Ques. on NTRA classes

Don't think anyone would be interested in doing a bracket race. Several years ago, when the NTRA was 'established', bracket races were discussed then too. I think the fear is that it will draw 'too many' entries. Personally, I LIKE the idea.
I KNOW these races are a LOT of work, especially with all the mailing involved, and I really do appreciate ALL the guys that still run these races as well as the drivers from those tracks that do this. Believe me, I DO understand it's a ton of work! And, a BIG thanks to the few guys and tracks that still do these! ;D
With that said, I see several problems with the NTRA proxy racing thing that need to be discussed or looked into. Why are we losing tracks? Is it REALLY anymore work than it is to run 'weekly' races? Not asking this to disrespect anyone, so don't take it that way PLEASE. I do not have a track anywhere near here, so I have NO experience with running races, other than my past 1/24 racing experiences. This is just something I was wondering about. Simply trying to figure out why nobody wants to have races on their tracks anymore. We had, what, 6 tracks the first year? Now we have TWO?
My other concern has to do with the fact that we have a LOT of classes in place, yet no one seems to want to run a particular class anymore than once a year! Why? Other than the Gassers, and the Ratt's, and now the NFC's, we have had NO other classes race in over a year! (Doorslammers aren't currently a 'sanctioned' NTRA class ) Ok, Rick ran the "Stock' class last year too, so that makes twice with the upcoming finals. But again, only once last year and now once this year. And, altho the NPS rules were actually established a LONG time ago, when the NTRA was started, Rick was the FIRST one to run them! So, THANKS for that Rick!
But, I personally am finding it hard to get excited about building a car for a particular class, only to run that class that one race, then maybe NEVER run it again. Like the Super Stockers. Those were a HUGE hit when we ran them in the first year. Now no one even talks about them? I actually spent a LONG time after the first SS race building a new car for that class, only to find out that no race was running them the next year. Nor, ANYTIME again! So, I took it apart and used the parts on my new Gasser. (which, btw, STILL needs a LOT of work...LOL!) I KNOW a lot of guys like the Doorslammers, but why not more races for them? And, with the popularity they received, why are the not already an NTRA class? And, I can name a few other classes too, as well as a few classes we could actually do away with that have NEVER been run. Maybe even the possibility of another 4 gear FC class, with some minor mods to make them a little faster than the NFC cars, but not go 'bankrupt' to build it. Kinda like an "Alcohol Funny Car' class so to speak. I personally know of at least one other racer that likes that idea for a class.
Hopefully, Ninjatek will read this post, as I really believe he would be the guy to better discuss this with, since he's 'in charge' of the NTRA.
I know I can't be the only one having these thoughts? I guess it wouldn't be a problem for me, if I had a track anywhere near me to race at regularly. But, since I don't, the proxy racing is really the ONLY racing I have. Sure, I got an AW strip, but I can only use it as a scale 1/8 mile, which is VERY short, and after recently setting it up, I find out neither my Christmas Tree nor win light work! So, I have to get those replaced. And the other track I had started building, is gonna take a LOT more cash than I got to actually get it to the 'functional' stage. Maybe we could consider someone having races on the scale 1/8 mile tracks during the year for the Stock's, Super Stockers, and Ratt's? Or possibly even some bracket racing. You guys know what I mean, the 'lower' class' cars that really don't need high voltages or 'perfect' tracks. Just a thought. That might actually increase the number of tracks to do this with. Anybody else agree?
Sorry PC, didn't mean to 'hijack' your thread. But I just thought since you were asking about other 'options' for racing, it might be a good place to start a 'discussion' for the 'future' of the NTRA Proxy races. I DO know we gotta do SOMETHING, since we DEFINITELY need a LOT more than two tracks to race at! And, looking back at when this all started (I was around when the NTRA was started) I can tell you guys that we've already lost a few of the 'bigger' name guys that started this, whether it was frustration, or just gettin tired of the work involved, or another reason, who knows. The point is, they had some BIG ideas for this proxy racing. I personally want to be around for a LONG time and continue this, as I see something really good going here. But, if people get angry, frustrated, or just get the idea that the work involved isn't worth the effort, guess what happens? We will lose the Proxy racing!
Anyone else have some thoughts?
Ron (Bondo)

Bondoman2k, you make some very good points. The way I see it is more tracks
are definitely needed. Until more venues are available, only a few classes
can be run in a year. Gassers' and Ratt Rods I beleive get more attention
due to their popularity and turn out. With the release of the AW drag set,
4Gear chassis classes also have grown popular. I hesitate to add classes to
the stable for fear of having a list of twenty different classes and being
only able to run 3 to 5 classes a year. A call for more tracks has been posted
on the forum and in NTRA Quarterly. I even asked for tracks that had a minimum
of start light and win detection. But, so far no takers. I'm to the point where
a win indicator and power switch will do. Not very exciting, but feel it would
be sufficient for the Sportsman Division. Serveral AW drag sets were sold and a
few people on the forum obtained them. I thought we would get one or two come
forward, so far none. Bottom line, with a limited number of venues there are
only so many classes that can be run in a year.

BTW, why wouldn't people be interested bracket racing?
I like the idea.

sst1610, if you can get your track up and running, NTRA will be glad to have you
as a host track in the lineup for next year. I hope to have my track going by the
end of the year also. This is a good start, but still more tracks are needed.

Here's my feelings. Personally I'm not one for bracket racing. I'm not big on it with the 1/1 cars nor with the model ones either. Not saying it's a bad idea, just I'm not into it. As far as more tracks, yes we need more. I can see some of the problems that come with hosting a race. It's a major undertaking. Maybe some people are overwhelmed by the amount of time and personel it would take to do it. I know it would be tuff for me to find a couple of other guys here to help run the thing. Or maybe when you see tracks like Ricks and Sams, they feel that their track isn't up to par with those, they are the premier tracks for us to run on. I'm seriously considering building a track for myself. My main concerns are going to be track surface, timing, and power. And you can bet when I get it done I'll host a race. Now it might only be an 1/8 mi to start with but thats better than nothing. I'm all for the 1/8 mi. racing. As far as the classes are concerned, with the limited number of tracks to race on this year I think whats been done is great there's been a variety of classes, if we ran the same thing over and over it would get boring. I can also see the point about running them more than once a year, but that would take getting more tracks involved. Personally for the next race I'm going to get a stocker ready and I'm going to fine tune one of my N/PS cars, change the body and run it in Rat Rod. Right now the biggest problem we face in my opnion is the lack of venues to run at. If we can get that up, we can run the various classes repeatly. Maybe for the next quarterly Rick or Sam could give us the scenario and some pointers as to what is involved in running a race like they do.

I'm with Ninjatek on this one. From my perspective, the problem isn't too many classes, it's too few tracks. When NTRA was running 4-6 proxy races per year, we had enough venues to support a wider variety of classes.

As a track owner, I'm not very enthusiastic about a proxy bracket race. Bracket racing is more about the driver than the car -- if the car is consistent, then it comes down to what to dial in and how close to shave the lights.

In a proxy race at Lions, we try to take the driver out of the equation as much as possible without entirely eliminating the human element that makes the races a little unpredictable (holeshots, late lights, etc.). We use a Pro tree to minimize red lights, and swap the cars around between lanes and drivers. If I wanted to run a mail-in bracket race, I'd send the slowest, most underpowered and over-tired car in my pit box -- but I wouldn't be too thrilled about driving it <g>.

My $.02,
Rick V.

I'm still against the track owner racing at his own event. Here's an example why. When I held the muscle car event last year, the low ET. of the meet was a 1.039 . My best 2 class legal cars were running .940's-.950's . I don't care what people say right now, if an owner raced and was .05-.06 faster than the next quickest car, people would be talking and that's not good for the sport.
BTW, Rick's cars were late due to FedEx and didn't make the race. When his cars finally got there they were running .920's.

A lot of people that have never held a race don't realize how much work it actually is. I didn't know until I held my first race. Posting results for 1 race,with all of the details and pictures and color commentary that everyone likes, takes a while, let alone all of that for 2 or 3 classes. Now if people would be satisfied with something like car #1 beats car # 7, car # 5 beats car # 3... posting would be a breeze. I don't see many people enjoying that kind of race coverage after being spoiled by recent events. I think that if we have someone that is willing to run a 2 class event we should be grateful that it's not a 1 class event. He's the one doing all the work not us.

Now with all of that being said, if I have offended anybody or made someone mad well, that wasn't my intention but so be it. I'm not one to sugar coat things and I'm not going to apologize for my true feelings.

Matt

pceng you can buy reed switches through hoslotcarracing.com that is where I bought mine. If we can ever get consistant times out of our reed switches our little Texas group would be up for hosting a race. I have no problem getting help to run a race. We cann't get the timing system to work right.

Reed switches can typically be found a better model train shops. Large scale shops. Be aware that you mnight need to know if they are open contact or closed. I've used a brand before that I think was called Sierra. They were very good.