Charlotte press conference: 4 wide (2 Viewers)

[Raconteur]

I'm still trying to understand the nuts and bolts of this format. Maybe this is already out there in the release, but I'll ask it anyway.

Please to explain...

From the NHRA release:

The rules for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway will be as follows:

* Qualifying will be conducted using four lanes

* Each category winner will be determined in three rounds of eliminations

* The two drivers to cross the finish line first in each of the four first rounds of eliminations will advance to the second round

* The two drivers to cross the finish line first in each of the two second rounds of eliminations will advance to the final round

* Each final round will feature four drivers in each category, and the single driver to cross the finish line first in the final will be declared the winner of the race, the second runner-up and so on.

 

[mick]

..........In my opinion, more track owners should embrace the concept of cleaver track promotions........

and that's what happens when things are left unchanged - the cleaver comes
out and jobs are lost............it's called stagnation.

If NHRA brass is nieve enough to believe that Mr Smith is creating more exposure for drag racing, i've got some great beach-side property for sale here in Colorado they might want to invest in.

fairly bold statement tim?

Tim and others that are embracing the 'gimmick' theory.
going to use the upcoming winter olympics as an analogy.

for how many consecutive winter games did the same sports compete,
relatively unchanged?......a sporting event (the olympics) steeped in
tradition..........only recently have freestyle skiing and
snowboarding events been added as medal events.

the summer olympics plays to many more countries worldwide, while
the winter olympics plays to fewer (nascar and nhra if you will).

the olympics have a steady stream of income from worldwide television
in the form of broadcast rights and advertising; in the case of the winter
olympics the viewership was falling off; hence the addition of added
events to spur viewing by younger audience, in an obviously ever expanding
market of traditional and new extreme sports from which to choose from.

so I mite go to the winter games with memories of Franz Klammer winning
the downhill in '76 and position myself slopeside during 2010 downhill hoping
to see great performances; i don't particularly care for the new events

the next spectator thru the gates behind me goes to the half-pipe area to watch
his/her hero Shawn White do the things he does best; he/she doesn't particularly care for skiing events.

same event - two happy paying customers.
event is changed from former years, yet still retains it's roots.

not every person thru the gates is there for the exact same reasons.
IMO bruton and nhra are changing it up a bit - giving more people more
reasons to watch what is really the same race.
same ticket / different enjoyment / leave event satisfied, hopefully return.

 

[jackass]

Tim.....

funny you mention the press conference... very few reporters hung around for the NHRA part... the odd part is they had buses of reporters making the rounds to all the shops for media days in Concord/Mooresville area... some thing paid for by SMI every year(think NASCAR and some of the teams help these day not sure)....The drag strip deal was worked so they would attend it..but most didn't...


I can tell you this... were i live i get tv news from Concord, Raliegh and SC on cable.... When the first Zmax event was held only the Concord area news covered the event as an drag race event.... the other news programs covered the fact that Bruton was sueing the town of concord for non payment.. again ... and the drag race was used as back ground for that piece.. no real coverage of the event....


said it before and will say it again.. this is a great novelty idea that would be great for a All-star type event.... not a place in the points series...


after the event and everything goes down .. how many people don't believe that this will have an effect on the points race? and how many people will be suprised when their favorite driver gets screwed some how from this format... same as the countdown....and switch to hating this deal.....


I still believe that some sponsors are gonna get hosed on this deal with their potential tv time.. all due to the format.... thats my only issue.. and until the event is held and i am proven wrong, will my impression of this change....

Billy

PS..
got to share this one.. friend of mine compared this to adding an extra base in baseball during the play offs out near center field.....lol...

 

[Professional Fan]

I'm not a purist like many of you (that's not meant as a criticism, just a difference) so I'm looking forward to it. Originally I was going to skip Charlotte but I now have decided to go to see 4 wide. I'll reserve judgement till I see it.

My main two concerns as a fan are:
1. It will really shorten the day, both for qualifying and eliminations. Watching the pros race all day is one of the attractions for me. Kind of like only playing three quarters in football.
2. It reduces the element of luck in eliminations which always makes things interesting. How many times have we seen a Funny Car advance several runs with not great times but the guy in the other lane blew the tires off or in Pro Stock where the winning runs may not have been that good but the car in the other line red lit. Now, even if one guy breaks, you still have to beat at least one of the other guys too. you can argue that this format results in the better, rather than luckier car advancing, it's always fun to see someone get to the semi-finals or finals because of opponents breaking or red lights to see if their luck will hold out. This format takes some of the element of surprise away.

As someone mentioned previously, I am looking forward to seeing Rick Stewart give the shutoff sign to four lanes when their is rain or oil on the track-I can just envision him hurdling the barrier that is between the two sets of lanes!

 

[Toejam]

Watching 4 side by passes to make a qualifying session seems like a pretty short day! On the other hand, how long will they be down if 2-3 lanes get trashed on a pass?

 

[kingcobrafan]

Drag racing shouldnt have to change for people to watch it , people should want to watch it for what it is .

On the button, William! Dead-center bullseye!

 

[mick]

first thought - wow, 4-lane peddlefest.
second thought - in defense of safety...........

guy/gal in far lane smokes em', looks over and only sees next lane
streaking away.
2-lane race says: shut off, i'm done: safe / less expensive
4-lane race in each of 1st two rounds says: stand on it, don't know
what other lanes are doing: maybe not as safe / prone to hurt parts, expensive

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Tim you are SO right, the l o n g burn out HAS become an attraction, the fans love it. Part of "THE SHOW". So is the back up person, so is raising the body on FC's. None of these are needed, but have become part of it over time. Our sport does change weather we like it or not. 4- wide will also be an attraction

 

[Tim5636sc]

Tim you are SO right, the l o n g burn out HAS become an attraction, the fans love it. Part of "THE SHOW". So is the back up person, so is raising the body on FC's. None of these are needed, but have become part of it over time. Our sport does change weather we like it or not. 4- wide will also be an attraction

Zappy... I just want you to understand that this deal should not be the future of drag racing. It's a great opporutunity to create excitement and sell tickets at Z-Max. But, there are just too many 'what if's' for my taste.

Enjoy the show....i'm just not too keen on this deal.

 

[glofria]

Burnouts are not gimmicks, they serve several purposes.

I often have to remind myself that there are actually two NHRAs: one that sanction tracks and implement safety rules, and the other that provides entertainment. I prefer the first.

Mr. Asher, with all do respect, yes there were superstars back in that era (the70's) thanks to Hot Wheels, Revell, and other avenues but I don't think that many of those racers thought of themselves as superstars. Many were civil servants or tradesmen first and racers second. Example, "Wild" Willy Borsch was a drywall contractor by trade. Some were luck enough to eventually to make a living off racing, most didn't.

I thank you for your response.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Tim I can't find the post now, I think it was yours, but forgive me if I'm wrong. It mentioned something about 4-wide just for show, will not last.

Didn't wheelstanders & jets start out that way??? They are both crowd pleasers, and both still here. And neither one killed dragracing.

I take it I won't see you at this race. But I'll buy you a cold one at the next.
Stay well.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Burnouts are not gimmicks, they serve several purposes..

Yes they are to clean & warm the tire, period. I'm talkin about the long ones, those are a gimmick. A crowd pleaser. we all like 'em, the drivers like 'em, they're fun, thats why they are there.

 

[Tim5636sc]

Tim I can't find the post now, I think it was yours, but forgive me if I'm wrong. It mentioned something about 4-wide just for show, will not last.

Didn't wheelstanders & jets start out that way??? They are both crowd pleasers, and both still here. And neither one killed dragracing.

I take it I won't see you at this race. But I'll buy you a cold one at the next.
Stay well.

The post was removed, my choice.

Wheelstanders and Jets are EXHIBITION ..... PERIOD. NHRA rules do not permit open competition with EXHIBITION cars.

They can run side by side, but can not compete in traditional elimination format.

Let me make this clear. I LIKE THE IDEA OF 4-wide RACING. But, I believe it is simply an attempt to draw in more people for the Charlotte race. That's the only place this can occur Zappy.

i would like to see NHRA embrace a bit of the Pinks All Out style of making a better show at all the events. Those races pack the stands everywhere they go for basically a 10-second bracket race. Focus more on the people involved in the sport and the stories behind them. Get some trash talking, bring back the factory battles, hype it up, get a bit more 'hard core', think a little more outside the box for the other 22 NHRA National Events out there.

 

[glofria]

I'd like to retract my example about "Wild" Willie, none of my sources could confirm what Willie did for trade. I'll ask Mousie sometime during the weekend.

And I was corrected by one of my sources, racer back then were hardcore he said. It just didn't cost that much to go racing like it does now.

 

[PJ]

Drag racing shouldnt have to change for people to watch it , people should want to watch it for what it is . I have no problem with putting on a show and pleasing the fans but as long as it doesnt effect the racing . I mean it is a sport and a racing organisation . I mean you dont see people saying "How can we make the olympics more entertaining?" racing is whats important . Its not some circus that comes to town every now and then .

And why on earth would anyone want to shorten the racing , bring on racing all day all night every weekend . The more the better . Who cares about waiting a couple of hours for oil downs I spent 2 days in the rain waiting for a hydroplane race that never happened because of weather and I have no complaints even though I did get a cold who cares .

All sports change, look at our sport if it had remained just guys racing on old runways. Other sports made changes, the mound in baseball has changed hieght, football allowed the forward pass, basketball ok'd the dunk, and hockey finally did away with the 2 line pass rule. Some change, if for the improvement of the sport is good.

Now you don't make change for the sake of change and certaintly not to the basic pillars of a sport. Baseball will not add another base. Basketball isn't going to add another court going the opposite direction so four teams can play at once. I don't see football making td's worth 8 points. Thats why the countdown is so bad, they changed the basic one on one, best is the best draw of the sport. The 4 way is changing one of the key elements of the sport.

This race is a gimmick. Run as a special race like the old Winston Invite race would be fine. I was at the race last year just to see the four wide. It will not draw people to watch. Unless you are there in person its just not a big deal. We all know the sound and feel of two nitro cars and we know how rough it is to explain to someone who has never been to the track. Doubling that does nothing for those watching on tv. After being at the race and witnessing it I was pumped to see how it looked on tv. Once home flipped on the dvr and.....maybe it was because I was there but it didn't do anything for me.

As an exhibition this is cool as a race I don't want to say no 100% yet but I have serious doubts about it. Last year I was stunned at how empty the place was. On the spectator side you not only could have picked your seat or even row you could just about pick a section and have it to yourself. If it didn't draw then why would it now?

hmmm where's the Burton Smith for NHRA talk now???? This is his idea and something he's pushed for awhile, can't blame nhra for this...other then going along with it.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Let me make this clear. I LIKE THE IDEA OF 4-wide RACING. But, I believe it is simply an attempt to draw in more people for the Charlotte race. That's the only place this can occur . .

Sure it's to draw in people, why else does one build a track & hold a race.
"Charlotte is the only track right now."......yes but, You know if...(I repete IF )... this works I'm sure we will see other tracks follow, not many but a few. Possible Vegas - Indy - RT66.
No, we're not gonna see 4 wide at all 24 races.

I know not all will like it, heck I hate the count down, so what, no one cares. It did not kill drag racing. Neither did throttle stops, and tons of folks hate those. Like it or not 4 wide is here.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

All sports change, look at our sport if it had remained just guys racing on old runways. Other sports made changes, the mound in baseball has changed hieght, football allowed the forward pass, basketball ok'd the dunk, and hockey finally did away with the 2 line pass rule. Some change, if for the improvement of the sport is good.

. Last year I was stunned at how empty the place was. QUOTE]
Look again the reserved side ( where the die-hard fans go) looked good.
The spec. side was very thin but, don't forget, the weather was VERY threatining on Sun. so the locals stayed home.

If the weather is nice, trust me the place will be packed.

 

[PJ]

All sports change, look at our sport if it had remained just guys racing on old runways. Other sports made changes, the mound in baseball has changed hieght, football allowed the forward pass, basketball ok'd the dunk, and hockey finally did away with the 2 line pass rule. Some change, if for the improvement of the sport is good.

. Last year I was stunned at how empty the place was. QUOTE]
Look again the reserved side ( where the die-hard fans go) looked good.
The spec. side was very thin but, don't forget, the weather was VERY threatining on Sun. so the locals stayed home.

If the weather is nice, trust me the place will be packed.

hey look, except for all the empty seats it was full

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

hey look, except for all the empty seats it was full

You recall it rained over nite Sat. The pits were still wet Sun. AM. The sky was clowdy all day. You know yer self anyone 2 or 3 hrs or so away would have sat home. Those that come far are all ready there so they go.

 

[Jon Asher]

Here we go again:

PAUL SAPIENZA: Please don’t call me “Mr. Asher.” Makes me feel old! Yes, I definitely saw four-wide racing and even at what was then known as Rockford Dragway, it had potential disaster written all over it, but luckily, there were no incidents. Rockford, by the way, is 105 feet wide with an uphill shutdown, making it a far safer venue to try four-wide than at some other tracks.

Paul’s first four of five possible positives out of four-wide racing are definitely achievable. I don’t personally see how this will impact sportsman racing, however.

WILLIAM PAYNE: If drag racing hadn’t changed during its existence it would have long since stagnated into a non-activity. It’s change that may bring more people out to see the show.

Sorry, William, but your comment about the Olympics isn’t at all accurate. The IOC is constantly messing around with what sports to drop, which ones to add and which ones to change. There will be events at this year’s Winter Olympics that would have been unheard of 20 years ago. In the Summer Olympics golf has been added and softball dropped. Those are pretty dramatic changes.

I also know, from having spoken with hundreds of spectators in the last few years as well as from other sources, that people definitely DO want to shorten the racing day. If you pay attention to the grandstands on a Saturday, for example, you’ll see that the grandstands are largely filled for the first session, and sometimes largely deserted for the second. After three or four hours at the track most people have had enough fun, and head for home.

The “problem” with your statement is that you are not a typical fan. You may be willing to be out there from dawn until dark, but the casual fan, the person drag racing needs to survive and grow, is not. And like it or not, those casual fans are a lot more important to the sport’s survival than the rest of us are.

Regarding your comment on golf’s financial situation, I again disagree. Look at the number of companies that have bailed on that sport in the last 18 months.

I am quite familiar with the V8 Supercar series in Australia (with stops in New Zealand), and have a good friend who’s deeply involved, so I again disagree. Factory support has dwindled in the last two years, and individual corporate sponsorships have evaporated to a certain extent. A lot of teams are either consolidating or scrambling to come up with the funds they need to compete.

All I can suggest is that we all give this a chance and then pass judgment.

MIKE BOWERS: As I wrote to Mr. Payne, drag racing needs the casual fan to grow, not us. I note with interest your inclusion of the 336 mph speed. It’s easy to talk about that being cool from the safety of your keyboard and quite another to do it from behind the wheel. Drivers have wised up and are no longer willing to blindly just go for it. I, too, prefer quarter mile racing, but we have to realistic.

MIKE SHARLEY: Mike, I doubt if anyone got your implication that the wet T-shirt deal was back then, and probably (darn!) ain’t comin’ back any time soon because the sport has grown up.

PAUL SAPIENZA: Great point about the burnout, because I remember when people thought those were horrible!

GINO OFRIA: Please, no more “Mr. Asher.” Sorry, but Mattel (Hot Wheels) Revell and the other sponsors of the day had almost nothing to do with the creation of drag racing superstars. It was actually the other way around. Hot Wheels wanted the drivers they signed because they were ALREADY superstars, and they thought that would help them sell cars. Revell was the same way. They signed drivers AFTER they were established, not before or while they were on the way up.

My car even had a Revell deal, and believe me, the Jade Grenade was anything but a supercar. But Revell liked the name, thought it was catchy, and would help sell models. So, rather than making one of the gorgeous scale models that they were famous for, they made our car into a simplistic, easy-for-a-kid-to-assemble snap-together toy, and they sold tons of ‘em, far more in terms of actual unit sales, than they ever would have with a true scale model. And despite already having two or three scale models of Jungle Jim Liberman F/Cs they made a snap-together of one of his cars, too. I think it was the biggest seller they ever had.

PAUL SAPIENZA & OTHERS: I have one thing to say about burnouts and then I’ll shut up: The Chi-Town Hustler.

Jon Asher
Senior Editor
CompetitionPlus.com