Too bad the late Famoso Raceway operator Jack Williams couldn't have hung around a couple of months longer, as the former Goodguys event director might've -- MIGHT've -- been the one person who could convince Goodguys that calling a March Meet prematurely would be a stupid idea. Gary and Marc Meadors certainly didn't heed the advice of Steve Gibbs or Don Garlits, among many other veterans who reportedly argued for going ahead with this event (which has NEVER rained out in the month of March) until and unless the predicted inclement weather actually arrived.
It never did: FYI, Friday was dry, all day. So was Saturday, until
3:00 p.m. Sunday was cool but clear, with only brief sprinkles reported by my Bakersfield contacts.
Because GG's championship banquet was to be held Thursday night, most of the race teams either had arrived or were en route by the time GG pulled the plug, early Thursday -- a day that was sunny and warm. I know, because I'd just arrived in town, after a 285-mile drive (in my
'61 Belvedere). Incredibly, GG officials stated that any air temperature under 60 degrees was "not safe"; thus, the premature postponement, based entirely on weather predictions. PR-guy John Drummond was even quoted as such in the Bakersfield Californian.
Does this mean that, in future events, if a racer loses control and crashes in 59-degree weather, GG will be liable for conducting a race under unsafe conditions? (You can bet that some sleazy attorney will be pulling out a yellow copy of the Californian as printed evidence!) This surely comes as news to NHRA and IHRA, who frequently conduct entire national events in sub-60-degree temperatures.
Even if the weather happens to be better next weekend, seasoned promoters realize that rain dates are always losers, spectator-wise.
Worse, Bakersfield's hotels were already either booked up or nearly so, due to long-scheduled events ranging from swimming and soccer competitions to a cosmetics convention. The nearest decent-sized city is Fresno -- a 90-minute commute from Famoso Raceway. Thus, anyone coming from any distance who happens to have a second weekend open is unlikely to make the trip -- especially if long-range forecasts predict the sub-60-degree temperatures that GG has deemed "unsafe."
Admittedly, the Grapevine was shut down by snow most of Friday and
Saturday, cutting off the most-convenient route north from the population of Los Angeles. Anyone with any sense of history would know that this has happened before; fans simply headed for the coast and took Hwy. 101 north -- avoiding mountain elevations -- then cut back east on Hwys. 41-46, across the Central Valley. (You'll recall that Famoso is situated on Hwy. 46, east of 99.) Because of GG's long-standing policy against rain dates, many people would've taken this alternative route, secure in the knowledge that there would be only this one chance to have a March Meet in 2006. Besides, surveys over the years have consistently indicated that more fans come from points NORTH than south.
No doubt about it: The ENTIRE event could've, would've, and SHOULD've been run, even if one or more qualifying sessions had to be canceled to protect against rain delays. This is particularly true in consideration of the printed advance material that Goodguys distributes, advising that ALL events are "rain-or-shine" deals, with no postponement or "rain date" offered -- EVER. In the past, rain-affected events have either been condensed into a single day (e.g., Sears Point's Jim Davis Memorial, circa 1992, which was run to conclusion on Sunday only) or canceled altogether. I can recall NO precedent for a rain date, either at GG drag races or car shows.
Now that a new precedent has been set (and 15 years of established policy discarded), we have to assume that if it actually DOES rain this coming weekend, GG will postpone the March Meet to a THIRD date -- right, Goodguys?
"Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them," somebody said. This unnecessary postponement demonstrates that even multimillionaire car-show promoters would be wise to pay closer attention to history -- and less to what a TV weatherman is saying.
Dave Wallace
(March Meet regular since 1964)
GOOD MOVE, GOODGUYS
A well-deserved thank you. I was on Hy. 5 on the way to Bakersfield when I received a call from Goodguys. We were able to change our reservation to the next weekend without a problem. I would just like to say how much I think of Goodguys for the way they have handled this situation with the rain. I have spent many a time at race tracks in the rain for several days before the promoters call it.
Calling the March Meet early like they did makes it a lot easier and less expensive for all the racers and fans. And then to spend all the effort it takes to call hundreds of people rates very high in my book.
We all have a tendency to complain about stuff but when someone goes the extra mile they deserve a big thank you.
I for one certainly applaud your efforts. Thanks Goodguys, you truly are Goodguys.
Jim Murphy
WW2 Racing
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