What was WJ whining about???

[Gary H]

I'm sure it will be the same at Indy this year, no free drinking water. You'll have to buy it. And WTF is up with having to pay to park there? Cheap ass*s

Thats what WJ said, the NHRA scalping the fans...

 

[pro stock]

I'm just surprised he was given interview time during the John Force racing show. NHRA drag racing, whats that?

 

[squid]

I'm just surprised he was given interview time during the John Force racing show. NHRA drag racing, whats that?

lol....so true

 

[mick]

as long as nhra nat. events consist of a full sportsmen field, ps & psb; i believe
mr. johnson is 100% accurate with his comments; they are the majority of
the participants on track throughout a race weekend.

the mph of the fuel classes surpassed facility threshold some time ago,
only gaining attention via a fatality........the tracks in most instances can
not be lengthened, so will the future of fuel racing continue to buck tradition
racing at a shortened length and allow very limited innovation and escalating
costs? or revamp their program to allow a return to 1/4 mile racing at
reduced speeds, e.t.'s, and most importantly costs?

 

[Bullet]

I thought that WJ's comments were quite clear (he did give a long winded answer).

In summary, he said that as a result of the NHRA's lack of action in slowing the Fuel Cars down 10-15 years ago, the tracks are now being forced to spend extra money to upgrade the braking area/sand traps (for the Fuel Cars).

He feels that if the NHRA had been a little more proactive and slowed them down a years ago, the tracks would be able to use the money (that is now being used to upgrade the braking areas) to fix other issues with the tracks ie better drainage to address/stop water percolation.

I can't say that I don't agree with him. But also, regardless of whether you like it or not, 90% of the fans in the stands go only to see the Fuel Cars. Just take a look at the attendances at Divisional Races held at the big tracks (yes I understand that they are not promoted anywhere near the level of a National Event). The bottom line is the Fuel Cars draw the big crowds where PAYING spectators are involved.

 

[T.Smith]

Someone should show WJ what a spill plate is.

 

[.]

You can hardly blame him. Watch that run again, and imagine yourself in that car going 150+ looking like it was on a street in a Minnesota winter.

Thank god he is originally from Minnesota and has good winter driving skills!


As much a I love nitro cars.....I still agree with WJ.

 

[Toejam]

I'm just surprised he was given interview time during the John Force racing show. NHRA drag racing, whats that?

Now that is Funny!!!!!

 

[afx421]

awesome interview from w.j! he tells it like it is! its easy for someone in thier rocking chair to say hes whining but they are not in a 2,400 lb car going 200 plus mph and skating like that. that was a great job of driving period and i agree with him about the NHRA catering to the fuel cars , shutdowns ect instead of working on the surface, and oh yes it was o.k to interview tony $humacher EVERY second last year but not john this year- i understand. sorry i forgot this is dsr.com in disguise

 

[kountryboy2]

Did I hear him blame the Fuel cars for Water coming up though the track?? I think WJ's just jealous they don't get the ink and exposure the fuel cars get!

Homer, You need to just worry about just taking pictures. Your knowledge on pro stockers and WJ is about on par with your posts on yellowbullet

 

[kountryboy2]

Yes he was pi$$ed big time and who can blame him. This is the second time this year he has to do one hell of a job driving or he crashes because of a wet track. These P/S cars are a hand full on a good track much less a bad or poorly prepped one. That was about as animated as I've ever seen him. He will speak his mind like him or not but he tells like he sees it. His point was NHRA has become reactionary rather than proactive when it comes the racers. That's what you get when you hire bean counters instead of people who know the sport.

Good post Mike. Now don't fall down,but I agree with you 100%

 

[Super Mod]

I'm just surprised he was given interview time during the John Force racing show. NHRA drag racing, whats that?

Yes , I for one was extremely dismayed at Ashley's DQ. John was just glad his baby made another run safely. The scooter got more air time. All is well.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

When some jack on the interstate or around town isn't paying attention to his driving and you have to make an evasive move to save your $10k beater from a trip to Maaco, aren't YOU pissed?

Same situation. Except WJ isn't driving a 10K beater and was going 180mph or so!

 

[DE3]

It's interesting to see the responses to this based on where you read them. On boards where there are a majority of racers, WJ is a hero. On boards where there are a majority of fans, of which I consider this site one, his comments are construed as whining or sour grapes, by many, not all. Who is right? I'll take the former. How ANYONE can call this whining just boggles my mind.

 

[RacerRose]

Re: not a civil engineer. but i drove past a couple holiday inn expresses last night

as far as I know. And what they were saying over the PA all weekend. was that the percolation never happened at the grove before. In my opinion It could be that the footings for the pre cast guard wall sections in the shutdown area are preventing sub surface water from draining away as there is plenty of slope on either side to allow drainage. and there are forklift spaces under the pre-cast to allow surface runoff. Could be water is trapped between two layers of asphalt and doesn't show until weight is on it. In that case dewatering well point systems wont even help.

I've gone to every national event since 1985, and with all of the years there has been rain, hurricanes, blah blah- I've never seen water perk out of the track at MG. They kept mentioning new sealer in the shutdown area, maybe that had something to do with it.

I'll say this- the down time sucked, but safety comes first. My wife called me, and I said "Honey,I've been rained out, snowed out, and "colded" out before at the races, but I've never been "sunned" out.

Came pretty darn close.

 

[G'ginna]

It's interesting to see the responses to this based on where you read them. On boards where there are a majority of racers, WJ is a hero. On boards where there are a majority of fans, of which I consider this site one, his comments are construed as whining or sour grapes, by many, not all. Who is right? I'll take the former. How ANYONE can call this whining just boggles my mind.

I don't see where you get the sour grapes...IMO a majority of the posts here read pro WJ and that he is correct in his assessment of the situation.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

It's interesting to see the responses to this based on where you read them. On boards where there are a majority of racers, WJ is a hero. On boards where there are a majority of fans, of which I consider this site one, his comments are construed as whining or sour grapes, by many, not all. Who is right? I'll take the former. How ANYONE can call this whining just boggles my mind.

I agree with you Don. The sad fact is that some who are new to the sport (say last 4 years) may not understand the WJ impact. And what he means to the PS class.

 

[Speed1288]

I'll say it once I'll say it again, The mans called the professor for a reason. I agree with everything he says. As much as I love JF, I'd much rather hear WJ talk than him (no offense to john but after 10 years of nonstop coverage im a little tired of it) I also feel bad for maple grove because I race their regularly and in terms of track prep, people and surroundings its my favorite and to see the have seepage and problems kinda sucks

 

[DE3]

I don't see where you get the sour grapes...IMO a majority of the posts here read pro WJ and that he is correct in his assessment of the situation.

Re-reading the posts, in actual count, you are correct. Probably me in more of a twist by the pot stirring attempt of the OP. But I still hold my generalization of the board type differences.

I agree with you Don. The sad fact is that some who are new to the sport (say last 4 years) may not understand the WJ impact. And what he means to the PS class.

This is so true. Many fans don't see beyond the fuel show and what goes on "behind the scenes" at these events. Some take the time to learn, some don't. I've had people tell me that 8 seconds wasn't fast. But you put your trust in the sanctioning body to give you the safest track to race on. Do I need to be thinking about water on the track and going down it for the sake of the "show", in a 6 sec. 190+ ride on 12" tires? Incompetence on the part of one of their employees cost me a car last year, and its cost others also in other situations(ie.,running late in dewy conditions). I don't want to see it happen to someone else, or experience it again myself for that matter.
WJ is important not just to the class, but the sport itself. I think we need more guys like him and Larry Morgan.

 

[----NONE----]

This was on Yellowbullet. Seemed like Jason Line was also a little torqued. WJ and Larry Morgan are probably the only ones that aren't worried about speaking out on camera.

YouTube - wj

Hurry before it's pulled down.

Yeah, Don, you're right about the message boards. The racers on those boards have the same point of view as WJ.