Div 2 a 2 stater once again? FL GA

[Jim Wahl]

As I stated before. I spoke with Ritch for a total of about two hours at the Reynolds Divisional race and at least for now I must take him at his word. I believe him when he says he gets it. It's a tough job scheduling, organizing and promoting races! I know! Jim

[Chad Rhodes]

ok, so assuming there was nothing he could do about the schedule, let's see what else he can do for us. Maybe a double race? more national opens? SOMETHING between May and Sept?

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by TERMITE S/G 2122

Mr Schaefer 's reply I understand. And I am not a fan of the current LOS schedule at all but in all fairness it is a little overly optimistic for the racers to anticipate that I could have fixed that problem on such short notice. As you stated, I did inherit this schedule. These dates were essentially already allocated to the tracks when I was brought on board. And I don't have many (if any) options to take dates to different tracks. This is not the schedule that I would like to see.

At the same time, I'm taking over a division that only has 1 track in North Carolina. That track at this time is not looking at a Divisional race. From what I've discovered in the short amount of time I've had in the division, there are a LOT of non-NHRA tracks in the Southeast that are just not willing to run under NHRA's safety and tech guidelines. I would love to have more tracks and more options for Divisional races but only if the tracks operate under the safety requirements of the rulebook.

I want more tracks in the Carolinas and Tennessee so that you the racers have more options to run at safely run facilities. I want to more tracks to work with to get the Divisional schedule back in shape. I know it's a mess. But with the hand I was dealt when I came on board, I really don't have many options available yet. I assure you that in time these issues will be addressed and corrected.

Trust me, I get it. I know it's a problem. And I'm working on ways to fix it. Stick with us.


Rich Schaefer
NHRA Southeast Division
4424 NW 13th Street, Suite C6
Gainesville, FL 32609

I'm glad the Termite took the time to find out where the new Director's head is at .......I sure don't have all the answers but taking the time is better than just bitching about what we don't like ...............Give 'em a chance .And you can write once in a while - as I've said before - they will answer if you act like gentlemen .

PS- His address is above - drop him a line and let him know how you feel .If you don't like to use a pen try e-mail - but do something .

[A100]

The solution is so simple that I can't believe it hasn't been done already.

Create a Division Zero, the Nomads

You make up your own points counting races from the division menu and have at it with other racers across the country that choose this division. It ends the long drives to get that final race that you need for points in division. Also can be interpreted as saving towing fees.
You can now explain to the better half how your saving money by dragging the race car around the country on the next vacation. How about running SS in one Div and S in Div 0 with the same car.

[KingReptile]

He inherited a dog pile.Time will tell he has his work cut for him he needs to work it.He is right a lot of these tracks in NC arent NHRA and wont meet the regulations praise him for that.There are some dives but Fayetville is nice at least the last time I was there.Theres Coastal Plains pb a dive now but I guess they wont dump the dough to suit us.Bruton dont want us he wont pay alcohol cars hes a tight wad.Give him a chance but I will not support Div 2 till they fix it!! A lot of people talk lets see some action.Actions speak louder than words so the gf tells me You guys will see how it is at the national open!! Its great to be optimistic and hope for the best .Time will tell

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by KingReptile

He inherited a dog pile.Time will tell he has his work cut for him he needs to work it.He is right a lot of these tracks in NC arent NHRA and wont meet the regulations praise him for that.There are some dives but Fayetville is nice at least the last time I was there.Theres Coastal Plains pb a dive now but I guess they wont dump the dough to suit us.Bruton dont want us he wont pay alcohol cars hes a tight wad.Give him a chance but I will not support Div 2 till they fix it!! A lot of people talk lets see some action.Actions speak louder than words so the gf tells me You guys will see how it is at the national open!! Its great to be optimistic and hope for the best .Time will tell

Maybe they should dump the Alcohol cars at points races and opens! They dont pay entries and recieve full purses Just use them at National events like the Pros. How many good ones are there anyway. Most oil the track and have a hard time making a complete pass anyway (like the fuel cars). Manzo is about it. Its a benifit race for him when he decides to run Div. 2 or any other division and the Alcohol cars take way to much time to run 4-6- or 8 no load cars. Problem is the tracks are having a hard time surviving now so why should they drop a few hundred thou. or more in up grading the tracks. They are fine for the .90, Stock, Comp, and S.S cars as is and the show wouldnt run late or into another weekend if weather is a factor. The other classes would have better pit space also.

[danny waters sr]

To this day i have never figured out why the alky funnies and alky dragsters are considered sportsman racers..I think maybe to begin with they were a spectator draw back in the old days.. The top sportsman and top dragster put on a better show to me (fast and less time to run them and minimal down time ).Not knocking the alky classes , but they should be considered a pro catagory. The spectator draw now is not what it used to be. Take that money and use it somewhere else or at least the host track will not drown after an event with such expense as this. Just my .02 worth.

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Maybe they should dump the Alcohol cars at points races and opens! They dont pay entries and recieve full purses Just use them at National events like the Pros. How many good ones are there anyway. Most oil the track and have a hard time making a complete pass anyway (like the fuel cars). Manzo is about it. Its a benifit race for him when he decides to run Div. 2 or any other division and the Alcohol cars take way to much time to run 4-6- or 8 no load cars. Problem is the tracks are having a hard time surviving now so why should they drop a few hundred thou. or more in up grading the tracks. They are fine for the .90, Stock, Comp, and S.S cars as is and the show wouldnt run late or into another weekend if weather is a factor. The other classes would have better pit space also.

That's a good point. If the NHRA would drop the Alcohol cars from the menu for points meets, then many tracks would not need million dollar upgrades and would therefore be able to handle points meets.

But, this is not a Divisional problem but a Glendora decision.

The solution for each Divisions problems is the same.......Money and unless you own a bank that the Fed's bailed out you're probably hurting just like the rest of us.

I don't think the NHRA got any bail out money but as badly as they are run they should have.

JimR

[Alan Roehrich]

If the alcohol cars paid an entry fee commensurate with the level of crap required to put up with them, and took their purse from the left overs, we could live with that. As it stands, they're a severe drain on the tracks, track owners, and by extension, the rest of the racers who actually pay their way.

If there's a sponsor that wants them, then the sponsor needs to pay for their part of the costs involved.

[jmcarter]

Not trying to pile on but if you look at the D2 points for alky you'll see less than 10 in each class claiming D2 as their home Division (of course they all don't live in D2 but that's another story). Furthermore many only run 1-3 races a year so essentially D2 tracks have to guarantee the purse for many out of Division racers. IMHO they have plenty of opportunities to run National events that are facilitated to handle them and that a couple of Divisional races should be all that's allotted for them.