New early news about the state of the track

[crossbonesdennis]

If I remeber correctly, the original plan didn't have enough seating for a NHRA national or ADRL event. Also If the pits aren't paved good luck pulling a big event.

[gdog]

From speaking to Ronnie I think there has not been a plan for MAR Park to replace GIR in any way, the intention has been to replace MAR .The business plan,setup and execution of the operation is based on a MAR type facility not a GIR type. Therefore national events would be a byproduct of GIR not reopening.I do know that the NHRA stop in St.Louis was one of the more profitable for them and I would think they would accommodate a few shortcomings to stop here. Grandstand rentals and johnny's on the spot would handle the excess crowd problems as long as there was enough physical space.

[hemiman4262003]

well,anyway how it turns out,hope to enjoy racing in 2012

[slingshot383]

Rumor has it that the Super classes are in for a big change in the next couple of years, a realignment of the indexes and a removal of all downtrack throttle stops. Also that the alcohol classes would be going to the big show, along with a couple of nostalgia fuel classes. It sounds like Pro Mod is going away (lack of sponser funding).

[sg3526]

Aug 2, 2011 4:29:18 GMT -5 slingshot383 said:

Rumor has it that the Super classes are in for a big change in the next couple of years, a realignment of the indexes and a removal of all downtrack throttle stops. Also that the alcohol classes would be going to the big show, along with a couple of nostalgia fuel classes. It sounds like Pro Mod is going away (lack of sponser funding).

Well, they sent a survey out to all the Super Class guys last year and the overwhelming response was to the leave the Super Classes as they are. The biggest issues they are having at National events now is getting the car count up. Several years ago they started "rotating" classes at National events and then the fuel prices went through the roof and people just flat out quit showing up. And with the economy the way it is they're gonna play hell finding a new sponsor for the Pro-Mod class. And the alochol cars are just getting too fast for where they are running and the track owners aren't wanting to pay what the NHRA is wanting for them to run at their track (there's that economy thing again).

Time was when you went to National event to run Super Gas/Super Comp and there was 120 to 140 cars. Now they are lucky to get half of that, and Stock/Super Stock really meant something other than where you were at in qualifying because it was only a 128 car field and you had to run to make the field.

I think a lot of guys just got tired of being treated like red headed step children by the NHRA and just decided to either quit racing or start racing big money bracket races. I know the Folks (Ron, Brian, Nick) were always a figure at National and Divisional events a few years ago and you would see them or read about them all over the Midwest and beyond. They got tired of bringing 6-7 cars out and being treated like crap not to mention the cost involved. I just entered the U.S. Nationals and the entry fee was $355.00 for one car, yep I made the choice to race it and I made the choice to pay so there is no one to blame but me.

The IHRA is having there fair share of car count issues as well. When you go to a race and there's only 8-12 cars in your class the end is in sight.

[dennismopar73]

i firmly beleive that a track doesnt have to have a 'NHRA' to survive at all, in fact , if ,,IF the track owner/,manager has a handle on his area, , he shouldnt need NHRA,,IHRA, or any other

[rnrz]

Just look at George ray's in Paragould Ark.

[warpedspeed]

Aug 2, 2011 13:18:50 GMT -5 rnrz said:

Just look at George ray's in Paragould Ark.

Scarey, but true.

[hemiman4262003]

i think they have that all planned out and who there going with,there ideal are there staying like the old mar,mabee bigger,keep it smply,low overhead,great familly fun,few big races here and there

[chance]

I beginning to think this whole thing is a pipe dream!

[mouthracer]

The Hoette tree farm is up for sale on the same outer road 400 acres .
And I have a customer with 40 acres with a nice double wide and a lake ,barn that would sell for his price .
right off 70 19 just south .
Property value could go up or down depending how the owners look at it .

[richdetert]

Aug 2, 2011 17:55:12 GMT -5 mouthracer said:

The Hoette tree farm is up for sale on the same outer road 400 acres .
And I have a customer with 40 acres with a nice double wide and a lake ,barn that would sell for his price .
right off 70 19 just south .
Property value could go up or down depending how the owners look at it .

From what I heard at the one meeting was it was the property owner being a partner in the track is what was helping make it a more do-able thing.

They didn't have to come up with the cash to buy the property that way.

They just needed the money to actually build it (construction).

[slingshot383]

The reason behind having a sactioned track is to make the insurance cheaper. And in todays lawyer happy sociaty, you need the insurance. I know about the survey to the Super classes, I also know about how the spectators flee the stands instead of watching the throttle stop cars race. NHRA and IHRA are trying to get and keep butts in the seats, and that is their focus.

[sg3526]

Aug 3, 2011 4:30:03 GMT -5 slingshot383 said:

The reason behind having a sactioned track is to make the insurance cheaper. And in todays lawyer happy sociaty, you need the insurance. I know about the survey to the Super classes, I also know about how the spectators flee the stands instead of watching the throttle stop cars race. NHRA and IHRA are trying to get and keep butts in the seats, and that is their focus.

True, but unless you have flames coming out of your headers that are 8 feet tall no one wants to watch you go down the track. Watch the next time your at the track and once the Fuel cars go down the track everyone starts to leave the stands. As soon as they fire up the Pro Stock cars it's like a mass exodus to get out of the stands. What is strange though is that people actually come back up to watch the Pro Mods run. And the boys in Glendora can't seem to find the funding to keep that class alive. In my opinion the fuel classes suck!! Send a pair of cars down the track then send out the clean up crew for 15-20 minutes down time, send two more and repeat. As soon as the Pro Stocks and Pro Mods are done I head back to the trailer, have no interest in watching the fuel classes at all.

[crossbonesdennis]

I don't think people leaving the seats has anything to do with throttle stops. Most people that attend a national event are there to see 300mph nitro burning cars. They have no interest in a 160mph 8.90 dragster or a 140 mph doorcar.