CHRR ? (1 Viewer)

[LAZYC]

Did NHRA rename this year's CHRR the Wally Parks Nationals this year? and why ????

 

[Sherman, Sherm, & Sherm Gun]

Yes, both races were renamed this year. They (NHRA Museum) have always had the stance that the reunions were basically a car show (reunion) with a drag race. I believe they are seeing the ticket sales and older fans fall off. So, they are trying to flip to a drag race with a car show. In my opinion. Still the same great show, still the same people in charge, still at the same date and location.

 

[Jim]

Yes, both races were renamed this year. They (NHRA Museum) have always had the stance that the reunions were basically a car show (reunion) with a drag race. I believe they are seeing the ticket sales and older fans fall off. So, they are trying to flip to a drag race with a car show. In my opinion. Still the same great show, still the same people in charge, still at the same date and location.

Right...because a new name will make a bunch of old cars and the same old show appeal to younger fans.

 

[Sherman, Sherm, & Sherm Gun]

Are you saying that NHRA still doesn't get it?

 

[Ramjet]

It AIN'T the same without "HOOK" (Gibbs)

 

[Sherman, Sherm, & Sherm Gun]

100%

On a side note, Gibbs was in the tower at BG. Lohnes headed him the mic a few times.

 

[glofria]

Because NHRA doesn't know how to run a reunion, only races.

It;'s no longer about the history and the forefathers, it's just another race.

 

[Mike]

Gino, it was the racers who wanted a race so they gave them a race and now 30 years later they screwed it up according to you. I think the change was over due and I'm glad it was done. The reunion had run its course much like high school reunions. Example my 50th had 300 people, planning for the 55th and so far we have 12 people who are coming.

 

[J. S.]

Gino, it was the racers who wanted a race so they gave them a race and now 30 years later they screwed it up according to you. I think the change was over due and I'm glad it was done. The reunion had run its course much like high school reunions. Example my 50th had 300 people, planning for the 55th and so far we have 12 people who are coming.

Our esteemed Bakersfield announcer friend Mike has a point. When the CHRR first started, many of the "old guys" were still in their 50's. Now, so many of them have died, and the ones that are left are in their late 70's and early 80's.

The Friday night CHRR Honoree event at the DoubleTree in Bakersfield used to be packed. Now, attendance is pretty light. It's not for lack of interest, it's just age attrition. Most of our old drag racing heros have died, sadly. Each year, at the Twilight Memorial before the Cacklefest, when Bob Fry reads the list of drag racers who died in the past year, it's common that there are 40 or 50 names on the list! Multiply that times 20 to 25 years, it really adds up.

 

[glofria]

Mike and I have different POV and I respect that. The end of the CHRR reunion really happened in 2016, it's just taken this long to come up with a new marketing angle. For those who don't know why or don't remember, here's the back story.

Controversy Comes To NHRA’s 25th California Hot Rod Reunion

The unique magic of the original Hot Rod Reunion took an unexpected beating during what everyone expected to be a happy silver-anniversary celebration.

www.motortrend.com

Celebrations at the Double Tree was part of the fallout of the decline since 2016. It will be interesting to see if there is a new resurgence of attendance this year.

 

[roscoe37]

the whole 2016 thing sucked, but i still love this place and will be there for both no matter what they call them.

 

[LoPony]

Gino, it was the racers who wanted a race so they gave them a race and now 30 years later they screwed it up according to you. I think the change was over due and I'm glad it was done. The reunion had run its course much like high school reunions. Example my 50th had 300 people, planning for the 55th and so far we have 12 people who are coming.

Like my HS class b/c many people are dead.

 

[Mike]

Gino, the 25th went way wrong sadly. A idea that just didnt work however for some of these guys to hold a grudge for this long is just foolish. We all need to get together as many times and different places during the year that we can because like Jon Clark said, we arent getting any younger...

Hope Dad is doing well.

 

[Mike]

Gino, I pushed for the US Fuel and Gas Championship as the new name..

 

[glofria]

Gino, the 25th went way wrong sadly. A idea that just didnt work however for some of these guys to hold a grudge for this long is just foolish. We all need to get together as many times and different places during the year that we can because like Jon Clark said, we arent getting any younger...

Hope Dad is doing well.

It's all good Mike. What I see transpire was people where making decision that had no personnal experience in what the reunions were about. Nevertheless, we all have a right to have our feelings and to those who feel unwelcomed, they have their right to not participate.

Dad, continues to improve. As soon as he's able to get over the MRCA infection he can be moved to a rehab center to continue his recovery. The cardiac arrest was the result of severe dehydration and a walking pnumonia. The Ofrias' have always had health hearts and that is what through us all off. Cancer and airplane crashes is what usually what did us in.

 

[Ramjet]

When they cleaned up every thing in the Pits and stopped the decades long stuff that was like the Zoo in Bradenton and really got away from the original Smokers idea & it changed the whole atmosphere. I can remember working 1/2 the night and seeing People drive around all night in a 20 foot tall Grocery Basket with a 460 Ford in it or some other wild ride and it didn’t take away from the racing. There were at least twice the number of cars as lately and the racing was good. I even remember the Worshams setting up a Bowling alley. I know the CHRR wasn’t really a fall “March Meet” but the people treated it like one. We had our 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration in 2011 next to the staging lanes and they announced it over the PA. Yes - most of the “Old Guys” are gone but so is the atmosphere. Now it is like a Division Race with so called “Nostalgia” cars made out of unobtanium pieces and fuel pumps that were NEVER on one car that they are trying to emulate. Rant Over

 

[T.Smith]

When they cleaned up every thing in the Pits and stopped the decades long stuff that was like the Zoo in Bradenton and really got away from the original Smokers idea & it changed the whole atmosphere. I can remember working 1/2 the night and seeing People drive around all night in a 20 foot tall Grocery Basket with a 460 Ford in it or some other wild ride and it didn’t take away from the racing. There were at least twice the number of cars as lately and the racing was good. I even remember the Worshams setting up a Bowling alley. I know the CHRR wasn’t really a fall “March Meet” but the people treated it like one. We had our 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration in 2011 next to the staging lanes and they announced it over the PA. Yes - most of the “Old Guys” are gone but so is the atmosphere. Now it is like a Division Race with so called “Nostalgia” cars made out of unobtanium pieces and fuel pumps that were NEVER on one car that they are trying to emulate. Rant Over

Well, there's a big difference between nostalgia and vintage.

I enjoyed watching those events on Bangshift. It always felt like a I was there watching it kind of vibe. Plus the weather is still dogsh*t here in Chicagoland in March and quickly going downhill in October. So it was good to see some racing.

 

[Mike]

Gino, nobody knew how to put on a reunion when it all started and honestly if its a reunion then there shouldnt be any racing

 

[sutton]

Gino, nobody knew how to put on a reunion when it all started and honestly if its a reunion then there shouldnt be any racing

Mike
When they were going to have the first reunion, Bernie Partridge came to me and said YOU are going to be the starter at the reunion. I said what? he repeated that three times, I said NO I think I will go to Hawaii, I didn't have plans to go to Hawaii but I did. My 1/2 Irish came out in me. He did not ask me to he TOLD me I was, I didn't like that. I missed the first 5, then Dennis Taylor ASKED me to go with him to the sixth. I did and I never missed another and 2022 was my last CHRR. I guess I closed down another one LOL. Mike Steve Gibbs knew how to run a reunion then NHRA destroyed it.
Hope to see you at the Nitro revival this year.
Larry Sutton---Lions Starter
PS: there are a lot of us old guy's still above ground, but the list is getting a lot shorter

 

[glofria]

That's right, nobody knew how it would turn out when it first got it started. But they knew how to refine it and made it a "must go to event" that wasn't solely relying on what happen on the track. It was different from the Fuel & Gas Nationals two weeks later with the Goodguys.

These decisions are out of my hand, so my feelings are moot. Now, because the focus is the racing on the track, one can stay home and watch on the web. If someone wants to go, I don't begrudge them. Everyone should go and enjoy themselves.