One More Year at BIR!

[Dyno]

I'll try to attend more this season if they can finish the program on time. Dyno

[ron mattson]

well put big joe, we need to get more cars there and support this unless you "LIKE" to
drive 6-8 hrs for a s/ss race. hear that all minnesota,wisconsin and dakota boys and girls
bir wants us there and i mean all of us not just one or two whiners that if things dont go
exactly their way they refuse to play with all the other kids....c-ya in may!!!!!!!

[Tim Lisson]

What a great idea, support the only 1/4 mile facility we have available that holds a s/ss racing point series.... There has been a group of us that have been saying this for 3 years now. Last year they raced us on Saturday only. Three hits, on to eliminations. If you wanted you could run brackets on Sunday.

It's really an easy decision for me. There is racers who want to chase Divisionals and/or drive to Iowa for USA races, if you can do it and it makes you happy so be it, just don't bitch when we lose the oppurtunity to race at one of the nicest facilities available to us.

Tim

[5919 SSKA]

Those that know me, know I have beaten my head on this issue with BIR for years! Those that don't, I will spell it out one more time.

If the payout/entry fee were more in line that would be a different story for a lot of drivers (myself included). I can't cost justify running a Super Stock car for $350 to WIN (which is about what it's been in the past), with a $110 entry fee to boot. I've raced a few times there in the past with my Super Stocker when I have need to test for one reason or another. Otherwise, I have a bracket car as well and run that for less entry fee and a higher payout...it just makes sense.

It would be fantastic to see 32 plus car fields of S/SS cars at the races. Especially for me, as the track is only 62 miles from my home. I think the track should guarantee a $1000 minimum to win as well. A higher GUARANTEED payout is the only way I see BIR getting cars to come from outside Minnesota. Let's face it, Minnesota isn't exactly a hot bed of S/SS racing.

The track needs to do some advertising, have solid track prep from Test-n-Tune thru eliminations, not nickel & dime the racer's for everything when you enter the gate, and get some fans in the stands during these weekend series. That shouldn't be the racer's responsibility too.

Last season, Ron Zenzen and myself tried to organize a S/SS combo at Interstate Dragways in Moorhead, MN. Another track that would LOVE to have a regular S/SS program. And there was a VERY POOR turn out. Perhaps it was the weekend, but there wasn't a single NHRA race in the 5 state area. I believe we had something like 10 cars, and still paid fairly well with what we had. We are planning it again the same weekend this season (July 24-25)---race both days.

YES, it would be fantastic for BIR to keep S/SS racing as part of their regular program. But as Al Corda told me a few years ago when we were talking about this very thing---'Trailer's do have wheels you know Travis.'

[ron mattson]

here is my take on this, i went to topeka a few years ago and lost in the semi's, went to get
paid and got 180.00 total.. now let me see it cost me 2 days work,gas to go 11hrs one way
hotel for 2 nights at 100.00 pr night meals for 3 days to the tune of approx 1000.00 out of
my pocket for 180.00 now that was a good deal....F... me yeah right.. i can drive a little over
a hour to brainerd go 3 rounds and make more. with little expense.. besides that unless
you are of Biondo or Fletchers ability i wouldnt count on this as a "source of sustainable income" as it was put to me by the IRS. also the trailer tires uncle al spoke of are about
200.00 each last time i checked and they do wear out also. so if any local "hitters" are
doing this for the money i would take a good look at your wallet and see if there is any more
in it in sept than may, doubt it..this is a HOBBY for 99.9 % of us so get used to it.

[5919 SSKA]

As I said before, I can bracket race my Chevelle for less entry and win more at BIR.

Therefore, unless the payout/entry fee changes at BIR or I need to test something I doubt you will see me there (that's just me). I would rather travel to a National/Divisional and have a 'chance' at a larger pay day and race less to save 'travel money' and wear/tear on equipment.

To each their own, I just don't see it happening.

[Tim Lisson]

Travis-

I obviously have no ties with the track, matter of fact Rock Falls is little under two hours closer to me than BIR, however since BIR is the only track that has a season points program established specifically for S/SS, I plan on supporting them. Last year I joined the points program and only raced two of the races due to engine failure. I received a check in the fall for my fourth place finish ($100), that's right a check. Come to find out only 4 people signed up for the points. I was told the winner received $1,000, amount that I have not personally verified with the champion, but will.

You talk about a guranteed amount, BIR has the payout structure posted on their website. I don't see how they could keep the lights on if they paid more than what the car count entries total. Of course I wouldn't be against the entry fee being reduced, but with the points championship money and BIR gold card up available, I'll pay it.

When you were at Moorhead was it a guaranteed $1,000 to the winner for the ten racers that showed up? What spots did they pay other than winner and runner up? That same weekend BIR paid $750 to the winner, 350 RU, (2) $130 semi's, and (4) $60 quarters.

Like I said earlier, there is racers that want to chase Divisionals and that is great, I just hope every racers attitude is not the same as yours or we will lose out on a pretty good thing that is in our backyard, well, your backyard.

Just think, we could have went to Phoenix and went after that big payday..

Good luck racing this year and I'll see you at the first race!

Tim

[5343stk]

Money is an important issue to most racer's. I believe most racer's race for the chance to win the winner's purse. Round money is nice, but doesn't really impact the checking account.

I grew up at BIR. I love the place as much as anyone.

I don't believe BIR's problems stem from the payout structure. I think we are all smart enough to realize you can't pay out more than you take in on entry fee's.

I have a hard time looking forward to racing at BIR Bracket Races for numerous reasons :

1. It is like an act of congress to even gain access to the facility. How many people do you need to see to pay your money?
2. Every time we go, I pay a different amount. Why not pay a flat rate for racecar, pit vehicle, dogs, goats, etc. ? Is the yearly golf cart fee that important to BIR's bottom line?
3. Why do we have to pay extra to park on blacktop. Shouldn't it be first come first serve? If I come early, I shouldn't have to pit in cat litter.
4. Why does Tech take so long? I think I went thru teardown at Indy in 2009 faster than I could tech 2 cars at Brainerd.
5. Why are license runs more important than actual competing racers? How many times have we been ready to go in staging, only to be held back for a license pass.
6. Have a defined run order and follow. The thing I like most about NHRA races is a schedule. If I'm only gonna get 1 run a day let me know. Don't hold the racer's hostage while you try to complete too much in a day.
7. Get car's down the track faster. Most racers can do their burnout and will not stage until the track is clear. Open another turn-off for the jr's and slower cars if possible.

I feel as a group we can try to make this work. I will attempt to make a few races this year. I may only let my wife drive, but atleast it will be one extra car. I would have a hard time with the pace of time trials and eliminations on 1 day while helping my wife and kids.

That said, BIR is one of the premier facilities in the country. I believe with a combined effort it may work for parties.

Hopefully with Pat & Joyce, BIR will have some continuity in leadership. This may be the step in the right direction we all need.

Jamie

[JRyan]

I think Jamie brings up some very good points. It's been a few of years since we've attended a S/SS race at Brainerd but a lot of what was said held true when we did attend.
You can argue purse and round money until you're blue in the face and nobody will ever be satisfied. We put together a race at Interstate a couple years back and had some help with USA and it paid okay for the amount of car's and Travis tried one last year as well with roughly the same success. We went because for us it was close and we liked Interstate.
I like Brainerd as well but for us it's over a five hour drive one way. Which means I'd have to leave right after work Friday to get there by midnight and either spend an addtional night in a hotel or front seat of the truck. This also means sometimes we wouldn't get home until around midnight and that can make for a long weekend when you don't have much vacation to use. This is also the reason why the purse does mean something to us. I like Jamie would at least like to trick myself into thinking if I do well I at least covered my weekend. It can be tough to swallow if you win a race and still come home in the hole for the weekend.
You can't ask for Brainerd to take a loss on the class but the regulars could with some assitance from the track maybe come up with some area businesses or suppliers that would throw in $100 here or there. If you find a half dozen or dozen over the year that will put in a little money it can add up in a hurry. This is what we try to do around here and that usually lets the track get a decent cut and still guarantee at least a fair purse. Maybe this has been tried I don't know.
One question as I don't remember do they run two separate S/SS races one on Sat one on Sun? Or is it just a single day during the bracket weekend? That too has an impact on attendance. That's my take on the issue. If there are two days of racing and a decent payout I'd try my best to attend a couple if possible. But, if it's just a one day deal and the other day you have to run a bracket class anyway I'd assume do it much closer to home.

Rick Ryan

[Joe Demarais]

A lot of good thoughts guys, I talked to A BIR staff member a couple of weeks ago, and a lot of your complaints are being worked on. Their payouts are posted on their web site, paying to get into the track is being made easier, buying your entry to race what class you want to is easier, i think parking is easier as long as you don't park in a reserved spot, and a lot of the spots have a plug-in you can rent very reasonably. They are trying to make things easier to race there. I, myself, don't want to drive 5 or 6 hours to race everytime I want to hit a S/SS race, and some of you guys want to go to pts races and nat events which is great, but for every one of them there are 5 of us that really don't like the idea of not being able to race 2 hrs away at a grade A track. A friend of mine has already been to 2 divisional races this year, entry fee's were $210 and 230, he was parked in the rubarb, BIR is looking like a deal. Again this year they will race us on Saturday, and if you want, you can run brackets on Sunday.
PS BIR is the only track where I have red lighted and still won the round!!! Right Larry!!!!