New England Dragway National Event Press Conference

[jackass]

This has NOTHING to do with Englishtown, two different markets. How did you guys get that in your head?

And I have no inside information, but I do know the track was told what needed to be done to host a National Event and they have been working to get there. It was known going in that it would take some time to accomplish. But I can't see an announcement being made if the track isn't ready.

Alan

Agreed... that was one of the best if not the best attended events when it was IHRA....

 

[Jim]

If anything, maybe, finally a replacement for the Canada race?

Whatever, nice to have some more national activity reasonably close.

 

[Rajunz]

Back when Epping was announced, a year or two back, it was stated that it would be added as an additional event to the schedule, not a replacement.

 

[HEMI6point1]

If anything, maybe, finally a replacement for the Canada race?

Didn't NHRA pull the plug on Sanair because they were being d*cks about NHRA's use of leaded gas? My dad was telling me that NHRA told them they were going to just bring in the amount that they needed, and they still wouldn't budge.

 

[clwill]

I just raced over the weekend in Canada and virtually all of the several hundred cars there ran leaded gas. There have been constant rumors about how the Canadian races would be cancelled each year because of strict no-lead rulings, and each year we race there with no problems. The racing exception seems intact and I was not asked about my fuel at the border.

 

[Nunz]

Chris I'm glad you posted that, because I've never understood this whole deal. There's tons of racing happening in Canada, always has been, what's the real story about what happened to Sanair?

 

[Jim]

That's how I remember it.

Seemed like Canada wanted to break b**** and NHRA didn't want to jump through all the hoops.

Of course, i have no insider knowlege - just the Chit-Chat on the Prodigy Forum (I think).

PS: I enjoyed enormously, the one event I attended (but CoryMac did not) there. They must have lost some Tourista dollars when they pulled-the-plug. I know I (and my wife) would have attended most years if they had events there.

Didn't NHRA pull the plug on Sanair because they were being d*cks about NHRA's use of leaded gas? My dad was telling me that NHRA told them they were going to just bring in the amount that they needed, and they still wouldn't budge.

 

[Toejam]

This has NOTHING to do with Englishtown, two different markets. How did you guys get that in your head?

And I have no inside information, but I do know the track was told what needed to be done to host a National Event and they have been working to get there. It was known going in that it would take some time to accomplish. But I can't see an announcement being made if the track isn't ready.

Alan

Alan, while Epping is about 200 Mi. From NYC, I'm betting the Napp family isn't thrilled about this!

 

[clwill]

Chris I'm glad you posted that, because I've never understood this whole deal. There's tons of racing happening in Canada, always has been, what's the real story about what happened to Sanair?

No idea. As I said, every year there is all kinds of hand-wringing about how we aren't going to be allowed to race there, and then the time comes to race and there's not a single peep about it. My guess is that when people see several hundred large race rigs filled with lots of spending money coming they put their environmental high-horses away for the weekend...

 

[MM]

No idea. As I said, every year there is all kinds of hand-wringing about how we aren't going to be allowed to race there, and then the time comes to race and there's not a single peep about it. My guess is that when people see several hundred large race rigs filled with lots of spending money coming they put their environmental high-horses away for the weekend...

We've raced in Canada the last few years and have never had a problem. We're going back again next month for the Nitro Jam at Grand Bend, and as long as you do a little research about what to expect when crossing the boarder and do a little prep work to have everything ready for the agents, it's actually pretty routine. I don't think racing in Canada has anything to worry about. Great fans up there too!

 

[None]

I just raced over the weekend in Canada and virtually all of the several hundred cars there ran leaded gas. There have been constant rumors about how the Canadian races would be cancelled each year because of strict no-lead rulings, and each year we race there with no problems. The racing exception seems intact and I was not asked about my fuel at the border.

If I remember right. NHRA pulling out of Canada had as much to do about crossing the border as lead in the gas. It is a lot easer to cross in the West than the East. Both sides.

 

[Pete]

This has NOTHING to do with Englishtown, two different markets. How did you guys get that in your head?

And I have no inside information, but I do know the track was told what needed to be done to host a National Event and they have been working to get there. It was known going in that it would take some time to accomplish. But I can't see an announcement being made if the track isn't ready.

Alan

The two remaining "obstacles" was the scoreboards needed to be moved away from the track and the retaining walls needed to be the poured kind. However, speaking to a couple of people last year, I found out the wall issue was thrown out, as the track has sufficient barriers. They will have to raise the wall at 1000', but thats not an issue.

Trust me folks...they have ENOUGH property there to host a national event. What Google Earth doesn't show is the updated picture of the NEW pit area. Basically the pits are on the east side of the track, along with the return road.
Three years ago they extended the pits from the finishline/bend in the return road all the way to the sandtrap.
Plus the track owns 260+ acres, so all of the woods behind the trap and well into the woods on the east.
A BIG issue I see is they need to grade and finish paving the pits. If it needs to be done prior, I am highly confident it will be.

In years to come I'm sure the configuration may change, but it will work for now.

 

[NYNitro86]

This has NOTHING to do with Englishtown, two different markets. How did you guys get that in your head?

And I have no inside information, but I do know the track was told what needed to be done to host a National Event and they have been working to get there. It was known going in that it would take some time to accomplish. But I can't see an announcement being made if the track isn't ready.

Alan

Exactly, NHRA would have lost their minds if they were stupid enough to stab the NY Market in the back? It's all about money one way or another regardless of the viewing of significance.

In the end of the day making money off the Boston Market with Epping is just as important as making money off the NY market with E-Town and Philly Market with Maple Grove.

 

[JB3]

Exactly, NHRA would have lost their minds if they were stupid enough to stab the NY Market in the back? It's all about money one way or another regardless of the viewing of significance.

In the end of the day making money off the Boston Market with Epping is just as important as making money off the NY market with E-Town and Philly Market with Maple Grove.

That is somewhat true, but NHRA already makes money off those markets. Obviously research showed there is already a healthy fan base in New Engalnd and I am sure many of those fans already attend either E-Town, Maple Grove, or both. Whether anybody wants to admit it or not, Maple Grove and E-Town have forever shared a core fan base. In this economy, will the allegiance split somewhat with the addition of Epping?

I would bet this event will be in the Summer months. So let's just say June (E-Town), July (Epping), and October (Maple Grove). Other than true diehards in the Northeast that are willing to (read can afford to) go to 2 or 3 National events yearly, 3 options in a 4 month period will most definitely have an affect on E-Town and Maple Grove attendance. The unemployment rate in most of New England is still double digits.

If I had to make a choice to only attend 1 of the 3 events, I would choose Epping and its a 30 minute longer ride than E-Town for me.

The question will be, can NHRA and Epping bring in a big enough Canadian crowd to make it profitable? That may be where the real $$ comes from.

Guess we will all find out soon ...

 

[clwill]

The unemployment rate in most of New England is still double digits.

On the contrary, New England is well below the national average:

VERMONT 4.6
NEW HAMPSHIRE 5.0
MASSACHUSETTS 6.3
MAINE 7.2
CONNECTICUT 7.7
RHODE ISLAND 11.2

Unemployment Rates for States

 

[Toejam]

The two remaining "obstacles" was the scoreboards needed to be moved away from the track and the retaining walls needed to be the poured kind. However, speaking to a couple of people last year, I found out the wall issue was thrown out, as the track has sufficient barriers. They will have to raise the wall at 1000', but thats not an issue.

Trust me folks...they have ENOUGH property there to host a national event. What Google Earth doesn't show is the updated picture of the NEW pit area. Basically the pits are on the east side of the track, along with the return road.
Three years ago they extended the pits from the finishline/bend in the return road all the way to the sandtrap.
Plus the track owns 260+ acres, so all of the woods behind the trap and well into the woods on the east.
A BIG issue I see is they need to grade and finish paving the pits. If it needs to be done prior, I am highly confident it will be.

In years to come I'm sure the configuration may change, but it will work for now.

I have heard for 15 years that Epping was a Natl. event Waiting to happen! Their crowds for D-1 races compare to Norwalk, people dig drag racing up in that part of the country!

 

[jackass]

I have heard for 15 years that Epping was a Natl. event Waiting to happen! Their crowds for D-1 races compare to Norwalk, people dig drag racing up in that part of the country!

And they dont want no dog in a pony show either.. they want heads up hardcore racing...

 

[vegasnitro]

Alan, while Epping is about 200 Mi. From NYC, I'm betting the Napp family isn't thrilled about this!

C'mon Joe ... from south of NYC (Etown) to north of Boston (Epping) there is an easy 15 million people, maybe even more. If the Napp's can't sell out ETown next year ... it has NOTHING to do with Epping ...

 

[yoda]

If I remember right. NHRA pulling out of Canada had as much to do about crossing the border as lead in the gas. It is a lot easer to cross in the West than the East. Both sides.

That's the story I heard as well when Sanair went the way of the dodo on the schedule. Crossing over became a substantial headache for teams coming in for a weekend's worth of racing, and Canadian C&I is no joke... Carnets, bonds, criminal background checks, vehicle inspections (especially with the jump from duallies to big rigs) and the all-around hardazz attitude of rolling into Quebec, which still exists today (remember, I tour rock shows- we hate having to roll into Eastern Canada just for those reasons, but the people/fans make it worth it)- we find that up to 40% of all touring acts have some sort of issue that delays them for a substantial amount of time at the Canadian border, and even then, some guys don't get in for things as minor as RESOLVED DUI charges or any sort of felony charge, no matter how small.

Looking forward to seeing something big hit the New England market- and especially at a track like Epping that has a fantastic history (loved that track in the mid-70s... )

 

[Bobby]

I haven't been there since 1990....I guess it's time..