Imitation: The Most Sincerest Form Of Flattery

[Larry Hill]

Hey Ed, I eat Wheaties and I keep waiting for the desired effects to kick in!

[Adger Smith]

To quote Alex: As you recall we had ZERO issues with staging the first time around even with all the exhibition classes with lots of heads up runs there was no screwing around everyone came up in a timly manor and no real stragglers anyone who knows Byron, and Ron, Leak knew that crap was not tollerated there ever, no matter who you are or were

Alex I'm pretty sure you remember that "Yours truly" was working the staging with the very capable help of a Father Son team.
When I had a stragler I was burning a path to their pit area on the 4 wheeler requesting they get in line.
The one that I spent the most time requesting their presence in the lanes was a known Hemi car.
We had a field of racers that really wanted tobe there & race. It was one of the best times I've ever had at a track, even though I was still in bad health and working in Hot, Hot weather. It was a pleasure to be there!!

[Bernie Cunningham]

Yep, that's the pic that started this mess of a thread.

I always thought it was a race down the track, not to the staging lanes.

[Jim Kaekel]

Fact is, if everybody came up late after a call to the lanes, they could never keep the race on any kind of schedule. I think the procedure that designates the first couple of pairs for eliminations helps things a bit.

[Pete Beau]

Damn, am I too late to make popcorn :-)

[RJ Sledge]

Didn't Rusty Johnson have a remedy for this @ Gainesville a couple of years ago??

When the opponent finally showed up and wanted to "flip" for lane choice, Rusty told him he flipped 20 minutes ago and Rusty won the flip......and the round!!

If somebody chooses to run two Classes and can't get ready in time for the other Class maybe they should stick with running just one Class and not be under all that pressure.

RJ

[j gardiner]

The fact is somebody has to be first somebody has to be second somebody has to be in the middle and somebody has to be last. As long as your not sitting in the water waiting for them what difference does it make.

[Ron Ortiz]

Jim, that new rule that they implemented at Gainesville last year where the last 3 qualifiers vs their numeric opponents was a far shot off if they were trying to get to the late show-er-upers. If you want to get them they need to do random picks. The bottom 3 are not the problem. I was one of the bottom 3 last year and did not make it on time due to unusual circumstances and stupidity. I am not the one they are trying to get or for that matter any of the bottom 3.

It really does not matter if an opponent wants to show up early or late, when the starter calls you to the water box, go on in with or without them if you choose. no biggie. Now if you are playing games like that guy a couple of years ago with the white Mustang convertible that got repossessed at the track, that's a different story. Said he learned it from Scotty School, but he took it beyond common sense.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA not better late than never.

[7423]

Can someone please explain why being at the end matters?? Why is it such a big issue for some racers? Do you really think that you can change the way other racers operate? The three Camaro drivers in that picture win more rounds in a season then most win in a lifetime. I'm sure who ever is last in the lanes does not bother them in the least.
I guess some racers just need a group hug......................

[voltdr]

Here is the way to stop racers from being "too" late to the lanes. Too late is when it affects the next class to race. During Qualifying, or time trials, when you make the "last call" for each class, that's when that class starts down the track. When you run out of cars for that class, then that's when it's over for that run. Once you stop the first racer from running a Q or TT, most of the problems will correct themselves. I believe most of these issues are during TTs, Qual, or the first few rounds of eliminations when car counts are higher. No one wants to wait in the staging lanes too long before running an elimination round while the weather can change. Like R1 in INDY.
As the rounds progress and there are fewer cars, allowances need to be made for someone that is still in in both classes. No one should get upset at a racer that is racing two classes and that is the reason for being a little late.
If you are running 2 classes, you know the sequence of runs and need to not put your self in position to be DQ'd.