Don’t forget the walls
I know, I know, here I go again. Please, somebody tell me why NHRA has not gone to SAFER barriers on their retaining walls? If it works in NASCAR and IRL, why not in drag racing? Am I missing something? Hell, even at 1,000' these nitro cars are running around 300 mph, and if one hits the wall at any kind of acute angle, the driver will obviously be in serious jeopardy.
What reason is there for NOT using these barriers, which have proven to save lives in other forms of motorsport? Five deaths in a year is, as you say, five too many. Make them safe, please.
John R. Murnan II
Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Is it fixable?
Rev. Burk, 7000 hp± at 500' or at 1000' still makes a mess out of things when it blows, your picture of D. Herbert said a lot. I was on the starting line in truck #1 when it happened...
I spent 19 years on the Safety Safari and when an engine on fuel blows SHE blows. I really don’t think there is a good fix, unless maybe we go back to pump gas or just alcohol. Good luck on this one...
Ernie Martin
Burbank, California
Say it ain’t so
Jok said no throttle stops, no computers, no data recorders. Next he might even say no to delay boxes.
Dick Murray
A people person
Jok, track assets #1 have to be the employees. Without them, you the racers have no facility to operate. Minimum wage does not inspire dedicated or focused competent help.
#2... dead on about the track payouts... Need to go much farther back than the top 2 spots. If you make 2nd round you should at least get your entry fee back.
#3 cost control... Yep, VHT is pricey, and we need in a lot of ways to get back to a driver’s game. All the time delay boxes, throttle stops make for a more expensive car to build, take away from the uneducated spectator understanding the race. Getting butts in the bleachers is a big thing. You've got to find some way to get them out there and hooked on what is going on. Grudge races, dealer sponsored new car drags, SOMETHING - ANYTHING.
Media and community support would be a good thing. Hard to believe that a huge donation for charity/flood/tornado relief gets NO interest from local print or TV media.
Racers work days. A good thing. Need more commitment on the racers’ part for track cleanup opening day, etc... BUT the track needs to give away more than a TnT for the effort. A one-day pass entry would not kill the economics. if a racer with a 50k race car spends 5 hrs cleaning for Spring opening, the racer, it seems to me, should get some value for his time. 10bux/hr is a fair trade off.
Racers are CUSTOMERS. They do this mostly as a hobby. Since most weekends are 'losers', at the current payout structure.
#4: Two-day events are mandatory. Travel costs what they are, you need to rethink the every week '2k to win', and channel the money to more of a 2x a month bigger money race = 2 days long. And rethink the payout structure.
#5: Starting line guys need some shade. The sunburns at CFR are terrible.
#6: Look at the facility and imagine alternative uses that could be staged during the off weekend, week nights, etc... And here we go again about costs, employee availability and cost, etc. Diversify, diversify, diversify. Go-karts, midgets, mud boggers (had a pit but it was filled in), lawn mowers? There is a lot of blacktop and grass that could be used for bringing clients through the gates with minimal investment to make things happen. Whatever happened to cruise nights and selling food? I used to drive to CR just to grab a burger and hang with the other car guys... have a Wed. night open house on the grass... sell food and beer... sell passes down the track for $2 or $5 a shot. No track prep, street conditions, no water box burnout. Line 'em up and light 'em off. Need a minimum crew to operate - not like a full race weekend. The track makes good money on the midnight mania events. This is just a downscaled version of it with less cost, no trailer cars allowed. You can get the idea.
Jim Dos
(The other old gray hair guy in Tech tornado victim)
Waterloo, Iowa
Here’s a first
Change the payouts however you like. I've never cared about the payouts at the bracket races anyhow. If I need more money, I need to work on the weekends instead of playing. Take care.
Tom Worthington
Park at the track
Jok, great observations and suggestions. One other suggestion that the tracks could use. Letting the racers keep their rigs at the track during the season. I have heard some tracks have tried this. Don't really know from first hand knowledge. Racers in the Summit series that race only their home track could benefit from this.
The only issue would be performing maintenance on the car. When and how could be tough. Of course it would require more security from the tracks but if the racers just paid a small fee to keep the car there versus hauling it back and forth from home, it could be a cost savings.
Phil Hutchison
NHRA Division One Photographer
East Coast Drag News