Live from the NHRA Gatornationals

[71mavlouisville]

This is what scares me about attending a national event. You guy's got to an event on Monday that was supposed to start on Thursday. Now it's Saturday and you haven't been down the track once! You may not get to down the track util tomorrow and then run over into Monday! Who can do this type of racing? I can only see three groups of people, independently wealthy, retired, or "professional" sportsman. How can anyone with a "normal" job race like this? How can you leave your job or business for 8 days in a row. Say you get one qualifying shot and then directly into first round and lose. You spend 8 days and thousands of dollars for 2 passes. I am not blaming anyone or trying to incite negative feedback. When I look to what type of racing I want to do these scenarios make national events seem very risky.

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by 71mavlouisville

This is what scares me about attending a national event. You guy's got to an event on Monday that was supposed to start on Thursday. Now it's Saturday and you haven't been down the track once! You may not get to down the track util tomorrow and then run over into Monday! Who can do this type of racing? I can only see three groups of people, independently wealthy, retired, or "professional" sportsman. How can anyone with a "normal" job race like this? How can you leave your job or business for 8 days in a row. Say you get one qualifying shot and then directly into first round and lose. You spend 8 days and thousands of dollars for 2 passes. I am not blaming anyone or trying to incite negative feedback. When I look to what type of racing I want to do these scenarios make national events seem very risky.

For someone who is not trying to incite negative feedback you're doing a wonderful job .Neither the NHRA or anyone else for that matter can control the weather no matter how hard they try .BTW , some of those with a normal job went home in between races and came down Wednesday night .I'm not saying its easy but it can be done -- its' the planning that is difficult sometimes ....................Maybe bowling might be better for some folks - ( and you perhaps ) - just not me ! ! ! I'd rather race on Monday ( or even Tuesday ) than not at all .....................

[Brian VP]

Well said Jack. Running NHRA National Events isn't for everyone. Because of the cost and the time only a select few are truly able to do it. There is nothing wrong with that. That is one reason why bracket racing has become so popular. It is one day, most people live within half an hour or so from a track, and the entries are normally quite reasonable. But that really isn't for me. I have done that and I will do what I can to make sure that I race the races that I can along the NHRA circuit. Nowadays with the economy the way that it is that means that I have to pick and choose a little more than I did a few years ago and that is fine. I realize that when I go to a National Event I have no idea how long it will be til I run or if I ever will run, but the people and the experiences are always there and that is why I love it. NHRA can't control what is going on in Gainesville and honestly, by not running the sportsman until possibly tomorrow may be the best for all involved. The pits there can't take that much rain and people moving there cars around on it just makes it worse. If they wait for them to dry a little it makes life a whole lot easier on everyone. Anyone who knows the history of the Gator's knows when you enter the race that there is a pretty good chance that you may have to race on Monday. Unfortunately that is just a chance that we all take. Well I have rambled on enough. Thanks for listening.

[Greg Barsamian]

Originally Posted by Brian VP

Well said Jack. Running NHRA National Events isn't for everyone. Because of the cost and the time only a select few are truly able to do it. There is nothing wrong with that. That is one reason why bracket racing has become so popular. It is one day, most people live within half an hour or so from a track, and the entries are normally quite reasonable. But that really isn't for me. I have done that and I will do what I can to make sure that I race the races that I can along the NHRA circuit. Nowadays with the economy the way that it is that means that I have to pick and choose a little more than I did a few years ago and that is fine. I realize that when I go to a National Event I have no idea how long it will be til I run or if I ever will run, but the people and the experiences are always there and that is why I love it. NHRA can't control what is going on in Gainesville and honestly, by not running the sportsman until possibly tomorrow may be the best for all involved. The pits there can't take that much rain and people moving there cars around on it just makes it worse. If they wait for them to dry a little it makes life a whole lot easier on everyone. Anyone who knows the history of the Gator's knows when you enter the race that there is a pretty good chance that you may have to race on Monday. Unfortunately that is just a chance that we all take. Well I have rambled on enough. Thanks for listening.

X-2 BVP
& BTW Happy 37th Birthday!

[Bruce Noland]

Kenny,
Have they put up the schedule for Sunday?

[71mavlouisville]

Thank you for your feedback. I did not mention NHRA anywhere in my post. I do not currently see anything wrong with what NHRA is doing with the event. When I stated that "I am not blaming anyone" that was referring to the weather which obviously no one can predict or control. I am relatively young and building a NHRA Super Stock car. I will be at divisional's later this year and hopefully nationals next year. How do you plan for these types of events? What is your risk/benefit analysis? What is your backup plan? I am a business owner and a professional. In my business I am always looking for feedback from everyone involved in the business. If I knew that my "customers" were having a problem with participating in my "business" I would want to know. That was the purpose of the post, I hope this clarifies that.

[Ken Miele]

Sorry about not getting back sooner, internet access is very slow here.

Below is the schedule for stk, ss, sc and sg. The top part was cut out, Stk will be first out at 8:00 AM.

71mavlouisville, with all do respect, NHRA National events are not for you. If you can not get away from work or your business, Nationals events will not be a wise choice. I only go to 5 or 6 nationals a year, and are always prepared to stay the extra day or two. I am fully aware of the problems that can come up. I understand how National events can effect the racer, but most of us know what we are getting into before we hit the road.

As far as planning goes, always plan on the unexpected. This type of racing is not for everyone. As you can see on this forum, there a members who do not like NHRA or the way it is run. As for me, NHRA is the best game in town and I will continue to support them. When I feel I have been mistreated then I will move on.

On a side note, the place is mobbed with spectators, 2 hours to get into the track this morning.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by 71mavlouisville

Thank you for your feedback. I did not mention NHRA anywhere in my post. I do not currently see anything wrong with what NHRA is doing with the event. When I stated that "I am not blaming anyone" that was referring to the weather which obviously no one can predict or control. I am relatively young and building a NHRA Super Stock car. I will be at divisional's later this year and hopefully nationals next year. How do you plan for these types of events? What is your risk/benefit analysis? What is your backup plan? I am a business owner and a professional. In my business I am always looking for feedback from everyone involved in the business. If I knew that my "customers" were having a problem with participating in my "business" I would want to know. That was the purpose of the post, I hope this clarifies that.

71mavlouisville, I'll say that although I agree with most of what Ken said, I disagree with him on one point...national events are for you, and here's how they can be:

1. Although it's true that you need to prepare for the unexpected, I don't go to a national event until the day prior to the first qualifying session, because I have a regular job.

2. Your backup plan should be other events you might be able to attend should your race be postoned to a date you can't participate in (like those who attempted to run the Arizona Nationals may have to deal with).

3. Sadly the risk is like investing in volital stocks, so it might help to keep one eye on the Weather Channel, and the other on the clock on the last possible day to sign up for a national event....provided there's an opening available, you can stall until 1pm pst. (at the latest). If the weather looks too risky for your time alotments, then I wouldn't go...however if you can possibly stay and finish the race on a Mon. or possibly Tue., then I'd go, just not the Monday prior to a race.

4. Hopefully where you live, you have more than one or two national events that are fairly close to you...I moved from Denver to Tempe 3yrs ago for that reason, and now I have up to 6 national events that are within 360 miles of where I live instead of just 1 then. Spread your selections out, so that time and finances will allow you to do those and your divisionals as well.

5. I don't think many of us think of a risk/benefit analysis, because on any given day even the best of our category can be beaten, so there's no guarantee that a race will produce a financial benefit. However, the people on this forum (for the most part) are amongst my best friends, and it's always priceless to be able to share a passion with them...the comradderie is second to none, and the friendships last a lifetime!

To sum, don't get discouraged by the thoughts that this isn't for you, just get out your computer atlas, and your national dragster (or I.H.R.A. like magazine). Check out the dates, locations, and calculate how they might fit into your business schedule. Be flexible (especially if you're lucky enough to live where you can run both NHRA & IHRA). Then get out there and go for it...come join us and have fun going fast and make some new friends! Besides, another thread near to this one showed the average age of Stock/ SS racers to be approx. 54yrs of age!! I agree with the person who wrote that thread that we need to make that avg go down, or that will surely eventually bring a day of reconing to our categories as we know them now...I don't want that, do you???