The death of bracket racing........

[krugracing12]

Mongo
I am certainly glad your not bashing your home track. You dont want to be on the "naughty" list in the tower. In the end, those that could afford to, would race for trophies against who or whatever stages in the other lane. However with the cost of everything out of control, the only way you can justify spending the $ to go is to race for something thats worth it. I have seen a fair amount of race cars get parked or sold in the last 25 years and the reason was always the same. The "aggravation/cost" factor got to outweigh the"Fun" factor. If you have 60 points racers and only 20 points races, everyone doesn't get a win every year. Throw in a couple of sketchy management decisions that went against or screwed a racer, you can see why people move on.


Most tracks would benefit from a well written rule book and management that can apply them properly. Bracket racing will never die, but tracks need to find a way to put the fun back in to it. Racing on a safe, well prepped track for a decent purse is a good start. Weeding out people using illegal equipment irregardless of class is also essential. Why some one does not think using a "Davis" traction control box or the "Matty" ignition is wrong escapes me, but they are out there along with many other "innovative" cheating devises. People that are using these things are screwing everybody. As racers we need to police ourselves when something is not right say something, and T/M has follow up and do the right thing.

Bill Krug

[Mongo]

Merrry X mas to Mr. Krug and family! did Santa get ya anything good? I have second kid (another girl)on the way(due in early May). Hope to see ya along the road somewhere in '08 and good luck in the New Year.

[Mark Schmidt]

]I'm neutral on buy backs...take em or leave em.

Bracket racing will never be a spectator sport, it's a participant sport. Sit in the stands at a bracket race...boring.

The cost of racing in general is killing everyone. At the PRI this year, everyone was concerned, most companies are cutting back. I believe this is mostly economy-driven, when $$ was flowing we didn't mind spending. I would add that if you have a local speed shop, you need to support them all you can, they are still the lifeblood for many racers.

As far as cheating goes, hangem high when you catch em. You won't catch many but would feel good to see the names & parts made public domain.

Raising the bump smells. I didn't spend big bucks to chase a 13 sec. street car...talk about asking for it, do the math on the rate of closure...crashes waiting to happen.

Just my thoughts...thanks for listening.

[thewrench3]

I agree with dick butler, you need the mini rewards so that you will keep coming back. I treat my bracket car like its a stocker. I compare it to the nhra cars that run in its class to make sure that my performance level is there. If we don't do that then we are doomed to bore ourselves to sleep which will cause us to loose interest in our sport. My car is just a sportsman car but it holds my interest and makes it fun to race. When it becomes no fun I will probably retire from racing. I hope that never happens.

[LouisJeffery]

I agree with Dick Butler and even have proof. We race Stock Eliminator and bracket race locally at Milan Dragway Milan Mi. The IHRA Pro-am had a huge turnout of race cars but I never saw more than 100 spectators in the stands and I am sure most of those were racers and their family. However the first friday night of every month Milan has a Heads up night with 5 classes and a total of approx. 60 cars. This is a fast paced, exciting, good time for everybody event that has CROWDS of six to ten thousand people. A complete home run of an event because of HEADS UP RACING!!!!!!!
Buybacks suck no matter what!!!!!!!!!!!!! My local track has first round buybacks for $20. My suggestion is charge everyone $10 more entry fee and have NO buybacks and the track nets the same or more money.

[jrace]

Reasons for the death of bracket racing:


#1 Electronics
#2 Buy backs
#3 Big dollar races

And the main reason: THE ECONOMY
Drag racing is soley "disposible" income. The adverage family does not have that kind of disposible inccome.
Yes there are many "regular" people racing locally, but most are on the edge financially. They race instead of paying bills, it's like an addiction to some.
I figure that 85% of the people racing can't afford it, the other 15% are millionare's (ie. the Butler types). The millionare's are out of touch with reality, and for the most part the struggling economy doesn't affect them much.
What I see locally is the car count may look the same, but there is a shift from real race cars to street cars.
With $3.75 per gallon gas being said to happen by spring on the news, we'll see how that affects the "state" of the sport.

[Dick Butler]

Jrace,
It is common to see people post without their real name. Many have nothing constructive to add to the discussion and just want to see their Fake name in print. You were successful in doing that much. The other thing you do is try to create an "us versus them" attitude. Most will laugh at that. I do....
Drag Racing has been a major part of my life entertainment and challenges. I agree if you cannot afford to race, dont miss your payments. There is no money to be won, unless you excell in class or win elim or Bracket meet. Probably less than 5% of racers win money.
In class racing as it started it was important to sponsors, racers and spectators. Thats what created the prize money. In bracket racing only the guy driving is interested in the race, Thus no money. If you help recreate the interest of those who dont actually have money or skill to race a car, there can be a return of money for the racer. Nascar isnt for ALL people who want to drive, its for those who can afford it and the rest PAY to see it and the sponsors PAY to be seen. None of the cars has a box or breakout.
NHRA needs to recognize the difference between the participant racing of Bracket racing and the real need for Spectator and Sponsor attraction of Class Racing and "work" that difference for the good of real Class racers in S and SS so it can become important again. Not everyone will be able to participate but everyone can appreciate it and race at their level they afford.
Thanks....

[JRyan]

Dick,
Parts of your statement I believe to be correct. A person should try to push themselves to get small rewards in this game. You also should do only what you can afford to, and most don't win any money.
All of this is very correct.
However, they say history has a way of repeating itself. Remember back in the seventies when they ran off the records in class racing? What happened? Car counts dwindled and class racing was at a place where changes had to be made to survive. Top S/SS, Jr/Stk classes like these are great for special races. Like add in's to National Opens or even Divisionals. If our Boss stocker would fit in a class and be competitive we'd probably run it for fun. But if you try to make it the sole way to participate it will eventually suffer. Look at IHRA Top/Stock. It started out great then it turned into a keep up with the Jones' whoever had the most money best equipment won. That's great if you have the means to do it. Most people don't.
You seem to think it should be a special priviledge to run class. My family doesn't have the means to keep up with you or most others. Does this mean we should not be allowed to class race. Our Superstocker is plenty fast as a matter of fact it made the fastest under the index run in Superstock this year. So, for a little while we'd be more then competitive on a run off the record or index type approach.
You compare us to Nascar. Where, "it isn't for everyone that wants to drive." You're right it's not. But, they do have regional and local series to work you're way up the ranks. Is that not what bracket racing and stock, superstock racing is. Places for people race at the means they can afford. There are approx. 1200 Superstock cars in the country should 1000 of these cars have to find a different place to race because the other 200 think things should change. I love class and heads up racing and I'm for mild class consolidation. But if you try to limit S/SS to just a handful of classes it will disappear.
Bracket racing as a part of class racing is a necessity to survival. Sure more heads up races will keep more people in the stands for a while but eventually the races will be dominated by a small few. Then where will the sponsors and spectators be.

Rick Ryan

[JRyan]

Sorry Double Post.

[Dick Butler]

Rick, One of the hardest things to get across is that in no way do I believe Heads up racing in Sportsman level is the "Only kind of racing" I agree the index system helped save S and SS and keep it locally interesting. BUT..... the pendulum has been allowed to swing too far away from the part which can be used for keeping our "Show Value". We need dial in for eliminator. NOT FOR EVERY MEET without some "SHOW VALUE"
I could not predict how many classes "should be" in S and SS. There are just way too many. Its a statistical thing. 1000 cars nation wide divided into 200 classes = 5 per class nationwide. Hold an event and 2 might show(except indy). Say there were 40 classes and divide the same number of cars makes 50 cars per class nation wide. You could hear about competitors, gauge your accomplishments, Have class racing at National events which are more fun and challenge to EARN a Wally. Maybe a few Sponsors might even decide to reinvest in class money. Afterall they are now only posting for 40 classes not 200 right?
(Disclaimer: numbers are used for example)
Money: NHRA has inadvertently created enough classes to get people to stretch their budget past what it might take to race at an heads up only method. Some of this is our own fault. Some "wish " they could run Pro Stock and recognize the budget and quickly dont try it. Some think that if they only "need" to dial in they can afford the NHRA points meets and Nationals. These latter people will still be able to race but maybe they wont be as competitive at Class events but will still have the Points meets and Open events where they can enjoy the "driving challenge" of the dial in racing.
Those who think someone will pay them to enjoy their racing without a profit for the track from food, spectators or racer numbers are mistaken. If we recognise how the bigger picture can be helped there will be no need to sacrifice our racing locally or Nationally and it is my opinion we will HELP make it more fun and profitable for all.
Above all I feel both methods of racing need to exist but the balance is not currently there. By having opportunities to create a show again(TOP/SS, TOP/STK, Jr. Stk .....) choices can be made of which type of racing indiividuals prefer and be used to add spectator appeal.By Reduction of classes, competition can return to National events where "class" is run. This will also aid in making the AHFS more effective and everyone wins....
Thanks Rick