The End of Drag racing as we know it
Discussion
A lot of people enjoy the racing but it is the same in every sport. You always get those who enjoy the atmosphere but have no clue what is really going on. I watch some Rugby and regularly go to matches with 13,500 spectators and I can guarantee that 6 to 7,000 have a very limited understanding of what they are watching.
The side shows are most loved by kids IMO and the kids go free make it a very good value day out. When you watch the crowd on the Friday at the Euro Finals they are much more attentive and pay far more attention to the racing.
The side shows are most loved by kids IMO and the kids go free make it a very good value day out. When you watch the crowd on the Friday at the Euro Finals they are much more attentive and pay far more attention to the racing.
Im worried about the future of the sport too, from both the Pro and Sportsman side. European Pro Mod really isnt the same as it was a few years ago, TMD and TMFC arent strong in the UK. TF FC has seemed to be on the verge of some sort of break through on and off for the past couple of years but doesnt seem to make it. TF is up and down, more racers want to go to the US, and i think the budget just rules out its growth. Were seeing big classes for Pro and Super Pro, but there is no heads up equivalent. I think Graham is right, there needs to be something else for people to step into.
Thing is that on some level the pro classes are suffering world wide - USA being to a much lesser extent. What seems to be on the rise is the nostalgia scene, although it too has its problems to face with down time.
The big meets have really been hit hard by the weather recently too... Not a lot can be done about that but it must have an impact. Its disheartening for the racers, rubbish for the fans, and really bad for the tracks too... Cant be good for sponsors either as they need return on investment and only get that if lots of people see the race cars on the track.
From the sportsman side were not what the promoters sell to the public, and we dont put bums on seats like the pro classes. We tend to be treated as filler, which to a point can be expected - although that in itself can be disheartening. We have a level of importance though that is easily forgotten. With a few well known exceptions not many people jump straight in a pro car and go racing. There has to be something lower down and the current sportsman scene is really all there is. Its in general a good bunch of hard working and dedicated racers, and nice folk too. Some very knowledgeable, and others (like me) with a lot still to learn. I bet for a lot its almost a way of life more than a hobby, but disposable income isnt always available to go fast, nor is the ability to make more parts yourself so you can afford to go fast.
There were some really good times between maybe 96 and the late 00's, but i think that the economic down turn hit us hard.
Thing is that on some level the pro classes are suffering world wide - USA being to a much lesser extent. What seems to be on the rise is the nostalgia scene, although it too has its problems to face with down time.
The big meets have really been hit hard by the weather recently too... Not a lot can be done about that but it must have an impact. Its disheartening for the racers, rubbish for the fans, and really bad for the tracks too... Cant be good for sponsors either as they need return on investment and only get that if lots of people see the race cars on the track.
From the sportsman side were not what the promoters sell to the public, and we dont put bums on seats like the pro classes. We tend to be treated as filler, which to a point can be expected - although that in itself can be disheartening. We have a level of importance though that is easily forgotten. With a few well known exceptions not many people jump straight in a pro car and go racing. There has to be something lower down and the current sportsman scene is really all there is. Its in general a good bunch of hard working and dedicated racers, and nice folk too. Some very knowledgeable, and others (like me) with a lot still to learn. I bet for a lot its almost a way of life more than a hobby, but disposable income isnt always available to go fast, nor is the ability to make more parts yourself so you can afford to go fast.
There were some really good times between maybe 96 and the late 00's, but i think that the economic down turn hit us hard.
Mark13 said:
The TF (won't call them top oilers in case Graham thinks I am taking the piss) class is mainly Finnish drivers
A strange claim. Of those that have competed in the championship so far this year, only 4 of 13 have been Finnish and of those, two were only ever going to race at Alastaro.I'll state from the outset that I know nothing, but I've heard the rumours. The end of the FIA would IMHO probably be catastrophically divisive to the pro classes. We've already seen a number of racers that only race in Sweden and that would probably increase without the FIA champinship. I've heard talk of a 4 track championship without the FIA branding. Would that include Tierp, or not? If so, it may be viable. If not? I can't see it working. The TGE tracks can't go it alone I don't think.
Is Hockenheim the jewel in the crown? Perhaps. But not from a racer's perspective. We don't race for money. Quite the opposite. We spend large amounts of money to race for fun. And I can assure you that it's no fun racing on a surface like that at Hockenheim. As one of the lesser funded racers, I can guarantee that I won't be going to Hockenheim any time soon. I simply can't afford to throw that amount of money away on not getting down the track. I have to spend my money wisely and it doesn't take much to see that a trip to Hockenheim doesn't fall into that category. Having spoken to others, I know I'm not the only racer in that situation. If I had the money, I'd be going to Tierp instead. If we're saying the future of drag racing may be a show style event rather than racing, you still need to have racers there to put on a show in the first place. There's only so many jet bikes, trucks and quads you can watch and the nitro cars running in the night show was an integral part of the Hockenheim experience last time I was there. Is there enough money from those 60,000 spectators to provide sufficient financial inducement to get racers to turn up even without a championship? I'm not so sure.
So where does it leave us? Personally, I want to race. By which I mean properly race. I'm not remotely interested in match racing or NFAA/Easter/Fireworks style shows without proper eliminations. If there's a championship and if I have the money, I'll race, whether it's FIA branded or not. If that doesn't include Tierp and perhaps therefore doesn't include some of the Scandinavian racers, then that makes the whole deal a little less attractive. I take my hat off to all of the UK Pro Mod racers for the effort they put in, but the reality is that with the exception of Graham and Andy they're half a second off the rest of the class. Would I want to see that sort of racing in the pro classes, where the Scandinavians don't turn up? No. I think we need a Europe-wide championship, not least because if I'm racing then I want to be beating the best.
I am not aware of any FIA Championship that has a title sponsor. On a positive note, stepping away from the FIA may open up the opportunity of a Championship sponsor. If they can dish out some proper prize money for Championship positions at the end of the season, you might find that the Championship becomes much more appealing.
Maybe it's time to look at nhra Europe? It's working pretty well with NFL, and the European NASCAR scene is taking off slowly. Maybe moving out of the fia fold, and getting the yanks onboard (ok yeh I know you ask why would they want to do that) but with jimmys tie up with summit, the leanders and Lindbergs racing over there and the odd yank coming across to this side of the pond, maybe it could benefit from a bit of nhra style promotion and tech tie up.
In reality I have no idea what the answer is, but I do know that the series are better run together, as tet said, it's more prestigious as a fully european championship rather than just an an Anglo/German and Scandinavian championship
In reality I have no idea what the answer is, but I do know that the series are better run together, as tet said, it's more prestigious as a fully european championship rather than just an an Anglo/German and Scandinavian championship
I take my hat off to all of the UK Pro Mod racers for the effort they put in, but the reality is that with the exception of Graham and Andy they're half a second off the rest of the class.
[/quote]
Tet
1. It is about time you took that (silly) hat off....LOL
2. Several UK based pro-mods are work in progress, are not necessarily half a second off the rest of the class and may not take too kindly to the put down.
[/quote]
Tet
1. It is about time you took that (silly) hat off....LOL
2. Several UK based pro-mods are work in progress, are not necessarily half a second off the rest of the class and may not take too kindly to the put down.
37chevy said:
Maybe it's time to look at nhra Europe?
I can't say I'm overjoyed at that prospect. For a start, it would almost certainly mean abiding by the current NHRA rulebook, which would be pretty disastrous for many European racers.Mark13 said:
Several UK based pro-mods are work in progress, are not necessarily half a second off the rest of the class and may not take too kindly to the put down.
It wasn't intended as a put down at all. But it does, I believe, accurately represent the current state of the MSA Pro Mod field.Jon C said:
Interestingly, a group of racers at York today also felt the track wasn't up to their cars, and they went home at lunchtime.
Jon, i was one of those racers who made the decision not to race on Monday, this decision was made because of the wet conditions and not because we felt the track was not very good, as sods law would have it an hour or so after making that call the track did indeed dry up sufficiently to start racing again however by that time most cars where already on trailers and leaving. Once again we made the decision based on the wet track at that time and the available weather forecasts.regards, Chris (Rover v8 dragster)
i can pretty much be sure that tierp wont be in the equation, TGE include Alastaro so who would travel from the UK to alastaro to race a weekend and then come home? it wasnt so bad when it could be put together with mantorp and you could leave your stuff out there and do two races but without that no one would go, its difficult knowing just how it will work out. i dont beleive pro mod put bums on seats, or at least not the general publics bums, in a show type meeting anything below top fuel will play second fiddle to jet cars, jumping brightly lit bikes and quads, fireworks that go bang,fireworks that dont, and then maybe some race cars...
Edited by Turbobird1 on Wednesday 27th August 23:33
Turbobird1 said:
i dont beleive pro mod put bums on seats, or at least not the general publics bums, in a show type meeting anything below top fuel will play second fiddle to jet cars, jumping brightly lit bikes and quads, fireworks that go bang,fireworks that dont, and then maybe some race cars...
I think Pro Mod does put seats on bums, but if you consider at the bigger events there are 18/19 of them compared to the 8 at the Summer Nats, where is the appeal to the general public? Edited by Turbobird1 on Wednesday 27th August 23:33
Apart from the gate price that is lower, the rest of the weekend still costs the same.
A weekend up to Santa Pod always dents the wallet by a few hundred quid (and I don't spend it on beer), so a fan of racing it makes sense to do the bigger events.
I'm not sure on the politics of why the entry list was so low etc, but if there were 18/19 pro mods at the Summer Nationals, I would go.
Politics is not a major factor with the MSA series, more logistical.
There are 9 British pro-mods entered in the Euro Finals and the number is growing. Additionally Steve Hall has a car, Steve Rawlings may finally get his nitrous Vette running and Graham will hopefully run his new turbo car. That would give us 12 UK based cars and with a couple of European visitors why wouldn't it be a compelling reason to attend?
There are 9 British pro-mods entered in the Euro Finals and the number is growing. Additionally Steve Hall has a car, Steve Rawlings may finally get his nitrous Vette running and Graham will hopefully run his new turbo car. That would give us 12 UK based cars and with a couple of European visitors why wouldn't it be a compelling reason to attend?
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