Hello everyone! Happy new year!
I am just back from the BIR racer committee meeting.
I would like to say thank you, for your input and the opportunity to again represent
this fine group of NHRA Stock & Super Stock racers.
We have some new Reps. for the bracket class and things went well.
First of all We WILL be racing on Saturdays. With 2 Q. runs.
& YES IT WILL BE 1/4 MILE!
The only reason to ever run 1/8 mile @ BIR is for safety, due to weather conditions.
That is all.
Once again; the main topic was time management and consistency
with the program run order.
We had a handle on things the first few races BUT! By the end of the year 2011 we were right back where we started.
It was acknowledged that there were problems.
Most of them stemmed from the changing of run order as well as the TESTING that was taking place on SAT.
We made a decision to have NO TESTING on Sat.
The people who are trying to get a license will have the chance to run on Sat.
It will be listed in the run order just as any class would be so the people who are trying to get a lenience will know when to be ready to go and that the track is safe for them.
BUT... NO TESTING ON Sat.
!
The vote was made to give those who are bracket racing in the Gamblers Race will now receive only 1 time trial NOT 2
That should free up a bunch of the needed time to get every thing completed on Sat.
As well; it will give the S/SS class a more even time spacing between rounds.
Pay out is (32 CAR COUNT )$1,2000 win 600 r.u. 180 semi. 80 Rd 4 50 Rd 3
LESS THAN 32 CARS USES 80% "JACKPOT FORMULA" Just like last year.
Cost to race is $90.00
15.00 at the gate
As for the cost to drop your trailer on Fri. night the answer I got was...
"It's not a Free Secure storage lot."
That said; lets look at the big picture here.
The cost for the track to run every thing we take for granted; the lights, staff, insurance, taxes, up keep, and maintenance on a facility of this caliber is astronomical!
Nothing is getting cheaper.
I don't think it ever has.
Just think how much your personal life has increased in cost in the last few years.
Now
Look at how big BIR is.
All the buildings. black top roads, grand stands, showers, maintenance& up keep on all that stuff, fuel for all the equipment, oil changes & maintenance on all the equipment, Just the grass mowing alone is enough to choke a goat, not to mention the track prep stuff and all the timing equipment it's self.
And lets not forget everyone's favorite Toilet Paper and a clean Port-a-Poty.
No city sewer BIR. That means pumping and hauling all your used hotdogs away.
It all costs $$$.
It's mind boggling really.
So Let's all take a good, long, hard, look at the big picture before we start to pull judgement on BIR, or any track for that matter.
With $4 a gallon fuel to tow with $3.25 a gallon gas to run your generator. Any way...
I hope you can see where I'm going here....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and on.. .and on... and on
As GEOGRAPHICALLY CHALLENGED as we are here in MN.
It only makes good cent$ to run your car at the local S/SS combos like this and
HAVE FUN!
As for the gate and the tight turn to get in.
The answer I got was "If that's all you guys could find to complain about that things must be O.K." (after all we are professional drivers aren't we).
One of the guys offered to pull your rigs in around the corner for you if you would like. :0
I told him I would put a sign up with his service and phone number on it.
The Pee rock gravel behind the tower is on the agenda to be removed so we should have less rocks in the water box and on the starting line.
So... that covers it.
We need to have a good car count again this year so we can continue a good thing!
We had fun last year and with the improvements it looks to be even better this year!
Good luck in 2012 and the very best to you and yours.
Thank you again!!
Glen DeMenge