Dutch Cancelled
 

Just got the official text. No reschedule. E

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Even though we couldnt make it this year, this is sad. By far the best race of the year.

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

wow, this stinks is right, great race to end up the year in Div 1

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

I'm still baffled how there was no make-up date for the event. I understand everyone got their cash back but, still it's one of the biggest races on the EC. People look forward to the Dutch every year. I mean I know you can't control weather but, just no back-up plan just doesn't seem right. Maybe next year you look into a Thursday to Sat Race with Sunday being a rain date. It rains almost at least 1 day at the Dutch every year.

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

From the track website

Due to the heavy rains from the nor’easter soaking Southeastern Pennsylvania, the 42nd annual P.C. Richard & Son Pennsylvania Dutch Classic presented by Penske Truck Leasing has been canceled.

Maple Grove Raceway and the NHRA Northeast Division made the decision Friday morning as the wet weather was soaking the grounds and creating flash flood conditions.

There will be no rain date as Maple Grove’s schedule is full through October and the first week of November.

“We love this race and we didn’t like to do this,” said MGR vice president/general manager Lex Dudas. “We have held ‘The Dutch’ for over four decades and we appreciate the racers and fans who have supported it over the years. We look forward to seeing everybody back here in 2014.”

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

It seems to me that if the forecast shows probability of bad weather for the weekend....and the event is right behind the National Event....with a lot of the racers just staying through the week anyway...and no possibility of a make up....that they could easily just move the event up however many days they need in order to complete the event. A command decision could be made to move the event up. Racers could be forewarned of the possibility of this to happen. They could therefore make provisions i.e. take leave and/or vacation time, if their plan was to attend both events. All of us have the ability to watch the weather forecast, and they are for sure not always accurate. But why sit there all week not racing with the sun out....then when it's time to race... it's raining for four days. You can't do anything about the weather....EXCEPT DODGE IT ! This should be done for all events, especially if it only requires a one day move up. Example: Again, a command decision get's made that the event will be moved up one day due to a weather projection. Notifications are made through e-mail, text, website etc. to all participants, entries, staff, vendors etc.
Getting the event completed on the week it is planned would be cost effective for everyone involved...because you don't have to spend money, time off work, and time away from home and family to come back. That means you pay twice on everything but the entry fee. This plan would not fit everyone the same, but nether dose the rain. It would not work for every situation, and I know how tough it is to get off work for everyone. But if I was a boss, I would think if an employee came to me and said "I may need an extra day off this week, instead of an extra three days next week" I would say no problem.

Wade Mahaffey

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Any stock or super stock guys want to go to Numedia dragway tomorrow? They have a bracket race for $5,000 to win. Get a little gamblers race going maybe as well. We made the haul from Virginia so since we are already up here we are going to try to run somewhere. Any thoughts?

Kevin Clark
GT/KA

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

WOW , E , and I was going to park next to you . That is me, and my dog Colby........! Actually was going to Beaver Blast but it has been rained out also .

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

If anyone wants to, spread the word. I called the hotline and numedias race is on

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Good thought but in this case, just look a few posts down at the "Weather Looks Great" one. That was originally posted on Sunday, 10/6 and at that time, the forecast was indeed excellent. So how could anyone envision that forecast wasn't really accurate to the point of rescheduling the Dutch to Tuesday and Wednesday (rained big time on Monday) and then giving all the racers a whopping one day notice to reschedule their plans?

Monday morning quarterbacking is easy but back tracking into what decisions would have to be made with the information that was available at the time reveals the above plan isn't realistic.

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Or for those needing their NHRA fix, the Reynolds Georgia race is "only" 13 hours from Maple Grove..... just saying.

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Hey Jim! I heard about you new ride. I can't wait to see it. I was thinking of Atco this weekend with dragster, but going to bail. E

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

And yes I got it! lol

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Atco has been rescheduled till next weekend due to the rain.

Re: Fayetteville N.C.
 

Look under events S/SS $2000.00 Sat. Oct. 12 Fayetteville N.C.

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Where at

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Thanks Rob, Now I got more decisions to make!! E

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

I feel bad for the ones that traveled a distance!

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

I have NO horse in this fight, or dog in this race, or whatever the saying is..

But how in the world do you cancel the DUTCH CLASSIC and not have the flexibility to make it up at a later date?

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

It,s about time for NHRA to make the Dutch Classic Div. 1,s Sportsnationals.

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Well the track is booked every weekend from now until mid November. BUT, one of those weekends (the 26th) is a flea market and not a race..... How big of a flea market could it be?? Perhaps they could accommodate both the Dutch Classic and the fleas ?? Heck, maybe there would be spectators from the fleas who would pop a few bucks to watch the races, and perhaps racers bargain hunting at the flea market in between rounds ???

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Souvenir T-shirts available to the event that was never held?:D

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

x2!

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

I guess what also can be a messed up situation is this year D1 brought back the points system back for the sportsman at the Opens. I mean I understand it was a PC Richards Gift Certificate, Wally and Jacket but, it's still the feeling to say "I was a D1 champion at one point in my life". Big thanks to Gary and the PC Richards crew for all they do for the sportsman by sponsoring the series. Not all of us wanted to go to Canada or drive 3 times up to Epping, just like I'm sure a lot of Northern guys wanted to drive to Atco or MG twice but, there was a lot of guys who probably went into this event going "Hey I got a shot at the D1 open championship and it would be cool to accomplish for me." Now they have no shot at it and that is kind of a kick in the rear. I agree with Lee, make the Dutch a Sports-national for D1 and do away with the other opens. Sorry but, the opens back in the day were a way to get a grade point without having to run a divisional race and still get into a national event. Now with a grade 2 or 3 you can make it into any National with no problem. It would free up some more weekends for associations races, etc. Just my 2 cents!

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

LONG way for Mike Booker who was here from the left coast. Several Cajuns headin back South.

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

x3

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

My sympathies to those racers who took the trouble to attend...and have to return
home...

Having a race with no rain-date posted...or a "TBA" is a bit odd...

I can see why no re-schedule...with the next few weeks already booked with other
events...

A rain date in November is no picnic at Maple Grove...I was at one circa 2004-
2006? Might have been the 2nd rain-date for the Dutch that year?

It was dry...and they ran it...but it was COLD and WINDY! Lots of coffee and hot
chocolate for me all day long....

Remember the 1987 event...ran on original date...and was something like 80
degrees....Ya never know!

Wonder if it's time to look into moving the date?

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

For those trying to run one last time this season...don't forget Mike Carr's event at
Mason-Dixon in a few weeks....

Think the weather has been a bit more predictable there...

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

I was at that rain date rescheduled Dutch Classic that was in November. I think it was the first weekend in November and it was in the early 2000's

I won the first round in S/C at the original event and had to put an engine together in order to go back....
I broke an oil pump and burnt up a crank doing some test and tune laps the week before the reschedule date....I had a spare short block but had to swap a lot of parts from the damaged engine...

I woke up very early in the morning at about 4 am the day of the race....and went outside to see what the weather was like....COLD but the stars were out.....so...

I headed out and drove thru a very heavy snow squall in Kutztown Pa and was saying to myself this is a first...driving thru a whiteout to go to a race!!

I was at the M-G gate before they opened and it was under 30 degrees....

I made one time run and went 8.90.....

Went red by a few thousandths once racing got underway...

I had no trouble with the track and it was never over 50 degrees....

That was one of those events I made a very big effort to get to and it just did not work out.....

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

2002, I remember it well. Rained out on the original weekend, re-scheduled for the Saturday of our annual Hagerstown race, and I was still in at The Grove (had won first round). Went back there on Saturday, went four rounds, lost (but Billy Nees won). Billy, Jeff Jewell and myself left there and drove down to Hagerstown to race Sunday (I gave Jeff the stripe back by .008 first round there). It was freaking COLD. Not sure if it made it above 45 degrees that day, air was near sea level all day.

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Guess it was 2002...I froze watching the race...only 1 day...not sure if Sat or Sun?

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

BUMMER. There's always the Fall Classic at Indy nex weekend extended weather forecast is very cold but dry

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

I remember the weather display on the tower showed 38* in the morning that day.

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

I was thinking exactly the same thing !!!

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Agreed .....Great Idea Lee !!!!!!!!!

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Sport Nats would be fun....but I'd really hate to lose the chance at a grade point

Re: Dutch Cancelled
 

Well I can't say anything about pit conditions, but they missed the weather conditions. It was alittle windy here, (about 24 miles from track) but partly cloudy Saturday. Today is looking like more clearing skys. As the weather guessers say "SEASONABLE" I'm glad I don't have to make the race decisions!!!