Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Good afternoon - And I was live yesterday at the 'Grove when stacking officially opened - got in line as # 5 but had to leave because of several commitments Monday .As of noon today there were only three lines of cars but were rolling in slowly .I'm sure the storms overnight had something to do with that and the rain has stopped but it is possible to start again tonight .

The place looks great - clean and well manicured and for those like myself there is nothing better than racing a National event at your home track .Can't wait .........

Later with updates .

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Been to the track multiple times and still have trouble with the narrow road options. Anybody know the route the big rig/Pro teams use? I would be travelling South on the Turnpike.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

If you are coming South on I476 and exiting at exit 56 and go West on I 78 instead of getting off on PA Rt 100 to go to US 222 ,you can continue West on I 78 and get off at exit 30 for PA Rt61 South . It will bring you to the 422 bypass outside or Reading.
It eliminates dealing with the 2 lane congestion and the 5 stupid traffic circles they have installed on Rt 222.
When it comes to getting off Rt10 to the grove ,the only option for a bigger rig is getting off at the bus garage at Alleghenyville Road and turning left at Bowmansville Road to get to Maple Grove Road.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Thanks, Ken
You guys might not know this, but AZ. Dan, (Dan Riume) is a pretty fair bracket racer too. He won a couple of our events in Surprise...and, he's a Ford guy ;-)

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Dan quite often talks about bracket racing. I was just talking to him yesterday, he was in Vegas racing his Mustang and having a blast. Dan is good people, how he puts up with us I will never know.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

You can stay on 78 to 61 to avoid the 222 traffic and circles but I always went the way you did once I got to 222 from 78
I preferred taking 57 to 22 to 78 to 100....Way more scenic and towing friendly with a smaller rig.....

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

It's actually Reaume and he started out with a blue and yellow mid 60's Ranchero racing at Speedworld with his Mopar buddy Dan Sleep. Loved hanging with these 2 back in the 90's. Not sure if he still lives in Kingman or not.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Kenny I saw you post about the dump truck following you for the last 10 miles. There is actually a quarry not to far from the track that dump / pick up rock & stone from. You’ll see trucks up and down Bowmansville Road all weekend.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Good morning members and guests - After a few drips and drizzles this morning it's a little cloudy with Sun thrown in every so often .They are calling for more but who knows.During the evening tonight a clear front is to roll in and stay till next week .I can almost promise that the Stock session tomorrow morning will be ultra fast - remember I did say almost promise !!!

So here is a new one - would you believe the officials came around early this AM and told us we'll be going in early ? Yep and we did . Why you ask - who cares - I was pitted long before 8AM .

Today it's parking - get wrist bands and mostly stand around and BS .Also many of us noticed new pit road paving - no more rocks,mud and God knows what else on some of the roads - well done Koretsky family ! ! !
Later with some pics .........

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Nice on the pit row paving.
Koretsky’s doing some great upgrades there.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Jack,
Could you get some pictures of the paved roads for us that can't be there

Bob Lasko

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Hey Jack. I noticed you picked up a package from the NHRA Div 1 trailer because the trailer that normally distributes them is not here or not here yet. How much did NHRA charge you for keeping the box in their trailer until you picked it up?

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

TY Mark, glad to hear Dan is still around.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

I think the Sleep Racing Family lives about 5-6 blocks from me in Kingman, if I am not mistaken. But, I met him in Surprise also back in the 90's. I miss that Track. Will also miss Firebird/Wild Horse Pass too. (Lions, O.C.I.R., Houston, Englishtown, Moroso M.S.P., even Riverside), and the list gets deeper by the day as many of the good ones go away.

So, in my book anyone making improvements to a facility these days (unless it just to buff it up to sell it off to Amazon), is my hero!

I was also happy to see The Rock get new concrete recently (fond memories of visiting that facility twice in a month in 95' Div./Nat. Events. A week the second pass through staycation.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Hey guys, the sun is coming out... it looks to be a nice day. The rain we got last night made parking for some an issue. I few rigs had to be pulled out as the spots in the field are very soft. There are some good spots, but listen to the parking crew if you don't want to get bogged down. Arizona Dan, is doing a good job for what has to work with.

Things will dry out as the rest of the week looks picture perfect. Like Jack said, they started us early, and by 10AM the stacking area was empty. If you are getting here today there is no wait, just pull right in. Parking closes at 5PM and opens up at 8AM tomorrow.

Here a a few photos to start with... I'll be back later with a getting parked video along with a ride through the pits.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Here is the new deal Joe - let's just call it another NHRA enhancement - as a lifelong businessman I realize there is no free lunch but this deal is getting out of hand for sure .Yes, I picked up a package sent to me by a manufacturer - t-shirts etc. all 5 1/2 pounds of it .The NHRA charged me $20 for that company to send my box thru UPS to the track
and paying their fee.Anyway if my box was to be over 20 lbs the NHRA fee would be $40 and the real bargain would be if I sent an engine on a pallet the fee would be $100 .Seems the NHRA wants to be a shipping company or ????? Hope that you now know not to send things to the track ........ever.

And BTW - our new Division Director was helping out in the trailer .

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

NHRA is like a slaughterhouse for swine the only thing they want to loose is the squill

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Good morning everyone, its a chilly 60 at 7:32am. Stock is out at 8:45. I am sure it will warm a bit. I will post current weather numbers below. High temp for the day will be in the low 70's and it will be sunny all day.

Temp 60
Humd 88%
Bar 29.48
DA 1256
Water Grains 65
Wind calm

https://youtu.be/u2LNwe9aFl4

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Hey guys, a quick video of Stock in the lanes and the return road. I will post Super Stock up later along photos later tonight. I see DRC has not posted Q1 for Stock or Super Stock, I will get one up later if they don't post. They just called SS to the lanes for Q2.

https://youtu.be/rkb_nodgb1g?si=pLSrhFlR68gaKG7Y

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

It’s not like they own the property or anything why the Hell do they need to charge anything?

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Must be something new, I've sent pkgs to racers at MG and other NHRA tracks. Always addressed it to the track (office) Attn:Racer. Even Indycar doesn't charge!!!

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Hey Ken,
This is Ray Gottry, we met at Gainesville. I love your videos. I raced at Maple Grove in the eighties (86 - 89). Watched your video going thru the pits and didn’t recognize the place. It has changed a lot! Used to be a lot of gravel.
Have fun racing this weekend.
Ray

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Ray, thanks for the Kind words.

Well folks, tear down is open for business... Cylinder head, bore stroke and carb/throttle body are the order of the day.

Bob Cupp
Duane Hoven
Byron Worner
Chuck Nagy

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Super Stock Q1... Stock coming up in a bit.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Stock Q2...

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Good morning all - Yippee !!!! It's race day finally and Stock will lead off at 8:45 .Matchups - not a heads-up in sight and big handicaps there's a big one - Johnny Gray in his retro '69 Camaro AA/SA will give Bobby Bender driving his lumbering P/SA small block powered wagon about 5 bulbs and try to catch up.

Weather ??? It's gonna be another great day here at Maple Grove as the high is to be only 73 degrees with the temp now (7 am ) at 56 degrees .Seems the Dutch Classic weather came early .I'm sure Ken will post the full picture .

As Ken posted last evening teardown was open and worked late - I'm trying to get results ASAP .

The track conditions at this point were pretty good - during the last S/S class session I watched several competitors spin but that could have
been they were plenty hopped-up or the track with the Sun burning down in the mid-afternoon .

Later .................

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Good morning all, and its a little cooler this morning. I will post the numbers below. 8:30 is the start time with Stock leading the way. The weather for first round should be quicker as the humidity and water grains are down from yesterday and the pressure is up.

Everyone got through the tear barn, and like Jack said it was a late night for some.

Weather numbers as of 7:30...
Temp 55
Humid 70%
Bar 29.53
DA 690
Water Grains 44
Wind calm

https://youtu.be/6Tw0EJ4Xny0

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Hey guys, there was a DQ in Super Stock. I did not see the revised Q sheet. Bob Cupp was tossed for a carb modification. Idle holes that are drilled in the primary throttle plates are legal, but not in the secondary throttle plates.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

From the stands it looked like Brittany Boltz and Worner were in the same lane after the finish line in super stock. What exactly happened or did one cut the other off in the shut down area?

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Not sure how that went down, but here are some top end shots round 1 Super Stock...

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

One more...

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Super Stock qualifying action...

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

A few more, be back in with Stock in a bit.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Stock qualifying action...

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

who was driving Boburka's COPO? It looks like Bryon Worner was driving, but it was his still Boburka's competition number.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

Neither of us cut one another off. We were both in our own lanes.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

If you go to page 3 you can see on the windshield it says 1747.
That’s Worner’s number.

Re: Live from NHRA Pep Boys Nationals @ Maple Grove
 

My mistake. 1707