I wanted to get everyone thinking about our regular December get together. I was thinking of trying to help organize an event in Bradenton this December (or there abouts). IMO, the balls out competitive attitude has calmed down quite a bit, and everyone has a much more friendly attitude. Because of this, I was thinking of relaxing all of the classes, categories, etc., because by the time you are done with all of that crap, there is only one other guy in your class, and you take the win only because there were no other competitors.
This is what I had in mind. I was thinking it would be cool to have it organized in a way that is comfortable for us. For the guys that just want to show up and do a little racing while hanging out with friends, there would be an open test and tune class. No competition. No restrictions on the car. Just show up with your car and enjoy some drag racing. This would be the cheap seats. What ever the track charges is what these guys pay.
The second class would have to be the street tire shootout. A trophy is great and all, but I say we charge a little more for this class and have a decent little payout. I don't think anyone would be opposed to paying $100-$150 to enter that class if there could be a good payout. Maybe something like a 75/25 split between 1st and 2nd place.
The third class is for the competitors. No restrictions on the cars. I thought it would be cool to have a bracket style race. We would limit the highest dial-in to a 10.50 or a 10.0 or something to keep only the relatively fast cars in the class. Again, we should charge a decent entry fee so that there can be a decent pot for the winner.
Some may say that that is unfair for the really fast cars (sub 9 sec). "Why should an 8.50 car have to compete with a 10.50 car?" I agree, and if there are more than 2 or 3 of those cars that show up, we can have a separate "unlimited" class just for them. If there is only one or two really fast cars there, they can either participate in the bracket race, or the test and tune class, since they would have been racing all by themselves the way we used to do it.
IMO, these events have been much more about hanging out, and showing your stuff down the track and this format would eliminate all of the complications and allow for the possibility of a nice payout. Most guys have to drive at least a couple hundred miles to get there so I doubt anyone would mind ponying up a little more dough to make things interesting.
I think the open test-n-tune class may help attendance. I like that idea. You can get more runs in without worrying about getting eliminated right away. You can always run a grudge match with your buddy as well just for fun.
Relatively stock vipers used to be the majority of the cars that showed up, now hardly any do. Hopefully the relaxed atmosphere will get more of these cars to show up rather than just a few of the big dogs.
No doubt everyone wants to see the 8-9 second cars, but its the stock guys that used the make the majority of the events' attendance.
__________________
96 GTS - Roe S/C - 753rwhp, 794rwtq
Built and tuned by Macedo Motorsports
The stock cars need to have the 12.00 class re-instated, that would bring back most of them. TVC had commented that the 11.50 was out of reach of most stock drivers. It should be:
Unlimited
8.50 and up
9.90 and up
11.00 and up
12.00 and up
I think a $100 fee for the Street tire Shoot out and $50 for the race would be acceptable.
I have been so busy lately but I will try and make the event at norwalk and would like to trailer the car down to Florida to attend this race. A good track is tough to come by...
With any event like this...the "fun" factor is what will bring in the masses.
Obviously, an event like this can be small or as big as you want depending on the time/willingness of the planners and the overall intent of the event.
Too big and it just becomes too much work. Not big enough and it won't attract enough people to make it a lot of fun.
Things I would consider is coverage (good for the tuners of the community), sponsorship, grudge matches for $$, inviting a few other types of cars to race (an open test and tune class) with such cars as FordGT's, Ferrari, Porsche, Lambo etc.
How about one of the more experienced racers offer up a "how to drag race your Viper" session for inexperienced racers or experienced ones who wants some additional education. (this alone may bring people you would never see come to the track with their Vipers)
A classy "event t-shirt" for sale or given away to the winners of each class. (lots of possibilities here)
An open house at Club Heff's on Friday ( oh great Jason says...thanks for volunteering my business ) and a planned event for "the group" to see the area...maybe a tour boat or fishing charter out of Sarasota. Dinner with a water view in one of the areas restaurants, a car cruise around the area (aka..St Armands, Longboat, Siesta Key)
I would think if people are coming down to the Sarasota (Bradenton) area...they might as well come a day early and soak up the local scene. I would/do.
An organized event for Saturday night where everyone can get together. (aka..go carts)
Maybe a car show (Saturday) for ALL cars to come and join in the fun. If you have lots of people there you can have raffles, giveaways, etc etc. Anything to generate prize money and exposure.
I would be happy to help plan the event as well.
Other than that...just show me when and where to point my camera.
Thanks for the input guys! I think it's important to take the edge off of this event. It needs to be as friendly as possible and cater more to the normal guys (stock to lightly modded cars). I think an open house/dyno day at the shop would be pretty cool, along with dinners and cruises at night. We could also get a little street action going if that's your thing. Also, we could look into renting the go cart track. I'm just ready to get the group together for a nice event. I want to leave the BS grudges at home and just have everyone get together like old times. I am going out of town for a couple of days, but we will start working on the details soon.
If anyone would like to help with organizing this, just let us know. Toby, thanks for stepping up. When I get back to town I'll give you a call and we can start working on it.
Gary-
Thanks for stepping up to get something organized. If it can be done, a great track like Bradenton should bring the dyno queens and roll-on racers to the drag strip to show that 1000+ hp can do more than spin the rollers.
We're up for test and tune but for those who want to COMPETE... Bracket racing is boring (and we've got a damn consistent car). Considering that these events are few and far between, I'd push to split the event to bring both the competitors and the casual racers. If we fill an 8 car class of <10.50 cars and run double-elimination, I think it would make for some damn fine heads-up racing. If someone has an 8 second ride that aborts every other pass, we'll be first in line to take them out in heads-up competition.
Some problems with last years race:
1) Car Count
- I think the relaxed attitude and open classes is a great start to pulling in viper owners. If you're not in it for the competition, more stock or "show" cars could give these guys something to check out and owners to hang out with. As always, it's gonna be tough to bring stock cars from out-of-state... But a few exotics, a world class dragstrip and a good show might make the difference.
2) Too many classes / Not enough competition
- Throw the faster guys into larger classes and let them race heads-up with a double emilination ladder (fastest vs slowest - lose twice and you're out - <9.99 & 10.00-11.00). Hell, we have plenty of time, let racers buy-back and contribute to the payout. I'd rather go down swinging to a fast car than win because I cut a good light. If you get taken out run test & tune, set up grudge races or sniff nitrous with Wardo and 1TONY1.
3) Payout for head-ups class
- Just enough to make things interesting and add some drama for the guys who make the haul, want to compete and those who scatter parts on the track (ie. Wardo).
Regardless of the format, We'll make the trip and slap around anyone who bitches. Remember, this isn't little league so not everyone needs a trophy!
We'll be looking for 9.4 or better so bring the BOOOST!
Scott
Last edited by BIG GUN : June 21st, 2006 at 02:10 PM.
I think your idea is perfect! The only addition could possibly be a second bracket class for say 10.50 and slower.
For folks that think bracket racing is boring, you should try it sometime. There is nothing more satisfying than reeling in a guy who is a second slower than you and passing him right at the finish.....other than being the slower guy with a better light and beating the more expensive car.
Racing, in my opinion is more than simply dumping the clutch and jamming gears, we don't need a track, timers, photocells and timeslips for that. Whats wrong with the "complete" pass which starts with a good light and ends with running on your "dial in" (number on your window that you says how quick your car will go). Bracket racing doesn't mean you go slower, run your shit till it blows, make your hardest passes ever, just simply know your car and how fast it will go in order to win the overall event.
Heads up racing is fun, but bracket racing applies to the masses and makes the playing field more even, it saved the sport as a whole.
Anyways, great idea, count me in! I will bring cars for both classes if there is a bracket race for the slower cars, and I'm sure others will also.
JEDI
__________________
BTR Performance Inc www.btrviper.com
1997 GTS BTR 750 9.62 @ 149.75
8 YEAR VIPER WORLD RECORD 10.43 @ 147.95 ON PILOTS!!!!!
"PROUD Producers of the FIRST 9 SECOND Vipers ANYWHERE on the East Coast"
Scott,
Thanks for the input. You are the second person who has told me that bracket racing may not be the way to go, so maybe we should scrap that part of it and do a couple of classes. I think we have to be careful and not add too many classes.
Test & Tune
Street Tire
10.0 and up
9.0 and up
Unlimited
I just hate to see six or seven classes that we have to spread out between 15 cars or so.
another concept is running a round robbin. the top 4 or 6 cars there all have to run each other once. that would make for some very interesting smack for a long time after the race. obviously some guys know that they will only get so many runs out of their cars before they break. so this idea may not appeal to everybody.
Tom,
I think the bracket style could work, and it sounded like a good idea to me, but I'm not sure what the majority of the guys who would come to this event would want. I just think that with a limited number of participants, we should try to keep the number of classes to a minimum.
I just hate to see six or seven classes that we have to spread out between 15 cars or so.
I agree 100%. That's why we never push for an All-Motor class or power-adder breakdown. We've raced <3 rounds in waaaay too many races and everyone wants to compete with the chance of advancing. Whatever it takes to get people to show up.....
I just can't imagine a 8 or 9 second viper sitting at the tree focusing on consistency and reaction time (without sandbagging). If you built a big power viper, I'd say you're looking to OUTRUN the other guy when the light turns green. Maybe I've just witnessed too many 17 second Oldsmobiles winning bracket races to get excited about it anymore?
Regardless, we appreciate the efforts and we'll make the trip.
Last edited by BIG GUN : June 21st, 2006 at 02:35 PM.
How about a winner from each class going to a "final event" that would be bracket style.
This would allow balls out elimination "class winners" and then an "overall event winner" on a somewhat level playing ground. More action, more passes and mixes it up a bit.
Minimal classes would be great with the focus on the stock cars. Accentuating the stock/lightlymodded cars will definatly help the event grow.
I personally like JH's idea the best and think it would work if the event was not too large.
Correct me if I am wrong but IMO if you are comming for the sole purpose of winning the events i think this is not the event for you. I like running at the track and hanging out with other car guys at events like this.
I wanted to get everyone thinking about our regular December get together. I was thinking of trying to help organize an event in Bradenton this December (or there abouts). IMO, the balls out competitive attitude has calmed down quite a bit, and everyone has a much more friendly attitude. Because of this, I was thinking of relaxing all of the classes, categories, etc., because by the time you are done with all of that crap, there is only one other guy in your class, and you take the win only because there were no other competitors.
This is what I had in mind. I was thinking it would be cool to have it organized in a way that is comfortable for us. For the guys that just want to show up and do a little racing while hanging out with friends, there would be an open test and tune class. No competition. No restrictions on the car. Just show up with your car and enjoy some drag racing. This would be the cheap seats. What ever the track charges is what these guys pay.
The second class would have to be the street tire shootout. A trophy is great and all, but I say we charge a little more for this class and have a decent little payout. I don't think anyone would be opposed to paying $100-$150 to enter that class if there could be a good payout. Maybe something like a 75/25 split between 1st and 2nd place.
The third class is for the competitors. No restrictions on the cars. I thought it would be cool to have a bracket style race. We would limit the highest dial-in to a 10.50 or a 10.0 or something to keep only the relatively fast cars in the class. Again, we should charge a decent entry fee so that there can be a decent pot for the winner.
Some may say that that is unfair for the really fast cars (sub 9 sec). "Why should an 8.50 car have to compete with a 10.50 car?" I agree, and if there are more than 2 or 3 of those cars that show up, we can have a separate "unlimited" class just for them. If there is only one or two really fast cars there, they can either participate in the bracket race, or the test and tune class, since they would have been racing all by themselves the way we used to do it.
IMO, these events have been much more about hanging out, and showing your stuff down the track and this format would eliminate all of the complications and allow for the possibility of a nice payout. Most guys have to drive at least a couple hundred miles to get there so I doubt anyone would mind ponying up a little more dough to make things interesting.
) and a planned event for "the group" to see the area...maybe a tour boat or fishing charter out of Sarasota. Dinner with a water view in one of the areas restaurants, a car cruise around the area (aka..St Armands, Longboat, Siesta Key) 
If it can be done, a great track like Bradenton should bring the dyno queens and roll-on racers to the drag strip to show that 1000+ hp can do more than spin the rollers. 
