First Memphis, then St. Louis, Seattle and Brainerd next???

[Toejam]

That's what a Drag racing journalist emailed me. I had some comments regarding his column about NHRA's imminent demise, he told me Seattle and Brainerd were on shakey ground! Please tell me he's full of Shark Piss!

 

[clock guy]

Don't know who you got it from but Seattle is in fine shape financially and Coke doesn't want to lose the Seattle market and is the only National track in Div 6.
Their has been reports of some financial concerns at Brainerd this year, but the national is a straight contract and NHRA knows going in what they are going to make, so as long as its open I think the Nationals will be there.
StLouis is not gone yet, getting out of their NASCAR stuff will help them out, those races were money pits. Basically the NHRA race help the track keep going as the NASCAR races drained the check book.

 

[The Swegian]

I don't remember where I heard this...it might have been in the local Brainerd papers or something from the Chamber of Commerce, but I seem to recall BIR and NHRA have a contract that currently runs through 2014. I'd be extremely surprised to see Brainerd off the schedule when I see the number of campers there, coupled with how seemingly popular the venue is with the racers. I've never cared for how track management works their ticket packages. You have to buy GA to get in to the track and if you actually want to watch from the grandstands, all seats are reserved, so that's extra $$. My 3-day ticket cost $165 this year(not including camping), and that's buying in advance, for which they supposedly give a token discount. Heck, my 6-day super seat for Indy (granted it's GA) cost $155. Even Vegas, the best track on the tour IMO, doesn't charge what Brainerd does for a 3-day ticket.

 

[Toejam]

Sounds like JB is full of Shark Piss!

 

[Raconteur]

That's what a Drag racing journalist emailed me. I had some comments regarding his column about NHRA's imminent demise, he told me Seattle and Brainerd were on shakey ground! Please tell me he's full of Shark Piss!

Don't forget POMONA RACEWAY... no amount of "contract" is going to save the Fairplex track.

When it is over, it is over there.

 

[Treeshaker]

Some will always see the "doom" side of things and others see the "positive" side. There is a lot of money at stake at all of these venues when you are talking about a multi day national event. You will see a lot of posturing by cities, tracks and sanctioning bodies to get a better contract agreement.

Here in the south you see the history of dragstrips supporting NASCAR tracks at the beginning, the circle tracks prospered and threw the dragstrips to the side, and now the circle tracks are obsoleted by NASCAR (bigger venues) but the dragstrips are still operating. I hope the deletion of the NASCAR events will allow the St Louis dragstrip to prosper with the lower financial burden. The Memphis dragstrip might have been able to survive without the NASCAR events since a lot of organizations leased it for their events because of it's central location.

I lived in Glendora/San Dimas/LaVerne for 25+ years and have seen many things deemed "to never happen" that are now reality (the 210 connector is one big example). They always bring out the moms with the "my kids can't concentrate in school with all the noise" sob stories, then someone with a little common sense brings up the fact that it is only 2 days twice a year that they are disrupted, and the nitro cars don't run until after school is out. The reality of the financial impact on the state, counties and cities, along with many private businesses, should be enough incentive for many people in the area to work towards keeping Pomona alive, but I am sure there are some drag racing "journalists" that will work against that happening, just to make themselves relevent.

 

[Toejam]

Don't forget POMONA RACEWAY... no amount of "contract" is going to save the Fairplex track.

When it is over, it is over there.

That was suppose to happen in 1988 as well, never did! But should NHRA Lose Pomona, I'm sure fans will find ways to continue supporting the sport!

 

[the zone]

Maybe Nascar tracks should band together like all other major sports do. The team owner (in motorsports it would be the track owner) should be getting a cut of the TV revenues. Nascar gets a lot of money from their tv contracts. Does it all go to the Frances or does the track receive any tv revenue?
Like Foster says, Seattle while it being a bit of a sh.t hole is in a very important market and it is the only one in Div 6. That being said, Spokane does have the property, but Jay Livingston did say to me that facility (the way it sits) could not come close to hosting a national, but there is potential there. The only issue is the population base.

The fans experience and comments about the Brainerd race would make it seem likely that race would be cancelled but who knows.
As far as seattle goes, why doesn't the NHRA get involved financially to get the improvements going.




Dean

 

[DrRocket]

In fact, Joe, Brainerd is ADDING EVENTS. They've rebuilt the road course to add a carousel to the road race course, and bypassed the main straightaway/dragstrip. They ran an SCCA regional race on the July 4th weekend that went along with the Show 'N Shine event that usually runs that weekend. Then, on Labor Day weekend, for the first time since 1990, the Trans-Am racing series will make its return to the track. I was a corner marshal waving the flags for the July 4th race.


See below.

I've outlined the new road course portion in red. The start/finish line is yellow, and the green dot is where I was stationed the first day. See that piece of real estate to the right of that turn? LOTS of cars made a visit there during the weekend. We were told during the worker's meeting that 90% of the drivers present had never driven this course before.


Even with the long straightaway removed, the road course is still around 2.3 or so miles long, and very challenging.

(That's the Doctor himself on the left in the straw hat) I will also be a corner marshal for the Trans-Am race. I gotta tell you man, it's the best seat in the house.

So yes, tell your man that at least as far as Brainerd is concerned, he is indeed full of shark pi$$.

"The Colonel" has been gone for several years now. I've heard mixed reviews on the new ownership. I believe they're locals from the twin cities. Some say they're doing a good job, others say they're no better than the previous owner, but at least they're putting some money and effort into the track and fully plan on keeping it open.

 

[FC138fan]

"The Colonel" has been gone for several years now. I've heard mixed reviews on the new ownership. I believe they're locals from the twin cities. Some say they're doing a good job, others say they're no better than the previous owner, but at least they're putting some money and effort into the track and fully plan on keeping it open.

I haven't been to many NHRA tracks, and have only been to a few events where the Colonel owned the place, but at least since my first race up here the facility is better. A few years ago the return road to the pits went behind the stands, two years ago they paved a return road just for the pro classes to drive in front of the main grandstand. You wouldn't think it was a big deal but it was greatly appreciated. The first year of the return road they had the start lined with Jersey barriers that obstructed the view of the cars. Someone must have been paying attention because last year they removed the jersey barriers before the start line clearing up the view. And on the weekend at elast they have live music after the race for all the campers, and an unbelievable fireworks show Saturday night.

Its little things like the above mentioned that make me think Brainerd is on the rise, not on the way down.

 

[mick]

have no idea what's going on @ BIR.....IMO they've been struggling to get
back to spectator levels (and sportsmen racers maybe too?) that they
enjoyed in 90's..........on the flipside of that coin i don't think races like
BIR and seattle draw less than other even larger markets; both are in
locations that have little or no other professional level motorsports annually;
canucks abound at BIR, as i'm sure they do @ seattle as well

what they've lost in ticket sales (for which nhra takes a cut), they may
have made up for in trailer/rv/camper/atv/golf cart fees; the zoo fun comes
at a premium.........have no idea if they are up or down in racer entry fees.

the dual facility that is now BIR is really quite functional; watched some
road race practice laps during LODRS in may, was cool to watch.
IMO BIR as a facility presently looks and functions better than ever.

i would hope the annual nhra nat. event is financially successful for
both parties and the race will continue and only get better; if not,
there appears to be many drag racing options available to fill the void.

 

[mw6789]

Some will always see the "doom" side of things and others see the "positive" side. There is a lot of money at stake at all of these venues when you are talking about a multi day national event. You will see a lot of posturing by cities, tracks and sanctioning bodies to get a better contract agreement.

Here in the south you see the history of dragstrips supporting NASCAR tracks at the beginning, the circle tracks prospered and threw the dragstrips to the side, and now the circle tracks are obsoleted by NASCAR (bigger venues) but the dragstrips are still operating. I hope the deletion of the NASCAR events will allow the St Louis dragstrip to prosper with the lower financial burden. The Memphis dragstrip might have been able to survive without the NASCAR events since a lot of organizations leased it for their events because of it's central location.

I lived in Glendora/San Dimas/LaVerne for 25+ years and have seen many things deemed "to never happen" that are now reality (the 210 connector is one big example). They always bring out the moms with the "my kids can't concentrate in school with all the noise" sob stories, then someone with a little common sense brings up the fact that it is only 2 days twice a year that they are disrupted, and the nitro cars don't run until after school is out. The reality of the financial impact on the state, counties and cities, along with many private businesses, should be enough incentive for many people in the area to work towards keeping Pomona alive, but I am sure there are some drag racing "journalists" that will work against that happening, just to make themselves relevent.

I was told by a former employee at the Memphis track that the circle track was the cash draw that ultimately led to its demise. Biggest mistake they made was closing the dirt track. Drag strip also supposedly made money--they had a terrific Super Chevy, even though the NHRA event was somewhat a disappointment. It was also rumored that some locals tried to buy the drag strip, but they were told it was all or none. Nobody wants the circle track.

 

[Toejam]

In fact, Joe, Brainerd is ADDING EVENTS. They've rebuilt the road course to add a carousel to the road race course, and bypassed the main straightaway/dragstrip. They ran an SCCA regional race on the July 4th weekend that went along with the Show 'N Shine event that usually runs that weekend. Then, on Labor Day weekend, for the first time since 1990, the Trans-Am racing series will make its return to the track. I was a corner marshal waving the flags for the July 4th race.


See below.

I've outlined the new road course portion in red. The start/finish line is yellow, and the green dot is where I was stationed the first day. See that piece of real estate to the right of that turn? LOTS of cars made a visit there during the weekend. We were told during the worker's meeting that 90% of the drivers present had never driven this course before.


Even with the long straightaway removed, the road course is still around 2.3 or so miles long, and very challenging.

(That's the Doctor himself on the left in the straw hat) I will also be a corner marshal for the Trans-Am race. I gotta tell you man, it's the best seat in the house.

So yes, tell your man that at least as far as Brainerd is concerned, he is indeed full of shark pi$$.

"The Colonel" has been gone for several years now. I've heard mixed reviews on the new ownership. I believe they're locals from the twin cities. Some say they're doing a good job, others say they're no better than the previous owner, but at least they're putting some money and effort into the track and fully plan on keeping it open.

So where is the Zoo in that pic???

 

[DrRocket]

So where is the Zoo in that pic???

Pretty much the east half.

 

[T.Smith]

So what's the story about the Fairplex?

 

[Bross Hawg]

Don't know who you got it from but Seattle is in fine shape financially and Coke doesn't want to lose the Seattle market and is the only National track in Div 6.
Their has been reports of some financial concerns at Brainerd this year, but the national is a straight contract and NHRA knows going in what they are going to make, so as long as its open I think the Nationals will be there.
StLouis is not gone yet, getting out of their NASCAR stuff will help them out, those races were money pits. Basically the NHRA race help the track keep going as the NASCAR races drained the check book.

Didn't Spokane have their first Divsion 6 race this last weekend?

 

[vegasnitro]

I don't remember where I heard this...it might have been in the local Brainerd papers or something from the Chamber of Commerce, but I seem to recall BIR and NHRA have a contract that currently runs through 2014. I'd be extremely surprised to see Brainerd off the schedule when I see the number of campers there, coupled with how seemingly popular the venue is with the racers. I've never cared for how track management works their ticket packages. You have to buy GA to get in to the track and if you actually want to watch from the grandstands, all seats are reserved, so that's extra $$. My 3-day ticket cost $165 this year(not including camping), and that's buying in advance, for which they supposedly give a token discount. Heck, my 6-day super seat for Indy (granted it's GA) cost $155. Even Vegas, the best track on the tour IMO, doesn't charge what Brainerd does for a 3-day ticket.

All seats are reserved at Vegas now AND you can't even stand along the fence on the pit side unless you have a reserved ticket ...

PS EVERY report I have seen regarding the demise of St. Louis is for the NASCAR track ONLY and that the dragstrip is profitable and will continue to operate for the forseeable future, yet people on this site keep saying St. Louis is gone. Is there a reading comprehension problem or do people actually know something not being reported?

 

[clock guy]

Chris the seats in the main grandstands have allways been reserved. No one can stand at the fence in front of the main grand stands. The reason for no standing at the fence, it blocks the first 7 rows of seats. Al the seats on right side are GA and fence open for standing,

 

[vegasnitro]

Chris the seats in the main grandstands have allways been reserved. No one can stand at the fence in front of the main grand stands. The reason for no standing at the fence, it blocks the first 7 rows of seats. Al the seats on right side are GA and fence open for standing,

Not to split frog hairs, but the main grandstand used to only be reserved on Sunday, then it was Saturday and Sunday, now it is all 3 days.

I also doubt standing along the fence blocking the first 7 rows of the main grandstand. The 7th row would be a strong 15-20 feet above ground level, if not more. I have sat in those seats during a national event with people standing along the fence and had no issues ... Besides, they will let you stand there now if you have a reserved ticket, whereas if views were truly being blocked, they wouldn't let you stand there at all. They even have a beer wagon there ...

It is much more likely that the people standing along the fence on the GA side are blocking the views of folks in the GA grandstand since they are not elevated like the main grandstand, though I have had no issues there either.

All the seats are good at LVMS! I just happen to like standing in front of the main grandstand better and I don't wanna pay extra for the privilege

 

[Tim5636sc]

Chris the seats in the main grandstands have allways been reserved. No one can stand at the fence in front of the main grand stands. The reason for no standing at the fence, it blocks the first 7 rows of seats. Al the seats on right side are GA and fence open for standing,

Jeff...the "Fence" Chris was talking about is "THE PIT"..where the bar is at. It's been a hang out for us lowly fans for years....

Maybe they can sell "Pit Passes" for the pit....like $5.00 per day on top of the GA ticket??? That'd be cool...