Nitromater
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Would a Saturday night Finals be allowed IF a promoter wanted to try it?
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
Just Paul
Nitro Member
It's been done. St. Louis 1999 was run as a Saturday night race. First round didn't start until 7PM if I remember correctly. It got done well after 1AM. I think that was a little too late of a start IMO. It was a fun event though.
EDIT-
After going back and looking, it was supposed to start at 4PM and got delayed. I guess I didn't remember that part. That makes more sense.
EDIT-
After going back and looking, it was supposed to start at 4PM and got delayed. I guess I didn't remember that part. That makes more sense.
Last edited:
T.Smith
Nitro Member
2000 as well. Then it went to Sunday evening for a few years. Interestingly enough, Norwalk is on the old St. Louis hot as hell date.
I know Denver ran evening eliminations back in the 70's and 80's. I'm not sure if they were Saturday evening.
My guess would be the track owner and NHRA would have agree on when the gate would be the largest. The TV window would also be a factor. Lastly, would PRO agree to it.
I personally think racing at Norwalk at Noon and 2:30pm sucks. The excuse of making qualifying runs in race conditions to prep for Sunday is bulls**t when everyone is out there smoking the tires on Saturday. There has to be a balance of actual racing and putting on a respectable show for the fans.
Just from person experience. I've seen way too many times when either sitting in the staging lanes waiting to run or in the stands when fuels cars are running, people heading for the exits and nothing but red tail lights in the parking lot. I've seen it many times at RT66 and Indy. One of cool things about our sport is the amount of action on the track and in the pit area throughout whole day, but I also think it makes for a very long day, especially if you have kids.
Last edited:
In 1978 OCIR had a 32 car PDA top fuel and funny car show that started at 11:00 AM Saturday and ended Sunday at 2:30 in the morning John force won his first big race, and I won top fuel. even though I could not walk a single step due too a ruptured disc in my back. Yes I am very stubborn.
Larry Sutton---
Larry Sutton---
Chili
Nitro Member
Yes Denver had Saturday night finals for the first few years of the Mile High Nationals. I believe the reason was the Bandimere family is very religious and preferred not to race on Sunday. I could be wrong on the reason but that is what I was told.
I used to love night racing at Lions, OCIR, etc etc. The flames from the nitro cars at night was part of the excitement. We had some Sat night shows at Firebird, was fun to go at night when it was so hot in the day time. BTW - its 117 today in Phoenix. We call that THTL, means Too Hot To Live. heh
Gone Dead Train
Nitro Member
NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals Pomona July 5-7 2001. I was there all 3 days, it was hot and the place was packed.
Saturday night under the lights.
Saturday night under the lights.
45 years ago on this date it was 117 here, an all-time record. We're talking north central Texas, not Phoenix. Y'all are used to the broil, just like Minnesotans are used to the freeze. I like it mid 70s with low humidity and a light breeze, myself.
I've been to the Texas Motorplex back when the races were in September and it was 104 ambient. The track was close to 150 degrees. I believe you could have qualified for Top Fuel with a 7.00 pass. I just found some shade for a few hours and didn't go into the stands until night qualifying.
sfw1960
Nitro Member
I'd say you are on point.
As a lifelong fan; previously enjoyed videographer & edit monkey I / we always enjoyed the Saturday night fun times probably best.
I believe the W/E before Mike Moran set his pro street record in Indy so may years ago - we stayed very late at Mid-Michigan Motorplex to see if he could be "The HRM World's Fastest Street Car Shootout" record holder, first to 200+ in the1320. That dog could hunt, with the PM's if need be.
Jim Ledford wanted that record - but it wasn't to be at his facility.
"Casper" was eating engines faster than could be replaced. but when they got to Indy it went 200+ and who doesn't like to see dual buck-snorts of NOS??
I'm not finding what I though were backups of old footage I wanted to upload, but I am only finding a few clips and the Moran editing just might have been done on analog stuff before the PC with NLE & Capture was a thing for the "prosumer". It will be fairly hard to locate a VHS tape with that on it - but unless I can get ancient hardware to work on more modern junk, it might be my only option, or just say "uNcLe"....
OH and let's NOT get started about Under The Lights!
Whether Alky, Nitrous, Hi Octane or the holiness of Nitr0 = some pretty cool racin' to bear witness to. ~~ (Right AR - @Alan Reinhart )??
As far consistent safer visibility for drivers, mostly it "needs work" from the opinions I've read about - I mentioned surface - edge slung LEDs for centering up, and I saw it done on a backwoods track online - but better implementation is needed. I could care less about the credit or coin - safety needs to be a thing!
Uh, anyway ~ if the fans like it and the venues do fine, then - meet up or perish is the way the shark tank has worked. LOL!
Similar threads
