Questions for the racers.

[jeffhefler]

Ok now I realize there is a poll at the top of the page but I have a few questions..

First of all I am sitting in the hotel in Houston to attend the NHRA track operators meeting tomorrow morning ( this does not mean we and yes I said we are going to be NHrA). I chose to attend to hear what they have to say ( I hear the insurance is going down and even cheaper then IHRA)..I also want to voice my opinion on certain things they do when it comes to the bracket racers.... Mostly I am just curious when it comes to comparing these two ( IHRA vs NHRA ) dollar for dollar ( for the racer and myself )..

And before anyone says it, no I am not a NHRA only guy ( or whatever term ). In IHRA i have won National events, division races, division championships, race of champions winner, and a bracket finals win...Not trying be boastfull just educating some that may not know this so I have done plenty of IHRA racing in T/D,Q/R,S/S,Stock,H/R,Top, and mod.

Anyway.. My first question is... Racers say IHRA treats the racer better and they are nicer, how do the treat the racer nicer?
What problems have you as racers had with the Texas Motorplex? ( my dad has never liked that place) lol.
Is it the cost of membership, license,chassis certification, and having to wear neck restraints and a thicker fire suit in a fast car make the difference in you deciding where you race?

I have been in two pretty good wrecks and all I can say is that if you are ever in a wreck they do not sell enough stuff to wear as you need all the help you can get, you always think it will not happen to you ( I am as guilty as anyone for not wearing the right stuff).

Myself as a racer I do not care what association it is, I just try to turn on the win light.

But this is not about me, it's about y'all, and what is best for you..the race track needs to be succesfull and I know who my customers are (you racers ). We all know you can not please everyone all the time..

So do not turn this thread into a big debate as there are no wrong answers as long as they are honest. I am just asking for some straight up honest answers based on your own experinces.

If someone asked me to choose right this second wether we are going to be IHRA or NHRA I would say without hesitation it would be IHRA... But I am going to participate in the meetings tomorrow and take it all in...I really do not know what they could say or do for us (yes I said us again) but we will see....It's no secret that association dues, and bracket finals cost the track more money if they are IHRA.. But that is where myself and "we" part as that is MY problem not OUR problem by going with IHRA..

So I guess to sum this long post up I have no problem standing behind y'all( the racers) if I know y'all stand behind me!

Thank you for reading,

Jeff Hefler
[phone]

P.S. Please do not re-post this on the Facebook page..

[beegodwin]

Jeff,
Let me start by saying that it is no secret that i am pro IHRA, but i can be unbiased in saying there are some definite differences for the racers.
Starting of course with the bracket finals,always 1/8th mi., lots of racing,etc.
I think the safety gear only comes into play on 1/4 mi. years, we have lots of cars that run 4.50 to 4.70's that run all year without it then have to have it for that one race because they run under 7.50
As far as the metroplex we had a lot of people that were treated poorly by the staff there.(not an NHRA thing)
And yes the license,chassis,membership is cheaper.
Also i personally like the SummitSuperSeries it lets your track champ that has raced there all year have the opportunity to race for the big one instead of someone that may just happen to have a good day at the finals.
Summit sends $1000.00 for our Super-pro & No-E points champs @ the end of the year!
As far as the track goes the sanctioning is actually cheaper (1100.00)if paid on time. But you do have to pay 500.00 for the bracket finals so it ends up pretty much being a wash unless Craig comes up with something at the banquet.
On a side not I am keeping up with the face book right now so just let me know what you want on there and what you don't until we get a chance to get together and get you all the passwords and stuff.
I noticed you were up late so if you want give me a call later when you get up I have some more info on this you might want to know.

"Bee" Godwin
940-704-9119

[jeffhefler]

Still in this meeting, some nice changes have been made..

[jeffhefler]

1/8 bracket finals this year and every year (NHRA) Cheap Thursday evening test and tune...

And a electronics and no electronics gamblers race on Friday.. Payout not confirmed but something like $2,000.00 to win in electronics..$1,200.00 in no electronics.


Jeff Hefler

[geeman]

Dang, that sounds pretty good, i think i may be leaning towards NHRA!

[geeman]

But I don't care either way, they both are ok with me

[alaneaves]

I read the thread, I drive a school bus and have to get a dot physical ever year, IHRA will take that for my Liscense physical, and save me money. To me that is more racer friendly.

[dragsterslayer]

I think that we all as racers at WRP should stand behind whatever Jeff decides to do as far as sanctioning, whether it be NHRA or IHRA...regardless we will have a competent and knowledgeable person at the helm.....

[talisman]

Jeff,
I talk to a lot of bracket racers and I want you to know that we are excited to have you. I hope you realize how spoiled we have become in the last couple of years under Bee and Sharon's guidance of the track. You are either a bracket racer or you go go blast up and down the track and call it racing and watch your track die a slow death. I hope under your guidance that Wichita will grow an already good thing even larger until Daryl has to pave some more pit area. I also look forward to the challenge of some new racers coming to race because you are here. Wichita racers have proven to be as tough as they come, so bring'em on. I would love to see 50 super-pro cars on a regular night. Bracket racers can pit anywhere, proved that at Ennis a couple of times when we had to pit so far out we needed signs to direct us to the staging lanes. I am anxious to see your schedule for 2012 and maybe get to see some ADRL type action. Best to everybody, get them dogs ready, and to quote a friend of mine, "you ho's best be on your toes!"

[jeffhefler]

Well i am excited as well, seems like every post i say something about all the work it requires to operate a race track and i need to stop that as that is my problem not the racers lol.
We are going to try and keep what we got and try to bring in some new cars and hopefully get some that are sitting and out of the garages and on the track.In a perfect world it would be cool to get some new people started in bracket racing.I really do not think many Dallas/Fort Worth based cars will come up much but hopefully some will make there way up here. And no one has to tell me how tough the racers are at WRP, trust me i have been in the other lane against them ( at WRP and other tracks) and i know ( and so does everyone else) first hand how tough they are!
Not that any racer at WRP needs any help with there racing but just so some of you know that in the past when i worked for another race track there were many times when either someone rented the track ( private track rental), during a test and tune event, or even on a race day it turned into some what of a driving school with me helping someone with there racing and or car setup.Some of the racers were very experienced and some were not to say the least lol ( gas on the right brake on the left) .So just to let you know, i do not mind helping anyone anytime ( as long as i am not absolutley tied up)..So do not hesitate to ask anytime......Bracket racing seems like such a simple sport but as we all know it can be very challenging to say the least..heck i have been going down the track for 34-35 years and i am still learning lol....My dad had a guy from his work come out to the track about 15 years ago and after the guy watched a few rounds the guy said to my dad "Hey Jerry can you teach me how to do this bracket racing "? My dad says " Boy i aint got 20 years to F%#$ with you"HAHAHA...I will never forget that lol.
Bottom line is that i still get just as nervous first round as i did 20-30 years ago, and winning feels just as good now as the first time i ever won...
So to make a super L O N G story short, there is NO ONE and I mean NO ONE that likes racing and cars more then me...If you think you like racing and cars more then me, your wrong haha

[alaneaves]

Well maybe, but I'll run you a close 2ond. Welcome aboard Jeff..

[grider69]

I would argue I have a 13 yr old thats got you both beat....... Some days theres too much bench racing in my house for even me. Thank goodness for football and basketball to use up some of that extra energy. His mind never stops thinking about racing. Oh to be young again!

[dragsterslayer]

(Myself as a racer I do not care what association it is, I just try to turn on the win light.) That sums it up for me too! Let's Race!.............."STAGE "EM" UP!"

[grider69]

I agree Lawton. Doesnt matter till the end of the Yr. Racing locally is not affected by the sanctioning body. I'm anxious to race. Welcome aboard Jeff!