Lack of dedication!!!!

[kblev1075]

If the racers who support this track showed the same dedication as the track owners/operators the place would have been long closed the doors!! I spoke to someone at Darlington Dragway and they said come on down they would try their best to race...... 10 min... of rain and the race is cancelled 5 hours before first round??????????:banghead:

[383nova]

Yea man, I drove up from Charleston to hear the news...

[TopFuel6]

Kevin we made the call early so those who had to drive a little ways could not waste a trip, everyone's not as fortunate to be able to push their car to the track

sorry but just can't control mother nature

[BHicks9411]

There is only 2 or 3 that live that far away, and they got a cell phone and always call Kevin or myself before making the trek. How about the people that live within an hour that have raced for years and understand it may be raining at 12:30, but this being the summer time the sun will come out and DRY the track by the 4:00 gate open time and 5:00 Time Runs.
Kevin does live right at the track.......all the more reason for him to know what the weather really is. If it Rains then it rains. But just because it rained out Friday night and rained Sat. morning is NO need to call a race for Sat. night. Having a little business sense myself, I understand that with the rain Friday night you were afraid you would lose money for the weekend after the payouts Saturday. If that's the case then just shut down the bracket program. If its something you're not DEDICATED TO AND PASSIONATE ABOUT in life then you shouldn't do it. Especially if it may cost money or make very little.

Granted I've sucked this year and its my own fault, BUT, this rain out KILLED ME. Put yourself in my shoes. Alonzo was on vacation. He was gonna take a 0. I would get a chance to make rounds. Then I am going on vacation on the next points race. I would claim a zero and he would make rounds. It would even out. NOW, its basically over for me catching him knowing I'm missing the next race. Yeah, I could come home early, I could have took vacation at a different time. But when you don't set you're schedule till late, we have to set our a little earlier. My problem, I'll deal with it, but just want you to know that yesterday POSSIBLY cost me a couple thousand dollars.

Then you have my brother Dustin, who works ever other weekend, finally getting to race the rest of the points races the way the schedule works out and needing all the races he can get JUST to make the team. And you take that away from him.

Kyle Oliver came home early from the beach needing to make the race.
As Ryan Snipes said he came from Charleston.
I saw Sonny Burr, Tom Couick and Vic Helms around 4PM in the track area pulling their trailors around. I'm sure their were more. Don't think "well they should have called". The sun was BEAMING from 2:30 on. Mother nature was cooperating.

About 15-20 of us went down to Darlington and had a pretty good time. Now NO we don't wanna race their. Obviously we like Pageland Dragway enough to call it home and care enough to be upset. Don't feel that great when all of us roll into Darlington and everyone ask why you're their. Don't look good on our track when we tell the truth.

We promote the track when things go good, but I for one will tell you when something sucks. How bout it Fern and Beard, you guys always have a good opinion about the track. What you think about this????

[staginglt]

I had to deal with the same issues last year. You could alleviate the strain of those issues by adjusting the points system, but the majority were happy with it as-is. Live by the sword, die by the sword... Careful what you wish for, etc...

Just don't forget how hard that they worked to get the races in a couple of times earlier this year, and how everybody applauded. Not a good call this weekend, but they've made the right call more often than not this year.

I still consider Pageland my home track, even if I can't get there all the time. It's been great to see more cars there on those occasions that I can get down there. I hope they can continue the positive trend.

[Rick Plyler]

I would just ask for a consistency in the decisions. A couple of weeks ago, it was raining buckets at the house, so I was relunctant to load up and drive from Indian Trail area to Pageland, and I called the track up til nearly 6:30, and they still were trying to get things dry. I made the decision to not waste the gas and time, and low and behold, they got in the race, and our season was all but over from the loss of points. My bad.
Saturday, (July 10th) we arrive at the track, and it's as dry as a powder-keg, and only a few cars in sight. We learned they called the race around lunchtime. I'm not gonna blow a fuse because someone made a quick call on this. But I would like for track owners to consider a hard rule, as to deciding by 2:00 or 3:00pm, and post the decision on the main (web) page - NOT ON THE FORUM. Keeping in mind, at 3:30 it might start to dry out, but in this economy (I'm living in) I Can't afford to take the car on a joy ride for 2 hours.
Again, many thanks to the track owners and workers for what they do, but I just feel a consistent ruling would be acceptable and appreciated by all.

[BHicks9411]

I remember your situation well Michael. How do you think we could alleviate these kind of problems when something out of the racer's control happens?

I would also like to say that while I am upset, my post was mostly from just what I and everyone I talked with felt. Even the track manager and from what I hear one of the owners. Now I would like to say that sometimes tough decisions have to be made. While I don't call this a tough one their are others and will be more. I commend the 4 men that make the majority of the calls. I appreciate what we have, and in the grand scheme of things, I tell myself that "That's just life, you have to roll with the punches". Life isn't fair sometimes but we should all be thankful for what we have. We all forget that sometimes.

Rick, I think that if the gates open at 4, their shouldn't be a decision or even a thought of what to do till at least 2. Then you should just warn people that call that yes it is raining but like you say be consistent on trying to run the race. Even if you only get 1 time run, its the same for everyone. In the summer time with the heat and sun the track can be dried in a hour or two.

I knew when I left at 4:30 Sat. for a hour drive to a track(Qualifying at 5) that had just had a shower, that I could be going to a rained out race. But I made the decision and it was on me. Had a good time(Quarterfinal's) and was home by 12:15.

[barry laney]

I think they should re-schedule the july 10 race on one of the weekends that there is nothing scheduled. Reason is, if for some reason we have another cancellation, some of the racers will still have a chance to get their races in to be elligiblle for the team finals. I would hate to see some of the racers that have supported the track come up short. Remember guys, this is the same group of racers that brought home the championship in 2009. WE need to have a good showing at the finals in order to remain on top. Last year we made up one of our rain-out races on a sunday.REMEMBER.

[barry laney]

I think they should re-schedule the july 10 race on one of the weekends that there is nothing scheduled. Reason is, if for some reason we have another cancellation, some of the racers will still have a chance to get their races in to be elligiblle for the team finals. I would hate to see some of the racers that have supported the track come up short. Remember guys, this is the same group of racers that brought home the championship in 2009. WE need to have a good showing at the finals in order to remain on top. Last year we made up one of our rain-out races on a sunday.REMEMBER.
I vote for july31

[BHicks9411]

Aug. 8 on Sunday:smile:

[ferndaleflyer]

I got 2 questions for the owners, operators. Wheres the phone call, and is it raining yet????

Thanks to Kevin myself and my friend I have been trying to get down there forever only drove halfway there. Should have went on to Darlington but chose to go to Dunn-Benson instead.

Here is my deal---I support the track! I had to be up near Wheeling,WV the next day by noon. Thats about 500mi from Pageland but I was going to be there to race and leave from there for the trip. I didn't want to race elsewhere but as mentioned before I had another racer in tow. I got to WV at 10:30am Sunday after driving all night.

This is no good for the tracks reputation when it cancels hours before the track is even supposed to open when all that they have had is a minor rainstorm. Dry the track and race---thats all we ask.

[staginglt]

Last year we made up one of our rain-out races on a sunday.REMEMBER.

Wasn't the makeup race due to a timing system issue?

How do you think we could alleviate these kind of problems when something out of the racer's control happens?

In my opinion, two things: 1) Rules note that rainouts will not be rescheduled. (which I agree with... a lot of folks make their schedules early. Make a schedule and stick with it, except in extreme circumstances) However, if a race rains out, what about reducing the number of races claimed, since you have one less race available? ie., if you start out with best 12 of 16, and you have 2 rainouts during the year, make it best 10 out of 14. In other words, you get the same number of races to drop, so rainout aren't counted against everybody. That alone would go a long way toward fixing potential issues. And/Or: 2) If you only got 1 entry point, instead of 5, then a single bad call, family emergency, etc. wouldn't destroy your entire season. I've said it before: You don't have to use points to force people to come -- you offer a great track, great program, and great staff, and people will want to come... and that's what we have!

[BHicks9411]

I do believe the make up race last year was b/c of a timing issue. I talked with Doug the Sat. of the mishap and he said then he was gonna have a driver's meeting at the next points race about making the race up.

I like your ideas there Michael. Especially reducing the races claimed with the number of "rainouts".

[HotRod]

I dont really understand the point in rescheduling the july 10th race. It was said at the drivers meeting they wouldnt reschedule rainouts period. And if you reschedule this one then what happens if it rains another race out.....we gonna reshedule it too? Looks like its gonna start alot of problems as far as finding a date everyone can agree on also.... Might as well just leave it like it is............JMO :propeller:

[ferndaleflyer]

Yep---leave it alone. I sure didn't like driving all the way down there winning 2 rounds and then having the race called a rain out either. But it is what it is and could be a lot worse. Just stop raining out when there isn't any rain. DUH!!!!!!

[speedykart]

why cancel test n tune at 3:00. I Called a buddy that stays below the track and he said it was clear and sunny. I"M confused:confused: I needed some track time and didn't want to drive half way across the state

[BHicks9411]

I dont really understand the point in rescheduling the july 10th race. It was said at the drivers meeting they wouldnt reschedule rainouts period. And if you reschedule this one then what happens if it rains another race out.....we gonna reshedule it too? Looks like its gonna start alot of problems as far as finding a date everyone can agree on also.... Might as well just leave it like it is............JMO :propeller:

LOL we all know why you don't want it rescheduled:biggrin2: . But remember it didn't rain.