SStillSSmokin

2 days before the Gatornationals were to begin in Fl. there were approx 3-400 racers at the track waiting to get in when the NHRA decided to announce they weren't going to run super stock,stock, supercomp, and supergas@ the Gators. These racers were told to leave the premises and go to Orlando where the qualifying, and quarterfinals would be held. then the finalists would have to pack up and run the finals on Sun. in Gainsville.
Our family, along with many others have been looking forward to running in this national event since last yr. We have been going to, and supporting them since the beginning. We worked very hard to have a new car ready for this race, had hotel reservations, and time off work.
They had to call in riot police to the track last night when they announced this to the racers that were assembled there exited about racing. Many(including us) are boycotting this ridiculous off site race in Orlando, as well as anything NHRA in the future.
Please help remind them who supports them and where they came from (local racers, not sponsored multimillion dollar teams).
If you could plse email bholt@NHRA.com (div.2 director) and jcollins@NHRA.com
and let them know that we do count, and this is unfair, and uncalled for.
thanks for your time!
Jim <img border="0" alt="[bullshit]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bs.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

Coach 02 A3 Z/28

iTrader: (10)

Jim,

That really SUCKS. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

I know how you must feel. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> Running in a National Event is one of the best things in the world to a true drag racer. Is it a very high car count or Big business at it again? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

On the other hand, boycotting this race in Orlando, or anything NHRA in the future is a little too strong for me. I would go to Orlando and race anyway, but hell, I just love to race. <img border="0" alt="[evil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" />

Good luck to ya and let us know how it all turns out. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

I will send a e-mail on behalf of the Sportsman Drag Racers. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[angel]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_angel.gif" />

Coach

SStillSSmokin

Thanks! yeah I know boycotting is a little strong, and wouldn't expect everyone to. Just, like you said, this is just heartbreaking to many! Yeah, we could just go to Orlando and race, but it's spring break= no hotels, and we like to check out the big boys too! Thanks for the support! please spread the word, and help me fill those e-mail addresses with support!
Thanks!!

MADMAN

iTrader: (4)

The reason they moved the sportsman was because the pit parking area is too wet. It is <img border="0" alt="[bullshit]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bs.gif" /> they moved the sportsman guys and someone needs to stand up to the NHRA. The sportsman guys are the ones who pay for the big guys to race anyway.

SStillSSmokin

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by MADMAN:
<strong> The reason they moved the sportsman was because the pit parking area is too wet. It is <img border="0" alt="[bullshit]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bs.gif" /> they moved the sportsman guys and someone needs to stand up to the NHRA. The sportsman guys are the ones who pay for the big guys to race anyway. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That is 100% correct! My in laws and many of the racers are still there trying to stand up for what's right, most definitely to no avail. Hell the hundreds of racers there said they don't care they will pit in the mud(half the time they do anyway) There is more to it than that. Besides, the last rain they got was Sun. with clear, near 90 deg. weather forecast for the rest of the week, so they could bring in whatever equip. they need and have it useable by Thurs.IF THEY WANTED TO!

GeorgeC

Wow, that's the first I heard of that...

I'm supposed to go to the Gatornationals on Friday, since I'd rather watch the sportsman classes over the pros anyway.

If they're no going to be running, I don't think I'll bother to go...

That just all around sucks... I know how the pits @ Gainesville are, and I can imagine that they're plenty wet/muddy right now from the recent rain we've had. It sucks to make everyone move to Orlando, but what else could they do? Looks like everyone gets screwed on that deal...

Goathead

Here in Texas that's called plain old Bullsh!#... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

I just heard about this from a buddy of mine who races s/st and s/g. He withdrew and decided not to race Orlando, and I can understand why! Hell why spend all that $$$$ to NOT run in front of a big audience and check out all that makes a national event (pros, other racers, midway, etc). Sucks in my opinion, but in all fairness, we have had a sh*tload of rain here recently, and I'm sure with a nice forecast for this weekend and the fact the gators have been raced out in years previous, if you postponed the race a week, then you open a new set of problems up. What happens if it rains the following week? People would have to take time off again, etc, etc...... I wish they could find a way to have everyone race together. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I agree with their decision, but I echo George's words. I usually have the best time on Fridays b/c of the sportsman racing. Guess we can just chalk up another NHRA decision to screwing the little guy. And they wonder why more and more people are running IHRA tracks!

Derek

SStillSSmokin

Yeah, my father in law came home last night as well. He said that about 300 of the 400 racers that were already there decided not to race. It's really a shame! We look forward to this sooo much! He is really heartbroken, but oh well. Yes, there has been alot of rain there, but he said it wasn't any wetter in there than any other year. I believe it has alot more to do with the sportsman racers crimping their time constraints. Oh well it's a done deal now I geuss. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

Joe Kizzire

The last official NHRA event I ran in was in 1975. That's when NHRA decided to factor my car right out of business. So with that said I see they haven't changed their way of dealing with the sportsman racer. There is an alternative... It's called IHRA, NMRA, NMCA, PRO and Fun Ford.

If NHRA only wants Pro racers that's what you guys should give them.

Frank95z

Just a couple of notes about the Gatornational situation. The sportsman racers pay over $200 entry fee and are told they have to race at Orlando and only the 16 remaining in eliminations will run on Sunday. But if you lose and want to go and watch Sunday's eliminations they will have to pay spectator fee. Dan Dvorak was going to try and get an injunction against NHRA when he had 200 racers in line saying they would be towed before moving. Well when he went back Tuesday afternoon the line was gone with most going to Orlando so he decided not to fight NHRA by himself. Note LT1 star Woodrow Josey went home he said he would have no part of this foolishness. This could start something real bad for sportsman racers. Frank95z

<small>[ March 12, 2003, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: Frank95z ]</small>

96SCTA

I WOULD BE PISSED.....That is just bs....

SStillSSmokin

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Frank95z:
<strong> Just a couple of notes about the Gatornational situation. The sportsman racers pay over $200 entry fee and are told they have to race at Orlando and only the 16 remaining in eliminations will run on Sunday. But if you lose and want to go and watch Sunday's eliminations they will have to pay spectator fee. Dan Dvorak was going to try and get an injunction against NHRA when he had 200 racers in line saying they would be towed before moving. Well when he went back Tuesday afternoon the line was gone with most going to Orlando so he decided not to fight NHRA by himself. Note LT1 star Woodrow Josey went home he said he would have no part of this foolishness. This could start something real bad for sportsman racers. Frank95z </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well the line was gone, after being threatened to be arrested. The racers called a local T.V. station to try to publicize the situation and the NHRA officials would not let the crew on the premises, and told the racers that if anyone went across the street to give an interview, they would not be let back in. According to my father in law most went home, not to Orlando, of course many may have said that then went anyway.
My father in law was waiting with Woodrow- Woodrow just built his LT1 motor for his new car that was to debut at the Gators. A beutiful black, 97 Camaro that would run in Cstock/FIA.He came home Tues. afternoon after it was clear there was nothing they could do.

Frank95z

I talked to some people that went to Orlando this morning and though some straglers were coming in there was a total this morning of 179 cars in all 4 class with super gas having about 100 and the other 79 cars split in the other 3 classes. Remember they are running super gas/super comp/stock /and super stock. Woodrow announced that the match up between Russo and Corda was not going to happen Russo switched classes to C/FIA. So Corda in A/FIA is in a class by himself. Frank95z

<small>[ March 13, 2003, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Frank95z ]</small>

Guido

Wow NHRA did not handle this situation very well in my opinion.

I dont know what I would have done. probably went to orlando anyway, but would surely have let people know how I felt.

Sorry about your plight guys!

Frank95z

Actually a lot of the cars did wind up in Orlando. The earlier post about light car count was acurate but a lot of cars must have been in route to Orlando. They wound up with 96 cars in stock and I think 93 cars in superstock. They decided as a group to run all eliminations at Orlando instead of the 16 finalist going to Gainesville Sunday. Frank95z