BerettaFest Drag Racing Scheduling...

[quad4berettagtz]

Gang,

As we prepare to open registration, we need to address a scheduling conflict for our planning 1/4 mi racing. Both of the nearest 1/4 strips have no test and tune, or any public openings for any of the nights we will be in Indy. I am currently looking into options and need some input ASAP.

Option #1- I have already inquired with Lucas Oil Raceway in Indy about renting, or a private usage of the track for that evening. They have an open schedule for that day, and in fact the local Mustang club is booked for saturday - so we know they play nice with clubs. Munci Dragway is out - they have a big event saturday all day and I'm sure they will be having people arriving friday night, and the grounds will be closed for use. I am waiting to hear back from a contact at Lucas Oil Raceway about pricing, but in my past experience this could get very costly.

Option #2- The nearest 2 tracks outside of Muncie and Lucas are both 2 hours away (we have driven over an hour in the past...). The best of these options is located on the east side of Cincinnati: Edgewater Sports Park (http://www.edgewaterrace.com). They have a test and tune that friday night, and based on my map search they are easy to get to from the hotel... a lot of interstate.

The dreaded option #3 is no racing, so no details needed there...

Please respond back if you are planning on racing, or might race, and what you would think our best option is. I will take in all the opinions before making an informed decision (pending those prices from Lucas of course).

Thanks!

[ronaconda]

I am a definite maybe...and i have no problem with a little bit of a drive to get there.

[KFLO 93 GT]

Honestly, as much as I enjoy drag racing it isn't a make or break.

Renting out Lucas Oil Raceway is gonna be big bux... it's one of the oldest, nicest and most historic drag strips in the country... I'm sure there could be some haggling, but when 12-20 cars tops will be at the strip to run - is it worth the money?

As for option 2... Last year's trek to the track took a darn long time with the traffic, but the return trip was much faster. With that said, a guaranteed 2 hours both ways doesn't really rank high on my list of things to do. As much fun as it is at the strip, 4 hours of roundtrip is something I'd probably forgo if that ends up being the option.

[Beretta_gal]

I enjoyed watching the races at last years Bfest,but I to am not so sure about a 2 hour drive...granted I won't be racing so the opinions of the ones who do may be different than mine,but with gas prices the way they are and are going to continue to be,the gas to drive 2 hours away would get costly as well.....and I don't know about some,but I am bringing passengers and 2 cars this year so I will have twice the gas!!!!

[90GTZHO]

I will have no issue driving 2 hrs to a track as long as its a good track. I also would be down for renting the track if its not too bad. Can we look further into that and hopefully we can all make something work? I want to race! I have some cars wanting to go up against me hee hee

[3X00-Modified]

I guess it's a little different in my area, I know I can rent the track on a day that they have evening events schedules for example on a wednesday afternoon for $100 a car. Track is open and you don't have to wait to be called, you just stage and go when your ready.

[scannerman]

has anyone considered no limit raceway?

http://www.nolimitraceway.com/index.php?page=schedule

They are running tnt from 6-10 on 5/20 that friday.


They are located just north of Morocco IN and the place is pretty decent. I've been there once.

It's still a 2 hour drive but might be quicker than edgewater since we wouldn't really be driving through Indy at all to get there. Also it's a straight shot on I65

I guess it's a matter of preference but i'm pretty sure edgewater get's crowded since it's a lot closer to a major city. but that is another option.

[jene]

I guess it's a little different in my area, I know I can rent the track on a day that they have evening events schedules for example on a wednesday afternoon for $100 a car. Track is open and you don't have to wait to be called, you just stage and go when your ready.

whats the car minimum.... here it is about 3500 for 6 to 8 hours. we usually set it up as 40 cars for about 84 buck each. no waiting either. you just stage and go. it cost so much because we have to pay our track prep employees, starting line guy, time person in the tower and our emt's..ect..ect


Im thinking not everyone is going to want to pay 80 to 100 to race for a track rental....

[3X00-Modified]

80-100 if the track is yours for the day beats paying 35 and getting only 3 runs if the track is yours for the day....

And IIRC there is no minimum at Epping because the crew is already on site and staffed due to the event later in the day. Thats why they do it on their street night days. I was talking to my cousin about it last night.

Regardless, the choices are thin, and the same way things have gone in the past, not everyone agrees on what to do with the dragway since the group is so divided. Some don't mind the drive and others do. Which is why I think it is fair to at least look into the Lucas track to see what they have to say.

I think it makes sense to find the closest track with a test and tune if Lucas doesn't work out, and just say If you wish to race, go there and we don't have to have a group setup due to the test and tune nature... that way those who do want to run their car at least have that option and a location set so they don't all go to different tracks.

Trust me, if there is no track set in our schedule I will probably go to one that is 2hrs away to run my car, even if I do go alone... I built my car to run and damnit I'm gonna run it at bfest!!! LOL

[jene]

80-100 if the track is yours for the day beats paying 35 and getting only 3 runs if the track is yours for the day....

And IIRC there is no minimum at Epping because the crew is already on site and staffed due to the event later in the day. Thats why they do it on their street night days. I was talking to my cousin about it last night.

ya getting more runs is the awesome part!!!

either way i hope you guys get it figured out... im doubting i will make it because of work...make sure you get more vids! i share them at work..

[Styluss]

I enjoyed watching the races at last years Bfest,but I to am not so sure about a 2 hour drive...granted I won't be racing so the opinions of the ones who do may be different than mine,but with gas prices the way they are and are going to continue to be,the gas to drive 2 hours away would get costly as well.....and I don't know about some,but I am bringing passengers and 2 cars this year so I will have twice the gas!!!!

You do know, that unless you're going to run both cars, you don;t have to drive them both to the track!

[Styluss]

My response to the mailing list:

Hmmmm..... It seems that a lot is riding on the cost of renting the Lucas Raceway. I'm not sure we can do much but conversationalize about this without knowing that cost as it will be the deciding factor between option 1 and option 2. I agree with Jonathan that option 2 is the last resort. I would be willing to make a 4 hour round trip to run the strip but that begs the question... what is the scene like at those other two tracks? I know that here in Colorado and Bandimere the T&Ts are PACKED! Even on a T&T night you can wait in upwards of an hour between runs. My experiences at BFest track nights have been nothing but spectacular with our group running cars back to back to back just about, very little waiting if any. I am not going to want to drive 4 hours round trip to only put down 3 or 4 runs. I think that this is important to most all of the group.

I think that in addition to the Lucas Raceway rental cost, we need a much more solid head count as to who is going to want to run. Mike, how much of the track rental cost is the committee prepared to cover? All three of these are numbers that will decide the fate of this track rental...

Alternate Option #3: Set up an Autocross of some sort for the group.
Do we have contacts in the area that can possibly find us a warehouse lot, arena lot or something of the sort that would allow us to set up a small track and get down for a bit? I've got enough cones to make a very simple course.

What other ideas does everyone have for alternative activities? Group dinner, additional sightseeing, group cruise? Invade a local auto meet?

[90GTZHO]

Damn if it came down to an autocross track in a parking lot im screwed! I aint gonna be able to do that kind of racing on a manual rack Damnit, i should have thought more about this before i did the swap *starts putting away pennies for new power steering stuff *

Either way, that was one of my favorite things about the whole Bfest experience was the chance to go head to head with other members on the 1/4 strip. Somehow, someway, we need to secure a place to drag. Its not Bfest without the Drags!

[quad4berettagtz]

My contact at the track and I are playing phone tag.... Hopefully I will know something by the weekend.

On the email list I bounced the idea of helping to subsidize the track fee if it might be worth it. We have a considerable cushion in the Bfest account (not $3500, but enough to help). One of the things that would help free some of this up is if people would be open to paying the $5 park fee on saturday. Yes, I know it is only $5 per car, but then multiply that by upwards of 40 cars... You get the picture. We are also looking at having to pay for racing trophies for the first time in a number of years (no Asylum sponsorship) so I need to budget a little more on our expenses... Enough details: what are thoughts on the park fees...

[90GTZHO]

Im okay with the $5 if it will help us maintain our original schedule. I can do that