2012 Santa Pod Main Event (1-4 June)
Discussion
I'm going to bite my tongue but some of you need your heads examining, the whining on Facebook is embarrassing aswell.
Firstly the work the track crew put in all weekend was superhuman, massive thanks due there. To turn a 36 hour rain soaked track into the best damn track in Europe was sublime. Certainly should make a few people simmer down.
Highlights
Thomas Lindström 6.65@207
Graham 6.2@242
SSBs over 200mph
Manty's 5.29 was out of this world, pop before the stripe as well
Dangerous, hmm? Think not.
Firstly the work the track crew put in all weekend was superhuman, massive thanks due there. To turn a 36 hour rain soaked track into the best damn track in Europe was sublime. Certainly should make a few people simmer down.
Highlights
Thomas Lindström 6.65@207
Graham 6.2@242
SSBs over 200mph
Manty's 5.29 was out of this world, pop before the stripe as well
Dangerous, hmm? Think not.
MotorPsycho said:
I'm going to bite my tongue but some of you need your heads examining, the whining on Facebook is embarrassing aswell.
Firstly the work the track crew put in all weekend was superhuman, massive thanks due there. To turn a 36 hour rain soaked track into the best damn track in Europe was sublime. Certainly should make a few people simmer down.
Highlights
Thomas Lindström 6.65@207
Graham 6.2@242
SSBs over 200mph
Manty's 5.29 was out of this world, pop before the stripe as well
Dangerous, hmm? Think not.
Just out of interest. Was any of these records backed up? Mantys and RV3? Iam sure the 6.59 comes under the too quick rule to back up the 6.71.Firstly the work the track crew put in all weekend was superhuman, massive thanks due there. To turn a 36 hour rain soaked track into the best damn track in Europe was sublime. Certainly should make a few people simmer down.
Highlights
Thomas Lindström 6.65@207
Graham 6.2@242
SSBs over 200mph
Manty's 5.29 was out of this world, pop before the stripe as well
Dangerous, hmm? Think not.
dodgeomini said:
Just out of interest. Was any of these records backed up? Mantys and RV3? Iam sure the 6.59 comes under the too quick rule to back up the 6.71.
P**s off. You don't need to back anything up in the fastest street car game.Timing ticket and video is all that is needed,and we have both..
Shame you didn't come and introduce yourself at the weekend,with your real name and all...
Edited by redvictor on Tuesday 5th June 14:35
I really enjoyed the event despite the setbacks, some fantastic races (it only takes one to make the long hike for the weekend worthwhile) and many many great runs in general.
You just have to curse luck for the weather and appreciate just how much the tracks determination pulls through in times like that. Hats off.
Not the greatest Main Event ever held but only due to factors beyond anyone's control, so not only was it a great display of drag racing but a triumph over adversity.
SSB and TMD stole the show for me. Bearing in mind the small pro fields all round compared to those we've become accustomed to it became a real case of quality over quantity.
SSB side by side 201mph, TMDs awesome runs and numbers especially the Maltese quickest European run, wild rides for many racers taking the scenic routes, Andy Frosts 220mph, Graham Ellis 242 mph next to it, loadsa jawdropping stuff.
Even with a long exhausted drive back ahead I was happy to sit it out to the very end and came away buzzing -nice one to Santa Pod and all racers for getting over the repeated hurdles and accomplishing some great racing.
Regrets about the Top Fuel FCs not getting a good airing due to downtime and curfew, they were the main attraction for me.
But in my view racers hit the track like they do because they have solid faith in the decisions made by the track crew in the interests of their safety and if that means downtime so be it. Can't afford any compromise in that.
I don't doubt for a second that Santa Pod has put great effort into safely reducing downtime and is committed to getting in all the runs possible working with the turnaround times and the curfew. But yeah, 2 seater dragster, parascending displays and the like - nice family day out novelty that they are - isn't what I'm there for either if they're at the expense of actual racing.
Negatives:
First taste of 1000 fart (posh accent
) racing...well, advertising '300mph drag racing' isn't quite as safe or valid anymore is it?
This must have been the first FIA meeting at SPR in many years without that magic number coming up - ironically on the tenth anniversary of the first 300mph run at SPR complete with SPRs own commemorative T Shirt and Barry Sheavills public attendance to mark the event no less. Felt like a wake!
Don't get me wrong, I get it that the speeds reached by the 1k mark are still impressive to say the least and I've heard all the reasons put forward etc. but seeing a 300+ or two (preferably side by side) with 4 seconds on 'em amidst the other numbers of other classes all running to the same distance is unarguable proof of TF power.
I was hoping for a run in the 3s (possibly at 300mph) to maybe talk myself round but instead found myself trying to calculate the 'what-ifs' from the numbers on the boards. Surely there would have been some good 300+s and 4s at the proper stripe had they got that far. Nice tries though Risto!!!
NB: To avert grief and stress to others, the above is intended as an 'opinion' for conversational reference only, relating to the event in topic and not intended to be taken as law, gospel or an intention to stage a drag racing event of my own - thank you.
I labored a little trying to turn the latest newbies thoughts around from:
'So they're doing only 4 seconds but they only have to go to those "gay cheesey wotzits" (translates 1000ft markers), all the 'other cars' have to go to "there" (translates 1/4 mile gantry)'
I gave in to a 'You said they do 4 seconds and 300mph, they're just louder'. Oh well. Plenty more to see!
Hopefully it's not intentional, but the new fencing past the grandstand along the pits, well go and have a look! You can see a few metres of track ahead of you and that's it! Like watching through a keyhole! May's well have put a wall up!
Those last niggles aside I think I enjoyed this years Main Event more than I had really expected to and more than some other previous FIA events! Unpredictable was the word!
You just have to curse luck for the weather and appreciate just how much the tracks determination pulls through in times like that. Hats off.
Not the greatest Main Event ever held but only due to factors beyond anyone's control, so not only was it a great display of drag racing but a triumph over adversity.
SSB and TMD stole the show for me. Bearing in mind the small pro fields all round compared to those we've become accustomed to it became a real case of quality over quantity.
SSB side by side 201mph, TMDs awesome runs and numbers especially the Maltese quickest European run, wild rides for many racers taking the scenic routes, Andy Frosts 220mph, Graham Ellis 242 mph next to it, loadsa jawdropping stuff.
Even with a long exhausted drive back ahead I was happy to sit it out to the very end and came away buzzing -nice one to Santa Pod and all racers for getting over the repeated hurdles and accomplishing some great racing.
Regrets about the Top Fuel FCs not getting a good airing due to downtime and curfew, they were the main attraction for me.
But in my view racers hit the track like they do because they have solid faith in the decisions made by the track crew in the interests of their safety and if that means downtime so be it. Can't afford any compromise in that.
I don't doubt for a second that Santa Pod has put great effort into safely reducing downtime and is committed to getting in all the runs possible working with the turnaround times and the curfew. But yeah, 2 seater dragster, parascending displays and the like - nice family day out novelty that they are - isn't what I'm there for either if they're at the expense of actual racing.
Negatives:
First taste of 1000 fart (posh accent
) racing...well, advertising '300mph drag racing' isn't quite as safe or valid anymore is it? This must have been the first FIA meeting at SPR in many years without that magic number coming up - ironically on the tenth anniversary of the first 300mph run at SPR complete with SPRs own commemorative T Shirt and Barry Sheavills public attendance to mark the event no less. Felt like a wake!
Don't get me wrong, I get it that the speeds reached by the 1k mark are still impressive to say the least and I've heard all the reasons put forward etc. but seeing a 300+ or two (preferably side by side) with 4 seconds on 'em amidst the other numbers of other classes all running to the same distance is unarguable proof of TF power.
I was hoping for a run in the 3s (possibly at 300mph) to maybe talk myself round but instead found myself trying to calculate the 'what-ifs' from the numbers on the boards. Surely there would have been some good 300+s and 4s at the proper stripe had they got that far. Nice tries though Risto!!!
NB: To avert grief and stress to others, the above is intended as an 'opinion' for conversational reference only, relating to the event in topic and not intended to be taken as law, gospel or an intention to stage a drag racing event of my own - thank you.
I labored a little trying to turn the latest newbies thoughts around from:
'So they're doing only 4 seconds but they only have to go to those "gay cheesey wotzits" (translates 1000ft markers), all the 'other cars' have to go to "there" (translates 1/4 mile gantry)'
I gave in to a 'You said they do 4 seconds and 300mph, they're just louder'. Oh well. Plenty more to see!
Hopefully it's not intentional, but the new fencing past the grandstand along the pits, well go and have a look! You can see a few metres of track ahead of you and that's it! Like watching through a keyhole! May's well have put a wall up!
Those last niggles aside I think I enjoyed this years Main Event more than I had really expected to and more than some other previous FIA events! Unpredictable was the word!
There has been several mentions of the new catch fencing just past the stands and the fact that if you stand next to it you cant see very much, do you not think that thats the intention as it prevents a lot of people watching from what is a very close position without losing pit space.
what it realy does is stop team members and crews watching any drag racing at all exept their own car go, when and if we get turned around befour the car is needed its the only time we see any racing at all...im not into complaining about the facilites or track but in my opinion that is wrong, it cost me £400 to enter that event with power do you think that team members should pay again for grandstand seats?? me personaly the only class i would bother watching is super modified so we will run to the fence to watch fred in action, now we cant
not happy about that,
even if they had put the wire fence up the other way round so the verticals are spaced further the vision would be vastly improved
not happy about that,
even if they had put the wire fence up the other way round so the verticals are spaced further the vision would be vastly improved
firewalker said:
2 seater dragster, parascending displays and the like - nice family day out novelty that they are - isn't what I'm there for either if they're at the expense of actual racing
This sort of comment is really starting to piss me off, it's just blinkered selfishness. It may not be what you (and others) are there for, but it might be what tips the balance as far as some of those not sure about attending are concerned. If it brings more people through the gate then that's a good thing. Don't start whining that it might put people off coming back because if it does then they'll almost certainly be the sort that wouldn't have come back anyway.
My kids love the jet car and I'm sure many, many other kids are the same. If a bunch of kids persuade Mum & Dad to take them to an event off the back of that then again, GOOD THING. Or do you want to stop that too because it's "at the expense of racing" ?
crikey said:
firewalker said:
2 seater dragster, parascending displays and the like - nice family day out novelty that they are - isn't what I'm there for either if they're at the expense of actual racing
This sort of comment is really starting to piss me off, it's just blinkered selfishness. It may not be what you (and others) are there for, but it might be what tips the balance as far as some of those not sure about attending are concerned. If it brings more people through the gate then that's a good thing. Don't start whining that it might put people off coming back because if it does then they'll almost certainly be the sort that wouldn't have come back anyway.
My kids love the jet car and I'm sure many, many other kids are the same. If a bunch of kids persuade Mum & Dad to take them to an event off the back of that then again, GOOD THING. Or do you want to stop that too because it's "at the expense of racing" ?
Santa Pod need to book this stuff (and probably pay for) in advance. If they planned assuming there would be a day and a half rained off people would all be moaning there was not enough going on to fill the days when there are no delays.
Burndown said:
crikey said:
firewalker said:
2 seater dragster, parascending displays and the like - nice family day out novelty that they are - isn't what I'm there for either if they're at the expense of actual racing
This sort of comment is really starting to piss me off, it's just blinkered selfishness. It may not be what you (and others) are there for, but it might be what tips the balance as far as some of those not sure about attending are concerned. If it brings more people through the gate then that's a good thing. Don't start whining that it might put people off coming back because if it does then they'll almost certainly be the sort that wouldn't have come back anyway.
My kids love the jet car and I'm sure many, many other kids are the same. If a bunch of kids persuade Mum & Dad to take them to an event off the back of that then again, GOOD THING. Or do you want to stop that too because it's "at the expense of racing" ?
Santa Pod need to book this stuff (and probably pay for) in advance. If they planned assuming there would be a day and a half rained off people would all be moaning there was not enough going on to fill the days when there are no delays.
Actually I think the array of sideshows are really good in general, there's the live action arena, stuntshows, flyovers, circus stuff, kids areas, funrides - the lot. Not all for me but still worthy, they don't eat into track time so I didn't mention them. The restricted track time at THIS event, (the one in the topic) is all I alluded to in the midst of some very positive views which typically aren't acknowledged.
How much topic space is wasted and diverted by these defensive posts? It's caused by pretty bad ambassadours for the sport and track regardless of who you're 'in with' and what you do.
PS no one had mentioned the jet car.
I'm interested in this fence though....
Edited by firewalker on Tuesday 5th June 19:57
crikey said:
You weren't the first, hence the wording in the first line of my second paragraph.
If you voice your opinion then expect it to be challenged. If you don't like it being challenged then don't post it.
I'm cool with reasonable discussion and counter statements, not so with insults, put-downs and tantrums.If you voice your opinion then expect it to be challenged. If you don't like it being challenged then don't post it.
Back to Topic please...
firewalker said:
crikey said:
You weren't the first, hence the wording in the first line of my second paragraph.
If you voice your opinion then expect it to be challenged. If you don't like it being challenged then don't post it.
I'm cool with reasonable discussion and counter statements, not so with insults, put-downs and tantrums.If you voice your opinion then expect it to be challenged. If you don't like it being challenged then don't post it.
Back to Topic please...
redvictor said:
P**s off. You don't need to back anything up in the fastest street car game.
Timing ticket and video is all that is needed,and we have both..
Shame you didn't come and introduce yourself at the weekend,with your real name and all...
Nah dont go there anymore.Timing ticket and video is all that is needed,and we have both..
Shame you didn't come and introduce yourself at the weekend,with your real name and all...
Edited by redvictor on Tuesday 5th June 14:35
There is no event quite like Drag Week. Driving your vehicle 1,000 miles in five days while racing at four different dragstrips along the way.
Like comparing apple to oranges isnt it.
Edited by dodgeomini on Tuesday 5th June 20:05
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