Is the racing dead?
- Thread starter Razor
- Start date
toofastforyou
2FAST4U
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
I guess there aren't enough of us to hold a decent "Buick" event around here...:frown:, much less find a date that'll suit everyone!
I've been to the NHRA Springnationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio way back in '77 with my Super Stock '69 Chevelle (only time I won class at an NHRA event...) but haven't gone back since. I don't remember for sure, but it must've took at least 12 hours of driving if not more!...
Claude. :smile:
RICHIE HIGH PSI
Active Member
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
TSM in reynolds had $500 pay out for 3rd&4th place. It helped pay for the gas ride for me.
I think payouts for semi final was a great addition!
just my ....02 cents
PS 6.0 in a buick is easy and cheap. lol
Ohh oh.. lookie here
Ford Mustangs | Mustang GT, Cobra, Saleen & More - Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine
Guess who
No $hit, I just picked that magazine up and saw you in it. That mustang is flying!
That's just sad, to say the least.:frown: Hope one of these days I don't get DQ'd for something as stupid as this.
The only "Buick" related event I've regularly participated was the annual event held at Englishtown, NJ on Labor Day weekend, (running bracket in the "B1" class) but guess what...it's now cancelled!...
Claude. :redface:
Claude, I raced at the event a few times. IMHO: It was a good event but it was held at the wrong time. Most people go away on Labor Day.
Oh yea, what about the Buick event at was held on Father's Day, remember that one?
This is my take on Julio's post: The level has been raised so high for each class, that it deters from new comers coming in. Look at what TSM turned into. But you can't fault the racers as technology advanced.
Exactly what Kevin stated: once you run heads up, you'll be hooked. Bracket racing: been there, done that, it's too boring.
Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com
That is why TSE is a dead class. Remember it's not the GSCA who kicked Roy, it's the clowns who run that class. Roy and Laz would have drug their azzes down the track so it was easier to find a reason to kick them because they are chicken $hits..... On the bright side they won TSL that year instead....
I have never liked heads-up racing because it favors only a few select top-name racers.
Little guy checking in here (I assume by little guy you mean low budget).
That's just not true. My race budget is practically nonexistent and while I am not a front runner I have won a few rounds in THS and TAI over the years and even got in the money a couple of times. Had a blast doing it. I have done the bracket thing and it bored the crap out of me, I'm with Kevin 1st heads up race and I was hooked.
Also you can't count out the guy that makes it to the lanes every time even if he's not the fastest guy there, THS at Norwalk was a great example this year. Number 1 qualifier didn't make it to 1st round (broke), his opponent (qualified last) didn't show either. If the slower car would have shown up he would have had 2 bye runs into the money. You just never know what's going to happen which is was makes it fun.
toofastforyou
2FAST4U
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
Yeah...I was "going away" every year...to Englishtown! :biggrin:
Nope...:redface:
It's not the racers who are to blame, but rather the rules that favor the faster ones and discourage others them from entering the classes. Seeing that, it's much less trouble and expense for the "small guys" to just sit in the stands and watch the show...
:frown:Well, that's your opinion, that's ok, but not mine. Personnally, I find no fun in getting beat every first run. In heads-up, if you don't have the fastest or second fastest car of the field (which has never been my case) forget it, you won't last very long. You just can't count on the other racers mistakes or mishaps (red lights, broke something, etc...) round after round to win an event. :redface: That's exactly why I much prefer bracket over heads-up racing, but "to each his own".
Yes.
Like I said, "to each his own"! :biggrin:
Yeah situations like that do happen every now and then, but like I said above, you just can't rely on that and hope to win an event.
Claude.
All the lack of participation has me looking for another low mile car to run TSA at the GS nats and enjoy driving around town. I'm thinking that would be even more challenging than running low 9s in TSM.
We aren't the only ones with issues. Our local tracks which pay out more than the normal Buick events are having trouble keeping the lanes full. And when someone shows up with a car that is faster than the group they start complaining.. It happend to me at our last local race where I was a couple tenths faster than the group. Now the local boards are rumbling about me running in that class even though I fit the rules by a mile.
What it boils down to is drive.. You have to have drive to compete in heads up racing. If you have no drive you won't win. I see this as a reflection of America in general. Most people now days want everything easy.
Index racing is the only heads up racing that is completely equal!
Best R/T and closest to the index wins.
We aren't the only ones with issues. Our local tracks which pay out more than the normal Buick events are having trouble keeping the lanes full. And when someone shows up with a car that is faster than the group they start complaining.. It happend to me at our last local race where I was a couple tenths faster than the group. Now the local boards are rumbling about me running in that class even though I fit the rules by a mile.
What it boils down to is drive.. You have to have drive to compete in heads up racing. If you have no drive you won't win. I see this as a reflection of America in general. Most people now days want everything easy.
Index racing is the only heads up racing that is completely equal!
Best R/T and closest to the index wins.
TURBOPOWERED68
David
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2006
That sound like a good idea
i also like the anything 109 idea just add a weight penalty to it.
Class racing is a no go for me - no money and no experience i don't even qualify to park next to these guys.
Attending two local track rentals and talking smack with my friends and family does it for me.
TurboTnZ06
Go on red!
- Joined
- May 7, 2002
Ok, so limited number of TR's exist, might get more to race on slower classes/indexes, I don't know if that is the silver bullet to attendance. Cheap beer and free pizza, might not get me to the track either. Alright, let's look at the import events, they have other gimmicks such as bikini contests. Granted, it has nothing to do with racing, but it draws a crowd like no other. If we're all out there to have fun, then there should be no problem cutting the racer winnings in half and giving the other half to the bikini girls contest as prizes...
SS/GN
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2005
Racing is changing everywhere:frown:.The index classes are our only hope with a couple of heads up classes for those people. The index classes leave heads up style and are similar to a pinks all out format(we know how good that took off:biggrinAnytime 2 cars run away from the field in heads up racing the numbers slowly diminish.Look at other sanctions.Like Claude said I don't want to build my car to fit in.I like the local bracket grudge match stuff,the little V6 sure gets alot of attention.For me the most important thing is having fun and doing it in something just a little different
Kevin
Anytime 2 cars run away from the field in heads up racing the numbers slowly diminish.Look at other sanctions.Like Claude said I don't want to build my car to fit in.I like the local bracket grudge match stuff,the little V6 sure gets alot of attention.For me the most important thing is having fun and doing it in something just a little differentKevin
QuickBuick87
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2006
Come on guys. There's ONE reason why turnouts are low. Most people just DO NOT have the extra cash to travel x amount of miles to race or even show there Buick. How many of us are unemployed, underemployed, hours cut, scrapeing to just get by or just don't want to travel far from home due to all the craziness happening now in this country? I hit the local car shows and cruise nights every once in awhile to check out the cars, but that's it. Until things change in this country, things will get worse before it gets better IMO.
SS/GN
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2005
Cannot disagree,however even people with money are staying home.I think all formats of racing are changing
Kevin
I agree changes need to be made. If car counts are low start allowing hybrids, add penalties if cars don't make weight, give breaks to overweight cars etc. The goal is to get car count. It can't be that much fun with a 3 to 5 car field. Who cares if you don't have the rt. Trans or a/c etc. Make weight adjust for too light or too heavy and go racing. I also like the index idea too maybe a couple classes where the times don't conflict with the heads up classes. Maybe 1100 1200
ttypewhite
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2001
The desire is still there for a great majority of us, the funds, not so much.:redface:
Especially us Canucks that gotta drive 5 to 13 hours to get in on the action.
Especially us Canucks that gotta drive 5 to 13 hours to get in on the action.
Go by any casino in this country and the parking lots are full.. Folks find the way "when they want something bad enough". Same with alcohol, drugs, clothes, etc... The gas cost is hype.. if the gas was 3.00 per gallon.. the arguement would still be there. 1 dollar more per gallon shouldnt change your decision.
Its fine to watch your spending and live within your means. But too many get caught up in that hype.. next thing you know.. we have to shut everything down. No business can exist without $$$=attendance. Vendors rely on sales to justify the expenditures to transport product from a-b that could have been transported by UPS for less.
Look at the TTA.. lack of events, low car count, lack of recognition... prices are in the toilet for a car that sold for twice what a GN sold for. The GN has the events.. those die.. the car follows its TTA brother.
