|
11/9/04
ON TOUR
I REALLY enjoyed your story on Outlaw Drag Strips! Thank
you!
If you are thinking of heading up to Bethany to check out
the track there, you might think about also hitting US 36
Raceway at Osborn, MO. It is a pretty nice 1/8 mile unsanctioned
track, about 30 miles east of St. Joe. The track has electronic
scoreboards and they have some booked-in shows (Ozark Super
Shifters, Midwest S/S and Jets, etc.). There is a dirt oval
track on the facility as well.
One of the coolest things at this track is that the spectator
side is elevated and you back in your pickup and watch the
races from your lawn chairs in your pickup bed. Here is a
link to their website: http://www.us36raceway.com/
Thanks again.
Loyd Church
Council Bluffs, IA
MO' MONEY
OK, NHRA is at it again. Just read your NHRA income article
and had to write to add that now there is a rules change
for 2005 that requires NHRA membership to get a new or renewed
permanent number; they just can't get enough money from the
racers. This will undoubtedly cause many bracket racers to
rethink running in the Summit ET series. Does anyone at NHRA
ever think just how much their decisions cost the average
weekly racer? I'm considering not running the Summit series
this year.
Thanks.
Mike Cooper
HOW ABOUT A FREEBIE?
Jeff, you hit the nail on the head again when you wrote
about the empty stands needing to be full. This goes for
NHRA National events as well. Chicago looked AWFUL. Here
was a race with no rain, a little cool and all time performances,
and the stands were barely half full. That's disgraceful!
What TV viewer wants to watch a race that fans don't even
want to go to?
Your point is correct, that letting fans in for free will
pay dividends.I have always said that on Saturday, if a race
is not sold out for Sunday, a plan to fill the seats should
be implemented. Free seats through radio stations would get
the fans in, as well as get free exposure for the race. Give
4 tickets to each of the first ten callers, for example.
Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, church groups etc., let them
in and the sponsors would love it as well as the TV people
who would have a better looking show. This would build the
fan base for the future as well as build a good relationship
with the community.
You should be on the NHRA Board! (and Martin) Keep up the
good work.
Jeff Garvin
WHAT'S WALLACE THINKING?
Put me down as one who likes those burnouts that Dave Wallace
wants to eliminate. I've always enjoyed them. In fact, when
John Force started to truncate his full length burnouts,
I've sorta felt cheated ever since. I do know that Jim Head
has been trying to drop them for some time.
Must have driven you nuts Dave, when they did dry hops in addition to the main
burnout.
Dave, your correspondent's biases are showing here. You probably go to so many
races, (I'm guessing you go a LOT more than I get to.) that after a short while,
you've had quite enough and want to get back home. (Baseball writers are always
imploring the rules makers to shorten the games.) My opinion is that I pay
dearly for the tickets to the main
events. And the once or twice a year I get a chance to go, I want my money's
worth. If you're so goldarned in a rush, just tape the event on TV and "zip" past
the burnouts, then sit down at the computer and write your report.
Troublemaker.
David N. Gawboy
MORE KICKS AT ROUTE 66
Just a small comment on the article about one race in 2006
at Route 66
Raceway: it is hard to believe that one of the top tracks in the country can't
hold two events. As a racer and the owner of the paint shop for the Pedregons,
Creasys, the Greek, and others. We already can't get a good schedule to race
for the local guys & now one less event for the pro teams to be at our
home track giving us good advertising exposure.
Who makes these decisions? I often wonder why I stay involved
in this sport. Looking back at past weather conditions, I
would say that was the biggest reason for empty stands. Maybe
possible to change dates for the worlds fastest track to
still have two events.
Thanks for your time.
Kevin
Bump & Grind Motorsports LLC
P.S. Great web site; keep up the good work.
|
