Dutch Classic Tentative shedule

[Kevin Panzino]

Any word on how late we can pull in on Wednesday eve/ when the gates will close?

[Superfan1]

Originally Posted by Kevin Panzino

Any word on how late we can pull in on Wednesday eve/ when the gates will close?

Kevin, the flyer is up on the Maple Grove website. Parking concludes 6PM sharp, Stacking starts at 6PM until 7AM Thursday.

[Superfan1]

The flyer for the Dutch Classic is now up on the Maple Grove website; and, unless I am reading it wrong, Class Eliminations are not mentioned. If that is true, it is very disappointing.

[Glenn Briglio]

Originally Posted by Superfan1

The flyer for the Dutch Classic is now up on the Maple Grove website; and, unless I am reading it wrong, Class Eliminations are not mentioned. If that is true, it is very disappointing.

A number of things on that schedule need to be redone. Class on Friday ? Index cars get a time shot on Saturday ? Whose out first on Saturday ?

[BillyAnderson]

Well the Dutch just become the VMP Final Regional. Not sure if they will do a double header, open race and Divisional/Regional?

https://www.nhra.com/news/2024/virgi...-grove-raceway

[Nick Heath]

Originally Posted by Superfan1

The flyer for the Dutch Classic is now up on the Maple Grove website; and, unless I am reading it wrong, Class Eliminations are not mentioned. If that is true, it is very disappointing.

I wonder if the Virginia divisional move had anything to do with that.
I guess we won't know until the "schedule and other important information are released soon."

[Superfan1]

The flyer for the Dutch is no longer on the Maple Grove website; so I guess it is being changed. The only thing that we can do is wait.

[Doug Hoven]

Well here's the answer to the question. This flyer was just released by Maple Grove. The caption underneath states "What was originally scheduled for the Dutch has developed into a second Lucas Oil Divisional for us this season." In other words, no Dutch Classic this year.

[Nick Heath]

From NHRADiv1.com. Bill, we can breathe easily now!

Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Virginia Lucas Oil Series Event Update
The NHRA announced today that the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event scheduled to take place at Virginia Motorsports Park, has been postponed and relocated to Maplegrove Raceway due to unfavorable weather forecasts. The event will be held October 24-27, 2024.

Competitors who had purchased entries for the Virginia event will automatically receive a refund, with processing expected to take 7-10 business days. Additional details regarding the schedule, tech cards, and other important information for the Maplegrove event will be released soon.

Essentially the Dutch classic Micro Strategies National Open has been canceled and in its place we will run the Lucas Oil Series Points event and we will complete the remainder of the Epping points race that weekend also.

Class for Stock and Super Stock will run as previously scheduled. An updated schedule and more details will follow in the coming days.

[Kevin Panzino]

Well, while I'm very happy to hear we can still run class, I guess I don't understand why this couldn't have been turned into a double. I doubt the last 8 or so cars in each class would have minded still being at the Grove on a Monday morning if it drug on. I suppose we probably could have pulled that off, but we now have all the other non-NHRA core classes, 8.50, 10.00, 11.50 and ET motorcycle, so it would be tough to do a double. Good news is, the stands will be packed because those classes are part of the action....

One other thing I have mentioned before, as hard as it is for people with full time jobs to get to a race this early in the week in the first place, the situation is really like salt in the wounds when the gate closes for parking at 6 PM on a Wednesday, when quals start first thing Thursday morning.

And in this case, there will now be way more people coming to this race than originally planned, and a bunch from much further away, and we can't keep the gate open until say 9 or 10 PM? Anyone that has been to the Grove before knows exactly where they can/will park, we don't need help.
Please, leave the fricken gate open a little later !!!!

Kp