what happened CID??

[overdriv]

I got there at about 3:00PM. I watched 8 4.0 challenge cars run and 5 I think, nostalgia cars and 4 bikes. Then waited an hour for the last qualifying session, the same cars. The down time was to long, we left after the first round.

What happened to the 4.0 Challenge, 8 cars and only about 3 or 4 could even come close to 4.0 and faster?

Where were all the bracket cars?

You had a good spectator turn out and not enough show.

I love that track, but you dropped the ball today. Just my opinion.

[stevemaas]

Let's hope next season they add a regular ET program to fill the gaps.

[george]

Thirty to forty Pro Mods were expected. That didn't happen this time. Track prep would have suffered if a regular program had been run. I don't believe sub 1 second 60' times could have happened with a regular program being run. Gayle Jenkins made his best run ever Saturday. I think a "pro show " is a good idea. It mixes things up a bit. I expect next time the word will get out and there will be many more entries.

[stevemaas]

I didnt see a lot of promotion of the event. I figured he must have known a bunch of people out of state that would show.

[92ga]

So sorry this weekends show was such a flop. The track could have been good enough with the regular program, provided they had enough people to keep the track prepped. One thing they are going to have to realize is the track has to be prepped more than once, even on regular week ends. They are doing much better, but more needs to be done on track prep.

I remember the Drag City days very well, they had more than a few managers too. I knew one of them very well. He always wanted to bring in the funny cars and top fuel dragsters to get the spectators up, but didn't advertise enough in advance, and had very little increase in spectators during those events, and always lost a lot of money.

CID needs to keep their regular racers happy if their going to expect to keep them coming back, having them go race some place else, isn't the way to do it. Can you imagine how disappointed those spectators were that did show up was? Think they'll be back anytime soon?

[bobg]

Jul 28, 2013 7:01:51 GMT -6 george said:

Thirty to forty Pro Mods were expected. That didn't happen this time. Track prep would have suffered if a regular program had been run. I don't believe sub 1 second 60' times could have happened with a regular program being run. Gayle Jenkins made his best run ever Saturday. I think a "pro show " is a good idea. It mixes things up a bit. I expect next time the word will get out and there will be many more entries.

George What do you mean Track Prep would have suffered? Are you saying if they would of ran Bracket Cars the track would of been no good for Pro Mods?
If that's what your saying, you couldn't be more wrong.
Bracket cars (slick tire cars) are not going to mess the track up for the Pro Mods by no means, if anything slick tire Bracket cars would make the track even better

When any track has high horse powered cars (Pro Cars) booked in they don't start the show off with them... They prep the track and run several other types of cars for quite a while before they bring up the Pro Cars, most tracks will do a little VHT spray touch up just before running the fast cars.
The propper amount of VHT put down along with several slick tire cars will make the track hook real well.

NHRA don't start out a National Event with Top Fuel.... It's track prep first then several slower classes throughout the day working up to the Pro's

As far as 30 or 40 Pro Mods? That would be a great show but the biggest part of the Pro Mod teams that have been to Gateway in the past couple of weeks hadn't even heard about the event.
You have to remember 40 Pro Mods is only 20 pair of cars down the track.... it can be done in about an hour.

A Pro Show is a good idea but it can't be all Pro's if your going to make Spectators happy, they don't want to sit for long periods waiting for the cars to get back.

[chad378t]

I look at it this way. I don't care if CID tries some different stuff. Nobody hits a home run every time they step to the plate. Same with Gateway. They are trying. To me that says a lot. The racers that are there every week understand the track and program is better than it has been in 5 years. Weather was killer to be racing but I didn't mind being at home to get stuff done.

Trying to reach out to a new crowd could pay dividends down the road. Fact of the matter is, CID is now a place capable of handling that kind of power and has an owner and staff willing/capable of making it happen. Why not try to showcase it??? Not racing this weekend sure as hell isn't the end of the world, especially if the track somehow could benefit from it.

.

[josephlay]

I was a spectator at the event and have to say I had a great time! The weather was awesome and I got to visit with friends and enjoy the show. Would I have like to seen more cars? Sure.. but it was worth my $'s to see multiple cars blown down that track in the 3 second time frame. Be to be frank if bracket cars would have been part of the program I would have gotten up and walked over to the pits to look and the high $ cars when the bracket cars started racing. A 6 or 7 second bracket car crawling down the track makes me yawn. Sorry, I can say this because I have a street car that runs 8.80's and I'm sure it sucks to watch it go down the track.

I will admit, before last night I would have said no way can that track ever hold a 3 second door car. Man they made a believer out of me. Excellent job CID! Keep up the good work.

Chad I have to agree with you 100%. We should be supportive of them trying new things and creating a better more diverse track. Diversity helps track survive in tough times.

Again... Keep up the good work CID!

[chad378t]

I agree a bracket program may not have been a good choice. My only suggestion would have been trying a quick 32 deal or something. That would have been cool.

Oh we'll....weather was great regardless. We all have to love this right now compared to two weeks ago!!!

[bobg]

Although what's done is done, I think you'll find there are a lot of Bracket Racers that may be somewhat disappointed that CID elected to not have ANY kind of race in conjunction with their Pro Show.
I've talked to several people that were there and yes... they say the Pro cars that were there put on a great show but there just wasn't enough cars, way too much down time.


I go along with any planned special event "IF" it's promoted real well... But you just can't count on a hand full of cars, Pro or otherwise to be the only thing your running.
Plus you damn sure don't want to turn your back on your regular weekly racers because their the one's that are going to keep the track in business when the Pro's are gone.

I'm not saying they should of had an all out regular race day but a Quick 32 of Bracket cars along with the Pro Cars that were there would have made for a real good show.