Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

I see it's not on the schedule. Thanks IHRA.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

So, What the heck happened here, how could IHRA afford to lose a Nationals with Detroit connections and so close to their home? How could Milan afford to lose not only the Nationals but points meet also? I am in disbelief? Can anyone shed significant light on how this benefits IHRA racers?

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

they dump Milan,mich. with a great car count and keep Tulsa,OK with a miserable car count the last 2 years,don,t make sence!!!!!!

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

So the points races are gone too? Where is this announcement?

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Michael, according to Skooter's letter, the divisional structure will remain the same. The top 3 in each class in each division will go to the World Finals. Mike

Mike Galuk
JOE COOL RACING

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Local rumors have Milan going to NHRA next year. They are planning a BIG anouncement at there banquet,

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

That totally sucks!

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

You must have never attended their "Friday Night Heads Up" nights. The first Friday of each month the place is absolutely PACKED. With racers and fans, many more fans than the national.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

To answer your question Yes, we have been there most "Heads Up" fridays and the racing is great and crowd is BIG compared to most tracks programs right now, The current "Heads Up'' program works, the cars are good, we all enjoy it......... SOOOOO what does that have to do with losing a National event that is held one weekend a year? Or losing a IHRA points meet that is held one weekend a year? Obviously Milan must have a better plan but what is it ,and going back to NHRA is no big deal unless they get a Divison 3 Points Meet or some significant race to offset the revenue.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Yes, it does suck. No IHRA races at Milan in 2009 as of now (and word is no divisionals either). That is the word from the banquet. Also, it doesn't sound like it is IHRA's fault, but who knows? I just know that the only IHRA National that is fairly close to me is now 350 miles away!

Jeff Day

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

I was always hoping for a convenient opportunity to race at Milan one day. I guess that won't happen anytime soon. But be happy you don't live in Florida. My 2 closest national events are both in Rockingham at over 450 miles! Then it gets a LOT worse after that! I really hoped West Palm Beach would have got one if they changed sanctions, but apparently not.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

If I am not mistaken, Milan has flip-flopped twixt the "N" and the "I" bodies 3 or 4 times over the past 25 years or so.

Give them a few years, they'll return to the "I".

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

True to that Myron. You guys are in a bad position down there. However, that only goes for IHRA National and divisional events.........don't feel too bad........you could be looking at 32 degress and snow right now like me!

Jeff Day

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

lol
I'm actually from Cleveland, Ohio. But I moved down when I was about 11, so the worst I had to put up with is walk to & from school in the cold & snow sometimes. Never had to drive in it.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

By that time it may be to late.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

I'll be interested to see how well this all works out, see what the car count tallies are after the 09 season. I'm sure increases in costs(fuel, entry fees, etc) and decreases in purses and contingency along with NHRA adopting the T/S and T/D classes have all contributed to the decrease in car counts. I'm sure if fuel costs stay down that will be more of a reason for increases in car counts. If its back up to $4 a gallon again time the races get here, alotta people won't go. I'm sure the people who live closer to NC are happy about this new format and the people who don't live anywhere near there, aren't. And now without Milan, thats at least three less IHRA races I will go to in 09. Thats also another decent track that had a points race. The starting lines are getting so bad at points race tracks its alarming! I guess I'm really glad I reupped my NHRA license this year.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

I haven't seen anything on the 2009 i.h.r.a. Divisional schedule...hopefully milan will keep their race .....

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Mike, sent you a P.M. Thanks, Jeff klei.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

You guys up north had it made nationally the last few years. You had Norwalk-Milan-Martin, Throw in a couple Canada races and you had 5 or6 nationals within a few hours. In the south we had Rockingham and that was it. Schedule looks a little more even now.
div 1 you got MIR-Epping
div 9 Rockingham-MIR
Div ? Martin-grand Bend
Div 4-Baton Rouge-Dallas-Tulsa
Plus a host of Sportsnationals everywhere. I applaud IHRA for making things a little more EQUAL.
Chip

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

That is usually the track's doing. Sanctioning bodies won't normally “dump” a well attended race. Track’s usually switch sanctioning bodies for financial reasons. Think they can make more money with the other group. Tulsa had a pretty good spectator turnout for this area. The car count was certainly embarrassing. Big numbers are going to come in more densely populated, higher income areas. That ain’t Oklahoma.

I finally had time to read the open letter, and don't see anything wrong with it. Makes sense to me. Things change.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

yes and I remember for many years there were 2 races at Rockingham, 2 at Darlington and 2 at Bristol so whatever, yep things change but you never HAD to spend $4 for gas and drive 700 miles to Martin to be able to win the championship. At least it was an option. Thats why I have to forego the shootouts now. Heck if you live in NC you don't even have to leave your state to get enough division claims... Besides my primary concern is I just loss the one track that was less than 150 miles from me. And grand bends a delight sitting in border traffic for two hours everytime I go.. not.

And I wouldn't doubt that the track decided this based on how poor the crowd turnout was probably because someone scheduled the race on Memorial Day weekend. They got their Friday night deal and now they compare everything else to it on how much money they make... they think they should make that kinda money on anything and everything now, they only care about the money. Everyone knows that around these parts..

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Mike , you have a P.M.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Mike, your right ...it's racing with the old ihra...you'll have to travel down south to race....never know the head-quarters may move from norwalk back to the carlonia's.....

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

That would not suprise me at all.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

dont hate north carolina cause we love drag racing and have plenty of tracks... we might not have to leave our state to race a divisional but some of us still travel 4 hours to run a div 9 race at kinston and we still drive 5 plus hours to run natls also..so dont give us crap about having plenty of great tracks to race at in nc...we drove 14 hours to milan this year lost second round bit the bullit of travel prices and went on with the season..if you love IHRA drag racing youll just deal with the way they do our schedules

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

gas isnt 4 dollars anymore also

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

When I lived in Ohio, I travelled to San Antonio, Rockingham, and Epping... I now live in North Carolina, and I've travelled to Immokalee, San Antonio, Tulsa, Martin, Epping, etc. All the Div. 9 races are in one state, but none of them were double-headers, either, so it's a wash. There hasn't been a huge difference in my yearly towing mileage, although I do get to hit more bracket races inbetween, and have a longer season (Feb-Nov). No matter where races are, someone is going to have to travel more than someone else. Personally, I made the decision to move where I could race the most, and I made the decision to tow an open trailer with a 1500 Ram, so I can afford to travel long distances as necessary.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

yeah I'ma gonna hold my breath gas will still be under $3 by the spring...

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

And I cannot travel like I use to, I had to go out and get a real job to be able to afford to still do this anymore and I don't get enough vaca to be gone that many days a year. I figure it costs 3 times to attend a race now as to what it cost back in 2000-2001... and alot less prize money now.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

yet !

It has been a Long Time
 

Trying to get back into Class Racing has been exciting quest.
Been out of it for almost 18 years but always intended to get back in.

My new intent is to drive the car to the track, compete and drive home.
Figuring on getting 20mpg to 13mpg towing.
Been doing that with www.ECIRS.org racing for 6 years.
We race over the NE much like Div 1 NHRA.

Just my observation.
IHRA seems have an issue with Marketing and Planning.
Even it website sucks and hard to navigate.
NHRA has 5 Divisional Races and a pile of Nationals

What is going on?
IHRA for a while looked like a great alternative to NHRA.
What are some of the reasons its floundering?
What can we do to help?

Dan

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

i wouldn't hold your breath till spring that could get ugly you might outta breathe.....

Re: It has been a Long Time
 

I doubt that the Milan deal is IHRA's fault , or that we will ever know the truth.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

MB, many could argue that your "no frills" program would be unthinkable. Hard to dispute its level of success however. I applaud your ability to make it work for YOU!!

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Thanks. Myron Piatek has done it, too. I fully understand wanting to have a bigger and better racing operation, and if a person has the wherewithall, more power to them.

I like "Motor City" Mike Sowards, who's towed his Top Sportsman car on an open trailer for years. "I've never staged the trailer!"

H*ll, I never owned a generator until this year, and when I bought one this year, it was a li'l 1000W deal I found at Big Lots for $120 that's just for emergencies... actually bought it mostly to power a fan for a wicked hot weekend we had this summer, plus Myron's generator went kaput.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Originally Posted by Dave Turner
MB, many could argue that your "no frills" program would be unthinkable.

No frills??? Beard usually sleeps in a motel room. Real racers sleep in trucks :)

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

I'll give it a try next season Mike - maybe it'll transform me. Come to think of it, my feet would hang out the window!!

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Well , I emailed Milan and IHRA to find out about the Div race , NO ANSWER.

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

Been there, done that. ;)

Most of the time, I either go home and sleep in my own bed, as its only a 1hr to 1-1/2 hr drive from Rockingham, Piedmont, Farmington, and Mooresville... still cheaper to drive than get a hotel. Kinston's much further, so the last two years I've skipped bracket raced locally on Saturday, and just roll out early Sunday to go into eliminations with no time trials. I'll "tent it" on occasion, and the other races I'm typically splitting the hotel rooms with Myron and/or Terry, or crashing at Hotel Bolton. Last year, I ran 58 races, and my total lodging costs were $890.05. Nuttin' fancy here!

Re: Motor City Nationals R.I.P.
 

I guess everything changes, it just seems it's changing back to how it was 10-15 yaers ago, when we first started running the IHRA tour. We had to do all the traveling then and it was kind of a pain since then basically we only had Norwalk that was close, as far as Nat's, had many trips driving thru the snow to get to the southern races, but we still did it. Someone posted that no matter what someone is going to have to drive farther and thats right, I for 1 only hate to see Milan go because it was 80 miles from the house. In my opinion the facilities are just not up to a Nat. event although they did pull it off, don't get me wrong I'm not dogging the track as far as normal weekend bracket racing goes it's fine just not really good for a Nat.I would have really hated to see Martin go as this is in my opinion a very nice facilaty of course it' a 5 hour ride versus a1 hour trip to Milan. I suppose everyone is going to have their likes and dislikes about this NEW DEAL I for 1 haven't really made up my mind yet. Joe