Tierp drag strip

[robc3303]

Does anyone know anything regarding the Tierp motorpark drag strip under construction. I read the Eurodragster reports some months back but was wondering how far they have progressed with the construction.

Its an exciting prospect, a brand new purpose built Euro drag strip and can only be good for the sport. Would be interesting to find out their intentions... an extra FIA date ? I think the sport is in definite need of a sixth round and is something Keith Bartlett has been talking about for many years now.

Whilst musing on this, anybody know anything about the prospect of Hungary hosting a future FIA event or indeed the long talked about possibility of an Italian round ?

[Tet]

robc3303 said:

I think the sport is in definite need of a sixth round

Is it? A 5 round championship is already pushing the limits of how much time crews and drivers can take off work[1]. If they can't get the time off work, then the only realistic option is to have professional teams like they do in the US. Where's the money going to come from to fund that? Teams are already running on tight budgets and struggling to find sponsors. Even without paid crew, just the extra expense of an additional meeting is going to be hard in the current financial climate. I'm all for growing the sport, and part of that is adding more races to the calendar. But it's not as simple as just saying "we've got 6 rounds this year chaps". Sure, there are some well funded teams out there that wouldn't have a problem. But there are also plenty of others that aren't so well funded, and you'd risk losing them. That's not an appealing proposition to me. Maybe in a few years when people are feeling more flush again. Just MHO.

[1] The FIA tour used to be 6 rounds, and when we did it in 2004, we had various crew missing at assorted races.

[robc3303]

Hi Tet

You make some good points and I agree with you that it must be punishing for a lot of teams to try and compete in all five rounds, and six would stretch them.

I suppose I'm forever hoping things will get bigger and better... I've never got over my first "Canonball" in the eighties and have forever wanted to tell the world about this sport ! The Tierp project points at a future of growth doesn't it ? I'm actually amazed that in these times of recession we are still achieving these large fields of cars and maybe you are right... with more prosperous times ahead maybe then it can expand. I actually believe that somehow, someway teams would find a way to compete in an additional round and this is something Lex Joon often talked about.. the need for more track time.

Many schools of thought for sure. In the short term, any pics or news on the Tierp project anywhere ?

Cheers

Rob

[robc3303]

For anyone interested in the development of Europe's next drag strip, here is a link:

http://www.tierpmotorpark.com/eng/index_eng.htm

Early days visually, but it appears that the construction is pressing ahead at a good pace. I think this is a very positive development for European drag racing and if the final facility is as good as the artist's impressions, then I will be making every effort to visit.

It must say something about the future and growing popularity of our sport, if during these recession hit times, such investment is taking place.

[Burndown]

I don't think an extra round is going to cause a loss of racers. From what I see drag racers are pretty much addicted to the sport. Its not like very many teams run at a profit anyway.

[wicked fish]

Burndown said:

I don't think an extra round is going to cause a loss of racers. From what I see drag racers are pretty much addicted to the sport. Its not like very many teams run at a profit anyway.

im sure it wouldnt cause a loss of racers
what it would do is give the racers an option of sitting out a round and still do well in the points dropping 1 round wouldnt hurt too much. the better financed teams would do them all im sure
i would think another round in sweden may hurt one of the santa pod rounds or Alastaro as they are the hardest generaly to get to, santa pod for the swedes and fins, finland for everyone else exept the fins and swedes,

Finland is a pain for swiss german dutch belgiun british french, and expensive ferries ect
to do the tour it costs us about 10K at least to sail to gothenberg drive across sweden sail to finland sail back fly all the crew to finland and back fly all the crew to sweden and back sail back to england feed the crew on both trips hire cars for the crew ferries to calias and a long drive to hockenheim ferries and fuel for the crew food drink we get away with 1 lot of ferries as we stay in sweden between races the fins and swedes have to do this twice if there was a chance not to have that expence twice i bet they would think again about comming to santa pod twice a year

Edited by wicked fish on Thursday 14th October 17:18

[robc3303]

Teams will have different agendas depending on the finance and already we see not all competitors getting to all five rounds. However, I think there is a desire to grow to the next level and that must mean another round imo. On a more general level regarding the growth of European Drag racing, from a Top Fuel racer's point of view, the following blog entry makes interesting reading and gives another point of view:

http://www.eurodragster.com/news/features/blogs/le...

Please read Lex's entry: Thursday 14th June 2007: Getting to the next level

(I would copy and paste for ease of reading but 1. I can't and 2. I would not want to infringe any Eurodragster copyright of course)

Its informative to hear from Lex that the huge investment it requires to race five races means that to do six would require relatively only a small additional expense and that sponsors are more attracted to spend with more and more exposure.

[wicked fish]

robc3303 said:

Teams will have different agendas depending on the finance and already we see not all competitors getting to all five rounds. However, I think there is a desire to grow to the next level and that must mean another round imo. On a more general level regarding the growth of European Drag racing, from a Top Fuel racer's point of view, the following blog entry makes interesting reading and gives another point of view:

http://www.eurodragster.com/news/features/blogs/le...

Please read Lex's entry: Thursday 14th June 2007: Getting to the next level

(I would copy and paste for ease of reading but 1. I can't and 2. I would not want to infringe any Eurodragster copyright of course)

Its informative to hear from Lex that the huge investment it requires to race five races means that to do six would require relatively only a small additional expense and that sponsors are more attracted to spend with more and more exposure.

i dont need to read this to know this is 1 persons point of view Lex cant race as he has no sponsors of cource heavily sponsored cars will want an extra round to get max exposier for the sponsor

how many pro cars do you think there are in europe that have corperate sponsorship???
and those that do it is mostly from US sponsors who understand the sport,

yes not all get to 5 rounds even less would get to six, most of the traveling cars travel at our own expence

there are a few exeptions small additional expence??? another trip to sweden?? when he wrote this Tierp diddnt exist as a dutch guy Lex wouldnt think of a trip to sweden as a small additional expence
to me it would mean depending if it was straight after mantorp min £2500 if it wasnt £5000,
if your lucky enough to call that a small additional expence good for you

95% of traveling teams dont have sponsors to satisfy at least not significant sponsors that give them a life changing deal.....
also remember the tracks have to pay a significant amount to a top fuel team to appear so i bet most tf teams would love to run every two weeks, RF gets his cars out at every oppotunity and no doubt he makes a living by doing this...something few people in europe have managed
most of us have day jobs

Edited by wicked fish on Thursday 14th October 17:38

[robc3303]

I did say "relative" to the "overall" cost of running a Top Fuel team for a season. If you read the post I referred to you would understand the line of thought here. And, I'm only referring to what a Top Fuel racer has expressed himself. I am a mere fan, not a racer, but I take a keen interest and reading a racer's blog is informative. If you are not going to read the link that's fine. If you want to say £5000 is a lot of money then yes of course it is, I agree.

I'm not trying for one moment to underestimate the huge expense and commitment it must take to run a car in any class: I can only look on in awe and admiration in the pits. I understand your point of view but the discussion I'm really getting at is will the future be an expanded race series ? I think it will, eventually, despite the very real added costs which you describe. Lex may only be one racer, but he is one I respect and one who has expressed a desire to expand the number of races and he makes a good case from his point of view (admittedly expressed in 2007).

Again, just to make it clear, I said "small" in a "relative" context to the point Lex made in his blog.

If I won the lottery I would put up a big chunk as prize money to reward all you racers, if only ! :-)

[robc3303]

"95% of traveling teams dont have sponsors to satisfy at least not significant sponsors that give them a life changing deal.....
also remember the tracks have to pay a significant amount to a top fuel team to appear so i bet most tf teams would love to run every two weeks, RF gets his cars out at every oppotunity and no doubt he makes a living by doing this...something few people in europe have managed
most of us have day jobs"

Just to add Nitrofish, this is a good point and thanks for informing me of this. I'm only a fan and happy to learn more through this debate.

[robc3303]

OOPs , Sorry "Wickedfish" !

[wicked fish]

iv read all this befour did you notice how old it is???
I know what hes thinking and we all wish this sport would attract the sponsors and we could be truly pro teams making a living like this.................reality check .................drag racing is a poor relation to most other motorsports in most of europe
sweden seems to be a little different as there is a lot of culture left over from all the US airbases they had there and they are far more pro american in there outlook and there are a lot nore swedes working with big time pro teams in the us than there are Brits

i do admit id love to live the dream...i just dont see it comming...look at the massive contingency sponsors speedgroupe have got the pro classes....All american...

i am resigned to being where we are forever i will do this as long as i can like most other drag racers

Edited by wicked fish on Thursday 14th October 18:34

[veryoldfart]

Europe is all LHD too, so theres never been that mass importation of yank cars here, resulting in less addiction to american muscle cars, the breeding ground for hot rodding and draggin' and also more junkers to play with

it all adds up

[robc3303]

wicked fish said:

iv read all this befour did you notice how old it is???
I know what hes thinking and we all wish this sport would attract the sponsors and we could be truly pro teams making a living like this.................reality check .................drag racing is a poor relation to most other motorsports in most of europe
sweden seems to be a little different as there is a lot of culture left over from all the US airbases they had there and they are far more pro american in there outlook and there are a lot nore swedes working with big time pro teams in the us than there are Brits

i do admit id love to live the dream...i just dont see it comming...look at the massive contingency sponsors speedgroupe have got the pro classes....All american...

i am resigned to being where we are forever i will do this as long as i can like most other drag racers

Edited by wicked fish on Thursday 14th October 18:34

Good points here and I'm old enough to have witnessed the slow pace but even so very positive changes that have happened in the sport we love. It will be a slow process for sure, I know that much. One thing that I have took comfort from this season is the big crowds at Pod and the excellent TV shows produced for each of the FIA rounds. Also the availability on line as well as TV very soon after the event. This is all positive stuff. One can only hope that we have some momentum going forward and after all we have been in tough economic times too.

So to bring it back to the question of Tierp, is this a positive step for all European racers and the FIA / UEM classes ? On the face of it I can only see a new purpose built facility as positive, but from the posts above, it also raises a lot of concerns and questions too.

[wicked fish]

it is definatly a positive, and as i said there are teams that will do the whole tour,
wether it is of any benefit other than that im an addicted drag racer and im sure teirp will be a nice track
remains to be seen, it cirtainly wont be bad in any way for the sport just more for us racers to try to fund from our own pockets/businesses i guess i shouldnt moan the bikers have to go to Kunmadaras.... lucky them!
if youv been there you know why im saying that!!!

[robc3303]

Not had the pleasure !

Out of interest, may I ask what you race Wicked Fish ?

[wicked fish]

i race pro mod

[Rat_Fink_67]

robc3303 said:

Not had the pleasure !

Out of interest, may I ask what you race Wicked Fish ?

Edited by Rat_Fink_67 on Thursday 14th October 20:47

[wicked fish]

[robc3303]

Superb, I love this car. Respect !

Pro Mod has become THE class over recent years for many race fans and the excitement of this class reminds me of the Cannonball Funny Car era of the 80's. So competitive and dramatic.

Thanks
Rob