General Comments on Nats Week

[Rotorranch]

Originally posted by Ron Hershman
Paul K,

The Scale Nats are usually large turnouts.....the two smallest Scale Nats have both taken place in the Pacific NW. The first in Boise, ID 1999 and this year in Portland.

One problem is that there is no widespread Regional Racing in that area. Yes Seattle, WA is a "Hotbed" for Euro racing, GT-12 and a little production racing, but not may on the Seattle racers travel very far from home...only a handful. Their production rules also vary greatly from the USRA's rules, so not much cross over.

Raceway USA was a great facility to race in, but again, no local racing program to speak of, so low entries.

We have argued for years about the time to host the race, it seems most "Young Scale" racers and their families would rather spend their summer money on a real vacation versus going to a slot car race.

Ron....I have to agree with you on this.

When the Scale Nats started in 1996 as it's own event seperate from the Wing Car Nats, we raced 199 entries in three days and was done by 7 PM Sunday nite with only 5 classes/6 races. Not bad. Then as the popularity of the Scale Nats grew with the addition of more classes, the event had to be streched out more days. I would rather race less classes and get done quicker than make everyone be there for 9 to 11 days.

That seems to be one of the issues with most of the "Nats" type races!

I look forward to getting back to the East Coast for the 2005 Scale Nats at Keystone Raceway. I am sure this will prove to be one of the largest Scale nats in history.

Ron

[Speedshop]

If you look at last years Nats at "Miserable Ridge" you will find that there were only 19 1/24th Euros. If fact, it's been quite a few years sense there have been quater finals in 1/24th Euros.

1/24th Eruosport suffers from a number of problems. First is the lack of flat tracks to race them on. Most raceways don't have flat tracks because todays so called "racers" think they are too hard. With the new technology of short 80p gear rations and hot winds it leaves most racers behind. Even some of the best racers in the country in lower classes are having problems being competive in Eurosport today. This will only continue to get worse in the future. Add all of this to a soft economy and things don't look much bettter in the for added entrys.

The Pacific Northwest is called a "hotbed" for 1/24th Euros. So far this year we have had no more than 5 entries in 1/24th Euros in the Winter PNW AMCA Series. I hate to see this but it's the way it is!

[Vandee]

Last months ANE AMCA got 99 entries at Queen City Speedway.
They get full fields for Eurosport.
Their two day event ‘The Granite State ROC’ (Race of Champions) to be held on July 31 and Aug 1 at Queen City Speedway may be the premier scale racing event this year.

[GearBear]

Toughest Loss : Mike Stahl in 24E. He almost did it against the guy who has owned the race for years.

Actually I would say the toughest loss was when Jamy was in 3rd place with 25 seconds to go in the race and being walled by the then 8th place driver putting her out of the race with a bent axle!

I'm very proud of Jamy's accomplishments at the Nats! She placed 8th in 24th Euro and was VERY close to getting 3rd in Am GT12! I know we both had a great time and if we get the chance and the races at Keystone aren't on the King we may head out there next year.

Most improved pro racer: Chris Radisich.

Roy I would have to disagree. I think YOU are the most improved Pro racer! Your drive in GTP was the BEST I have seen you drive.

[mark g]

You will definatly have c-12,1/32 and 1/24 euro on lou's uk black at the 2005 nats. But as we expect a large "wing driver" turn out We think it would be best to run gt 12 on the king. Could possible double our turn out!

[Multiracer II]

There was 20 1/24th E/S entries in 2003.
Ron

[RomanK]

Originally posted by Speedshop
If you look at last years Nats at "Miserable Ridge" you will find that there were only 19 1/24th Euros. If fact, it's been quite a few years sense there have been quater finals in 1/24th Euros.

1/24th Eruosport suffers from a number of problems. First is the lack of flat tracks to race them on. Most raceways don't have flat tracks because todays so called "racers" think they are too hard. With the new technology of short 80p gear rations and hot winds it leaves most racers behind. Even some of the best racers in the country in lower classes are having problems being competive in Eurosport today. This will only continue to get worse in the future. Add all of this to a soft economy and things don't look much bettter in the for added entrys.

The Pacific Northwest is called a "hotbed" for 1/24th Euros. So far this year we have had no more than 5 entries in 1/24th Euros in the Winter PNW AMCA Series. I hate to see this but it's the way it is!

I assume your reference to "Miserable Ridge" in fact means Mineral Ridge?...Kinda rude, don't ya think?

Anyway, my thought is, maybe it's the old way of thinking that is keeping ES from becomming popular. Maybe it's that old guard mentality that you have to run the class on some slinky windy flat track for it to be considered "Real ES Racing" that in fact is making it die a slow death. Why not give it a shot on a more swoopy track. If attendance goes up, is that a bad thing? even though it wasn't on an extremely challenging track?

If folks are traveling across the country to race anything, I doubt that the economic times have much to do with the situation. It just seems to an outsider, that the class has hardened itself into something folks just don't want to do and that's a shame. Maybe it's time to dumb it down a bit and see what happens for a year or two. What's the worse that can happen...maybe some of those "so called racers" will show up and make the Div-II Nats turn-out for ES larger....sure would hate that, huh?

[brassy]

Roman wrote:

"I assume your reference to "Miserable Ridge" in fact means Mineral Ridge?...Kinda rude, don't ya think?"

You might not think so if you were one of the late-arriving expert racers forced to pit on the bottom floor, directly beneath an inoperative restroom, who had raw sewage flow through the ceiling onto your pit spaces. The track owner (the lone raceway employee on staff during that Nats!) didn't seem concerned enough about this to call a plumber to repair it.

FWIW, Lee is not the first one to post that pejorative term on this board.

[Multiracer II]

No apoligies needed. You will probably never get an apology from the raceway or its affiliates either. I was present when the presentations were made and voted on for the 2003 Nat's.
I will quote the presenter " The raceway is on the second floor of a 100 year old building but we offer some of the best tracks in the country for scale racing" How short your memories really are!
Hotels, food, parking, pit space, parts, along with No track calls to repair the tracks or the operating systems ! We certainly held up our end of the deal.
2003 Scale National Championship attendance
Group 10 combined had 58 entries
GT-1 combined had 65 entries
GTP had 45 entries
4.5" had 35
GT-12 had 38
C-12E had 12
1/32 E/S had 19
1/24 E/S had 20
My math said we had 292 entries ! Now explain what the two buildings have to do with participation !
The challenge today will be for Mark G. to surpass the numbers we did. I think he will have no problem doing so.
Now it is off to support the USRA and our regional racers who really do not participate in the "cry baby, negative" society some like to portray here.
Ron

[brassy]

Ron, I was only trying to point out to Roman that the "Miserable Ridge" label was not unfair or rude. And the age of the building was not the real problem.

Overall, the 2003 Scale Nats in Ohio was very good: good attendance, nice tracks, terrific racing. It wasn't as good as the previous year's Scale Nats in SC, but not a disaster by any means. However, it is clear that most of the credit for the success of the event goes to the USRA officials and other volunteers as opposed to the track management.

[circuitguy70]

Roman wrote:

"I assume your reference to "Miserable Ridge" in fact means Mineral Ridge?...Kinda rude, don't ya think?"

You might not think so if you were one of the late-arriving expert racers forced to pit on the bottom floor, directly beneath an inoperative restroom, who had raw sewage flow through the ceiling onto your pit spaces. The track owner (the lone raceway employee on staff during that Nats!) didn't seem concerned enough about this to call a plumber to repair it.

[RomanK]

Originally posted by brassy
Roman wrote:


FWIW, Lee is not the first one to post that pejorative term on this board.

OK then....Lee and the others that have written it are rude...happy?

Rude is rude, especially coming from an owner who couldn't get his own lap counter to work at his first race.......It's one of those "glass houses and rocks kind of thing"....

by the way....that was rude also

[brassy]

Roman, if you wish to term my post rude, I cannot stop you.

But do note that what I posted was the truth. I assume you do not challenge that.

I can also assure you that my comments on the situation were nowhere near as rude as the comments made by the racers whose pits were "perfumed" in Ohio.

[mark g]

Just look forward to the 2005 race. And Focus on making it better and bettering each one therafter!

[returnoftheJedi]

about entrys in eurosport how many showed in portland from the east? then take the west coast that TRAVELED to mineral ridge, My question is why was only william burnside fl, Don perko co. east of portland anyway... where was the east?

Mike