Auto Meter Northern Class Nationals II

[Jeff Stout]

Last years coverage was great, but I was busy and didn't get to watch to much of it live. Now I have time and been checking for live coverage numerous times today and nothing. Can someone anyone help a brother out. 1320go is great for stats but watching cars 1800 miles away in AZ is better

[Mark Yacavone]

Jeff, You have to wait for the 6 o'clock news.

[Rod Greene]

Originally Posted by GSlaton

I must be crazy but I am going to drive 1400 miles just to watch and be a part of the class nationals. I missed the original and last year. I am getting old(71 today )and I am not going to miss this one. Maybe next year I will be there as a participant. I plan on taking lots of photos and will post them to photobucket or something like that. Hope say hi to Class Racer members and a few old friends.

Gary Slaton

It was nice meeting you Gary. It is amazing that we both raced at some of the same races back in the 70's. I really enjoyed our conversion.

[ss wannabee]

Mike B...I know you're real busy finishing out 2015...but do you have a moment for any
thoughts on the 2nd Class Nationals?

Is it too early to talk about a 3rd edition-NCN??

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by ss wannabee

Mike B...I know you're real busy finishing out 2015...but do you have a moment for any
thoughts on the 2nd Class Nationals?

Is it too early to talk about a 3rd edition-NCN??

Everyone that was there had an absolute blast. People were still talking about the race this weekend, saying thanks and how much fun they had, coolest race, etc. You can find complete results and awards at http://looserocker.com/?page_id=27 and keep up with Rob Jackson's video coverage at www.robzneed4speed.com

That being said, participation dropped off precipitously from last year, even with the inclusion of N/SS. We suffered catastrophic losses, mitigated only by a very successful bracket event at Virginia Motorsports Park the week before, and the tremendous support from the many manufacturers who took a keen interest in the Stock/Super Stock market. To all of those sponsors and the racers, fans, and media who supported the Auto Meter Northern Class Nationals, THANK YOU. You were a part of history. Unfortunately, the reality is that there is not enough participation to continue the event.

[Mark Yacavone]

Michael,
You guys did a great job with what you had to work with.
We went through the same thing here, on a smaller scale.Everybody seemed to love our events here.Just not enough of those folks.

I surely don't want to sound in the least bit critical here. I know you researched your scheduling the best you could.

On the same weekend,
you had about 50 IHRA S/SS cars in Buffalo, about 400 miles away.

You had 128 S/SS cars at a National event in Brainerd, Mn.
Milwaukee is about half way..500 miles. Lots of cars on your side.

Three events in a row in Div. 3, including Indy, 2 weeks away.

Ed Carpenter was unable to do his SS/K Shootout, so very few of those cars attended

Just trying to point out that I don't think your last event was a fair representation of the concept. I know my opinion doesn't pay the bills. LOL

I'm glad I was able to attend the very first Class Nationals, and also your event last year.

Thank you, from a bunch of us, I'm sure.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

you had about 50 IHRA S/SS cars in Buffalo, about 400 miles away.

You had 128 S/SS cars at a National event in Brainerd, Mn.
Milwaukee is about half way..500 miles. Lots of cars on your side.

Three events in a row in Div. 3, including Indy, 2 weeks away

There are 750 S/SS between Div. 1 & 3 alone.

IHRA scheduled the Empire Pro-Am on top of us, after our schedule was out. If someone wants to run two $1,000 races instead of a $3K, a $5K, Class Eliminations, FREE Quick 32 CIC race, FREE Jr. Stock Shootout, FREE racer appreciation party, and THOUSANDS of dollars worth of prizes put up by numerous manufacturers who believed in S/SS racers as much as we did, then I can't help them. The vast majority of people that go to Brainerd are from MN. Any date you choose, there will be multiple races in a row.

Ed Carpenter was unable to do his SS/K Shootout, so very few of those cars attended

9 cars showed up for this last year, with over $7,000 worth of cash and prizes on the line. $7,000. 9 cars.

People like the *idea* of the race, and if there's nothing going on the week of, the week before, or the week after, the weather's perfect, and it's less than two hours from the house, then buddy, they would BE THERE! We had people that live close by that went to *Atlanta* last year. We had hardly any support from Div. 1 either year. The bottom line is that a huge-paying Class Nationals event with everything that class racers ever asked for is not a priority for nearly enough people to make it financially viable, regardless of what you do. If it's not one thing, it will be something else. *You* made it to the race last year, because you made it a priority in your life. I appreciate every single person that made the Class Nationals a priority, either this year or last year. Unfortunately, not enough people care enough. Now it's gone.

Lee Zane and Brian Van Poppel did the Combo in the Hills at Numidia, right in the heart of Div. 1, and could draw no more than 85 cars for $10,000. I was there. They tried one more year, and attendance fell even further. Rob Keister tried to pick up and had a total of 28 S/SS cars for $3,000. I was there. Britt Cummings tried to do big money Combos at the Great American Bracket Race ($2K/$5K/$2K for only $200) at No Problem Raceway, that S/SS absolutely love. I was there. If memory serves, car count was in the 30's. Bowling Green does a $5K Combo for only $100 at their Sportsnationals, and cannot get more than 75 cars to participate. I was there. They have all failed. Most people want to race for $1,000 and a Wally. That's their priority, and that's just the way it is.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

. Most people want to race for $1,000 and a Wally. That's their priority, and that's just the way it is.

You summed it all up there in the last sentence, buddy.

[Superfan1]

As a fan, I drove 625 miles each way from Bridgeport, CT to attend both the 2014 and 2015 events. I had an absolute blast both years; anyone who wasn't there missed out on 2 great events. It's a shame that there won't be a third edition of the Class Nationals.

[ALMACK]

Those last 2 sentences in post # 187 are a mind blower right there.
WoW.

I feel so fortunate to have been able to attend the Class Nats this year, which makes me really regret I could not have made it to the 2014 event.