8/9/04

I've been thinking...

I know, sounds scary, right? It does to me too. Rather than get personal about one subject I thought I would explore a realm of subjects that have been on my mind lately. We have been racing the last few weekends and I hear all sorts of things. Most of you know I owned and managed two different drag strips for 15 years so I have just about heard it all. But here are some common things we all hear at the track and a little response to provoke some thought on most of them.

1. Why is it all of us racers seem to whine a little bit if pit passes to a local bracket race are $10.00 when we think they should be $5.00 or even $7.00? Then the next words that pass across our lips go something like this:
a. “Man, I got a deal on that new delay box, only paid $450.00 for it.”
b. “I run alcohol now because its so much cheaper than the $6.00 race gas; alcohol only costs me $2.50 per gallon, of course I use twice as much.”
c. “I don't care if a new pair of slicks do cost $550.00, my 60-ft time is all over the place and I have to have them.”

2. Why is it that when starting line traction isn't perfect from the first time run on we are all bitchin' about it? Referring to number 1 is the best answer. It takes money, actually quite a bit of it to prep a track correctly. I used to spend about $300.00 per day at my tracks and that was eight years ago and I only sprayed out about 200 feet as the bracket cars were a lot less powerful then. If you get good track prep “someone” has to pay for it and it has to be the racers and crew members. I know some tracks only seem to sprinkle on the VHT or Dyna-Bite and others use a $400 55-gallon drum every race day. It is a choice by track management and a huge expense by the end of the season. Seems like a bargain to pay the extra $2 or $3 for pit pass now, doesn't it?

3. Why is it that bracket races have the worst emergency equipment? With current bracket cars running mid-seven-second quarter-mile E.T.s at 175 mph all the way to 20-second import classes, 95% of the bracket tracks I race at have either no ambulance or something that somehow passes for an “approved ambulance.” Only one track I raced brackets at had a trained crew and fire truck equipment and fully staffed ambulance. That track is Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa. They deserve a big DRO “way to go” for their concern for their customers. They treat every event like it is their NHRA Lucas Point Race. It is a shame IHRA and NHRA and the insurance carrier won't require more from the tracks. When I had my tracks we had everything from the minimum to save money so we could stay open to the last several years when we paid $65.00 per hour for a fully equipped Rescue vehicle and professional EMTs. On a 10-hour race day you can start to see the expenses involved that 99% of the time nobody ever needs (Thank God!). Even if there was a “safety surcharge” of a dollar or two per person I think we all should support it IF the tracks spend it on safety equipment and trained crews.

4. Why is it... I hear some racers complaining about a red-light in one lane and saying the roll-out must be messed up. Yet, I have only met a couple racers that have any idea how to measure roll-out or even what the standard amount of roll-out is. Ask the track manager and if he can't look you in the eye and say he checked it before the races you might want to consider racing elsewhere or asking him about checking it and letting the racers know it was done to make racing better and improve the attitude of all racers.

5. Why is it... that most tracks seem to have announcers that either have never raced or think they are at a national event. The first type just doesn't understand the talent it takes to win and prepare a car to win in bracket racing. How difficult it is to win a bracket race. Their biggest problem is they just flat-out CANNOT explain the actual racing. If they would get the computer operator to leave the dial-in displayed during eliminations that would be a great first step. Explaining the dial-ins and how the lights on the tree compensate for the difference, etc, etc. Would be a great first step in becoming a better bracket race announcer. The second type of announcer runs on and on about things that are of no interest to 99% of the racers and their fans at a bracket race. They could put their knowledge to good use by explaining the procedures, how the day's events are going to take place, etc, etc. Did I mention I have not been to a track yet where the PA system could actually be heard unless you were under a speaker. All tracks should have FM radio stations that are tied into the PA speakers.