PINKS vs Class Racing

[63corvette]

The only reason NHRA keeps the Sportsman racing at the National Events is to pay the bill for putting on the event.
Case in point:
Only Sportsman pay entry fees: Our fees cover the operation for NHRA's part of the show. The track covers the rest.
Only Sportsman pay Insurance fees Professional Teams must post a Bond at the beginning of the year: Our fees cover the entire insurance coverage for the weekend show for everyone inside the track. The track turns the operation of their track and in turn is the umbrella coverage for the show only. It will be interesting how the accident at Chandler turns out and who pays for that.
I would bet today the Sportsman Insurance coverages for 2011 will be going up due to the Chandler accident.

If the Sportsman racers did not pay the bills we would not be included now at the National Events as was discussed the last couple of years.

I watch Pinks sometimes but when a guy is berated for having an engine failure on camera for oiling the track I am no longer a watcher. The guy feels bad enough without being laid into for oiling the track.
I also have friends who attended the Pinks all out to try and get in and they will never try again. They told me it was like the NHRA show hurry up and wait. I have not tried to get in as I figured I could never get in with an 8 second car. They always pick 10 second or slower groupings.

My take is Its All About The Money and what Pinks can sell!

My 2 Cents and not worth more than that.

[hemidup]

I heard that Pinks 400 plus spots sell out in about 5 minutes.

[Ed Fernandez]

I respectfully really feel bad for the diehard class racers, who have spent a life time perfecting their combinations. And today nobody cares, the fans just want to see FAST...(turbos, blowers, nitrous). Then if that don't get ya, at the Nationals the #83 quailifier puts you (#3 quailifer) on the trailer with just a good reaction time. He bought his car last month for $10,000.

Wade,thats why there's Comp eliminator,for the diehards that want to go fast.The CIC is a bit of a hinderance but not as confining as the AHFS.
The Pinks minded set have no interest in working on a a restricted combination like S/SS.All
they do is throw money at big inch motors with they're so called "power adders".Does
the work slackers come to mind?

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

I respectfully really feel bad for the diehard class racers, who have spent a life time perfecting their combinations. And today nobody cares, the fans just want to see FAST...(turbos, blowers, nitrous). Then if that don't get ya, at the Nationals the #83 quailifier puts you (#3 quailifer) on the trailer with just a good reaction time. He bought his car last month for $10,000.

Wade,thats why there's Comp eliminator,for the diehards that want to go fast.The CIC is a bit of a hinderance but not as confining as the AHFS.
The Pinks minded set have no interest in working on a a restricted combination like S/SS.All
they do is throw money at big inch motors with they're so called "power adders".Does
the work slackers come to mind?

Actually Ed quite the contrary...this would be the best thing for the sport. What the fans want are closely matched cars with character, brand rivalries, and be included in the hype. Instead of shoe polish racing like they do on Sunday, it would be class match ups just like the old days, and trust me, it would grow beyond anyone's imagination. Those who've worked the hardest could finally be rewarded. Fans could follow that format easy..all heads up, no breakout, no handicap starts. The PINKS promoters add in some exhibition stuff as a bonus, but the main show are the close matched cars in an all or nothing death thrash. NHRA has had ample opportunity to work it like this, but prefer to suck up to the nitro bombs, while they milk every last dollar from our wallets instead.

[Ed Fernandez]

Those who've worked the hardest could finally be rewarded

Should read,those who have a ton of money will finally be rewarded.Guess I'd put a muffler on the gremlin and drive it to car shows.Remember what happened when they ran off records?Back then it was innovative guys with skills.Still some left but on the whole todays performance is store bought and lack of rule enforcement.

[Hemiparts]

We ran the POA event last year @ Z-max and are in for the event @ Virgina, yes it's a lot of waiting but wher else do you see people get that worked up over a bunch of sportsman racers?? Rich is a car guy and he cares about the racers and the cars. As far as him blowing up about someone spilling fluid on the track, wasn't some one on this forum not long ago screaming about getting fined by NHRA for leaking on the track ??? This kind of racing and the circus atmosphere thats surronds it is what is still great about the sport of drag racing.. my .02

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Hemiparts

We ran the POA event last year @ Z-max and are in for the event @ Virgina, yes it's a lot of waiting but wher else do you see people get that worked up over a bunch of sportsman racers?? Rich is a car guy and he cares about the racers and the cars. As far as him blowing up about someone spilling fluid on the track, wasn't some one on this forum not long ago screaming about getting fined by NHRA for leaking on the track ??? This kind of racing and the circus atmosphere thats surronds it is what is still great about the sport of drag racing.. my .02

You receive basic guidelines docs via email in advance of the event reminding all competitors to replace antifreeze with water and/or coolant substitutes that meet sanction rules. And just like anywhere else, if you're aware you are leaking any fluids you are to pull over to the side of track. Beyond that Rich and crew are reasonably fair. They understand there will be mishaps, but the preventable ones they cut nobody slack. And yes, Rich is a real stand-up guy and really enjoys talking to the seasoned veteran, wheather pro or weekend warrior. When's the last time an NHRA exec chatted with you in the lanes or on the starting line during downtime?

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

I watch Pinks sometimes but when a guy is berated for having an engine failure on camera for oiling the track I am no longer a watcher. The guy feels bad enough without being laid into for oiling the track.
I also have friends who attended the Pinks all out to try and get in and they will never try again. They told me it was like the NHRA show hurry up and wait. I have not tried to get in as I figured I could never get in with an 8 second car. They always pick 10 second or slower groupings.

My take is Its All About The Money and what Pinks can sell!

My 2 Cents and not worth more than that.

I went to the Pinks at Indy this past year as a "tater". After watching it on TV, it looked really neat. The reality of what I saw. A lot of time sitting and waiting. It is a TV show, they're looking for that spectacular thing, a nitrous explosion, a blown engine/tranny, hugh wheelstand, car going out of control, to augment their highlight reel. That and I can only take so much of the drunks yelling and screaming, I guess I'm just not a good spectater.

Then when you get to the promotion part of it, $40 hats, $60+ shirts, you can have it. Nah, I'll pass. Went to work Monday, told all the guys what a bust it was and how it was the most boring thing I could have subjected myself to. They all thought I was nuts, "you got to go to such a cool thing and you hated it"?