What's with D-2?
 

Can someone explain why our D-2 director has scheduled 4 races in 5 weeks? Bradington, Gainsville, off one weekend, then Orlando and the Gator Nationals? Looking at the rest of the year, LGMP and Atlanta, then we have no events for 5 months!

We intend to show our displeasure and go to No Problem instead of Bradington. Pretty much the same distance for our gang, but a lot more fun. Since we can't get off of work anytime we want, we are going to have to miss Gainsville so that we can get off for Orlando and the Gator's, without getting fired.

Re: What's with D-2?
 

Sounds like the same person that usually does the IHRA div 9 Schedule.LOL
Chip

Re: What's with D-2?
 

This is something I have been talking about for several years now. This Division (2) is circling the drain! Event schedules and communications suck! We used to have a great Winter Series, but now it is non existent. Until there is a regime change, you can call and you can email etc. but there are no answers. Until there is change, the racers will be the ones who suffer. jim

Re: What's with D-2?
 

It could be that they are trying to get racers to come to the "Republic of Florida" and leave (store) their rigs there and run consecutive weekends, and then make the return trip home. That would limit the road exposure of their outfits to the dreaded Florida DMV and weights and measures group that recently fined a guy with a 70' rig $7000.00, because he didn't have the proper credentials.The DMV said that since the racer could potentially win money in his racing venture that the rig should be registered as a commercial DOT entity. The racer did not have a CDL because he was driving a Toterhome w/a stacker trailer "normally" not requiring that certification.
Sportsman Racing in the "Republic of Florida" may be a thing of the past.

Re: What's with D-2? Jim and Sally
 

After talking with a lot of my Guys, i think some are considering going to Pats Race instead, also!:rolleyes:

Re: What's with D-2?
 

i would like to here more about the guy who got the $7000.00 hit, i'am 80' and heading to FL. soon for the winter,sounds like better travel late at night, i know there is permits ya can get, better follow up on this one,. Brian

Re: What's with D-2?
 

I think that it has a lot to do with hurricane season ( well that is what we have been told)

Dont forget guys.... we are inviting all stock, super stock, super street, super comp and super gas cars to the Lakeland Motorsports Park on the weekend of March 1st and 2nd for the 'Orange Blossom Nationals'
Tech card prices will be posted soon.

This is going to be a lot of fun. During the week we will have Test an Tune on Thurs night for $15.00. Friday night you will be able to watch the crowning of our High School Challenge winner, Saturday the event will begin with Qualifying that morning, and a bracket race that evening(extra tech card needed). Sunday will be Eliminations.

This is the off weekend between Gainsville and Orlando. We understand that a lot of you will already be down in this area and will need a place to pit until Orlando opens its gates and we will be allowing you to use the facility if need be. We will be opening our gates the Sunday evening of the Gainesville race so that you all may begin to pit for the following weekend. You will be permitted to stay through Wednesday after our event as Orlando opens on Thursday. In addition to that, if you are in need of machine work to be done, you will be right around the corner from Waibel Competition and will have the availibility to get done just about anything you need done.

Remember, this is a 1/8 mile track and you need to let us know if you will be intending to stay so that we can make sure that we have enough room for everyone. There will be a fee associated with staying, but at this point we have not nailed an exact amount down, however we want to keep it very minimal.


Hope to see you all there. We will be posting specifics about the event as they are available.


Jeremy Waibel
Waibel Competition
Lakeland Motorsports Park Camaro

Re: What's with D-2?
 

The Div. 2 schedule has always been this way, to attract Northern racers during their winter and give some of them the option to declare Div. 2 with minimum hassle. We're the only division I know of that specifically writes their schedule to attract "carpetbaggers". However, you really don't want to race down here during June-Sept., as it's miserably hot and rainy anywhere south of Atlanta.

I would like to see it spread out a bit more during April-May instead of everything stacked before Gators, but that's what brings the out-of-division car counts.

Re: What's with D-2?
 

I don't understand why all the races have to be in South Georgia or Florida...last I checked the Carolina's were division 2 also and we race from March to December here. Hurricane season included! There are a lot of racer's in NC that would compete on the NHRA side if they would have a few races less than 7 hours away. (At least some National opens to pick up some grade points) Just my .02

Re: What's with D-2?
 

Brian.... w/ an 80' rig I suggest you bring an extra $8 grand with ya just in case.......

sorry... I couldn't resist..... will let you know which day this weekend very soon (via email)

by the way.... do you have room in your rig for my car when you head to FL???? Let me know.... I'll split the fine with ya... 50 - 50

Re: What's with D-2?
 

I'm guessing here, but it seems to me, what with the cost of fuel and the strict enforcement of the Florida over-the-road rules, we may be lucky to have a full field at the Gators! Heck, it cost me over $400 in fuel to get home from Maple Grove this year. That same trip will cost about $500 next Feb. plus race gas, entry fee, and perhaps a FINE from the friendly "Sunshine State". We'ins down here are still trying to learn to vote properly!!

Ya'll come back now, ya hear!............................................. ..... :-)

Re: What's with D-2?
 

"The Don",

See I told you it would'nt take that long for you to start being Floridaized. And you said it was never going to happen, we'ins, Ha Ha.

As far as the grouping of races in D2, you can look at it several ways.

a) If you are from anywhere north of Florida, you can get in alot of sunshine and be racing at the same time, except for the occasional shower.
b) You can save fuel as there is several races that are in close proximity to each other.
c) You know where you stand point wise after a month and a half. ie. 3 divisionals and 1 national.
4) Your pocketbook takes a wallop in a very short time.
e) You are away for a while.
f) There is plenty of time to party and see the sights.
g) You can get discouraged numerous times in succession.
h) Your highs and lows can make you feel like a yo yo.
i) You stay sharp at racing, it is the only thing you are doing.
j) Sooner or later you have to go back to not so great weather.
#1) You stay in Florida and give up on going back to where ever.

Do not forget that if you wanted to run both NHRA & IHRA, you could be quite busy

Immokalee, Feb 2 divisionals, 1 national week 1
Bradenton, Feb 1 divisional week 2
Gainesville, Feb 1 divisional week 3
Lakeland Feb test/tune/parking/Disney week 4
Orlando, Mar 1 divisional week 5
Gainesville, Mar 1 national week 6

and I'm not sure, but I think IHRA has 2 divisionals in Douglass, GA on the way out of Florida for week 7.

Welcome to D2.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA ya'all come back, hear.

Re: What's with D-2?
 

Hey Ron you must have helped with the scheduling???????You guys have a Great Thanksgiving!

Re: What's with D-2?
 

Tracy;

The only problem with NHRA having division points races or a national open in the Carolinas is there are no tracks in S.C. or N.C. right now that choose to be NHRA sanctioned. When I thought about it I wasn't sure and had to check the NHRA web site to confirm this. I wish they would kind of spread out the schedule a little more throughout the year, but Bill hasn't rang my phone to ask my opinion.

As far as the division director scheduling national opens and division points races, he has to get track operators that want to host these races and feel that they are a worthwile effort that they will make a profit at. The division director cannot force them to host these races. It's my understanding the reason Carl doesn't run the national open in Dec. at Orlando any more is after Bill agreed to schedule a national open at Montgomery a week or 2 prior to his date it took a considerable amount of car count away and it was no longer profitable for him.

Re: What's with D-2?
 

Oh yeah, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and for those going to West Palm, safe traveling.

Re: What's with D-2?
 

I wonder if the underlying reason for not having any tracks in the Carolina's goes back to division 2 management? Just a few years ago there were 3 tracks (Darlington, Fayetteville, and Jacksonville) and they have now all switched to IHRA, I wonder what the reason is? Two of those had grade points earning races scheduled about 3 years ago, Fayetteville w/ a national open and Darlington w/ a division 2 race and they both got mysteriously dropped from the schedule before their dates arrived. I had all of my licenses/numbers updated to participate hoping to finally get to run some NHRA and then the events were dropped. We are fortunate to have all the IHRA division 9 events that we do plus a couple of combo series so we don't necessarily need more races...it's just fun to run something different every now and then.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Re: What's with D-2?
 

Could be more opportunities for them on the IHRA side...Darlington got a divsional their first year back. Hopefully they will make enough money to justify new concrete walls and we will once again have the "original Winternationals" (IHRA) back in SC. Wouldn't that be great!!!

Re: What's with D-2?
 

I totally agree, I cant make those div races 4 in a row, I'll do good to make 2 that early in the season. My question is, what happened to Montgomery?? There isnt a spring race or a winter race there anymore.

Re: What's with D-2?
 

From where I live the Div. 2 schedule is not bad....first 4 races are all within 3 hours from home (so I'm fortunate in that respect). Almost like running IHRA Div. 9 and living in N.C. Just wish they were spread out a little more on the calander.

Stephen and Horace....I think when Montgomery had the division points race and the national open there Bob Dennis was one of the partners in the group that owned the track. If that was true then you had a owner that was interested in class racing and that always helps. I wouldn't mind seeing another division points race at Montgomery. You guys are in the area close to George Howard, run the idea by him.

Re: What's with D-2?
 

Just a word of caution. legal length of toter homes type rigs is 65 feet in all states. no exceptions. no permits. no excuses. and yes I have a long one and I did pay a big fine in texas two years ago. If you get stopped be expecting the trooper to get out the tape measure. He will ask you to hold one end. at least he let me go on after writing the ticket. In most states, the cop could make you disconnect and use a short truck to move the trailer away.