Pinks vs. NHRA
 

Here's an ad I found on a website I frequent:

.>>> "Starting on Monday, December 3rd, (insert drag strip name, here) will begin accepting pre-registered entries for Pinks All Out. Registration will be ongoing until we reach the mandated 400 cars, then no more entries will be accepted. Pre-registration fees will be $40.00 for car and driver. We can think of no better way to highlight our racers than to give you the chance to be a TV star. Drivers will earn $1000.00 for every round won, with the finalist taking home $10,000.00 for the top prize. Don’t miss your chance to be the center of everyone’s attention. Call the (insert drag strip name and phone number) office at XXX-XXX-XXXX, or go online at (insert drag strip's website URL here) and get your name on the list." <<<

There are no minimum combustion chamber volumes, piston weights, maximum valve-lifts, or carb numbers to worry about, with no teardowns for the winner, or runner-up...

Is there any reason why someone should be able to take a backyard-built, "fits no class" car, and win this kind of money, when the expensive, and pristine, scienced-out, mechanical masterpieces that make up Stock and Super Stock Eliminator pay six times as much to enter, and win so much less??

Oh yeah; no contingency money... LOL! Apparently, it all comes from PINKS...

Somehow, I don't think this is what Wally intended.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

Screw Wally, Pinks And The Present Upgraded Nhra!

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

From what we saw when my daughter wanted to go see them up at VMP, before they went to all out.
The parking lot was full,
They had to have extra people show up to sell tickets,
The people in the stands were having a great time, much like a local oval track race.
The line at the concession stand was too long to get a burger.

From what we've sen watching Pinks All out on TV.
Class racers show up to participate.
Mark Lewis and Hilary Sloan got more TV time by going to Pinks in '07 thank all other Class racers in Nhra.
Recently MAC or one of the other Tool companies have added a 10 grand tool box to the Kitty.
The people putting this on don't know squat about class racing and could care less about it.
The racers all seem to have a good time.
Some get a big payday for a $40 ticket.
And the real kicker is; it's on TV at least 5 times a week.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

I went to Pinks at Rockingham. We had a blast. The entry was only $25 though. Just like any other race they will figure out a way to milk it til it dies too. Back to Pinks at Rockingham. The place was packed. More people than a national event. Cars you have never senn and probably will never see again. I'll go back.
Chip

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

But, but, but, people don't want to see "family cars" puttering down the track, they only want to see fire and smoke and 300mph runs! It's not a show unless the car is pulled in a tractor trailer or three and crewed by a dozen people. The fans only want to be entertained by big dollar pro's!!

It must be true, every internet mag, paper rag and anywhere else you read about dragracing all seem to say it.

Too bad they didn't actually talk to some of the "fans". Too bad the talking heads who always seem to have all the answers are blind to the fact that many smaller more profitable venues are popping up because people actually DO like door slammers and cars they can relate to. I think pinks has evolved from the "I won because I lied" style of match racing to hand-drop-start style of bracket racing.
In spite of the multitude of pro heads-up proponents spouting off about the complexities and bland/boring action at a bracket race, when promoted properly, index racing can be fun AND entertaining.

I can only hope the exposure to 9-12 sec door slammers can change some attitudes about the "fun" and profitability of index racing. Obviously pinks (which is growing) is a testimony to that fact.
Someone said to call Rich and offer Stockers and SuperStockers as a closed show that he could promote the hell out of for his own profit. I think this would be excellent. A complete show on pinks with only S/SS cars? How professional would THAT look compared to billybobs shaggy vega with a big block?

Certainly an opportunity here in my opinion.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

I'll add my 2 cents. I enjoy watching Pinks All Out, I thought the first version of Pinks
was too hokey. Both sides trash talking each other.

My wife has only been to the drag races ONCE (Irwindale CA 1/8th mile), but watching
Pinks All Out she gets excited and roots for her favorite car (or driver).

I agree that a all Stock/SuperStock show would be great, but then I would also watch
a entire show made up of only SS/AH cars too.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

It looks like a lot of us were having similar thoughts about how class cars could fit the Pinks All Out format and vice-versa. Hemi cars could fill a 16-car field on both coasts and in the mid-west. And they would be faster than any field they've shown to date (I think the fastest so far was Phoenix, where they had a 9.00 field that included a dragster, driven by a woman whose husband went to the final in a Firebird super-gasser).

Top Stock could probably fill a 9.90-10.00 field almost anywhere in the USA. Acccording to Nitro Joe's stats, 147 cars entered an NHRA event that were classified in either B/SA or B/FIA. Add in stick cars, and "A" or "C" entries, you get well over 350 potential entrants.

Junior Stockers are almost as numerous, but with the exception of four or five B.M.F.'s (i.e. Henry Kuntz, Evan Smith, Bruce Noland), most entries would not run quicker than 11.0's unless the race was held at Atco or Cecil County in April or October. I'm not sure if Pinks ever had a show with eleven-second cars. But there's a first time for everything, and it would be close racing and a good show.

Of course, you know the show's producer are never going to get involved with enforcing rules, so the most likely scenario is that the field would be populated by a mixture of class cars and some "run-wut yew brung" cars that happen to run within a tenth of each other. Or perhaps a once per year event in which a Hemi Shootout is featured as a Pinks Special.

These guys will notice quality cars. Larry Munk pointed out above that Mark Lewis and Hillary Sloan got exposure at the Rockingham show. Do you also recall that Rich spoke into the camera while Mark was doing his burnout, and said something like "that's a good-running old muscle car". He probably had no idea what a stocker is, but he could tell something special was happening.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

They just finished Pinks in Tucson at SIR. They selected 12.50 cars. Las Vegas was 10.50 cars. Looking at the past shows it appears that low to mid 10's is what usually gets picked.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

$40.00 for a chance at 10grand in a heartbeat if it comes close to iowa heck a points meet is 150 for 3-4 timetrials, teardowns and carb checks,for a 3grand payday if yougot the right stickers that you have to wait months for. if you dont get picked you load up and go home if you make it 4rounds and win 10grand cash in hand and no teardowns no sandbagging,and no soft combos covering you by5tenths
it sounds like a good time to me

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

heres the offfical schedule of speed tv
2008 PINKS All Out Schedule*
(Pre-Registration & Test n? Tune Held Friday Prior to Every Shoot)

DATE TRACK LOCATION WEB SITE
March 8 San Antonio Raceway San Antonio, TX http://www.sanantonioraceway.com/
March 29 Red River Raceway Shreveport, LA http://www.redriverraceway.net/
April 19 Gainesville Raceway Gainesville, FL http://www.gainesvilleraceway.com/
May 10 Atlanta Dragway Atlanta, GA http://www.atlantadragway.com/
June 7 Summit Motorsports Park Norwalk, OH http://www.norwalkraceway.com/
June 28 Gateway International Raceway St. Louis, MO http://www.gatewayraceway.com/
July 26 Old Bridge Township Raceway Park Englishtown, NJ http://www.racewaypark.com/
August 9 Bandimere Speedway Denver, CO http://bandimere.com/
September 6 Infineon Raceway Sonoma, CA http://www.infineonraceway.com/

*Dates & Locations Subject to Change; Rain Dates Scheduled for the Following Sunday

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

So...if a bunch of S&SS cars showed up at a pre chosen race and overwhelmed them.....

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

EXACTLY!!

Looking at the stats again, the most populous Super Stock classes tend to run high- 9''s (GT/DA; GT/CA; SS/G-H-I-J). There's a big cluster of stockers around 11.3's(E through I), and another group around 10.50 (A through D).

I'll pledge to show up with a group of 11.30 cars (weight adjusted as needed) at Englishtown or Norwalk if around 8 others express sincere interest.

Email acurcio910@aol.com

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

Went to Pinks last weekend in Tucson and the stands were packed. No room at all with the fences being 8-10 deep at the starting line and 2-3 deep at the finish line. I'm guessing 8000-10000 people total. ($20.00 each) I stayed at the 330 mark and the crowd was totally into it, cheering for people they don't know. A Mitsubishi went 2 rounds and the people were screaming and cheering for his wins. It was disapointing that a 12.5 time was picked as a large cluster of low 10 second , some wheel standing vehicles that could of made for a exciting show. Back in Feb. I went to the Pinks race at Firebird and then i suggested to everytone to email Speed TV to see if we could get a show together and I received 1 email stating they would look into it. Definitly been more fun to race or watch Pinks in person then Div and Nats. What we see on TV is not as fun or exciting then the event itself. They could use someone different to edit for sure.
Jeff S

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

Looks like the timing couldn't be better for our cause. Reading NHRA.com this morning I discovered DSR is taking a hard hit in sponsor dollars for '08: Stevens losing Mopar and Valspar, BRUT pulling out of NHRA alltogether. With a recession looming, there will probably be more. But marketing departments will continue to hunt opportunities in value not only in television, but other media outlets (like YouTube). Rich Christiansen's deal just gets bigger all the time. He's rapidly proving the value of advertising dollars for grassroots drag racing week end and week out. Grassroots video clips are popping up all over the internet like a rash! Again, this could prove we don't need NHRA to keep class racing alive :p

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

I always said stock and super stocks pinks all out would be awesome, If you guys just show up you'd prolly get picked wheelsatnding full bodied cars, does it get any better. Add sticks into it and you will have the best all out so far!


Our show is still # 1 after 1.5 years still . They would love for you guys to show up they love wheelstanding cars!

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

i said before i liked your (Tosto) episode the best, i have changed my mind, the episode where chicken man took a dive on the crotch rocket is now my all time fav. they should just show him getting hurt more often i would deff. pay to watch that!

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

For the most part it looks like we found something we can all agree on. Hallelujah! We would gain and so would they. It would be nice to finally be in what would be perceived by many as a more equal exchange of work vs. reward potential. I guarantee you my expenditures would be much easier to approve at home if the result was the reasonable CHANCE of some national TV exposure. Are you paying attention JESEL, BME, JEGS, etc?

I sure love waching those old Super Stock clips with the full stands.Honestly, fuller stands would encourage me to race more and invite more people to the races.I don't know about you guys, but I get a little embarassed when friends come to watch me and there are virtually empty stands. In any event, it could put us in a better position to market ourselves if it becomes necessary. I hope we don't have to...time will tell.

However, and just for discussion purposes, how many of our cars can make three hot laps without shutting off? I don't know about everyone else, but I would be willing to have a non filled block, a better radiator, and some slower rocker arms to get the blood flowing again. It's not like we can't change it back when we are done. If we are genuinely going forward with this idea, we MUST HAVE a gentleman's agreement that we are not going to bitch and moan. Remember we are asking to be invited to their party, not the other way around. I believe this should be a complimentary relationship and not necessarily a replacement for NHRA Super Stock racing. What if others realize, IF WE PUT ON A GOOD SHOW, how valuable we really are. If we do this, let's make sure we send our best for the first race. I guess I will watch.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

So, you guys think that if 400 Stock/SS cars were to enter, sixteen got to race, and eight got paid, nobody would complain?

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

If Christensen and "Pinks" is the salvation of class racing, then it's over....it's done. Put a fork in it. The grim reaper has arrived.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

Pinks isn't the salvation of anything, class racing doesn't need saving. It is what you make it. If you are a competent bracket racer, you try to win the eliminator. If you're a techno-geek, you try to keep going faster all the time. If you're smarter than me, you get a competent bracket racer to drive your fast car.

That being said, Pinks is an OPPORTUNITY. It is the highest rated drag racing show on TV, and probably in history. And you, yes you, can get on that show, unlike NHRA/ESPN2's version of drag racing coverage.

And yet there are 2 million plus viewers who think Pinks is representative of real drag racing. Why would you let that stand?

Show up for one of these things, and show the public at large that drag racers are more than a bunch of semi-literates with a crate motor and a 2-stage nitrous kit.


Comment added 24 hours later: I don't have anything against crate motors. Some of my best friends have crate motors. As for nitrous, I say live and let live. But when you mix a 150 HP shot with a stock bottom end, you get an exchange of fluids that nobody wants to see. This is how the Pinks Lose the Race, Lose Your Ride episodes seemed to end, more often than not. I guess the semi-literates I referred to were mostly on the Lose Your Ride format. I apologize to anyone who took offense.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

Why not get 8 Top Stock cars together and approaching the show about doing a special?

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

A few people have contacted me. The couple of racers who were willing to commit to coming to a race were people I am already acquainted with. Their cars are substantially faster than mine. One also pointed out that the Englishtown Pinks All Out event will conflict with the National Open at Napierville.

I'm thinking that the producers and spectators will respond to faster cars with bigger wheelstands. Top Stockers mingled with SS/J, K ? How about SS/DA? Whatever.

In the end, it's the racer's decision as to which cars will show up, and where. The registration for next summer's taping begins in January, so it's best to start thinking about it now.

Toward that end, I have posted a poll in the racers only section of this forum. Please vote.

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

what wally intended? lol! nhra--non-profit organization. where do you think the profits go? do you believet that most of what you see @ national and divisional events has anything to do with wally parks' vision? think about it? want to have fun; call nhra in glendora sometime and ask them what the nhra mission statement is. don't you think an organization that large and that wealthy should have one? start asking more questions. questions are the race fuel of evoltuion!

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

tony where do you see the pre entry stuff ? i have been on the web site but i must of missed it
i was also under the impression that you just showed up paid the entry fee and if your lucky your in
i,m curently thinking st louis is going to be the one i go to thanks for any info you can give me

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

From Raceway Park's website

http://www.etownraceway.com/

Signups will be handled by the RACEWAY PARK Office via Email starting January 7, 2008. Any entries received prior to 01/07/08 will be deleted. E-Mail address to be listed on website in January. Only entries to this special email account will be accepted. Please check back for more information in the coming weeks.

From Norwalk's site:

PINKS Registration Starts In 5 Days!
November 28, 2007

On Monday, December 3, at 12:00PM, pre-registration will begin for PINKS: All Out! Will you be one of the 400 entries, or will you be sitting in the stands with the rest of the spectators? The clock is ticking, and we’re just 5 days away from the start of the pre-registration process. Don’t be one of those surprised few that are shut out by the end of the day on Monday. Yes, we think the 400 entries will be sold out by Monday afternoon! To pre-register for PINKS: All Out, you can go online at www.summitmotorsportspark.com, which will be the fastest way to get into the show with a Visa or Mastercard, or call the office at 419-668-5555 and take your chances. Don’t be one of the thousands sitting in the stands when the cameras roll on June 6-7, 2008

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

thanks for the info i,ll have to keep an eye on st louis web site so far they have nothing on it

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

Bring it to Maple Grove, Englishtown, Virginia, Budds Creek, Atco, or Cecil County and I'm in!!!!!

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

how do you qualifiy for the final 16 at these events

Re: Pinks vs. NHRA
 

you make 2 time trials and then their people pick a group that runs closest together in times so its basicly you got a 1in 400 chance if 400 cars show up basicly its a good time with a chance to win some big dollars and get your car on tv