RAISE THE INDEX TO 6.50???

Hey guys Richard Basden said he knows three cars that will join our class if we raise the index to 6.50, also if the cars joined our class we could pick up 2 more races at sac, let me knnow your thoughts on the subject.

Well here is my opinion. Raising the index to 6.50 won't do anything to move our program ahead. Apparently it would pacify Dave Smith untill he changes his mind again. If those cars can run 6.50 why aren't they running with us now. In 2008 Curtis won many races and the championship running those numbers. How may dragsters run 6.0 to 6.70 and competee in Top dragster, quite a few. I also know at least 4-cars that would run with us along with some nitro cars that would use our program for fill in and run with us several times a year. Jimmy Ray mentioned to me two new cars coming out. I have said this several times we need to raise our purse. I know that easy to say and hard to do but i am willing to help with find some sponsorship money. It is hard for teams to travel with crews and spend 400.00 to enter along with food, fuel and run for 1200.00. I strongly believe that if we get the purse to at least 3,000, or even more, we would have full fields. We also need to get our best effort to get races at Bakersfield for our So. Cal friendsl. Car count will get our class on the map. We would attract many cars from Top dragster, door cars , fuel cars and others. maybe thats not what people to hear but a larger purse will attract more people. The chance of winning more money. Go to your local Casino and tell me different.

Simon

Curtis you are going to have so many different opinons.Simon you have alot of good points.The money is the problem.I will be honest with you all i have dropped out of the class cause of the money.I dont have the money that some of you guys do.I found a class for my Funny Car called PAFCA.They are running 6.80 index and it is a round robin deal.You pay $250 at the begining of the year for membership to the club.2 weeks before the race we pay $100 to get car driver and 4 crew members in to the track.You Qualify for the 8 car field and you get 500 dollars,9 and 10 qualifiers get 200.You get 1500 to win and 1000 runner up.Then next year is going to be total change for me since i will be switching my car over to fuel with a altered body.I have gotten hooked up with a guy that puts on match races and they get 1500 a pass with min 2 runs.So i have alot on my plate next year,Oh yeah and now going to be JR Dragster racing also.Well that is my opinon.

Well Simon I think your right, it just takes money. The only thing I can add is what if we go after smaller sponsors, say $200. a race, thats $1,000. a year. If we can get 3 or 4 of them that would help. We should get some buisness cards made up to pass out. We have to remember we have to put on a show, something the crowd wants to see. Thats my 2 cents.
Can anybody make Dave Smith happy

The problem is not Dave Smith, in fact he is one of the very few that actually pay money into our class. The problem is car count. No track owner or race promoter can support a class that does not even fill up an 8 car field. it's just not good business. At the recent Redding race we had 4 cars. And they were excited to see us run. Think what the impact would have been with 8 cars.
I also don't think moving the index to 6.50 or anyother number is going to be a good long term benefit to TEW. If these cars in question would run with us if we moved the index to 6.50, I have to ask...where have they been. If you can run 6.50 consistantly and get down the track run after run your going to win your share of races. We proved it in 2008.
I personally think the 6.50 index would be to close to what the "Top Dragster" class is running now. There would be little difference to the spectators in the two class's. So what would be the track owner or race promoters appeal to TEW when they could have a 32 car field with the "Top Dragster" class. On the East coast this is now an all 6 sec class. By next year you will see that on the West coast also.
Our continued existence depends on fielding an 8 car show....consistantly. If we are going to survive we as a whole need to be able to raise the purse to attract more racers. That's going to take each of us, I repeat....each of us to bring in sponsorship for the TEW program.
I've been racing a long time, and have been very involved in different race organizations over the years. I can absolutely guarantee that if we don't "all" make the effort the TEW will fade away.
And that would be a sad day for sure.

Blessings..............Ron Clevenger.........Creekside Racing Ministry

As new guy here... If your are looking for more car counts.
Why not try a southern like Las Vegas, Barona and Fontana, but not during summer months. Fontana will have their sound issues resolved very soon.
Most of the So Cal TD non NHRA guys really don't like to travel too far north.
However if you go to Vegas, I personally know of quite of few cars that would love to try something new, like TEW.
And I can bring some sponsorship to it...

Thanks - Gregg

Hey Gregg What do you know about Fontana and the sound issues being resolved. I would love to book one or two races there. Socal Topcomp is gone right??? In TEW how many of those cars do you think can run 6.50 or6.60

I heard that they going to put up sound walls for the noise, you may want to call the track for that info.
Yes So Cal T/C is gone.
That will depend on what index you are going to use?

Gregg check PM

Hey guys, I/we have no good memories of Fontana. Unless they have made some improvements, like water in the pits, and thier shut down area not the best, ask the Outcast guys. We used to go to Las Vegas and maybe if we could somehow conferm enough cars that would be a great plase to run.
Don't forget Fallon, I remember a couple of years ago they asked us to come run TA/D up there and were even going to waive some of the rule so we could run with them. I just take from that that they wanted more cars and if we went as TEW they would probably have a plase for us. I know it would be a long tow for everybody, but I'm just throwing it out there.
We hopefully will be running all the races next year so thats one more car. I haven't heard how Simon is doing but if he gets his car fixed we'll have two more cars. Pete said he may run his Dads car a couple of times.
I really have nothing to say about raising the index to 6.50, so thats my 1 1/2 cents worth ( bad economy )

Steve,
I'm not sure what kind of speeds you are running, but my 2100# car runs 213 mph there with using 1 chute and have not had problem stopping. As far as the water I usally bring a 5 gal jug and fill it up as needed at the starting line. I think running at Vegas is great Idea.

We've always enjoyed running at Fontana when they allowed us. You just need to get those chutes out and you'll stay out of the sand trap.

Blessings..................Ron.

Curtis,
Give Mark Dawson (Calif. Dragway) a call to get more info if TEW can run at Fontana.

I guess I just don't like Fontana. The only place we've been where stuff was stolen from our pit. Our car runs about the same Gregg and we used one chute with no problem, but if there is a problem they have a gravel pit to stop you. I remember seeing Pete's headers full of gravel after a chute failure. Maybe they fixed it by now. I guess the thing that really counts is that we race--anywhere.