Class Racer Nationals - The Future

Frank Castros · 07-26-2022, 07:17 AM

A few short years ago racers embraced the opportunity to attend big dollar independent races. They are viable, but the current economic climate has defused enthusiasm. With the N.H.R.A., N.M.C.A. and the Associations schedules the competitors have had to make decisions based on their budget and time.
When the economy recovers so will participation.

1347 · 07-26-2022, 07:42 AM

With the schedule the way it is this year, it's been nonstop with race weekends. Numidia LODRS, the Sportsnationals, back to the Classracer race, the Dave Ley race this weekend, the Atco LODRS, another Dave Ley Race, a weekend off and then for some Bowling Green and Indy. Then throw the Keystones in after Indy, and then VA, we end up racing 10 races in 12 weeks. The perfect storm classracer race was the 1st one..because of Covid, and the ability to race 2 weekends in a row at the same track, gave people the ability to leave their trailers there and race 2 weeks when everything else was being cancelled.

Most Classracer people are not money chasers. A big dollar race will not draw the cars that a Wally race will draw. Wether its the structure of NHRA races, the Wallys , some kind of tech, heads up races or a combo of all of it, most will flock to the NHRA race. Even over ane NMRA race top.

But the Classracer race is different. Everyone respects what Ken does on this site, and many including myself came to support him. If this was just a money race like some of the other there have been, I would have taken a weekend off to cut my dead grass and catch up on things around the house. Ken added an element of prizes, giveaways, qualifying money, and other elements that made it enjoyable.
I liked to Top Stock race and only hope somehow that can come back with some enthusiasm from the racers who would participate.

Hopefully the schedule will allow a slot next year to try this race again. Some have said an August race pre Bowling Green /Indy would be a god tuneup for those events, but who knows what next years schedule will be. I only.hope it works out to have one again next year and we can get more participants.

TOSTO RACING · 07-26-2022, 07:55 AM

These type of races are the future and they will succeed! Just give them a little time people will start coming!! Thanks for all who put these races on its what we need !!

Mike Pearson · 07-26-2022, 08:14 AM

Thanks for all of your effort to put on a great race for Stock and Super stock.

Maybe try to move the race to a different track more centralized. Numidia is way up in the NE corner. Now that you live in NC maybe try Galot or Reynolds. Lots of racers with in 500 miles of those two tracks. Atlanta would have been a perfect location but we all know that is gone.
No way I can go to Numidia. 1000 mile tow for me but I would do 500 miles for sure.

My ideas from the other thread.

BKSG1198 · 07-26-2022, 09:52 AM

Ken,
I applauded Tim, You & Teams efforts on keeping this event rolling, getting the sponsors that you did when times are rough for many. I mean in the 3 years you guys have run it; you've faced a lot of challenges (Covid 2020 & 2021 & Gas Prices in 2022). Like we chatted about after the finals of the D1 race, I wish we all had the answers as to why people don't support it but, from what I have seen over 11 years of being a .90 president is timing and location. Numidia is a track to get people there you have to offer them a big package, all I ever hear about it the TOW, THE HILLS but, once we are there the place is awesome...lol. I really think if NHRA does the double (T&T Wed, Thurs & Fri Open and D1 Race Sat & Sun) the weekend before would be great to grab if you can...Not sure if you can grab Dave's ear to get a preview of the D1 schedule. I think people will spend the weekend at the CR Nats, take 2 days to explore the area because there is a lot to see and do and then come back and run the D1 events, making it a mini-vacation to race and please the wife also. I am not sure if moving it to another track will help because I'll be honest with all the prices going up, track rentals are through the roof right now (I just started to get quotes for 2023 and most tracks have doubled over 2022) because of everything they have to cover in a weekend, Ambulance, Insurance, Staff, Glue, etc, etc....and Numidia is one of the cheaper places around to host an event so moving it to a Galot of VMP sounds great but, will you have the support to cover the 25-35k rental fee for the weekend and not lose your shorts because moving it there will probably delete some of the D1 races from up north....it's a catch 22 for sure.

I've been going there since Big Bob took over the place with the SG Series (2007) and I can tell you a quick story:

First year we went up there with the MASGA group (Pre MA .90 Series) and Pete Luciano was running it, we had 16 cars show up, Bob also threw up a $5,000 to win Bracket Race that night. The pits were bare, and I scratched my head with "how is this guy going to survive with no cars". I think the payout for SG was like $600 to win, Bob comes rolling over on the Kabota at the BBQ and asked who won? George Smith raises his hand says I did, Bob reaches into his pocket pulls $400 out and says here "I told you if you guys came up here, I'd pay $1,000 to win so tell all your friends to be here next year". So the bracket race starts and if there was 30 cars total that was a lot (10 of them were SG Cars running brackets), they did like 4 rounds of buybacks but, Bob guaranteed the $5k to win when most track owners would have been slashing the purse, trying to make deals. I knew then Bob was the real deal and I love sitting down and chatting with him whenever I get the chance to visit up there. I just wanted to put that out there that Bob is the real deal and a great guy....just have some big stones though cause he knows how to bust them but, he does it in a funny way.

T Ghent · 07-26-2022, 09:18 PM

My son and I have attended this event the last two years and we have enjoyed it immensely. I must thank everyone that has made this event possible.
I have read a number of threads that NHRA has not done a good job of taking care of their class racers. So when someone goes above and beyond to put together an event as great as this event I feel obligated to attend. I must say that I was very disappointed that more class racers didn't come out to support this event. We all must attend if we want events like this to continue.
Again, thank you Ken, and everyone that made this great event possible.

Mark Yacavone · 07-26-2022, 11:42 PM

Might want to glance through this older thread below, when you get a chance.

MJ and a few others make a valid point.
That is, that without the big NHRA tent, the association and independent races would eventually fold or drastically change.Without tech, teardowns, and HP factoring , the next casualty would be heads up runs in the eliminator. How many would fold, at that point? How many would stay, and still support these races? Then what?

https://classracer.com/classforum/sh...f+went+away%3F

e vassar · 07-27-2022, 08:57 AM

Numidia PA almost 1500 miles away.
I wish we had at least a couple non NHRA Stk S/Stk events in D4

Mopar Mike · 08-07-2022, 09:20 PM

Ken, I would like to give a special thanks to you, Timothy and the Flecher family, your support group and all the Track
folks who helped put this event together. My brother Steve and I had a great time participating in all the events. The
compitition was tough and the prizes were fantastic! The weather was Hot , but the rain held off, and the track folks
did a great job for the conditions. Thanks again for opening the event up to us Crate Motor cars, not many races we can get
into and I don't have the budget for a NHRA stocker. Thanks again to you and your support folks, looking forward to next
year!
Michael McGrath
I/CM 1068

Charles Stewart · 08-08-2022, 11:50 AM

Here, just a tentative solution…
How about keeping (and It must survive…) this great program thing…“By the racers for the racers” and growing it up to an Official NHRA Annual S/SS Nationals (with no need of grading point to participate).
Keeping the same actual sponsor/purses/program and more…
Wally for the winners, supported by NHRA in their own schedule with double point availability of a regular National.
Could be one event in the east, one central and one on the west coast…
Track selection could be at random every year.
Other ideas, +/- side effects, details, ball is up to you,

07-26-2022, 07:17 AM	#1
Frank Castros VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Lowcountry. Posts: 2,974 Likes: 2,586 Liked 2,725 Times in 961 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future A few short years ago racers embraced the opportunity to attend big dollar independent races. They are viable, but the current economic climate has defused enthusiasm. With the N.H.R.A., N.M.C.A. and the Associations schedules the competitors have had to make decisions based on their budget and time. When the economy recovers so will participation. Last edited by Frank Castros; 07-26-2022 at 05:57 PM.

07-26-2022, 07:42 AM	#2
1347 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Monroe Twp NJ Posts: 505 Likes: 1,034 Liked 996 Times in 275 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future With the schedule the way it is this year, it's been nonstop with race weekends. Numidia LODRS, the Sportsnationals, back to the Classracer race, the Dave Ley race this weekend, the Atco LODRS, another Dave Ley Race, a weekend off and then for some Bowling Green and Indy. Then throw the Keystones in after Indy, and then VA, we end up racing 10 races in 12 weeks. The perfect storm classracer race was the 1st one..because of Covid, and the ability to race 2 weekends in a row at the same track, gave people the ability to leave their trailers there and race 2 weeks when everything else was being cancelled. Most Classracer people are not money chasers. A big dollar race will not draw the cars that a Wally race will draw. Wether its the structure of NHRA races, the Wallys , some kind of tech, heads up races or a combo of all of it, most will flock to the NHRA race. Even over ane NMRA race top. But the Classracer race is different. Everyone respects what Ken does on this site, and many including myself came to support him. If this was just a money race like some of the other there have been, I would have taken a weekend off to cut my dead grass and catch up on things around the house. Ken added an element of prizes, giveaways, qualifying money, and other elements that made it enjoyable. I liked to Top Stock race and only hope somehow that can come back with some enthusiasm from the racers who would participate. Hopefully the schedule will allow a slot next year to try this race again. Some have said an August race pre Bowling Green /Indy would be a god tuneup for those events, but who knows what next years schedule will be. I only.hope it works out to have one again next year and we can get more participants. __________________ Duane Hoven 1342 SS/GT Last edited by 1347; 07-26-2022 at 08:18 AM.

07-26-2022, 07:55 AM	#3
TOSTO RACING Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: DRAGSTRIP Posts: 886 Likes: 883 Liked 652 Times in 184 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future These type of races are the future and they will succeed! Just give them a little time people will start coming!! Thanks for all who put these races on its what we need !! __________________ 5664 GHI/SA 1985 CAMARO RED H/SA 1985 CAMARO BLUE I/SA

07-26-2022, 08:14 AM	#4
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,449 Likes: 615 Liked 1,926 Times in 579 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future Thanks for all of your effort to put on a great race for Stock and Super stock. Maybe try to move the race to a different track more centralized. Numidia is way up in the NE corner. Now that you live in NC maybe try Galot or Reynolds. Lots of racers with in 500 miles of those two tracks. Atlanta would have been a perfect location but we all know that is gone. No way I can go to Numidia. 1000 mile tow for me but I would do 500 miles for sure. My ideas from the other thread. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

07-26-2022, 09:52 AM	#5
BKSG1198 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 2,626 Likes: 96 Liked 1,283 Times in 392 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future Ken, I applauded Tim, You & Teams efforts on keeping this event rolling, getting the sponsors that you did when times are rough for many. I mean in the 3 years you guys have run it; you've faced a lot of challenges (Covid 2020 & 2021 & Gas Prices in 2022). Like we chatted about after the finals of the D1 race, I wish we all had the answers as to why people don't support it but, from what I have seen over 11 years of being a .90 president is timing and location. Numidia is a track to get people there you have to offer them a big package, all I ever hear about it the TOW, THE HILLS but, once we are there the place is awesome...lol. I really think if NHRA does the double (T&T Wed, Thurs & Fri Open and D1 Race Sat & Sun) the weekend before would be great to grab if you can...Not sure if you can grab Dave's ear to get a preview of the D1 schedule. I think people will spend the weekend at the CR Nats, take 2 days to explore the area because there is a lot to see and do and then come back and run the D1 events, making it a mini-vacation to race and please the wife also. I am not sure if moving it to another track will help because I'll be honest with all the prices going up, track rentals are through the roof right now (I just started to get quotes for 2023 and most tracks have doubled over 2022) because of everything they have to cover in a weekend, Ambulance, Insurance, Staff, Glue, etc, etc....and Numidia is one of the cheaper places around to host an event so moving it to a Galot of VMP sounds great but, will you have the support to cover the 25-35k rental fee for the weekend and not lose your shorts because moving it there will probably delete some of the D1 races from up north....it's a catch 22 for sure. I've been going there since Big Bob took over the place with the SG Series (2007) and I can tell you a quick story: First year we went up there with the MASGA group (Pre MA .90 Series) and Pete Luciano was running it, we had 16 cars show up, Bob also threw up a $5,000 to win Bracket Race that night. The pits were bare, and I scratched my head with "how is this guy going to survive with no cars". I think the payout for SG was like $600 to win, Bob comes rolling over on the Kabota at the BBQ and asked who won? George Smith raises his hand says I did, Bob reaches into his pocket pulls $400 out and says here "I told you if you guys came up here, I'd pay $1,000 to win so tell all your friends to be here next year". So the bracket race starts and if there was 30 cars total that was a lot (10 of them were SG Cars running brackets), they did like 4 rounds of buybacks but, Bob guaranteed the $5k to win when most track owners would have been slashing the purse, trying to make deals. I knew then Bob was the real deal and I love sitting down and chatting with him whenever I get the chance to visit up there. I just wanted to put that out there that Bob is the real deal and a great guy....just have some big stones though cause he knows how to bust them but, he does it in a funny way.

07-26-2022, 09:18 PM	#6
T Ghent Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 16 Likes: 188 Liked 24 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future My son and I have attended this event the last two years and we have enjoyed it immensely. I must thank everyone that has made this event possible. I have read a number of threads that NHRA has not done a good job of taking care of their class racers. So when someone goes above and beyond to put together an event as great as this event I feel obligated to attend. I must say that I was very disappointed that more class racers didn't come out to support this event. We all must attend if we want events like this to continue. Again, thank you Ken, and everyone that made this great event possible.

07-26-2022, 11:42 PM	#7
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,815 Likes: 2,904 Liked 5,121 Times in 1,952 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future Might want to glance through this older thread below, when you get a chance. MJ and a few others make a valid point. That is, that without the big NHRA tent, the association and independent races would eventually fold or drastically change.Without tech, teardowns, and HP factoring , the next casualty would be heads up runs in the eliminator. How many would fold, at that point? How many would stay, and still support these races? Then what? https://classracer.com/classforum/sh...f+went+away%3F __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

07-27-2022, 08:57 AM	#8
e vassar Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 382 Likes: 67 Liked 271 Times in 107 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future Numidia PA almost 1500 miles away. I wish we had at least a couple non NHRA Stk S/Stk events in D4

08-07-2022, 09:20 PM	#9
Mopar Mike Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 20 Likes: 56 Liked 12 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future Ken, I would like to give a special thanks to you, Timothy and the Flecher family, your support group and all the Track folks who helped put this event together. My brother Steve and I had a great time participating in all the events. The compitition was tough and the prizes were fantastic! The weather was Hot , but the rain held off, and the track folks did a great job for the conditions. Thanks again for opening the event up to us Crate Motor cars, not many races we can get into and I don't have the budget for a NHRA stocker. Thanks again to you and your support folks, looking forward to next year! Michael McGrath I/CM 1068

08-08-2022, 11:50 AM	#10
Charles Stewart Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 389 Likes: 1,655 Liked 753 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future Here, just a tentative solution… How about keeping (and It must survive…) this great program thing…“By the racers for the racers” and growing it up to an Official NHRA Annual S/SS Nationals (with no need of grading point to participate). Keeping the same actual sponsor/purses/program and more… Wally for the winners, supported by NHRA in their own schedule with double point availability of a regular National. Could be one event in the east, one central and one on the west coast… Track selection could be at random every year. Other ideas, +/- side effects, details, ball is up to you,