Competition Muncie or IRP ? POLL

[GIT-R-DONE]

Now that the DHRA has been at IRP for 2 years now, I wanted opinions on whether or not it should stay at IRP or go back to Muncie.



I bet that DHRA leadership believes that they are advancing by getting bigger, but does everyone feel that way?



Personally, I like the grass roots idea of leaving it at Muncie, but thats JMO.



Comments ?

 

[tazzen]

I liked the grass and trees, it seemed more personal at Muncie. And much cooler



ed

 

[dezeldog]

I never attended IRP but I did think Muncie was the place to be. Liked the country atmosphere.



Jim

 

[Extreme1]

I liked the Muncie location better but I think it just got too big. Plus there was no (legal) drag racing on Saturday.

 

[MMeier]

it seemed more personal at Muncie.



ed

Some things seemed to get too "personal" @ Muncie , but now that problem is gone I believe I would like to see the event return there. Haven't been to an IRP event yet, but at the time seemed to like Muncie 2 years ago when I went.

 

[jabird]

Muncie was nicer... ... ... .....

 

[Timbeaux38]

Several I have talked to also liked the atmosphere at Muncie as well, but appreciate the set-up at Indy much better. you dont have to drive to go from the pulls to the drags, and the amenities at Indy are liked better by many. With the way our form of motorsport is growing, it is cool to see big events on such a grand stage. IRP is "holy ground" for the NHRA, and the town itself is one of those places that when you tell someone you are going to Indy, they assume you are going for a race. I too appreciate grass-roots events, but an event at Indy automatically gives the diesel racing and pulling world credibility in the eyes of those who may not know about it.

 

[jwilliams3]

Timbeux,

Did you ever go to "thunder in muncie"?

 

[TSterner]

more half naked women at muncie, since i cant seem to get my truck there ever (insert poed sound) i might as well enjoy the suroundings.



ted

 

[Big MAK]

Right now IRP is way too spread out IMO. The competitors and display booths and spectators need to be closer together and it needs to be possible to see the competition from someplace other then the grandstands. The only time I could see the track is when I was on it.



/shrug



I don't think there's any way to eliminate those issues at IRP. So I liked Muncie better.



But "Indy" is the place to be IMO to help promote Diesel motorsports.



The problem is it's not "Indy" any longer; now it's gORP ("O'Reilly Raceway Park"). Try to get info on "Indy" and "IRP"... all you get is O'Reilly bs.



If it stays gORP then we need to move back to Muncie or someplace with a closer atmosphere.



Is there a way for that track we ran Drag Racing on at Muncie to also support sled pulls somewhere on their grounds? That place seemed about the right size if there's a place for spectator parking outside the main grounds -- then put the vendors, pullers, and racers on the main grounds.



The fairgrounds in Muncie are just too small now; and IRP is too big. We need something in the middle. If that can't be found; then we have to go big I guess. But gORP has gotta go; IRP would be a-ok if there's no middle sized location to be had.

 

[DavidTD]

What a great poll idea. One that I am on the losing side as of right now.



I have attended every Thunder in Muncie and every IRP. I think each site offers a "pro" and a "con" and it will ultimately be decided with which ones matter most.



I think the "charm" of what Gaston Fairgrounds offered would be hard to beat. You had the trees that made for a great show/shine and vendor area. Way better than at IRP. I'm not a puller, but from what I understand the track was good too. Muncie dragway was not the best of tracks and it had a downhill shutdown area. ( I don't like that). It doesn't have the seating capacity, tower accomodations etc. as IRP offers.



In other words, I think Saturday is better at Gaston (Muncie) and Sunday is better at IRP.



On another note, at Muncie vendors have to set-up Friday, tear down Saturday evening, set back at the track on Sunday, then tear down again. So I would expect vendors like IRP better in that regard but only they can express what is more important to them.



As much as I DID like Muncie and the atmosphere, I think this event has grown to large for the facilities, and the decision to go to IRP was a good one. (and I am sure a tough one too).

 

[Jff24Gordn]

Having been at all 7 of the events, I have this to say.

There is no perfect place. If we went back to muncie, we wouldnt fit. We would be out of parking at 9am and those that made it in better stake out their seat at the pulling track or you wont be able to see overf everybody else.



My vote is for IRP.

 

[9 Lives]

I had nothing to complain about from IRP. . it was great and I will be back next year. Only that damn rain got in the way! but DHRA can't help the weather :-laf



They need to add a drag pull event to the rockingham NC pro street event... would draw alot of racers and more spectators than most venues.

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

With the way our form of motorsport is growing, it is cool to see big events on such a grand stage. IRP is "holy ground" for the NHRA, and the town itself is one of those places that when you tell someone you are going to Indy, they assume you are going for a race. I too appreciate grass-roots events, but an event at Indy automatically gives the diesel racing and pulling world credibility in the eyes of those who may not know about it.

I agree with most of what you are saying here, but, isn't it true as well that if the racing/pulling is going on, and its good, people will come no matter where its located? Example is the Tampico Pulls ( hope I spelled that right ) in Indiana. Although I have not been to their pulls (held on the same weekend IRP is), word I hear is that they have an amazing amount of not only racers/pullers there, but also the crowd, maybe more that what shows up at IRP. Some of you guys that make it down there to pull or watch , maybe they can chime in here with their observation.



I not only wonder about the DHRA having to bring in all the dirt to build the track and then having it removed, let alone the rental of the facilities for the weekend, insurance... . etc... . etc... . is it really worth it?



As Jeff24gordon pointed out, we may not fit there now @ Muncie. I guess I just miss the Gaston park and the grass root atmosphere of the truck pulls and its excitement.

 

[Timbeaux38]

I just miss the Gaston park and the grass root atmosphere of the truck pulls and its excitement.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Gaston park seems to be the preferred spot for the pulling crowd, and IRP seems to have a better following among the drag racers. <!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message -->

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Gaston park seems to be the preferred spot for the pulling crowd, and IRP seems to have a better following among the drag racers. <!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message -->

I need to start another poll..... If you looked at the crowd both @ Muncie and IRP for just the drag racing... ... either place was very little spectators.



If you looked at both Muncie and IRP for the truck pulls..... the number of spectators were MUCH larger.

 

[Timbeaux38]

IRP was a bit diffrent this year- we Saw more in the stands during the drags because they pulled first on Saturday. But you are right, Indiana is not drag racing country.

 

[Wideopen]

Muncie was awesome for pullers . . but we have outgrown it. . IRP is nice for the Drag racers. The Sunday race track we had while in Muncie just didn't work for the Masses.

 

[JCutter]

any thoughts of the fairgrounds like the jamboree?

 

[Turbo Thom]

and here aye come. Tim is right. Neither spot will fit both venues, to the point of suiting everybody. In that part of the country, pulling is king. And that's just the way it is. I enjoy pulling, but drag racing is my choice. I don't know if pullers will understand, but track prep like they get for the pulls, is not done at the strip in Muncie. IRP is more atuned to racers, and the pullers have to be accomadated. So in closeing, plant some large oaks at IRP, plant a lot of cool grass, remove all the asphalt just for 2 days and put everything on one side of the track, and that place is perfect. All except the distance from Milner, Georgia.



. . Preston. .