Where were you TEXAS, & D4 racers???

[Jason]

Maybe it finally sunk in to Gary that there are actually racers who do not want to race at an IHRA event.

[Adub464Q]

Gary,

I have a super comp (quick rod) dragster and drive a stocker for the Marlow family, who were at the event. I run one of the cars at nhra events only because of college commitments. Anyhow, I have an outside shot in super comp to get into the allstars, so I knew we would be coming to belle rose this weekend. We didn't want to endure multiple days of heat for weeks in a row. If I'd had known that it was going to be Saturday only, I would have been there.

It may have been a good paying race, but let's be honest, this sport ain't about money. It's about having fun, and how much fun is two weekends in a row with high heat. So instead, I sat out by the pool and had a great time with family.

And last, you can hate on TEXAS (and them longhorns) all you want, but don't talk bad about my aggies.

Thanks and gig em,
Austin Williams

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Adub464Q

Gary,

I have a super comp (quick rod) dragster and drive a stocker for the Marlow family, who were at the event. I run one of the cars at nhra events only because of college commitments. Anyhow, I have an outside shot in super comp to get into the allstars, so I knew we would be coming to belle rose this weekend. We didn't want to endure multiple days of heat for weeks in a row. If I'd had known that it was going to be Saturday only, I would have been there.

It may have been a good paying race, but let's be honest, this sport ain't about money. It's about having fun, and how much fun is two weekends in a row with high heat. So instead, I sat out by the pool and had a great time with family.

And last, you can hate on TEXAS (and them longhorns) all you want, but don't talk bad about my aggies.

To me this sport is about both having fun and the money (which is why I dont' race my car as a bracket car). I can't see paying $50 bucks for a race that only pays maybe $350-$450 (if I'm lucky), and numerous times during the year, to hopefully earn the right to race in the Divisionals Race of Champions, for the right to race at the NHRA World Finals, when all I had to do to earn the right to do the same thing at the IHRA's World Finals, was win this race, and I just needed to win four straight rounds to do it (much easier a task on me and my car, than racing for a seasonal top four finish at my local track, prior to having to race other qualifiers from other tracks for the same privilege with NHRA).

No problem with the aggies, because I was a fan of the Texas A&M Aggies since they had R.C. Slocum (I hope I spelled his last name right?), as their football head coach, and any team who emphasizes the military in it is a team I really admire...GO AGGIES!!!!
Thanks and gig em,
Austin Williams

Please see the note I wrote above your name Austin, I was soo eager to start this that I wrote my reply above your name....

[Mark Yacavone]

Gary, I applaud your effort in trying to promote IHRA out west as an alternative.
I'm not a huge fan of The Big "N" anymore.
In fact , I allow IHRA cars to run our combo events and qualify off their indexes, providing the weight breaks are different, and you have the appropriate credentials.

But quit complaining about the NHRA indexes!
The next time you want to travel 2400 miles to race, instead, bring the money to me, and you won't have to worry about running under the index here.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Adub464Q

Gary,

I have a super comp (quick rod) dragster and drive a stocker for the Marlow family, who were at the event. I run one of the cars at nhra events only because of college commitments. Anyhow, I have an outside shot in super comp to get into the allstars, so I knew we would be coming to belle rose this weekend. We didn't want to endure multiple days of heat for weeks in a row. If I'd had known that it was going to be Saturday only, I would have been there.

It may have been a good paying race, but let's be honest, this sport ain't about money. It's about having fun, and how much fun is two weekends in a row with high heat. So instead, I sat out by the pool and had a great time with family.

And last, you can hate on TEXAS (and them longhorns) all you want, but don't talk bad about my aggies.

Thanks and gig em,
Austin Williams

I may have replied to your message before, but I have to congratulate you on being close to being an allstar contestant (I hope you made it in...I haven't checked it out yet so I don't know). As far as this race being a good paying race, I'll say that most NHRA/IHRA national/divisional events are "good" paying races. However, for this payout (sans contingency postings), this was a great paying race, and given that most divisionals only pay stockers **1,000 per race, and charge anywhere from **135 (IHRA only), to **170-175 D1 NHRA, you were able to enjoy one race for the cost of two, but with the payout of FIVE!!! With all due respect to your racing more for fun than money...if I felt that way, then I'd race my car as a No-box or Sportsman bracket racer. However, it isn't just for the fun factor that I do this, and thus why I don't get caught up in local races like Gary Hansen suggested. Furthermore, I would prefer my participation go to races with more bang for the buck (which is why I chose this race over the races that Mark Y. puts together...other than burnout issues I've had there at Speedworld).

My whole point of this thread was about you D4 racers who were hounding IHRA to host such an event, and when you got it...didn't show up for it. It was a toss up between Texas and North Carolina (per Skooter Peaco), and you all won out based on all of the requests for such an event. However, after this (exceptionally) meager showing here at the event, that's the only reason I spoke of the Tarheel state being the future benefactors of this race over you all here in Texas. It was worth the investment to try and not only earn **5k, plus have a shot at the IHRA World Championship, but get an Iron Man Trophy, and bragging rights to being the first Stock Eliminator Champion at the (now 1st and only) San Antonio Raceway "Summit Sportsman Spectactular....but thanks to that pretty sad turnout, there won't be another one. My love of good racing for a decent dollar is worth more than the funds I spent to go there....besides it may have been 3x's as far as 'Vegas, but spending **305 dollars for a national event, plus **180 for towing fuel (round trip), plus hotel accomodations of likely **150-**300 (I had friends to stay with in San Antonio, just to race for a posted purse (non-contingency) of **1,200-**1,500? I think I had much better odds participating in the race I went to, and just missed the good money (GUARANTEED!!!), by two rounds? I feel I made the better choice, and would do it again if I could. However, now I have to hope that Utah will woo IHRA, since Texas dropped the ball....

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Jason

Maybe it finally sunk in to Gary that there are actually racers who do not want to race at an IHRA event.

Jason, I wasn't here to talk squarely at the anti-IHRA people, I was (as you should've recalled in my first post), looking at the (example) 14 racers who were at the March Nitro Jam race, but weren't at this one (when it paid 5x's as much and for only **200 dollars! To those of you who like paying **305 dollars to race for only **1,500 (at best) per national event, more power to you. However, IHRA is trying to give us options for our racing dollars without gouging our bank accounts to do it, and I'm all for it. I want the most bang for my buck, which is also why I don't go to my local tracks with my stocker. Sorry Gary H, and Mark Y., it makes more sense to me to go to a race or two like this than many like that, when I wear my car out less, and race for more money....

[RULER]

Well now i'm not sure about your math, 500. or 600. hundred dollars for a 2000, plus round trip with entry, fuel, lodging, food, So i guess you drove the car you raced there, slep in it, picked up pop cans during your trip to help with entry fee's and dug though garbage cans for food, stoled your race fuel from somebody when they wheren't looken, who am i doing so far, I know not so good but let's face it it cost alot more than that!!!!!

[Harry 6674]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Jason, I wasn't here to talk squarely at the anti-IHRA people, I was (as you should've recalled in my first post), looking at the (example) 14 racers who were at the March Nitro Jam race, but weren't at this one (when it paid 5x's as much and for only **200 dollars! To those of you who like paying **305 dollars to race for only **1,500 (at best) per national event, more power to you. However, IHRA is trying to give us options for our racing dollars without gouging our bank accounts to do it, and I'm all for it. I want the most bang for my buck, which is also why I don't go to my local tracks with my stocker. Sorry Gary H, and Mark Y., it makes more sense to me to go to a race or two like this than many like that, when I wear my car out less, and race for more money....

So what you are saying is you race for money and not so much the enjoyment of the racing experience? I prefer to race, I could care less about the payout. It's not about the payout. When I have to worry about the payout I will find another hobby. My first social security check will be here in two weeks then look out.