I'm pretty sure the NHRA had advanced notice / warning of the Map!e Grove sale and had time to get the 131 deal together.
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Maple Grove- IHRA (41 Viewers)
- Thread starter Just Paul
- Start date
hobbes105
Nitro Member
From a fan’s perspective, I’m extremely frustrated by this. It feels like NHRA has given a big F.U. to fans in the New York and Philly area and made it clear they don’t really care. First we lost Englishtown, with seemingly no effort to replace it with a nearby track—or even add a second race at Maple Grove at the time—and now Maple Grove itself appears to be done as far as NHRA is concerned. There’s no track left in the NY metro area, and NHRA doesn’t seem concerned in the slightest.
We’ve attended all three days at Maple Grove since the 1990s. Walking the pits, meeting our favorite drivers, and being part of that atmosphere was something we genuinely looked forward to every year. Now that’s gone, and there’s nothing nearby to replace it. Norwalk, Epping, and Maryland are simply too far for a day trips.
IHRA has its own problems, but given NHRA’s long history of ignoring both racers and fans, this shift could eventually be a positive. That said, IHRA is going to have a hard time filling the stands. Maple Grove was always packed for NHRA national events, and IHRA just doesn’t have the big-name drivers that pull in casual fans. Maybe that changes down the road, but right now I’m honestly not interested in going to a 1/8-mile IHRA race without the teams and drivers I’ve followed for years.
We’ve attended all three days at Maple Grove since the 1990s. Walking the pits, meeting our favorite drivers, and being part of that atmosphere was something we genuinely looked forward to every year. Now that’s gone, and there’s nothing nearby to replace it. Norwalk, Epping, and Maryland are simply too far for a day trips.
IHRA has its own problems, but given NHRA’s long history of ignoring both racers and fans, this shift could eventually be a positive. That said, IHRA is going to have a hard time filling the stands. Maple Grove was always packed for NHRA national events, and IHRA just doesn’t have the big-name drivers that pull in casual fans. Maybe that changes down the road, but right now I’m honestly not interested in going to a 1/8-mile IHRA race without the teams and drivers I’ve followed for years.
DragFan2
Nitro Member
Well, based on what Larry Morgan stated in a recent video, it was a pretty recent decision by the Koretskys to sell Maple Grove to the IHRA group. I suspect NHRA feels they had/have enough time to put on the national event at US 131. That announcement by them to sanction that track was probably well along in their planning. Nobody really knows what went down and when other than the Koretsky's.
The got the IHRA event Because BillyMeyer owned IHRA and the track.
1. The IHRA letter is just an attempt to look like the good guy. "We made a ridiculous offer we knew they wouldn't accept, we deserve some good guy points or a cookie!"
2. The IHRA will always be little brother, well maybe not even little brother. Perhaps a distant cousin? I'd love to take them serious and see a legit competitor for the NHRA, but this isn't it. They have been nothing but a circus/sideshow for the last 30 years and will continue to be such. Eighth mile racing, at least for nitro cars is such a joke. It's really nothing more than a money grab, might as well just host a cackle fest. It's turned into a "show," not racing. I didn't fall in love with the sport of "show racing," I love drag racing!
3. I understand costs are the main reason for running the 1/8th, I'm sure the racers like it, but the fans don't. I wish we could take a poll here.
4. I have no problem with anyone who wants to go watch this crap or support them, I hope you have a great time. I'll be at US131MSP in September, watching the world's top racers compete for a championship and make record-setting runs. You'll be in Montgomery, Alabama, watching a few cars do dry hops while blowing their **** up and laying down oil for long delays. Oil downs sell hot dogs I guess!
2. The IHRA will always be little brother, well maybe not even little brother. Perhaps a distant cousin? I'd love to take them serious and see a legit competitor for the NHRA, but this isn't it. They have been nothing but a circus/sideshow for the last 30 years and will continue to be such. Eighth mile racing, at least for nitro cars is such a joke. It's really nothing more than a money grab, might as well just host a cackle fest. It's turned into a "show," not racing. I didn't fall in love with the sport of "show racing," I love drag racing!
3. I understand costs are the main reason for running the 1/8th, I'm sure the racers like it, but the fans don't. I wish we could take a poll here.
4. I have no problem with anyone who wants to go watch this crap or support them, I hope you have a great time. I'll be at US131MSP in September, watching the world's top racers compete for a championship and make record-setting runs. You'll be in Montgomery, Alabama, watching a few cars do dry hops while blowing their **** up and laying down oil for long delays. Oil downs sell hot dogs I guess!
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handsome
Nitro Member
also there is an interesting article on Comp Plus about it
competitionplus.com
MORGAN QUESTIONS TIMING OF NHRA’S U.S. 131 MOVE, SAYS MAPLE GROVE OFFER WAS GENUINE | Competition Plus
Questions over the timing of NHRA’s decision to open its Countdown at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park have intensified after Larry Morgan said IHRA made a
competitionplus.com
People will like what they want. I support both organizations succeeding hopefully. I mean folks still support Div 2 and 3 college football, not the same caliber as Div 1A and Div 1AA (sorry but I won't use "FBS" or "FCS"). If that's the nearest, most affordable, and best option, I'll take it. I took it in the past when Kanawha Valley Dragway was that option for me.
I have no issue with 1/8 for the sportsman classes, and agree it would be a little disappointing for the pro categories to run it.
Strange, I seem to recall instances where NHRA billed itself and its races as a "show" too. Oh well.
I see that the memo is from Fairfield, Ohio - north of Cincy. There's a really good Old Spaghetti Factory there!
So, the guy who represents the IHRA is defending the IHRA What else would you expect from him? Anyone have any idea what the track was sod ($) for?also there is an interesting article on Comp Plus about it
MORGAN QUESTIONS TIMING OF NHRA’S U.S. 131 MOVE, SAYS MAPLE GROVE OFFER WAS GENUINE | Competition Plus
Questions over the timing of NHRA’s decision to open its Countdown at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park have intensified after Larry Morgan said IHRA made a
Rocket Man
Nitro Member
Blah, blah, blah. Says the guy that hasn't spent 30-50M of his own money in just the last year in an attempt to make the IHRA
relevant again.
Don't like the fact that there is life beyond NHRA? Get over it, it's happening whether you like it or not.
NHRA has become complacent and maybe this will wake them up, or they will move over and let the new guy prosper for a while.
The racers will decide most of it.
stitcherbob
Nitro Member
I love the fact that there is or could be life beyond NHRA, though I wish it were decent racing, not dry hops! If that's what you're into, great. Enjoy the bush league!
Custom Body Fan
Nitro Member
The OP I was responding to had stated that Darrell received a large, large investment from Elon Musk for the IHRA. My response was that it certainly doesn’t seem like something Elon Musk would typically be investing in.
NitroRichFire
Nitro Member
Hmmm, for those who went to Maple Grove last year, the place was PACKED! This track draws a huge number of fans from Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Ohio plus of course Pennsylvania. As I took the long walk from the parking lot to the track I also saw tags on vehicles from Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and one from Florida. A lot of these fans were much younger than this old man. Seems like a pretty big area to give up on.
Rocket Man
Nitro Member
Thanks. I will enjoy all the NHRA AND IHRA races I go to next year.
We tend to take the limited information we have and construct a logical narrative. It is logical to presume NHRA feels having the Maryland race is a sufficient substitute for Maple Grove for people in the mid-Atlantic area.
Not saying I agree or disagree, but that could logically factor into their thinking. Time will tell if they are correct.
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