New Win Light Format beginning at Winternationals (1 Viewer)

[Dennis]

And Dennis, I'm curious, when was the last time you attended a National Event?NHRA has made and still makes a very big effort to know what the new fans want. The new "Welcome Center" that will debut this years as well as the daily Pit Tours for new fans are a direct result of listening to new fan feedback.

I haven't been to a "big show" since it went to 1,000 ft. Just not my thing (side note however - my GF did get me tickets for Christmas to the 4-wide this year). I do read online and loosely follow how the seasons progress. My point is that I don't think the NHRA has done true analytics of the fans that show up on raceday. A welcome center is nice, but it's expected at every sporting event. What I think (again just my opinion) is that the NHRA needs to understand who these people are. Did they come for just Saturday? Are they returning Sunday? Do they know or care who is #1 in the points? Or is this just an excursion to watch super fast, super loud cars? How do we get these fans to come for 2-3 days next year?

In my experience in the stands the average person just wants to see racing - as in who won, who lost. I grew up in New England, so E-Town was my "home track" for NHRA national events. Sit in the stands, it's simply "I got $20 on the blue car"...when the big show guys are running. Even as a kid I chuckled when fans referred to Bob Glidden as the "guy in the red car". If you can't even use a name or nickname and are referring to the car by color, my guess is that the whole qualifying thing doesn't really matter. These are people who came to watch racing without all of the drama of a points chase. Sure the championship may matter to some but I think generally when people are sitting in the stands they care what is going on at the current time.

Another point that I think is hugely overlooked is the big screen at the track (I don't know the name these days). After NHRA went to 1,000 ft, I started spending my money on baseball, traveling to the various stadiums. The screens there are not just used for replays, I can see win/loss records, era, homeruns, any piece of information that is relevant. The point is, this screen could be used to describe not only who is on the line but what they need to do, in terms of qualifying. I just think that a win light awarded to the person who "did better" is somewhat confusing, but that's just my take on it.

Your idea of emailing is great (and it sucks that people clog it up with complaints) but I think that the right answer is something like Twitter. Keep that hashtag on the big screen and between rounds (or cleanups or whatever) fans can peruse the twitter feed and see the dialogue of questions and answers. I just think it so much more powerful because if one person has a question, there may be 10-20 others thinking the same thing.

I think it is a good thing to try something new, I'm just looking at it on how to I explain this to a newbie. When I go to the 4-wides it will be my GF's literal first race ever. She knows the concept of drag racing (i.e. get there first) but now I will have to explain "well that win light just means that so-and-so "did better". But then again maybe she won't even care, it will be interesting for sure. I can't say that I've ever been to a race with a racing virgin.

 

[Dave]

NHRA has made and still makes a very big effort to know what the new fans want. The new "Welcome Center" that will debut this years as well as the daily Pit Tours for new fans are a direct result of listening to new fan feedback.

Off topic question, and i'm not a new fan, but...... Is the NHRA working on creating a smartphone app again? I loved being able to use the live timing to follow what was going on no matter where I was. It is even helpful at the track. I would think new fans - and the younger generation in general - always ask "is there an app for that?" And the NHRA is the only major sporting association I know of that does not have one. Also you wouldn't have to have all the Winston Vision clutter of stats and info like someone else had suggested if you can bring up any driver on your phone and get all that data at your fingertips.


On topic. I'd rather see them turn off win lights completely in qualifying than change them to the quickest ET.

 

[none]

Dennis,

Thanks for the response. For the record I'm discussing not arguing since the magic of the internet doesn't translate tone and inflection.

If you haven't been to a "Big Show" race in 10 years, what do you base your opinion on? NHRA does reach out to fans, and does solicit opinions. Just a couple of things that have come at least partially from fan input are the track walk and Nitro School. I've been going to NHRA races for a long time, even before I was working the events. And if you had told me that a track walk would be something fans would like I would have laughed at you. I mean who cares about walking down a straight, flat track? Well, apparently a lot of people do. Because every Sunday there are a LOT of fans who love the chance to actually walk on the "Field" before the "Game" and it's a big hit. it's extra work for the Safety Safari to do a full prep for the track walk so the fans do get to feel what it's really like, then do it again for the race, but the fans love it, so we do it.

Another thing that we now have is the Fan Vision, where a fan can get a hand held screen that has stats, replays and you can even plug in a headset so you don't have to keep plugging your ears when the cars go by, and you can hear me (Or mute me! LoL)

I am active on twitter, and respond to fans regularly, during and in between events @NHRAReinhart And often during the event I would get an email and answer it on the PA system for exactly the reason you stated, if one asked, there are many wondering.

As for the win light, how often does it happen? This isn't something that is going to come in to play every other run. And if one car is a car length out front, that car will have the better E.T. and the light. But if the cars are close the light draws attention to one scoreboard first, so why is it wrong to draw that attention to the best run?

Dave, I thought there was a smart phone app? As in live timing at the very least, other than that, I don't know.

Alan

 

[Dave]

There indeed was, but I don't remember when it went away. 2016 or 2017. I think it was 2016 and coincided with the new nhra.com website format. You used to be able to pay 99 cents and listen to the daily audiocast if you chose to. That also went away with NHRA AllAccess. I just went to the google play store on my phone to double check. I typed in NHRA and nothing official came up. WFO Radio even has an app!

 

[none]

I think it is a good thing to try something new, I'm just looking at it on how to I explain this to a newbie. When I go to the 4-wides it will be my GF's literal first race ever. She knows the concept of drag racing (i.e. get there first) but now I will have to explain "well that win light just means that so-and-so "did better". But then again maybe she won't even care, it will be interesting for sure. I can't say that I've ever been to a race with a racing virgin.

Just looked back at your post and wanted to respond to this specifically, I'm not sure if the four wide will be this way or not. That software if completely different from the regular format. I will ask Bob next time I talk to him.

But as for explaining the light. "On Friday and Saturday it shows the best run, on Sunday it shows the race winner." That doesn't seem confusing to me at all.

If you bump into me or happen to make Nitro School please say hi.
Alan

 

[Z28LT1]

I would just do away with win lights all together in qualifying and let the numbers on the scoreboard be good enough.

/\
I vote for this (not that i get a vote. Ha ha!)

One of the other things we're doing for the new fans is giving them a direct line to ask questions via email. I tried this a couple of years ago and my email turned into the complaint department. Well, I'm trying it again. [email protected] comes straight to me. So if a new fan has a question or comment I will get it.

Will you be checking that email in live time while announcing at each event?

 

[Dennis]

If you bump into me or happen to make Nitro School please say hi.

Will do! And to your earlier point, from my standpoint as well it was a discussion, which sometimes is hard to find on a discussion board!

After 10 years of not going, I'm eager to get the 4 wide experience. From what I hear TV does not do it justice, so we shall see!

 

[none]

/\


Will you be checking that email in live time while announcing at each event?

As time and the event permits, yes.
Alan

 

[Brian]

Alan,
I appreciate you chiming in on this platform. Thank you. I'm a long time drag racing fan. Former So Cal native now living in Montana. I do trek back to So Cal for one or both races each year. I've also traveled to many other races...Indy, Phoenix, Vegas.
My thought on the new win light deal during qualifying is this. It's Saturday's second session and numbers 1 and 2 come to the line for the last qualifying pass. Maybe it's Force and Capps or Torrence and Pritchett...a rivalry. On the line are the pole position and bragging rights. If the win light comes on for pole position but not for the "winner" who strapped a holeshot and took the stripe but a couple thou I'm not sure how that helps the new fan. You as the announcer are going to have some explaining to do either way. I know that you're fully capable and I trust you to do it but really lets just leave the win light as the win light.
Best Regards,
Brian
PS. Keep up the good work.

 

[Bruno]

It has been touched on by others here and I absolutely concur that the "Winston Vision" (I know, I'm showing my age) needs to show the qualifying ladder for the class running and updated after each run. Otherwise, the qualifying runs lack the excitement they should have. Often times you cannot hear the announcer and/or the order is mentioned so quickly that you cannot even grasp what place a particular driver is in. To be able to watch the screen change after a run and see a driver get bumped down or out or up would add a lot to spectating regardless of what the win light says. If that is done then eliminate the win light.

 

[none]

Alan,
I appreciate you chiming in on this platform. Thank you. I'm a long time drag racing fan. Former So Cal native now living in Montana. I do trek back to So Cal for one or both races each year. I've also traveled to many other races...Indy, Phoenix, Vegas.
My thought on the new win light deal during qualifying is this. It's Saturday's second session and numbers 1 and 2 come to the line for the last qualifying pass. Maybe it's Force and Capps or Torrence and Pritchett...a rivalry. On the line are the pole position and bragging rights. If the win light comes on for pole position but not for the "winner" who strapped a holeshot and took the stripe but a couple thou I'm not sure how that helps the new fan. You as the announcer are going to have some explaining to do either way. I know that you're fully capable and I trust you to do it but really lets just leave the win light as the win light.
Best Regards,
Brian
PS. Keep up the good work.

Brian,
Let's say it's Force and Capps final two cars Saturday Q4 Capps runs 3.895 and has a great light, he get's there first. Force runs 3.875 with a late light and takes away the #1 spot from Capps.

My thought is that Force accomplished his goal He is now the #1 qualifier and that the attention should be focused there. Capps doesn't win anything, in fact he just lost the top qualifying spot, he failed in his attempt to hold on to #1. So what would the light on his scoreboard be indicating?

Disclaimer I feel really bad that Ron had to lose the top spot for this example, but he did go on to win the race the next day as his light came on 4 times.

Alan

 

[vegasnitro]

After 10 years of not going, I'm eager to get the 4 wide experience. From what I hear TV does not do it justice, so we shall see!

Which 4 Wide are you going to? There are 2 this year.

I saw the drag strip on Sunday, and I am very grateful that we have good weather in Vegas. If we were back East ... let's just say there is still a lot of work to do.

 

[camaro]

I haven't been to a "big show" since it went to 1,000 ft. .

i thought i was the only one who stop going after they short'n the track ! looks like the two of us holding out, wasn't enuff for the NHRA to fold to the pressure and go back to the 1/4 mile

 

[Randy]

Just thinking out loud having sat in the stands a million times to watch different classes qualify......

A lot of people just go one day. They don't go on Sunday to see eliminations. They aren't educated fans in terms of drag racing and who qualifies where. They just came to see fast cars go down the track and see someone get beat because they won't see that on actual race day. They talk between runs about the weather, girlfriends, fishing, then two cars leave the starting line and they look back at the track. They say things like "Watch Force kick Capps' @$$, haha." With the change Force does, but the win light comes on in Capps' lane. In a sense this IS race day for them. And I think it's race day for a huge percentage of people in the stands. I've talked to them.

With all due respect to Alan, who's like a little brother to me because I'm taller than he is, I think it's confusing and unnecessary. The fan that cares about the qualifying order will know the difference between a run that beat Capps in qualifying and a run that moved someone up the ladder no matter who got there first. But the casual fan won't. This also removes an opportunity to educate people. I have seen a car run faster but the win light comes on in the other lane. The newby says "How come Joe ran a 5.48 but Frank ran a 5.42 and lost?" The guy next to him says "Hole shot!" Then the discussion starts and the education process begins for the casual fan. That will be gone.

A side story that may parallel this (maybe not). Back when I bracket raced at Orange County International Raceway in the 1970's early 1980's my dad went with a few times when I raced my altered. One time I dialed in an 8.20 or something and ran an 8.18 and lost, but I got to the finish line first. All the way home he was trying to wrap his head around the fact that at a race you could lose by going too fast. It really bothered him because he saw how much time and effort his kid (me) was putting into this at home only to be too good and lose. After that he never went with me again.

 

[Cliff]

Randy, the cool thing is that your dad was with you. Years ago, I had an old beater 58 Ford that I raced at San Fernando. Once my dad was there watching me race, & I thought that was cool. Hey, that's my son racing.

 

[none]

Randy,
You have been around this long enough that you certainly have credibility. And I think of you as a big brother not because you are taller, but because your classic car is older and nicer than mine. And I certainly respect your right to be completely wrong about this.......

How about this scenario, you and I are lined up in qualifying, I roll the beam and go red. My E.T. sucks because I rolled the beam, but I get there first because I went red and you go to number 1. My scoreboard light comes on. If we had been racing, I would lose, but since we are qualifying you just went #1, don't you deserve the scoreboard light?

How's this? If you have a scoreboard light that is going to attract attention to one side or the other and you have two options.
Option 1: It can ALWAYS attract attention to the lane that made the better run
Or option 2: It can sometimes (What 5%?) attract attention to the other lane for something has doesn't matter AT ALL.

Why wouldn't you choose option 1?

I went to DRC (Love those guys) to find out how often this would even come up, and at the Finals last year do you know how many times this would have even been an issue? Neither do I because the guys who do the on line reports don't register or report reaction times in qualifying because........ Wait for it...... IT DOESN'T MATTER in qualifying.

Alan

 

[Randy]

Randy,
You have been around this long enough that you certainly have credibility. And I think of you as a big brother not because you are taller, but because your classic car is older and nicer than mine. And I certainly respect your right to be completely wrong about this.......

How about this scenario, you and I are lined up in qualifying, I roll the beam and go red. My E.T. sucks because I rolled the beam, but I get there first because I went red and you go to number 1. My scoreboard light comes on. If we had been racing, I would lose, but since we are qualifying you just went #1, don't you deserve the scoreboard light?....

I don't know that mine are nicer. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. By the way, it looks like I'll have my '67 Corvette in the corral in the pits at Pomona for a few days if I can find someone to sit with my wife for the day.

BTW...In your scenario, if you roll the beam and go red your scoreboard win lights won't come on. Mine would be on before I let the clutch out.

RG

 

[none]

I don't know that mine are nicer. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. By the way, it looks like I'll have my '67 Corvette in the corral in the pits at Pomona for a few days if I can find someone to sit with my wife for the day.

BTW...In your scenario, if you roll the beam and go red your scoreboard win lights won't come on. Mine would be on before I let the clutch out.

RG

Not in qualifying, in qualifying my light would come on for getting there first red light or not. On Sunday you are correct,and I'm not changing anything on Sunday.

Not sure I've seen your '67 Vette, I'll check it out
Alan

 

[ProStockJunkie]

http://competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/new-win-light-format-starting-winternationals . . . A good idea, and will help the new fans understand qualifying times

Help newcomers understand...??? I doubt it.

 

[Mike]

why have the light at all during qualifying?