Introducing New Bracket Class

[Mike Bradley]

Pageland Dragway and M&M Motorsports presents a new bracket class called "Hot Rod Eliminator". This class will be for race cars or street cars with a dial-in of 7.49 and slower. Slicks and street tires are allowed. Line lock OK. No delay box, transbrake or electric shifter. If you're new to bracket racing this is an affordable entry level class where you can compete with other similar racers.

This class is a class for somewhat new racers therefore it is not open to anyone who is currently entered in our IHRA Summit Super Series point's program in "BOX" or "NO BOX". If you have any questions about HRE please see Doug Mayhew in the tower.

[SMACdownracing1]

Mike,
My thoughts...
I think the electric shifter should be allowed for 2 reasons.
1) Safety.
New racers with the electric shifter will be able to have both hands on the wheel
2) Level the competition.
Some racers with street type cars (OBC/passing gear linkage/etc.)can run in "drive" and have an advantage with shifting consistency.
Question.
What are you looking at for payouts?
Why not let some of the guys who are not happy with the new "No Box" rule move... as long as they meet the HRE requirements? This may help build the class.
SMACdownracing1

[Mike Bradley]

Mike,
My thoughts...
I think the electric shifter should be allowed for 2 reasons.
1) Safety.
New racers with the electric shifter will be able to have both hands on the wheel
2) Level the competition.
Some racers with street type cars (OBC/passing gear linkage/etc.)can run in "drive" and have an advantage with shifting consistency.
Question.
What are you looking at for payouts?
Why not let some of the guys who are not happy with the new "No Box" rule move... as long as they meet the HRE requirements? This may help build the class.
SMACdownracing1
1) Safety - I heard numerous racers years ago when they were lobbying for shifters in "Modified Eliminator" say hey this will allow us to keep both hands on the steering wheel which will make for a safer environment. I'll agree with that when we're talking about a car running 5.?? E.T.'. I would hope someone driving a car that is running 8.?? wouldn't have a problem shifting gear(s). Now don't get me wrong I'm all about keeping this and every class safe but don't see this being a negative.

2) Level the competition - Exactly the reason for not allowing any electronics in this entry level beginners class. This needs to be a class where the driver actually drives the car without any aide from devices made to enhance the consistency from pass to pass. This will be drag racing at its simplest form.

Another reason for keeping the class 7.49 and slower is to help keep the perceived cost as reasonable as possible and possibly attract street cars as well as purpose built race cars.

A couple of reasons to keep HRE separate in terms of eligibility is honestly we don't want or need to grow HRE at the expense of MOD. MOD is finally starting to be a healthy class as far as car counts go and we certainly don't want to compromise that in any way. Another thing to keep in mind is HRE won't have a presence at the Team Finals in October. Hopefully once someone gains the experience and confidence in HRE they'll want to move up to MOD and race to become part of the IHRA Bracket Final team.

In order to give this class an opportunity to grow the payout will be 80% of entry fee. The entry fee on Saturday's will be $30 with a $10 buyback. Doug and I kept going back and forth between $20 and $30 for the entry fee. Doug will keep his finger on the pulse of HRE and if the HRE racers want to have a drivers meeting to discuss the entry fee I feel sure that could be arranged.

We thank everyone who helps make our programs successful. This truly is a total team effort.

[BHicks9411]

Great!! Finally!! What else can I say. Give it time though. I'll put Cory in my wife's car!:helmet::biggrin2:

[SMACdownracing1]

ALLLRIIIIIIGHTYTHEEEEEN!
We'll debut the SMACdownracing Malibu in this class when we're done with it. If I hit the wall, or the other car, while shifting my 'glide it's all on you then Mike ...cause I triiiiied to tell ya!!!.:biggrin:
Out.

[Mike Bradley]

ALLLRIIIIIIGHTYTHEEEEEN!
We'll debut the SMACdownracing Malibu in this class when we're done with it. If I hit the wall, or the other car, while shifting my 'glide it's all on you then Mike ...cause I triiiiied to tell ya!!!.:biggrin:
Out.
If the guys running Hot Street weighing 3,100-3,200-lbs running 5.30-5.80 on 28X10.5 tires can shift their glides surely you can handle that Malibu running 9.0'...LOL:nailbite:

Thanks guys. Like Brian says give it time.

[ferndaleflyer]

This is a good idea. I personally don't think air-electric shifters should even be allowed in MOD let alone in this class. I mean its not even started and someone wants to allow electric shifters. BUT---I would suggest that a car -truck with its original stock automatic shifter should be legal as there should be a lot of these in the class. Also after it gets rolling make a rule that if you are a winner 2 times you have to move up or sit out some races. My reason for this is that where I raced up North they had a class like this at 3 tracks and one guy has been racing and winning in it for 30 years. He thinks its his weekly paycheck at the expense of the beginners and the class its self.

Good idea to promote on T&T night.

[staginglt]

No offense, but "safety" is the lamest excuse I've ever heard for air/elec. shifters. I can't even bring myself to argue the point past that.

Kudos to the staff for generating an entry-level category. Suggestion: Since you've bounced between $20-$30 dollars... why not $25? :P Just my opinion, but I'd agree with you on the $20 level... no need for these guys to get involved in the money wars this early on. Racers should have a cheap option.

Norwalk's Wed. night program used to be $10, race or watch. Nearly everybody raced, because it cost the same. Pageland does pretty well for spectators. How many of them know how easily they could get involved and compete? "Sell up" at the gate.

[Mike Bradley]

Don a factory automatic transmission/shifter is OK. You certainly don't have to manually shift the car. I say put that sucker in drive and let it do its thing...LOL

We've structured HRE to be verrrrry affordable on Friday night. It only cost $5 more to run HRE on Friday night over test-n-tune. Anyone wanting to run HRE pays the $5 entry fee in the tower and you're ready to race. The winner on Friday night receives a nice trophy.

Don you mentioned about having repeat winners move up to MOD. Doug and I discussed this and our concern was if we plugged in say 3 race win and you move up it might kill the class before the first year is up. Doug and I talked about making the points winner for the season move up or sit out the following season. Honestly I don't think you'll having racers coming into HRE and staying. Especially if the money isn't the driving force to the class. This class is intended to give someone an affordable, entry level opportunity to get plugged in to drag racing.

[ferndaleflyer]

The reason I said that about "moving up" was because those up North that have raced in that class for 30 years OR MORE make a mockery of what the intent of it is. Heck, they also run foot brake and do well there also. But in Street (what it is called there) they win or runner-up 90% of the time and it just runs the new racers away after a few races.

[staginglt]

Until the number of entries in the Hot Rod class becomes pretty sizable, you are going to have repeat winners. I think that's something that could be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. If it were you or me or James, I think the staff could talk to the driver and say, "Look, this isn't in the spirit of what we intended for this class, which was to provide an entry-level category."

In all fairness, some tracks up north also have a Trophy class in addition to Street Eliminator, the latter of which is hardly an entry-level class at most tracks.

In any case, the key is going to be promotion, and feeding the egos. Check this out... it's not even 11am Saturday morning, and you can already see a ton of pics and results from Friday Night Street Racing at Beaver Springs... http://www.beaversprings.com/ These guys are racing for trophies and prizes like free race entries or race fuel, and they fight tooth and nail every week (typically 120-150 cars), even running a points program just for jackets at the end of the year. Why? Because they are put in the limelight, just like if they were running for big money every week.

[Mike Bradley]

Doug stopped by the store here to pick up some things for the track. We discussed the entry fee again for HRE on Saturday's and both feel that a $20 entry and a $10 buyback would be best for the class. I'll make the changes to the website this weekend to reflect this information.

This has an opportunity to be a great introductory class. See ya at the track!

[SMACdownracing1]

SOMEBODY needs to pay attention.:eyeroll:
Nobox points guys won't be running both classes
...and...
HRE guys going head to head with our Nobox regulars!

:laughing:

hmm...I'm hearing unresolved issues from up NORTH.:biggrin2:

OKOKOKOKOFK! I'll shift the dang thing myself.:rambo: Ducktape!

Out.

[Mike Bradley]

Hey I've got a killer idea. Why don't we add $5 to the Mod entry fee and have a runoff at the end of the night between the winner in Mod and HRE. Say if you had 40 MOD entries that would put $200 up for grabs for the winner of the shootout.

What ya think?????

[SMACdownracing1]

How about no additional fee.
Completely optional for both drivers.
Run for a free pass next week...some free racing fuel...free buyback coupons... free meal at the track...etc.
Do the same thing with Mod and Pro!
SMACdownracing

[Mike Bradley]

How about no additional fee.
Completely optional for both drivers.
Run for a free pass next week...some free racing fuel...free buyback coupons... free meal at the track...etc.
Do the same thing with Mod and Pro!
SMACdownracing
I feel sure we could come up with some kind of award for the runoff winner. As far as a TOP and MOD runoff maybe down the road. Doug is working on a little something for the PRO class separately. Also in good conscience I can't allow the PRO guys to beat up on you "NO BOX" guys like that now can I ...?

[SMACdownracing1]

Don't know about the "beating up on" thing.
Seen a many a footbraker a JPD go double 0 and dead-on too!
It would be fun for a no-box guy to take a shot at those guys with nothing on the line but the chance to get in the show free next week or something.
Same thing goes for HRE and Nobox.
To me, this is something the track can do to demonstrate appreciation for the racers choosing to run at JPD.
SMACdownracing1

[staginglt]

I agree that we don't need any additional fees at this point. $40 is plenty of money to shell out for a weekend of fun, and that's not including buybacks.

If you did buybacks 1st round only instead of "1st or 2nd round", the track would make as much as $70 more on Modified alone (again, this is because a 2nd round of buybacks often makes the track pay out a higher total of round money, given the track's current payout structure), which would not only keep a number of guys from spending money needlessly and cut some time off of the program, but it would also pay for a small run-off bonus of cash or free entries.

So, just by going to 1 round of buybacks, the track would be able to have a runoff between the Top and Modified winners, with the winner getting $100 + a free race entry, and the runner-up getting a free race entry. (must still pay general admission), and it's all covered with no need for sponsors.

FYI, Beaver Springs has done a runoff race on a weekly basis for many years between the winners of Top, Mod, Bike, and Street, and I've only seen 1-2 years out of a decade where the Top guys have been able to hold their own... :eyeroll: No offense to the top-bulbers, just stats!

Back on topic: I think keeping Hot Rod affordable ($20) is *great*, and may I suggest that until they start drawing as many cars as the other classes, that they get an extra (3rd) time trial as long as time allows, to provide for more seat time.

[Mike Bradley]

I agree that we don't need any additional fees at this point. $40 is plenty of money to shell out for a weekend of fun, and that's not including buybacks.

If you did buybacks 1st round only instead of "1st or 2nd round", the track would make as much as $70 more on Modified alone (again, this is because a 2nd round of buybacks often makes the track pay out a higher total of round money, given the track's current payout structure), which would not only keep a number of guys from spending money needlessly and cut some time off of the program, but it would also pay for a small run-off bonus of cash or free entries.

So, just by going to 1 round of buybacks, the track would be able to have a runoff between the Top and Modified winners, with the winner getting $100 + a free race entry, and the runner-up getting a free race entry. (must still pay general admission), and it's all covered with no need for sponsors.

FYI, Beaver Springs has done a runoff race on a weekly basis for many years between the winners of Top, Mod, Bike, and Street, and I've only seen 1-2 years out of a decade where the Top guys have been able to hold their own... :eyeroll: No offense to the top-bulbers, just stats!

Back on topic: I think keeping Hot Rod affordable ($20) is *great*, and may I suggest that until they start drawing as many cars as the other classes, that they get an extra (3rd) time trial as long as time allows, to provide for more seat time.
Doug and I both feel much better about the $20 entry for HRE and think it'll provide more opportunity for more racers to enter the class.

Honestly the buyback format is working like it is so we'll leave that sleeping dog alone...LOL

Depending on the number of entries we have each weekend we could try giving them an additional time run. We may end up having to move the summer time start time up an hour due to the number of cars each week anyway. We'll see how it flows next month and adjust as necessary.

I'll echo the level of competition at Pageland in "NO BOX" is pretty stiff. Dang tough to go rounds with these guys.

[00musdog]

Was reading here and was wondering-Are 2-steps allowed in Hot Rod eliminator?
Was planning on running Friday, what kind of turn out have you been having for HRE?

[Mike Bradley]

Was reading here and was wondering-Are 2-steps allowed in Hot Rod eliminator?
Was planning on running Friday, what kind of turn out have you been having for HRE?
2-steps are not allowed in HRE. I think we've been averaging 3 or 4 cars. We really haven't had many Friday's since the class started where we weren't battling rain or something. Come on out and give it a try. HRE is an fun affordable class.