Mark, that was probably unfair of me, I just read that this morning and figured Hemmings would write a 4 pages article about how 120 shiney car guys showed up to watch the battle between the Hemis and the Stage Ones......... I guess I should have a 3rd doughnut before posting in the morning :Brow:
No Binky the Clown I certainly hope this side show is not during the P/S event. Don't want too see that. Donny's comment is spot on. Run this like the small block and middle block shootouts the day before or after....... :TU:
So you're saying that the not modified original cars don't belong in pure stock. That's very interesting.
No, not saying that at all. If there is a special grouping it's best not to be disruptive of the regular event. For instance the small block shootout at Stanton back in 2000 or so, I participated in that, and then participated in the P/S drags the next day.
I highly doubt this would be held on saturday after the PSMCDR due to the track has their normal saturday night program running which means we have to vacate the track by 4pm on saturday. Therefore it would be held on thursday or sometime friday.
Special Event & P/S No thanks! It's not my show, so I guess I don't get a vote. But I do have an opinion and it echoes Brian's and Donny's: Don't try to add this to the main event in September. If you want to do a magazine special, hold it on Thursday or Sunday (or somewhere else - any time else). If you start to tinker with the significance of the "regular show", the event will suffer. The Stanton P/S event is its own centre stage. Think: "New Coke"
It only makes sense to hold it sometime during that weekend. After rounds on Saturday or what have you. The cars will already be there racing the regular event. It is not meant to interfer or any other thing with the most important venue. Just an aside to the festivities. I would like it best Saturday after everything is finished than anyone who is interested could watch and if you have no interest just continue packing your trailer and ignore it. Before the event may be difficult because of the certing process for Dan and Bob that goes on. Plus Dan and Bob have decided to not include FAST cars, so every car will be a PS legal car. I agree with ChinaMike that we should not sound so exclusionary. We need more people to come to keep it viable for Dan and Bob to continue the event. I simply can not see how four cars at the maximum could ever take anything away from the 130 other cars running particularly if they are already there racing rounds. Mark
So what's wrong with holding it at Martin in June like Joel suggested? All the same cars will be there from both groups now that it's a 2 day event. Or is that the real problem: Getting both groups together. o No:
Not to be left out But Buick Raceday at Norwalk Raceway Park on June 4th is also open to the HEMI vs Stage 1 race. And we know what's not tied to a tree! Anyone up for that day, let me know! Bill Wills(skylarkwilly) says we need to do it at Norwalk! No Slicks, just street tires though, we think! ou: :blast:
We can always do it in the North East :grin: Hemmings Muscle Palooza Lbn NY in May, E-Towns Muscle Car series June, July & Nov. 3 events, Fall Muscle Palooza Lbn NY Sept. even Mopar Day Lbn Vlly NY Oct. Who says that it has to be a one race deal. Why not have many races and at the end of the year who ever has the most wins Hemis or Buicks gets bragging rights. That's my two cents, Plus I want a peice of them Buicks myself F.A.S.T., PS or Bone Stock. Don't matter to me :beer
To really test rotate drivers This is not how it was explained. To most folks, if it takes a special time set aside for a special group of cars...that sounds pretty exclusionary. Most participants are not that enthusiastic about a Stage 1 vs Hemi shootout. If you want to drive folks away start interfering with their track time.....it will backfire.
There is no time lost for anyone. If it is run after we are finished on Saturday, who loses time? Or less prefered but even if it was run between rounds when we have the 45-60 minute cool down for our cars, who is losing time again? No one runs at either of those times so it does not take a single pass from any ps participant. Yes, it was originally proposed with FAST cars but that was deemed to be not in keeping with the PS theme so they were excluded. I agree Brian we are a select group overall but we still need to be open to all that would qualify under the rules. And I still fail to see who is harmed by two additional virgin stock cars being (and paying) at a race for exactly that type of car. If the two cars ran regular rounds and were matched up I assume you would have no issue? There is very little difference between them running regular rounds or after the race or during dead time when no racing would normally occur. Donny, Hemmings is not involved in this at all. Dan and I have control over content and it is with MCE. And will not be written as part of the PS races. I hope this clarifies it to some degree. I spoke to a bunch of fellow racers yesterday on the phone and none seemed to think it was a bad idea. To the contrary they thought it would build excitement for the race. Maybe they were being nice as we were on the phone.? Still not sure who is harmed by to ps cars racing each other. Let me know what you think everyone. Mark
If it does not include non-Pure Stock cars, that is entirely different, and not much more of a side show than Rob Clary being attacked by the Stude guys a few years ago........ :laugh: But after 130 cars in a monsoon last year (I am still waiting for my carpet to dry) I think the format is fine. If you are going to start down the path of allowing "Grudge Matches" be prepared for the ugliness of the "Team Stefina" showing up in their matching thongs wanting to take on all comers.......... uzzled:
As a long time spectator and hopeful particpant this year, I would enjoy seeing the Hemi/Stage 1 shootout. I don't think that it would be a major interruption to the program.
I'd rather not see the Hemi/Stage 1 shootout between rounds, because that would take track time away from the Ford Model Ts, which I always enjoy watching. :laugh: Any time Saturday would be fine. I think it would fit best during the large gap in action prior to round 1 of Pure Stock, before they start calling up all the pairs. That is the one time when all the Pure Stock drivers would best be able to spectate the shootout themselves, since at that time the track is closed to time trials. See that way we could identify all the sandbaggers, too, since they'll be the only ones left in the pits, furiously putting their timing back where it should be.
They don't play a football game during the half-time at the Superbowl. You wanna' fill a gap, call up the marching band and dancing girls. This is not an attack on you Mark, as you are certainly a respected contributor to P/S. There are just too many good reasons IMHO to leave things alone in September. Don't share the track; don't divert or dillute attention; don't add faster cars. If the event is going to grow I think it's the grass-roots drivers that will increase the numbers. These are people who will hopefully someday tire of the parking lot circuit and look for a livelier diversion. Speaking with some of them myself, I've deduced that bench racing is their sport of choice often because they fear showing up and not fulfilling the hype about their ride. No one wants to look bad and hurt their precious ride doing it. IMO, Stanton's success is in part attributable to the fact that it is not so intimidating, given the vast number of cars running modest times. (Yes, my timeslips prove I'm doing my part to keep this event rookie friendly!) The formula works... even during an Autumn monsoon! Keep it simple; keep it focused; keep out the funky rule controversies. Fans and drivers alike -- the people will come.
