A not so much fun day at the track.

Well my son and I went to the track Saturday to run in a NSS race put on by the United Nostalgia Super Stock club. But we found out they raced a bunch of rainout races also. And the rainout cars were the street outlaw and street tire cars. These are the cars that the track really caters to as I guess they make most of their money from them as they are all power adder cars. But the NSS race was a scheduled race yet they ran all the other cars first and made us run our time runs last. So after driving the 45 miles and getting there by 8 oclock we finally made a time run around 11 to 11:30 am. Then by 2 oclock they said some cars wont get a second time run and we were still waiting to make another time run. My son got tired and wanted to leave and my joints were hurting so bad that it was fine with me to leave. So we went and left about 2:30 and got home at 3:45. I found out later that they got a second time run around 2:45 and they did not run the first round until 7:30 pm !! I talked to the guy ho won and he said they got out of there around 12:20 am and did not get home until after 2 am. I was glad we left when we did. I had taken the 950 off my car and put the 850 back on. It ran 10.84 @ 123.83 and a few weeks ago it ran 10.78 @ 124.81 with the 950 on a night T & T. It was during the day Saturday and hotter out so basically the car ran a normal et for that weather. And my time run was a nice fun side by side race with a nice Oldsmobile NSS race car. I did win as I ran 10.84 to his 10.97. It was really a long day for the guys who stayed and ran the NSS race. Ron

I hate waiting but at least you got out!!

Not to be negative or judgemental but you went to the track paid your money made a tt and left. You can't win if you don't race and the guy that stuck it out and won has something to be proud of. In the future he can talk about that fiasco of a race he won not gee I got pissed and left. Sorry if I am harsh.

Sorry to hear that Ron, I do understand trying to go have fun Drag racing & being in pain waiting & the heat, my last trip to the track 130 miles round trip, was at the track for 4 hours for 1 run, then they closed the lanes, got home @ 2: 30 in the morning, Great to see your car is running good.

??? I was there. They ran the program pretty quick, and you guys were in the order as well as every other class.

I drive 196 miles to race there, so your 45 mile drive is heaven...lol

You guys needed some shade that's all

45 miles is a dream!! I am NOT a racer ,just a tuner FISH,,,,,,,wait,didI say FISH,I prefer ET chaser Sorry to hear the day worked out like that as I'm shot by 3pm. Island is now my closest track at about 190 miles RT with plenty of tolls!

"till next time,hope to see you in July

Tony,what time did you finish up???

Sounds okay though, the car ran afterwards, nothing got damaged and you made it back home.

A good day just not so much fun.

I feel your pain as when that happens, you've already dedicated the whole day to it and nothing happens.....Just wasted pretty much the whole day.

If there were rain out dates being run, that should have been announced online. Then racers can decide what they want to do.

I MADE THE SECOND TIME SHOT, THEN THEY HOT LAPPED US RIGHT TO FIRST ROUND. I WAS OUT FORST ROUND AND LEFT THE TRACK ABOUT 7:20PM

I will be the first to tell you racing is not an easy sport. I'm physically in the worst shape of my life and trying to work on it by going to the gym and taking 2-2 1/2 mile walks. 3 weeks ago I towed 200 miles to Norwalk, (400-500 race cars) unloaded, took my one time trial, won first round, lost second round right before the rain moved in, loaded up and drove 200 miles back home in the pouring rain. My 30 year old Son was fast asleep in the passenger seat. LOL. Left home at 7am Saturday and got home right before 1am Sunday. On the longer races I have my motorhome and trust me I am going to sneak in the motorhome and take a nap between rounds. I don't love it like I used to only because I can't do it like I used to BUT I still love it!!!

Some of you guys need to go to a few national events or points meets. Especially one that has bad weather. One time shot, first round 2 days later, get beat and drive the 500 miles back home. It's not a baseball game. Maybe we're all crazy. Just sayin'.

NHRA National and division races are H----, not much fun unless you win or go a bunch of rounds

Or you get to hang out with a bunch of pals from all over the country who you only see at the races. That helps.

Yeah, some track days can be looooooong and unproductive. IMO any time you drive it in and drive it back in one piece (as opposed to going home on a hook), consider it a "good enough" day for a street/strip car.

Ron...I have always liked your car. Just be thankful that you can still go to the track!

I feel bad for you guys. I just finished a new motor for my Barracuda Saturday morning, drove it straight to the gas station to fill it up and drove to the track....a wopping 6 miles, LOL. I made it to Rd 3, broke out with a 6.59 dragging the brake....drove home.....I'm beat...

Some of you guys should try 9 days at Norwalks Halloween Classic. 😂

I understand how racing is and how we have to wait to make a pass but if the order was right to me the scheduled race should have run first and not last. I know they cater to the power adder street cars because that's where they make all their money. But I still feel the NSS cars should not have been the last cars to run in the order when our race has been on the schedule all year. I know about waiting and how NHRA treats the little guys and that's one reason I don't race a lot because I have health problems with my joints as I have fibromyalgia and I have a lot of knee and back problems. I also know that's not an excuse I just felt the NSS cars should not have ran last in the order but it seems when ever a track runs NSS cars around here they always get put on the back burner. And because of my health I did not care one bit if I stayed until the end or left when I did as I was glad to get home and get off my feet. I just know if the NSS cars had run first we would have had 2 time runs in way earlier. As far as I am concerned the order the cars ran was wrong and not right. But money talks as it always does. And I know I am older and have health problems and that's why I don't race much but I do enjoy racing with the cool NSS cars and I try to go when its not a ton of other things at the same race. I understand some of you guys go much farther then me but since I drive my car to the track the closer I can race to home the less a tow would cost me if I break. Ron

Its not harsh as we knew what we were doing. And even though it cost me $55 dollars for one run I was fine with leaving since my joints were hurting me so much. I just wish we had gotten at least one more run in. Ron

I just don't agree we were in the proper order since the NSS cars were scheduled to race that day and they ran us last of all the cars. We actually had shade in my brothers trailer. Its my own fault I was hurting a lot as I should have sat a lot more but you know how it is as I ended up talking to many friends and was on my feet more then I should have been. Ron

I know I could never do that. I even wonder how I did all the bracket racing I did years ago but when I was younger it was no problem at all to hang around for days. I know I have problems and cant do anywhere near what I did years ago and I have to understand that. Ron

Holy crap Al 190 miles is about a 4 hr drive. I feel for you. Ron

I agree with you Rich as nothing broke and the car ran fine and I drove it home with no problems. It could have been a much worse day. I guess I had to find something to complain about. LoL. Ron

What it cost you for that one run doesn't cover my tolls

It sounds like the price of fun in New York State cost more to travel to than any other state in the Union, yes?
BTW, what the H--- are tolls?
All of us need to pitch in and start fixing our local problems like heavy tolls on public funded roadways and bridges
We can DO THIS

You're right Ron. The "big" cars never run 1st out west here. Usually around noon AFTER the slower classes have probably had two time runs. Then it's always a drag when there is a "show" as it takes awhile for 1st. rd. I have raced in makeup/rainout races where I was still in. They are run AFTER the scheduled event is complete. At the div. level they'll run on Sat.

Hate to hear that Ron. I'm glad we went to Capitol instead although it wasn't much better. Their Top ET pot was $5500 so there was a ton of cars that showed up. We only got 2 T&T runs. But, I Iook at it this way. The sport is thriving and that will keep the tracks open. Some days you just get stuck waiting. Although I was also just getting some of those first passes out of the way on this new motor (9.63 @ 140) spinning. We're going to Capitol this Friday coming 5/31.

That's great Jack as glad you got some half decent runs on that bad boy. I am glad there was a ton of cars there and the sport is doing great and I don't mean to complain a lot. I just thought since the NSS cars was a race that had been on the schedule all year that they would run them before all the rainout cars that were make-up races. I did not think we would be the last cars to run as I feel that was not right. But it is what it is and none of the cars broke and my son and I drove both home so that's still a good day in my book. Ron

Are you gonna take another try at it on June 8th? We'll be there

Ron's car was probably one of the best looking cars there. They always run the good stuff last. I don't care for the modern stuff myself even if they are fast.

I don't understand, your really upset that they had so much going on, because everyone waited the same amount of time . What am I missing ? Did you know they had the street car race re scheduled ?

No we waited the longest to make our time runs and eliminations. As far as I am concerned they did bring in too many cars for that race. On day races they open at 8 and usually start eliminations around 2 or 3 oclock. The NSS cars were the last to run time runs and eliminations as the NSS cars ran the first round at 7:30 that evening. Most racers that race a day race don't normally think they will be getting home after midnight. Yes we all waited by how come the NSS cars were run last and waited the longest when we were on the schedule at that race. All the rain out cars making up races ran before any NSS car ran. I don't mind some waiting but they brought to many cars to that race IMO. I agree they did the best they could for all them cars there but they should have not brought so many cars in on one day like that. Ron

You were gone already before they even ran the first round of the NSS cars. The NSS cars were not a rain out race so why did they run last ? Money is my bet because the track makes a lot of money on the street car races. The NSS cars got a second time run around 2:30 they tell me and then waited 5 hrs to run the first round. Most NSS racers said they have never waited that long between the last time shot and first round. Ron.

Not with my car but I may go and spectate. Course I will never go when they are running a lot of them street power adders cars. Ron

Sorry to hear you didn’t have fun Ron. This is why I really like taking my motorhome to the track. During oildown cleanups, or just a long, multiple class run order, it’s nice to get inside and relax on the couch, make a sandwich, or even take a nap.

The time slip for my win at Norwalk Monster Mopar N/SS last year showed 2:07 AM. The latest win I remember was around 3:30 AM in St Louis. To enjoy Drag Racing you have to be able to enjoy the down time as well. Many times you'll sit for hours and then, bam it's time to hustle. My time slips at last years NMCA Dave Duell Classic show the semi and then the final 16 minutes apart.
Doug

I must chime in and give you racers mucho credit When I can go,we leave around 5:30am which for me means getting up at 4am and depending on the track it takes between 2.5 to 4 hours to get there. By 3pm I'm draggin my azz. So nowadays it has to be a 2 day event so afterwards it's a short trip to the Hotel/Motel Holiday inn {LOL}. Sunday wake up,,,,,breakfast and 10/15 minutes to the track....FRESH!
We are normally wrapped up by 4pm if it's not a huge event.

This getting old stuff is not easy! Still waiting to actually park next to or be in the staging lights next to Ron for the great pictures!!

The east coast has had a lot of rain, my track lost the first two points days to rain and it rained after second round the next two weeks. Tracks make a schedule each year , when it rains they try to consolidate races to try and get them all in on dry days. My track had a nostalgia race last sunday along with a test and ruin, I went to one last fall and got home at 10.00 sunday night due to the place being packed, I didn't go because I knew this would happen again. When you go to a race with multiple classes racing you have to be prepared to wait. My local track operator is easily accessible either by email or in person if you have a beef contact the track operator for an explanation.

You guys are right as I should understand its a lot of waiting around and I know that. I guess what got me was why we ran last after all the other classes there when we were on the schedule for that race. I just kept hearing all the street classes and pro dail classes getting called to the staging lanes and did not think we would be last and have to wait for all the cars making up rain out dates. And I admit I have health problems and waiting around all day gets my body hurting pretty good and if on my feet to much it really gets me. That's one reason I don't race much as I do love it but many times just know I cant take them long days on my feet which may be another reason I let it bother me some. I raced bracket racing years ago and do know it can be some long days. I just have not seen one like this for some time. But don't get me wrong I still had fun as anytime I can make a pass and not break anything its a fun day. Guess I am just getting grumpier in my old age. LoL.


PS: Yes Al I would love to have our 63's lined up to get some awesome pics. Just make sure all the pics are on the starting line of at the launch before you crush me and make me look slow !! Thanks for all the replies. Ron

I don't blame you Ron, I'd have likely left too. Events around here are notorious for being 3 to 4 hours behind schedule. I get fed up quick b/c I don't care to be at the track ALL day. I like racing, but not that much.

That's just what I tell my brother when he goes racing in 95 degree weather. I tell him I also love racing but not when I sweat so bad I cant enjoy it. And when its that hot my glasses steam up when I put my helmet on. LoL. And I really don't like standing around all day either as it tears up my joints. Ron

I have a race this Saturday that I'm debating on whether to go to or not b/c of the heat. It's been 100°+ the past few days. Takes the fun right out of it.

I'm gonna line up with Itis some day at the launch and put a floor jack underneath mine to have the look and then photo shop it out.
Top end is another story, I'll just shoot out the Bat hook from the front of mine onto his shoot cage and hitch a ride on one of his 160 mile per hour passes.LOL.

As far as hurry up and wait on the hottest of days? No way. I don't perform good watching paint dry between other classes and my car doesn't either.

When was the last time that feather floated down the 1320?? You WILL make some hits this year,and I refer to the car!

Will do this year, when where at what event is the question in my own mind.
Now going through my whole brake system being that the cylinders vomited all over the shoes.

Going to GP tomorrow at some point ????? to get Grumpy Fred to shave the drums for a whole new surface.