Both or neither this week in Phoenix!!!

[Dennis P Chapman]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Ummmm, since you were there anyway, ya know, you could have won the second race.
Gary, I'm going to have to tell you a Billy story.
When I first moved into this area I went to the local racetrack (Beaver Springs)and met this obnoxious young man (he knows who he is) running in Street Eliminator who was/is pretty good. After getting to know him and his Dad a little better I mentioned to them that they should travel around a bit and hit some money meets. His Dad told me that "we need that $100 that he wins up here"! I told his Dad (who has become one of my best friends) that if they needed that $100 that badly then they shouldn't be racing and I told the Son that he could stay there and be the "King of Beaver Springs" and never amount to anything or he could take his show on the road. The Son has done OK.
I guess where this is going is that we all make our place in life. If you can't afford to NHRA race then bracket race. If you can barely afford to NHRA race then make the best of it or don't race. Don't complain about it, you put yourself there.

Good story Billy yep the kid has done very good.

[art leong]

Not having read the whole thread.
I have a couple of questions. That may have been answered.
What if you break something in the first race? Are you on the ladder for the second race?
What if you can't get there for race one? Can you enter race two?

[art leong]

After reading some more. It would be very easy for the track to keep track of who paid for one or two. Different color wrist bands.
As Jim Wahl said. I went to a 3 race IHRA race weekend last year. I paid for one race at a time. I just raced 2 of the races (it was too darned hot).

[Toby Lang]

Originally Posted by art leong

After reading some more. It would be very easy for the track to keep track of who paid for one or two. Different color wrist bands.

Right, and nobody would pay for the first race then take the wrist band off and pose as a spectator for the second race. And I'm sure all racers will switch wrist bands for the second race. Heck, some racers don't like wearing wrist bands and cut them off.

And I don't know anybody who enjoys a rent-a-cop asking to see your ticket/wrist band.

[Billy Nees]

And in the long run it all comes down to trust. The track operators have no reason to trust us and why should they? We all know someone who has sneaked into a track and they are, after all in business.
Welcome to the 21st century!

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Toby Lang

Right, and nobody would pay for the first race then take the wrist band off and pose as a spectator for the second race. And I'm sure all racers will switch wrist bands for the second race. Heck, some racers don't like wearing wrist bands and cut them off.

And I don't know anybody who enjoys a rent-a-cop asking to see your ticket/wrist band.

Toby they would have different colors for 1 event or 2 event. Have you gone through the gate after the first day lately? You have to show your wristband.
Do you think everyone sleeps at the track? Some of us enjoy the comfort and unlimited water available in a hotel.
Maybe it's west coast thing.

[Toby Lang]

Originally Posted by art leong

Do you think everyone sleeps at the track?

Well, judging by the amount of motorhomes, I would say more than half stay at the track ... a LOT more than half. Also, quite a few people who don't have motorhomes stay at the track. And if a person can afford a hotel, I don't think they're too worried about paying admission for the second race.

[Sean Marconette]

Hell worst case sleep in your tow vehicle. Problem solved with the cost of a hotel. I wish we had back to back races in our area. Life is what you make of it. If you know there is a race you want to attend plan your schedule and budget for it. But maybe thats just common sense.

Sean

[GarysZ24]

Here's some other info I didn't yet share about my thoughts on this:

1. For those of you who understood why I put up this post, thank you. To those who were critical of me, so be it (I'll sleep just fine tonight)!

2. I now realized that my beef wasn't against either NHRA (for a nice change), or Mike Rice, as this was Charlie Allen's decision...afterall, it was his office staff who told me Tuesday that I could neither pay for only the first race, or the second race...I had to pay for both (hence the title of my thread). However, the very next day when I took the photos of the announcement "MUST PURCHASE FULL EVENT", with the announcement of the 2-race entry fee on another placard next to it...Note: I forwarded photos of those two notices to Jody & Toby Lang, Michael Beard, and Larry Dowty, with the hopes that one of them would share them here (if it hasn't been done already).

Since I feel this was a parting effort to shore up as much money as he can in his waning days as track manager, I wouldn't put it past Mr. Allen for doing this. What sucks is the following Wednesday (from when his office staff told me of the both or neither entry), they would say that you can come out Friday and tech for the 2nd race....why didn't they say that in the beginning??? When you work for a company and you make vacation plans, other people need to cover for you while you're gone....if you cancel your vacation plans, you don't just reverse your cancellation (that's un-ethical, and it wouldn't leave a good vibe with your boss or co-workers), and that was my dilema. Knowing that this was probably the case with regards to Mr. Charlie, I am thus glad that his days of managing Firebird Intl. Raceway, are nearing an end, and although I will likely be out there Sunday to enjoy watching those of you there in competition, I'll keep my car away until the new management arrives!

Mark, I'll look forward to any info I can find on your upcoming combo race, because I'll do everything I can to participate in it (work wage cutbacks aside), because I want to help insure that this track stays put for us to enjoy, but I hope the entry fee isn't very close to our dear divisional fees???

Am I crying now James, or Jack? I'll tell you guys something...I can remember when Stockers weren't using wheelie bars, Cal-trac's, 2-steps, or in-line shifters (et. al.), and I'm sure some racers stated their cases to allow those additions to come about (over and beyond making Indy the lowest qualified 128 racers, and no longer class winners and then the remaining spots filled with the lowest qualifiers afterwards). Those who complained about those things needing to be changed, did you call them criers too...or were you guys who jabbed at me amongst those who stated those valid cases?

I wonder???