NHRA still needs help (2 Viewers)

[Billy]

plus racing the stripe @ 200mph. luv TS and TD.

I love the Indy Top Dragster field - I call it the 6.10 Nationals - so many quick cars are there, most dialed 6.10-6.20, I make sure to watch EVERY round of elims for Top Dragster at Indy.

 

[aakar]

I'd like to toss this out for discussion. Rather than having eliminations at night (which I assume is meant from above since we already have qualifying at night, sort of), why not have the finals on a Saturday morning start instead of Sunday?

This could allow for, say, an 8 or 9 am start (morning noise ordinances seem to be only for Sunday as we see qualifying that early at times on Friday and Saturday).

Starting it that early would allow for an earlier finish, before the really hot parts of the day starts (3-6pm, and it can be pretty hot until 8pm sometimes). And it seems that rain more often happens after noon than before (although I can't back that up, just a loose personal observation and experience with the day heat leading up to a storm starting). Further, there would be more likely to finish a race than if it started at 6 or 7pm if oildowns, weather, etc. occurred preventing a race from ending at, say, 11pm (a time more likely on the end of day start of a noise ordinance).

And, and earlier finish on a Saturday would allow people who have to travel distances not having to drive at night as much, and would have Sunday to recover from travel (for those who work and go to school on Monday). Perhaps this is why attendance seems to be higher on Saturday than Sunday the past few years? Hard to say about that for sure.

Yeah, we'd have to get up with the roosters to be there at the start, but.....just a thought.

Nitro & Coffee? Nah, they start to early as it is, start eliminations @ 5 and finish @ nitetime in the summer months, all the NHRA and announcers care about is their steakhouse parties so they can slap each other on the back for a job well done

 

[none]

Nitro & Coffee? Nah, they start to early as it is, start eliminations @ 5 and finish @ nitetime in the summer months, all the NHRA and announcers care about is their steakhouse parties so they can slap each other on the back for a job well done

When did they have a "Steakhouse Party" Asking For a Friend........

I had WAY more Applebee's dinners or Taco Bell at midnight than anything else.

Alan

 

[Mike]

Alan, things must changed over the past year.

 

[Mike]

Nitro & Coffee? Nah, they start to early as it is, start eliminations @ 5 and finish @ nitetime in the summer months, all the NHRA and announcers care about is their steakhouse parties so they can slap each other on the back for a job well done

Harve, come to a IHRA National event and your welcome to spend a little in the booth just to see what its like.

 

[cdag]

When did they have a "Steakhouse Party" Asking For a Friend........

I had WAY more Applebee's dinners or Taco Bell at midnight than anything else.

Alan

Dinner or sleep is a near everynight question.

 

[BOO BOO]

As much as a fan I am for anything Nitro. I think Pro Mod is best class right now. Multiply power adders , body styles

 

[Chili]

As much as a fan I am for anything Nitro. I think Pro Mod is best class right now. Multiply power adders , body styles

We just need a couple turbo cars to make it even more exciting.

 

[Jim]

When did they have a "Steakhouse Party" Asking For a Friend........

You weren't supposed to find out.

 

[GumbyWVU]

When did they have a "Steakhouse Party" Asking For a Friend........

I had WAY more Applebee's dinners or Taco Bell at midnight than anything else.

Alan

Taco Bell at midnight ALWAYS is a winner! Long live 4th meal!

 

[Marchboom]

Taco Bell at midnight ALWAYS is a winner! Long live 4th meal!

Midrats. Veterans know what that is.

 

[sammi]

Nothing beat standing, shivering in the grandstands at 11:30p.m. when the two top fuel finalists push off. The quiet, then the low rumble, then the amazing sound and light show. I don't know how NHRA or IHRA gets back to that, but it might put more people in the seats. On the other hand, in the early 70's I was tucked away in my dad's camper while he and his similarly fueled up pals decided to liberate some of Irvine's watermelons after a late night T/F and AA/GS show at OCIR. Maybe late night racing might not be a good thing these days.

Go with the Applebee's beef nachos for a late night pick me up.

 

[ironpony]

Nothing beat standing, shivering in the grandstands at 11:30p.m. when the two top fuel finalists push off. The quiet, then the low rumble, then the amazing sound and light show. I don't know how NHRA or IHRA gets back to that, but it might put more people in the seats. On the other hand, in the early 70's I was tucked away in my dad's camper while he and his similarly fueled up pals decided to liberate some of Irvine's watermelons after a late night T/F and AA/GS show at OCIR. Maybe late night racing might not be a good thing these days.

Go with the Applebee's beef nachos for a late night pick me up.

Well IIRC all of the IHRA events at Trails went to at least 11PM

 

[aakar]

Nothing beat standing, shivering in the grandstands at 11:30p.m. when the two top fuel finalists push off. The quiet, then the low rumble, then the amazing sound and light show. I don't know how NHRA or IHRA gets back to that, but it might put more people in the seats. On the other hand, in the early 70's I was tucked away in my dad's camper while he and his similarly fueled up pals decided to liberate some of Irvine's watermelons after a late night T/F and AA/GS show at OCIR. Maybe late night racing might not be a good thing these days.

Go with the Applebee's beef nachos for a late night pick me up.

`One of my best memories of nite time racing was (92?) Us Nationals, Thrill, Connie, Cruz and Spurlock, near midnite, in a thick fog bank, after a long day of drizzle

 

[mgty3whlr]

Well IIRC all of the IHRA events at Trails went to at least 11PM

I don't think that they will have curview issues at Maple Grove either because in the past, The surrounding neighbors are on speed dial and never had issues with a national event going past the allotted time frame.

 

[Rajunz]

I've never been a fan of the Super classes. I just don't get the "on the gas/off the gas/on the gas" deal they all do. It's really lame.

For a Sportsman class, I have become a fan of Top Dragster. 3 different power adders = much variety. Lots of speed + ET and minimal between rounds maintenance. You could actually have some fun in that class.

Totally agree. Top Dragster is an awesome class to watch. How about scrapping TAFC and creating a Top Funny Car class instead?

 

[Jim]

I don't think that they will have curview issues at Maple Grove either because in the past, The surrounding neighbors are on speed dial and never had issues with a national event going past the allotted time frame.

Maple Grove has long had a policy of treating the neighbors well to avoid problems. Under the Stauffer family's ownership, they did not race late at night. Neighbors liked it because they could make money by charging people to park in their yards. They were also responsive to any issues that arose. Their goal was to avoid any legal restrictions placed on them by Mohnton Borough.

Whether IHRA has any problem going late will probably depend on how late, which nights of the week, and how they deal with neighbors.

 

[Professional Fan]

It's nice when the track has a good relationship with the neighbors like Maple Grove. Went to the race there once and thought it was neat that I could park on a neighbor's lawn for a small fee and avoid the parking lot chaos.