Is Epping Race dying ?

[RKelliher]

Noticed the Epping race has no one live reporting.Also noticed only two pro catagories ,and they did not have full fields. There were no pro stock,pro stock bike pro mod,Alcohol funny car ,or dragster.Ss,sg,t sportsman and t dragster did not have full fields. Yet they didn't increase quotas on other catagories. What is going on ?

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by RKelliher

Noticed the Epping race has no one live reporting.Also noticed only two pro catagories ,and they did not have full fields. There were no pro stock,pro stock bike pro mod,Alcohol funny car ,or dragster.Ss,sg,t sportsman and t dragster did not have full fields. Yet they didn't increase quotas on other catagories. What is going on ?

LOL..........!!!!!!!!!!!

[BKSG1198]

It's a tough tow for the Pro's knowing in 2 weeks they start the western swing, to go from Ohio to Indiana (Home base for most) to NH to Colorado, its kind of a logistical nightmare. As far as the sportsman side of it, to be honest the people I talk to a lot down in the Tri-State (PA, NJ, DE, MD) hate the tow because the roads up there suck and it's a holiday....I know the Northern People come down our way but, not as many of you guys compared to down here. A lot of people have vacation planned with family since it's on the 4th of July and it's a long weekend for most. Next year it moves to August 21-23rd and it might be a smart move to do this race like they do the Gators, Lucas Race one weekend, National the next. I think you'd get a better bang for the buck with people taking one tow up there for 2 events.

[James Perrone]

Pain in the azz to get there. And I live onLong Island
Yes seems like the PROs are a dead issue.
Looking like IHRA. Program. Slowly winding down.
That god I’m a sportsman racer

[RKelliher]

Don't understand the driving issue,but I used to live there for over 60 years.I live in N.C. now and have been back a couple of times. No problem getting there.Easy drive .Not sure how other people come.But I agree i'm glad i am a sportsman racer too.

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by BKSG1198

It's a tough tow for the Pro's knowing in 2 weeks they start the western swing, to go from Ohio to Indiana (Home base for most) to NH to Colorado, its kind of a logistical nightmare. As far as the sportsman side of it, to be honest the people I talk to a lot down in the Tri-State (PA, NJ, DE, MD) hate the tow because the roads up there suck and it's a holiday....I know the Northern People come down our way but, not as many of you guys compared to down here. A lot of people have vacation planned with family since it's on the 4th of July and it's a long weekend for most. Next year it moves to August 21-23rd and it might be a smart move to do this race like they do the Gators, Lucas Race one weekend, National the next. I think you'd get a better bang for the buck with people taking one tow up there for 2 events.

Moving the race date is by far the best move they can make.

It can be a very intense time if you choose to race every the 15 weeks weekly from LV divisional, Epping National, the two opens in Canada, Allstars @ epping, Atco divisional, allstars @ LV, cecil county divisional, bowling green divisional, Indy, Epping divisional, maple grove national, Sports nats @ columbus, dutch classic @ the grove, and ending up the season in October 4-6 in Virginia.....

The 4th of July is a tough time even for a local like myself. Pool party in my backyard versus sitting in the field baking....Love the track surface, and towing up to New England isn't that bad at all if you avoid NYC, and the GW bridge, and go up 87 to 90 from the south. Its always going to be a tough sell for many though.

Eric

[rboyle]

No Comp there either and it was tied in with 4th of July weekend. I had entered and pulled out because I couldn't get anyone at all to go. Shame. I was looking forward to this race.

[Bob Don]

Despite the reduced quotas and category reductions, I had conversation with several racers who had to pit up beyond the top end in the boonies. But they had room in the pits and in the schedule for snowmobiles? Really?

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by BKSG1198

As far as the sportsman side of it, to be honest the people I talk to a lot down in the Tri-State (PA, NJ, DE, MD) hate the tow because the roads up there suck and it's a holiday....I know the Northern People come down our way but, not as many of you guys compared to down here. A lot of people have vacation planned with family since it's on the 4th of July and it's a long weekend for most. Next year it moves to August 21-23rd and it might be a smart move to do this race like they do the Gators, Lucas Race one weekend, National the next. I think you'd get a better bang for the buck with people taking one tow up there for 2 events.

I don't know who you are talking to but the pits were filled with sportsman racers from PA, NJ, DE, MD. I guess you're talking to the same people that complain about the tow to Numidia. If it ain't the hills its the roads. Racers can always find an excuse for not attending an event but bitch about everything going on at the few events they attend in a season.

When you're chasing a championship, your vacation time is spent racing. If you ain't doing that, I question why are you there?

I vote NO to running the divisional and national event back to back and if it was put up for vote, I would have voted not to move the date either and we are already looking forward to getting back to NED in September.

[pentastarrail]

Yes, I saw you Ed. Your son did a good job.
Unfortunately with my and my wifes work schedule it prohibited us from getting there any earlier.
As far as what was available for communication down below, it was NOT available up top behind the scales in the DIRT.
That's why we had to keep hanging around by the tech trailer to hear them call us.
I was NOT the only one that had issues.
You can ask anyone that was parked with us, even NHRA officials acknowledged the fact that nothing was working up top. NO text messages, NO radio, NO one coming by calling us to the lanes (except once), along with everything else I mentioned earlier about the lack of cans, lack of port-a-johns, etc, etc.

You are correct, I am a disgruntled NHRA member.
I "thought" that I would give them a second chance to prove me wrong, however, this past weekend just reinforced our thoughts.
The tough part is we love seeing the other racers, friends and the NHRA guys especially since we haven't been out much.

As you know I was at Maple Grove and LVD.
Both places I tried to slow my car down and did nothing but break parts.

And yes, I have the gear and the new converter ready to go.

On a good note my friend doubled up winning SC and TD.