Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comments

doglover44 · 04-28-2022, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett C

How about an experience that doesn’t send half the competitors home the first day!?
We spend a lot of money and time to do these prized national events and we still get treated like dog crap when it comes to schedule!

What could be done to fix that ?

442OLDS · 04-28-2022, 10:51 PM

I wasn't really planning on running that many National events due to the cost/payout,but I'll throw in my $4.42.

1)The entry is so high already,another $100 isn't too bad if it would actually go to the Stock racers and not 10% to the BIG GUY.

2) The AHFS is such a manipulated system that might as well just abolish it.

3) Class winners automatically qualify should have never changed.If you must qualify to race,I'm out.I have one of the slowest cars in the class and would not bother paying $5 a gallon for gas to get there and not possibly qualify.The quota system needs a standby list once full.And the quotas should be raised.

4) Shipping weights.I already commented a few months ago that any car should be able to run any class that it can fit into.Along with that,the 170 pounds extra for the driver should be eliminated.If your horsepower rating is 300 and you want to run E,that is 3000 pounds minimum weight.Period.

5) The schedule.I can't imagine driving all the way to Charlotte and having to run first round already tomorrow.I know the weather is a problem often,but I see a 0% chance of rain on Friday and a 20% chance of rain on Saturday.Why are they running first round tomorrow already? The Pros run 4 wide,so that shouldn't take that long.

TOSTO RACING · 04-29-2022, 07:16 AM

Tech cars again.
All they need to do is enforce the rules they already have.
And NHRA needs to stand behind the tech official and not FOLD!!

Another thing that would be nice is to quit making the races shorter by days . Like said above give people what they pay for a great experience ! What’s wrong with 3 qualifiers at a national event . Also make the quotas higher these tracks can fit hundreds of cars . When I started racing stock in 2009 all I wanted to do is go to a national event and run class ! And it was a blast then , now a days it’s a joke ! Hell if you have a bad outing by the time your buddies come on Saturday to watch you , your home lol . Idk what the fix for any of it is , but it lost its luster for me that’s why I sold all my stuff . Hopefully they can make it fun again !

If they truly want to see how to treat a "customer" go to the class racer revival or Bo's race he put on thats how you do it !!

JGrossijr · 04-29-2022, 07:51 AM

64 & 128 car qualified fields at national events with no entry quotas.

Mark Lewis · 04-29-2022, 07:59 AM

Entry fee already too high for the payout. Adding the extra 100 would only lead us to being like Pro Mod and paying our own purse if we want to race

Andy Friar · 04-29-2022, 08:46 AM

I am a wanna be S/S racer. Nat events are already too expensive for the experience of being a time filler between pros, to me. $440 entry fee for 1 race is silly and a deterrent to a larger portion of the racers or wanna be racers, IMO. The reviews about the CRR and Bo's race last year where glowing and complimentary on here, but from the outside it showed me that a lot of folks don't care about the purse being increased. That thought based on both racers struggling to get car counts. This year CRR struggled ahead of time and almost got cancelled before the weather took it out. (NOT KNOCKING THESE GUYS RACES OR THEIR HARD WORK!!) I currently only bracket race around Michigan and hope to jump to S/S in the next ~2yrs. I fully expect all of my money spent on racing to not come back. I didn't make it out of the 1st round all last year. I don't do it because of the purse size, rather because I love it. I view drag racing as a fun/ $ spent equation. $440 off the top makes it UN-FUN to me. I can bracket race ~2-3 days for that cost. I get that it 'isn't the same' but squeaking out a .010 light and .004 MOV round win IS really fun and the opponent, lack of fans or Pros on the property doesn't matter, to me. Just my unsolicited $.02

GUMP · 04-29-2022, 09:06 AM

How about preparing the track?

I ran the NMCA race at Rockingham last weekend, no issues. Same car at Charlotte, blow the tires off....

For the money we spend, we should have the best possible racing surface.

ken robinson · 05-01-2022, 11:33 AM

I think a good place to start is to bump up the quotes for all the nationals , fields make it a 64 car field or more ( I mean would a few more car over a 50 or 60 cars make that much difference ) and take as many enteries as you can could be tried at a few races as a test ? . If they are running class go to a 128 car field , I think we all know some races that would run a national event or two but just don't have the grade points in all of the classes / categories . I never got the quota thing your just turning racers/members / customers a way . Thanks Ken & Lonnie .

Ken Miele · 05-01-2022, 12:31 PM

Thanks guys for getting us back on tack. Maybe there is hope after all. Lets try to keep the discussion to the points made in the opening post. We can work on the others issues, but its one step at time folks. I think one of the major steps forward... is having a Tech Director that is willing to listen to us, its not going to change over night.

my69396 · 05-01-2022, 12:34 PM

Given the mode of two races for one tow why not make the first day of the National event a division race and use the qualifying from that race to fill the reduced field for the National event. I don't think the model of Brainerd last year worked at all. That way you get a grade point and a chance to race the National event. It doesn't effect the racers that travel to the "big show" as a semi-pro sportsman but it lets the local a chance to get into the race. Years ago there was a single pit pass with any National event entry the way I remember it. I think that there use to be points for both qualifying and setting a record. The biggest problem I have seen in the years I have raced is the disconnect that the powers that be have to the "members" that are interested in making the "big show" but can't for different reasons, personal, business, logistical.

04-28-2022, 10:51 PM	#2
442OLDS VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Elgin,IL Posts: 1,339 Likes: 5 Liked 282 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment I wasn't really planning on running that many National events due to the cost/payout,but I'll throw in my $4.42. 1)The entry is so high already,another $100 isn't too bad if it would actually go to the Stock racers and not 10% to the BIG GUY. 2) The AHFS is such a manipulated system that might as well just abolish it. 3) Class winners automatically qualify should have never changed.If you must qualify to race,I'm out.I have one of the slowest cars in the class and would not bother paying $5 a gallon for gas to get there and not possibly qualify.The quota system needs a standby list once full.And the quotas should be raised. 4) Shipping weights.I already commented a few months ago that any car should be able to run any class that it can fit into.Along with that,the 170 pounds extra for the driver should be eliminated.If your horsepower rating is 300 and you want to run E,that is 3000 pounds minimum weight.Period. 5) The schedule.I can't imagine driving all the way to Charlotte and having to run first round already tomorrow.I know the weather is a problem often,but I see a 0% chance of rain on Friday and a 20% chance of rain on Saturday.Why are they running first round tomorrow already? The Pros run 4 wide,so that shouldn't take that long.

04-29-2022, 07:16 AM	#3
TOSTO RACING Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: DRAGSTRIP Posts: 884 Likes: 861 Liked 639 Times in 182 Posts	Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment Tech cars again. All they need to do is enforce the rules they already have. And NHRA needs to stand behind the tech official and not FOLD!! Another thing that would be nice is to quit making the races shorter by days . Like said above give people what they pay for a great experience ! What’s wrong with 3 qualifiers at a national event . Also make the quotas higher these tracks can fit hundreds of cars . When I started racing stock in 2009 all I wanted to do is go to a national event and run class ! And it was a blast then , now a days it’s a joke ! Hell if you have a bad outing by the time your buddies come on Saturday to watch you , your home lol . Idk what the fix for any of it is , but it lost its luster for me that’s why I sold all my stuff . Hopefully they can make it fun again ! If they truly want to see how to treat a "customer" go to the class racer revival or Bo's race he put on thats how you do it !! __________________ 5664 GHI/SA 1985 CAMARO RED H/SA 1985 CAMARO BLUE I/SA Last edited by TOSTO RACING; 04-29-2022 at 07:58 AM.

04-29-2022, 07:51 AM	#4
JGrossijr Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Brentwood, California Posts: 98 Likes: 371 Liked 459 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment 64 & 128 car qualified fields at national events with no entry quotas.

04-29-2022, 07:59 AM	#5
Mark Lewis Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 345 Likes: 63 Liked 207 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment Entry fee already too high for the payout. Adding the extra 100 would only lead us to being like Pro Mod and paying our own purse if we want to race

04-29-2022, 08:46 AM	#6
Andy Friar Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Howell, MI Posts: 250 Likes: 699 Liked 226 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment I am a wanna be S/S racer. Nat events are already too expensive for the experience of being a time filler between pros, to me. $440 entry fee for 1 race is silly and a deterrent to a larger portion of the racers or wanna be racers, IMO. The reviews about the CRR and Bo's race last year where glowing and complimentary on here, but from the outside it showed me that a lot of folks don't care about the purse being increased. That thought based on both racers struggling to get car counts. This year CRR struggled ahead of time and almost got cancelled before the weather took it out. (NOT KNOCKING THESE GUYS RACES OR THEIR HARD WORK!!) I currently only bracket race around Michigan and hope to jump to S/S in the next ~2yrs. I fully expect all of my money spent on racing to not come back. I didn't make it out of the 1st round all last year. I don't do it because of the purse size, rather because I love it. I view drag racing as a fun/ $ spent equation. $440 off the top makes it UN-FUN to me. I can bracket race ~2-3 days for that cost. I get that it 'isn't the same' but squeaking out a .010 light and .004 MOV round win IS really fun and the opponent, lack of fans or Pros on the property doesn't matter, to me. Just my unsolicited $.02 __________________ Andy Friar

04-29-2022, 09:06 AM	#7
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,817 Likes: 2,153 Liked 2,336 Times in 549 Posts	Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment How about preparing the track? I ran the NMCA race at Rockingham last weekend, no issues. Same car at Charlotte, blow the tires off.... For the money we spend, we should have the best possible racing surface. __________________ Daren Poole-Adams NHRA Stock/SS 2007

05-01-2022, 11:33 AM	#8
ken robinson Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: tomsriver nj Posts: 477 Likes: 74 Liked 213 Times in 85 Posts	Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment I think a good place to start is to bump up the quotes for all the nationals , fields make it a 64 car field or more ( I mean would a few more car over a 50 or 60 cars make that much difference ) and take as many enteries as you can could be tried at a few races as a test ? . If they are running class go to a 128 car field , I think we all know some races that would run a national event or two but just don't have the grade points in all of the classes / categories . I never got the quota thing your just turning racers/members / customers a way . Thanks Ken & Lonnie .

05-01-2022, 12:31 PM	#9
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,860 Likes: 456 Liked 16,521 Times in 1,521 Posts	Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment Thanks guys for getting us back on tack. Maybe there is hope after all. Lets try to keep the discussion to the points made in the opening post. We can work on the others issues, but its one step at time folks. I think one of the major steps forward... is having a Tech Director that is willing to listen to us, its not going to change over night.

05-01-2022, 12:34 PM	#10
my69396 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 285 Likes: 0 Liked 43 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment Given the mode of two races for one tow why not make the first day of the National event a division race and use the qualifying from that race to fill the reduced field for the National event. I don't think the model of Brainerd last year worked at all. That way you get a grade point and a chance to race the National event. It doesn't effect the racers that travel to the "big show" as a semi-pro sportsman but it lets the local a chance to get into the race. Years ago there was a single pit pass with any National event entry the way I remember it. I think that there use to be points for both qualifying and setting a record. The biggest problem I have seen in the years I have raced is the disconnect that the powers that be have to the "members" that are interested in making the "big show" but can't for different reasons, personal, business, logistical.