Shootout sucked!!

[Road Runner Kev]

Time to call it like it is. The street car shootout SUCKED!! Unless you were driving something other than a STREET CAR. Nothing against the pro mods or the other fast cars but lets get realistic here... Jim was trying to run 2 completely diferent races on the same night and all the street cars in pro and super street took a back seat to all the other classes. Why not call it the pro mod shootout and save us all the trouble and waste our time. All we did was stand around for 10 hours or more waiting and waiting. The two street classes only got 1 Qualifier. Come on! Isn't it time to break this up into 2 seperate races or are we just the bastard step kids that no one wants. You could just feel the anger and resentment in the lanes and in the pits towards what was going on. Don't know the exact car count but my guess was over 70 in the street classes and if those 70 all brought a few people with them to watch and support them then think about how many disgruntled people there were at the track last night. I know the argument that the track gives is that everyone comes to see the promods. BULLSHIT!!! Everyone comes to see thier friends and family race! So if you take into account the total attendance then I bet you can guess why most of those people were there. I think it's time Jim stops ostrisizing the people who support his track. Hell even the officials were expressing their displeasure with the way the day was going for the local racers. I haven't missed a shootout in over 4 years but Ive gotten to the point of "why bother"!! And I'm not alone in that thought. The shootout usually turns into a long day of standing around whenever the pro mods are there (translation:it sucks) but we accept it because Jim is a great guy and drives a pro mod himself, but last night was.... well unacceptable !! Without the local racers you won't have a race so please don't treat us like a bunch of test and tune cars who should feel privliged to run at your "big" event. There are enough days on the schedule that Cecil County could have a race just for STREET cars. Oh I could go on and on but you all get my point.

[d2racer]

sorry to hear your day sucked there Kev .
e-town's been doing that crap to us for years , thats why i stopped going on sundays and started traveling more to the more fun low key events around the area .
i'll spend my money and time where if at least if i'm not appreciated i still have a good time

i realize they need the booked in show , but at least give the regulars SOME respect , instead we get roped out of our reg pit spots , banished to the far end of the track and then few if any time shots and we run when the big guys need down time , need to be a little more consideration or a seperate day

[tire fryer]

I'll agree with you it was so unorganized.Since when does pro mod interupt qualif. right in the middle of the street cars here comes rnd 2 of elim. My video cant be labeled in sequence just because of disorganization!!!!!!!

[Dave@Finishlineperf]

Sorry about the way you feel. We had alot of cars in all the classes and a few miss haps. The ProMod deal was that there where to be in the staging lane's at set times to get both classes of them done and then the King of the hill race. Pro -mod where only at 3 races this year and that was the last one for 2008.So the last 2 race's should go a whole lot smoother.


I thought the day was great but thats just my outlook on it, Again sorry about the way you feel hope to see everyone at the Sept race.


Dave

[BLASI Racing]

Dave,
Don't step too heavy on the "ProMods". We sat in the lanes a minimum of a 1/2 hour + every time we were called. Lastly, and I am sure you are aware of this fact, that we don't have the luxury of jumping in and out of the cars like the majority of the DOOR CARS can and do, Remember when our guys strap in it's a project and most of the time when they go in the car they pretty much stay there till they roll up !!!!

So it AIN'T all ROSES but it is a HOTHOUSE !!!!
Just my $0.02 worth Hope you understand if not maybe you should try it sometime.
Brgds,
Bob Blasi

[Dave@Finishlineperf]

Dave,
Don't step too heavy on the "ProMods". We sat in the lanes a minimum of a 1/2 hour + every time we were called. Lastly, and I am sure you are aware of this fact, that we don't have the luxury of jumping in and out of the cars like the majority of the DOOR CARS can and do, Remember when our guys strap in it's a project and most of the time when they go in the car they pretty much stay there till they roll up !!!!

So it AIN'T all ROSES but it is a HOTHOUSE !!!!
Just my $0.02 worth Hope you understand if not maybe you should try it sometime.
Brgds,
Bob Blasi

Trust me am not put down the Pro-mod show because it was great and I know what it's like driving a 10.5 car getting strap in and someone breaking in front of you having to sit in the the car on a hot day. Just trying to let the Super street and Pro street guys they have to understand a little also.We can't make everyone happy but am pretty sure we made the masses happy. I know it was a great show all around.

[JOE NEWSHAM]

Dave i think the guy is saying You Suck

[speedy]

I was there spectating all day and loved the non stop action of ALL the cars. Was there some down time, of course but with fast cars sometimes shit breaks. How about us spectators having to watch a 17 second daily drivers? or a pickup truck tow vehicle? We had to watch them to but hey were no complaing. If i was a bracket racer I probably wouldnt race this event after all isn't sunday the bracket race day at cecil?

Good Job to Cecil and all of the sponsors for even having a street car shootout, maple grove doesn't.......

[69camaro]

The prostreet and superstreet racers have a points set-up like all other classes,the last I checked plus additional bonus points for making all of the events.My tow vehicle was used to keep my bonus points going since I blew a head gasket at the last event which required alot of machine work.Not all of us have back-up engines lying around. Our class is just as competitive as the next and some of us give up alot of things so we can be there each month. Like Kevin said before don't throw us to the side lines as a filler when we are there each month.Why not start earlier on Pro mod days, have gates open at 10 instead of 12?

[Road Runner Kev]

Now that I have had a few days to think about this whole deal and see what people had to say I would just like to add a few closing thoughts. Racing is a sport that involves a lot of passion. I know each and every one of you share the same passion for it that I do or you would be out doing something much less expensive and less time consuming like playing golf. For Bob Blasi and Dave and every one else who drives fast cars, well, I understand the level of commitment and effort that goes into your program. I hope you understand (or should I say haven't forgotten what it's like) that I put just as much into mine and just because my pockets aren't as deep as yours don't think for one minute that I'm less comitted or put less effort into it. I think that goes for most of the people racing street cars. We just want the same level of consideration and respect given to the racers in the faster classes. Speedy, If all of us "bracket racers" shared your thought of not racing that event then there wouldn't be an event when the pro mods weren't there. Sorry but you can't have a race with a few dozen cars in 4 heads up classes. Joe, that post wasn't a personal attack on anyone. It was just some passionate venting! D2racer you are so right! there are a lot of fun races out there. The Atco index is by far my favorite. But I have to hand it to Rich at Ram Racing for being the best race director and promotor out there. That is one man who cares about his racers and treats all of them, no matter how slow they are, with the same level of respect and gratitude that any big name, big money team enjoys. The Street car shootout is a great event and I wouldn't be racing in it if it were anything less. Just hoping Cecil County will be as dedicated to us as we are to them.

[pokadot1]

Kevin Come on you new that "pro mod" shoot out would be a long day.
I run Super Street so I can try things in the wagon. If not, I would be a no show also. I quit there sunday program after 35 years last year and I do not think I will run at all next year... How many racer's can a Track lose and still keep the doors open??? Kevin how many "new" faces do we see on sat night. very few and they don't come back the next race. There has to be a better way but I cant think of one. We need the fast cars to get the gate open and they need us "slower" cars to keep it going.
In my case it is a lack of money to race... and such a small payout for the cost to race, I can't be alone with this problem, could this be part of the low car count?, in pro and super street. or even there sundays bracket races or is the bull s it keeping away the slow? racers
Yha Yha Kevin I know I am having a great year with the old wagon, but your year has not been to bad also. Keep up the good work at Atco See yha at US 13.
Cliff Sebring

[BlownchevyII]

We all know when the pro mods are there things get a little hairy. The Shootout is the best monthy race arround IMO. I run 8.50 index, and I know on these special days were gonna wait. I also understand that when the pro mods are there the track is gonna be on!! It makes for a long day but this past shootout was the BIG MONEY race and we all knew car counts would be up. Its unfortunate that you guys lost a round of qualifying but sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good.

Dave, you put on a great show. thanks for all your efforts in keeping this show goin!!!

[Desert]

Cecil has become over the years a wonderful place to race, I remember the days of NO scoreboards , Shit track food , gravel pits, and no parking. Between Jim Halsey and Crouse Construction they have made this track a Premier Racing Facility, Also having Palmer Racing Fuels at the track along with thier Speed Shop , which has a good variety of hardcore parts is Awesome!

With that said I have never seen a track which ignores the little guy like Cecil. It has IMO become a test and tune track for me only. Ironic because it only 1/2 hour tow for me, I will drive 2+ hours to have fun and be treated with some respect anywhere else in division 1.

You guys act surprised about your treatment , Don't forget the track owner owns a Pro-Mod Car...

Desert

[mrhockey]

Funny there is always a track for somebody. I will drive right past Maple Grove, 1/2 hour from my house, to get to Cecil, 1.5 hours from the house, to race there. I don't think I am one of the big guys at all and I rather race at Cecil. Maybe the "little guys" should check out Maple Grove since they seem to not like the street car and outlaw guys. Just an observation of how hard it is to please everyone. Good thing we have options.

[wazslow]

Come on! Isn't it time to break this up into 2 seperate races or are we just the bastard step kids that no one wants.

Break it up into two seperate races, this way i wont have to watch the bracket car's go down the track

[Road Runner Kev]

Hey Cliff, Thanks for the pat on the back. Coming for a guy who has won so many races this year that I need to start using my toes to count, that means alot!! I hope you keep on winning so you can keep on racing.

[tire fryer]

Same here mgrove 25 minute ride, cecil 1 1/2 hrs and i go just to watch!!

Funny there is always a track for somebody. I will drive right past Maple Grove, 1/2 hour from my house, to get to Cecil, 1.5 hours from the house, to race there. I don't think I am one of the big guys at all and I rather race at Cecil. Maybe the "little guys" should check out Maple Grove since they seem to not like the street car and outlaw guys. Just an observation of how hard it is to please everyone. Good thing we have options.

[bowstang]

Would all the fast guys feel the same way if they got one shot? How many would have left before brackets cars even raced? Because they missed set up 1 Q. Remember spliting us up would make for alot on down time on fast night.1 cents worth Steve