4. Also it looks like a divison against division meet might be interesting...

this should turn into a long thread....Jason don't crash the server....

[Lynn Hoosigian]

[QUOTE=CBS;47907]
3. Exposure for sportsman classes ...there is little or none..

How about focusing on 1 sportsman class per national event(and rotate them)..I'm not sure what that means but maybe like the sportsman spotlight...so people know that they can do this....and supporters know that they can get involved for less than 2 million...

This would be nice. Not sure how as the winners of each class aren't even shown when they air the Sportsman (AKA Alcohol Class) Eliminations!!

Chris, still not sure how you got your win aired !!!