From what I understand Memphis is next, the GABR Million is moving due to the facility issues and people. IE management; and they already moved the Dream team challenge to Holly Springs.

I can think of more than a few who may very well deliver a baby over this one, but...

Does anyone else think we should get back to the basics?

The consequences of disfavor in diverting from basics, is stacking up in a hurry.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mike Rietow,

Can I get a Amen?

On a more positive note: The 4 tracks in Iowa are doing fine and last year was maybe their best year in a while. These are not multi-million dollar facilities, so overhead is manageable as long as you don't try to turn them into an all paved National Event style track. They have primarily grass parking, good pit roads, basic but effective towers and excellent track prep at all of them. Wisconsin has a track that has been SERIOUSLY upgraded and will have a strong program.

This summer will be a litmus test of sorts. Racing just in Iowa you can run for 2-$50K races, 1-$25K race, 1-$10K race, 9-$7K races, 7-$5K races and never leave Iowa and no conflicting dates. That's 20 races paying $5000 to win or more in about 4-1/2 months.

Round money is pretty solid, entry fees really fair. I hope I wear the S10 out this summer!!!

So, drag racing is not "terminal" everywhere for sure. Stay positive, life is a lot less stressful ;-)

Good luck this season.

Jok Nicholson

quote:

Originally posted by Toad1:
On a more positive note: The 4 tracks in Iowa are doing fine and last year was maybe their best year in a while. These are not multi-million dollar facilities, so overhead is manageable as long as you don't try to turn them into an all paved National Event style track. They have primarily grass parking, good pit roads, basic but effective towers and excellent track prep at all of them. Wisconsin has a track that has been SERIOUSLY upgraded and will have a strong program.

This summer will be a litmus test of sorts. Racing just in Iowa you can run for 2-$50K races, 1-$25K race, 1-$10K race, 9-$7K races, 7-$5K races and never leave Iowa and no conflicting dates. That's 20 races paying $5000 to win or more in about 4-1/2 months.

Round money is pretty solid, entry fees really fair. I hope I wear the S10 out this summer!!!

So, drag racing is not "terminal" everywhere for sure. Stay positive, life is a lot less stressful ;-)

Good luck this season.

Jok Nicholson

And good luck Jok

Not a single Amen on the principle's this country and its freedom/liberty was founded, and people wonder why we're F'd with unlawful mandates and inevitable bankruptcy!

AMAZING!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mike Rietow,

TOAD1 great to hear about the tracks in Iowa and the one in Wisconson. Im in middle area of a few tracks and Milan being about 50 min. north of me. I have about 8 tracks with in a 1.5--3.5hr. radius and am able to travel where I want. I do hope that Milan might be bought and continue as a Dragstrip as I have been going there for 40 years. Also Pacemakers hopefully will be able to open at some time. Alot of people and their familys spent lots of weekends at racetracks all over the country and hate to see that privilege go away for the generations to come after us.

I agree with all the above about racing (not just drag racing) slowly dying, I would say anyone 30 & under cares much about racing as Biden does about improving this country. (I know someones gonna be butt hurt ) most of this generation care about xboxs & gaming, and the few that don't do not care so much for the actual racing just use it as a "hangout spot". as stated previously if some tracks would create new special events as much as I hate to suggest but example: squatted truck events we'd all need hearing aids by days end) the only downside to some of those events is the "negative crowd" it brings in, Galot just had to install security cameras due to a event this past weekend. i try not to think about the future because it's sad I've been going to the dragstrip since I was three weeks old it is all I know.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dragkid1990,

You can kind of see the immediate future of racing being the generation of sons and daughters of us gearheads. They can't really buy a daily car they can actually work on but if dad or grandpa have a bracket car or a legal class car there is hope the sport can continue, differently I am sure but still continue.
I sold my body shop in 1979 so I could lease Eddyville Dragway. We changed it from class racing to bracket racing (some friction involved there!) but it grew, a few years later we purchased what was NEITA Raceway and changed it to Cedar Falls Raceway and ran both of them for two years (not recommended to maintain some sanity). We owned and managed Cedar Falls Raceway for 10 more years and managed it for new owners one more year. My entire family was and still is tied to a great family of racers and race fans. I am so glad my sons got to grow up around great people who shared a passion for it. I hope that continues but the world is a changing, that's for sure.
Until then I will keep racing as long as this aging body and brain work to keep reaction times good and working on the new S10 doesn't become too difficult. Still like crawling under there, swapping trannys, detailing the wiring and trying to keep getting better on the track.
See ya at the stripe,

Jok

quote:

Originally posted by Toad1:
On a more positive note: The 4 tracks in Iowa are doing fine and last year was maybe their best year in a while. These are not multi-million dollar facilities, so overhead is manageable as long as you don't try to turn them into an all paved National Event style track. They have primarily grass parking, good pit roads, basic but effective towers and excellent track prep at all of them. Wisconsin has a track that has been SERIOUSLY upgraded and will have a strong program.

This summer will be a litmus test of sorts. Racing just in Iowa you can run for 2-$50K races, 1-$25K race, 1-$10K race, 9-$7K races, 7-$5K races and never leave Iowa and no conflicting dates. That's 20 races paying $5000 to win or more in about 4-1/2 months.

Round money is pretty solid, entry fees really fair. I hope I wear the S10 out this summer!!!

So, drag racing is not "terminal" everywhere for sure. Stay positive, life is a lot less stressful ;-)

Good luck this season.

Jok Nicholson

Very good point! The overhead issue is the same issue I see a lot of people get into in their daily lives. A guy can be house poor and so can a track to an extent! In the end all of these super nice facilities are just that...super nice, but if ya can't open the doors or afford to turn on the lights, you can't race. Do I like the nicer facilities? Yes, but I like going racing every weekend more than I dislike grass pit areas.

quote:

Originally posted by Toad1:
On a more positive note: The 4 tracks in Iowa are doing fine and last year was maybe their best year in a while.

Just curious, which four tracks are you referring to? Iowa currently has six tracks operating, but I'll admit to knowing very little about the western ones. I'm guessing three of them are Earlville, Eddyville, and CF, but that leaves Humboldt, Onawa, and I29 (not counting ones like Conesville).

Onawa and I-29 are unknowns to me but have not heard from anyone on what their Big Bucks payouts are.

I-29 has only tnt and run whatya brung no brackets listed onowa has box-nobox then regular top n mod some 2000 and 2 5000 0n labor day

Looks like Cedar Falls Motorsports Park and Eddyville will have their concrete barriers in place for the season opener. I know the return road is being smoothed out at Cedar Falls Motorsports Park because my company is sponsoring the materials and TRYING TO FIND SOME VOLUNTEERS to help this Old Guy get it done the first week of May.

quote:

Originally posted by Toad1:
I know the return road is being smoothed out at Cedar Falls Motorsports Park because my company is sponsoring the materials and TRYING TO FIND SOME VOLUNTEERS to help this Old Guy get it done the first week of May.

Great !!! As long as there are no pot holes on the return road I’m good.

Mark .
Going to get return road first, dragsters are getting a hard drop of the front wheels on too many bumps, then the two "rough spots" on the Pit Road. Weather permitting it will done before May 12th.
Talked to track owner last Fall and sounded like they are adding dirt to low spots around pit road rather than gravel that sticks to tires and tracks all over the staging lanes. I owned that track for about 12 years, maintenance never ends and it does not come cheap, any of it.

Toad1, I do not race a dragster anymore (door car now) but good to hear the track itself is what it is but the return roads are important as they can and will beat up a dragster. Great they are adressing the problem. I live about 2.3 miles from Diamond Race Cars and they are the company that does the front suspension on their cars and also retrofit on others. Im am there alot and the amount of updates and front suspension on other makes of dragsters will suprise you. I am there enough to see the hairline cracks after the foot box as the dragsters get sent or brought in. Its not the track so much as onced launched they stay torqued in kinda of a bow. But when going down a rough and bumpy return road they flex both ways and then the problem begins. Good for that track and good luck racing this year.

Topeka had, has?, the wide cracks in the pits and on the return road.
My 2-step plug came out twice there when the small front tires on the dragster vibrated the chasis.
Never happened any where else.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Koski:
Topeka had, has?, the wide cracks in the pits and on the return road.
My 2-step plug came out twice there when the small front tires on the dragster vibrated the chasis.
Never happened any where else.

Never fear, those repairs will be included in the infrastructure $3 trillion dollar stimmy program, masterminds are cooking up as we speak, I'M SURE!!

There's nothing a stimmy can't fix.

Was over to Diamond Race cars today and there is a older Undercover car to get a front suspension added. Owner had the car sand blasted to get the hammer finish powdercoat off so when Diamond is done with their work will get all re powdered in a solid color. With the finish removed it was discovered that the steering spindles were only now being held on by the weld on one side at the bottom of it. Great timing for the owner because that could have caused a real problem if it broke off going down the track. After Diamond gets done with it will be safe again and will ride better that ever, let alone taking strain off the chassis and there is also tunability in the the front suspension. This wil be a win-win for the owner as 4 link rear, suspension in the front and caught what could have been a disaster if one of the spindle bosses finished breaking off.