Epping, NH NHRA divisonal

[Jason Oldfield]

I was at NED 2 years ago for the first time for the IHRA National Event, and it struck me as a decent track. It certainly wasn't up to NHRA National Event standards, but my recollection is that it was just as good as any other track where we currently only run division events (LVD, Numidia, Cecil Country, etc.)

Personally, I think it makes geographical sense. There's a VERY large population base in MA, CT, RI, and NH, and it always struck me as odd that there wasn't at least one race in that area. I realize that the people in southeastern PA aren't exactly going to be thrilled with losing a race, but recently Division 1 has become the Southeastern PA / Northern MD / Eastern NJ racing series, and you can't tell me that the Philly area can't stand to lose one race. As it stands right now, if you live in the Philly area you have 5 division events and 2 National Opens within a 2 hour drive of your house. Must be tough.

So, nobody is going to get any sympathy from me because once a year they have to get in the truck to drive 6 hours to get to a race. The CLOSEST race for those of us living in Rochester is Lebanon Valley which is a 4 hour drive. In Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and anything West of Toronto you're actually better off racing Division 3 (which is also why I believe we have such a large IHRA following in Western NY & PA, and Canada).

Granted, I realize in the general vicinity of Philly you're also drawing from the major metropolitan areas of Baltimore, DC, and NYC. But, there's a pretty large population base in the Northeast that is outside of that area too. Maybe NHRA needs to create a new division for everything 2 hours outside of Philly (I'm half-joking here)...

[Tom Goldman]

Jason, Keep in mind , the tracks that currently host points races are the ones capable of handling the fast cars, and also the ones willing to poney up the reported $15k to NHRA for the privledge of holding one of their races. .....Our area just has more of this type of track. ......... Epping could change that.............Tom

[Jason Oldfield]

Originally Posted by Tom Goldman

Jason, Keep in mind , the tracks that currently host points races are the ones capable of handling the fast cars, and also the ones willing to poney up the reported $15k to NHRA for the privledge of holding one of their races. .....Our area just has more of this type of track. ......... Epping could change that.............Tom

Tom, I totally agree, and I realize that the New England area is really mostly devoid of this quality of facility except for Epping. There are plenty of tracks that I'm not sure that I'd want to race down with my Corvette, let alone in a T/D or T/S car (or a fast S/G car for that matter).

With it's proximity to Boston, you could argue that NHRA should be working with the Epping owners to upgrade the facility if possible (i.e. they have the surrounding land to do so, which I'm not sure they do) to make the track NHRA National Event capable.

It's sad to say, but there aren't many tracks in the Northeast that I get excited about going to:

- I have fond memories of Maple Grove but the pits there suck
- Atco is decent and certainly fun (the bar rules)
- Englishtown is certainly great
- Cecil County is only serviceable (especially depending upon where you end up being pitted, like in an area that is so sloped that it is impossible to level the motorhome to get the refrigerator to even work)
- I personally love Numidia, but the last time I was there the property certainly wasn't as nice as Atco is now.
- I don't think I even need to say anything about the disaster that is LVD.
- The last time I was at Delmar (probably close to 10 years ago), it sucked (the pits were horrible).
- Boiling Springs is 1/8th mile.
- Spencer Speedway is 1/10th mile!
- I've never been to Napierville, Capitol, Mason-Dixon, Island Dragway, Luskville, or ESTA (which is surprising because it's not that far from me), so I can't comment about them.

That's every member track in Division 1.

Unfortunately, with the economic downturn and attendance and TV ratings falling for drag racing (and even auto racing as a whole, including NASCAR), I think it is going to be a while before we see any new tracks built.

Regardless, your point is a good one, and not one that I didn't realize, but definitely one that I didn't mention. So, thanks for pointing that out.