Start Times

[BHicks9411]

Is it to much to ask, for track management to look at the gate opens and qualifying begins times. It is hard for me and I run TOP, whom are called AFTER footbrake, to when I arrive at the track at 2:00 OR BEFORE, we sit in line on the public road. Then when the gates are opened, it may be 2:15 or later before you get in the gate. Then you have to find somewhere to park, set up camp, unload your car and equipment, warm up your car(in pit area by now), cool off your car, buy fuel from Buddy, go back to gate and sign in and pay to race, take the tech card to the tower and then get fueled, tires ready and in staging in 15-30 min. It's like a rat race when we get there. I generally don't make it to staging until the end of the 1st quailifying run and I'm busting my butt the whole time. So by then I'm tired, not ready and have probably been called a SOB by someone. If gates open at 2 then have footbrake cars in stagin at 3. That gives them at least 30 min. to 1 hour to do all the necessary things we have to do to get ready. If we must start at 2:30, then open gates at 1:30. Whatever works, just give us more time. Give me a key and I'll arrive at 1:00 and work the gates for you free of charge from 1:30 to 2. Not a problem. Not a big deal either, not trying to start a ruckus on here by no means. Thanks for reading, see ya Saturday if I have time to speak:biggrin2: .

[BHicks9411]

Also, I would like to give Kudo's to Doug Mayhew and track management for trying to get the race ran last week. Mother nature was just not to be denied. But they sure tried and that's all we can ask. Thanks JPD.

[Mike Bradley]

Is it to much to ask, for track management to look at the gate opens and qualifying begins times. It is hard for me and I run TOP, whom are called AFTER footbrake, to when I arrive at the track at 2:00 OR BEFORE, we sit in line on the public road. Then when the gates are opened, it may be 2:15 or later before you get in the gate. Then you have to find somewhere to park, set up camp, unload your car and equipment, warm up your car(in pit area by now), cool off your car, buy fuel from Buddy, go back to gate and sign in and pay to race, take the tech card to the tower and then get fueled, tires ready and in staging in 15-30 min. It's like a rat race when we get there. I generally don't make it to staging until the end of the 1st quailifying run and I'm busting my butt the whole time. So by then I'm tired, not ready and have probably been called a SOB by someone. If gates open at 2 then have footbrake cars in stagin at 3. That gives them at least 30 min. to 1 hour to do all the necessary things we have to do to get ready. If we must start at 2:30, then open gates at 1:30. Whatever works, just give us more time. Give me a key and I'll arrive at 1:00 and work the gates for you free of charge from 1:30 to 2. Not a problem. Not a big deal either, not trying to start a ruckus on here by no means. Thanks for reading, see ya Saturday if I have time to speak:biggrin2: .
Brian I'll pass the suggestion on to Doug. He doesn't use the computer so he'll not know about the question. Remember we have an "open door" policy in that if anyone sees an area that we can tweak to make the program possibly better don't hesitate to tell Doug. That's what he's there for to coordinate the days activities and keep things flowing as smooth as possible. From my perspective I can't see any reason why we can't push back the start time for first round of practice to 3:00 or 3:30 but again Doug can address this much better than I can.

[BHicks9411]

Thanks Mike. Yesterday work pretty good and kudo's to the track once again drying the track after a small shower.

[Mike Bradley]

Thanks Mike. Yesterday work pretty good and kudo's to the track once again drying the track after a small shower.
Great. I'm sure I'll be talking with Doug this week to see what he thinks would be best for everyone.

Racers I appreciate your emails giving us two thumbs up on the way we run our program(s) and the great track surface. Some of you prefer not to post on the forum but send me emails and that's perfectly ok. We thank each and everyone of you for choosing to race with us and be a part of Team Pageland.

[Mike Bradley]

I spoke with Doug this morning and he feels like 3:00 to 3:15 would be a good starting point. We'll try this for a few weeks to see how that works and go from there.

[staginglt]

That would be great. I can never seem to get there right when the gates open, try as I might. I pulled in, filled out my tech card, and drove the car off the trailer and directly to the head of the lanes, just making it as the last Footbrake car down.

The track was outstanding as usual this weekend, and there was a nice crowd. After having a 1.46 60' on my cold 'warmup' pass and installing another spring clamp (just tinkering), every single run was a 1.45. It was hiking the fronts nice, and ran 6.99 on the bias ply M/T's! Lovin' it. :cool: Great job on dealing with the rain shower and keeping the program moving all afternoon.

Separate topic: was there ever any more discussion regarding the number of rounds of buybacks? You've got the spreadsheet, so you can run the numbers for yourself. With your strong purse structure, having 1st OR 2nd round buybacks vs 1st round only does nothing but cost both the racers *and* the track more money.


$.02,