01-12 Meeting Amendments

[Don @ Maritime Drag Racing]

Thanks to some great feedback gained from the inaugural Atlantic Pro Tree series meeting held in Moncton, we’re going to be making some recommended changes & inclusions to the program which hopefully will meet with the approval of the competitors in all classes.
 
                          A/  After discussion it was agreed that the name of the new series will be the ‘Atlantic Pro Tree Series’  Participant decals will be provided to registered competitors prior to the beginning of the racing season.
 
                          B/  Instead of the original proposal which suggested that the three classes (8.90, 9.90, & 10.90 second indexes) all run off until the final two competitors within each class who would then compete for first & second place in class, & a prize of one hundred dollars for the class win, with the balance of prize money from combined entry receipts being paid out in the Championship round. The revised program would have each of the classes continue to race off until the class finals as previous, but each class will be racing for a purse proportionate to the number of entries within the class. What this in effect does is reward the classes with the largest entry lists, hence the most competitive rounds, with the greatest purse. The Championship round will then be contested for a purse of $100.00 contributed from each class entry pool.
 
                          C/  Depending upon the sponsorship funds available at race-time, class payouts may also be subsidized from the series’ bank account, but the original goal of having the series become self-sustaining with gate receipts is still in effect, which simply means that even if sufficient sponsor dollars are not available, the series will operate on a more modest financial level. We will also look towards subsidizing a minimum payout for each class if entry numbers do not meet acceptable levels in order to ensure that a respectable payout is guaranteed. Again, this all will be very dependant upon everyone doing their part to obtain sponsors for the series.
 
                          D/  It was determined that the method of assessing competition bye-runs during class eliminations would be carried out by calculating qualifying order from a pre-competition qualifying round (the last series of time-trials for the day). We will work with the track operators' to determine when they are planning to schedule the last time trial prior to setting up their gamblers’ race, which will in effect become the qualifying lap for all Pro Tree classes without the requirement of requesting an additional run. This qualifying ladder will be the template for determining bye-runs as rounds progress.
 
                          E/  For the Championship round, it was determined that only the three class champions should race for the day’s overall title, which will eliminate one round of competition, thus streamlining the race somewhat for the track operators, as well as ensuring that the overall champion is going to be one of the class winners. As mentioned earlier, the race Championship will be contested for a nominal amount of prize money (possibly $200.00 to the winner & $100.00 to the runner-up) since the bulk of prize monies will now be distributed to the class run-offs.
 
                          F/  It was also agreed that the method of determining the first-round bye run in the Championship round will be based upon some form of chance (cards, coin-flip, etc), & not based upon the previous round’s performance as was originally proposed.
 
                          G/  Probably the most heated debate of the day was centered around the .500 Pro Tree, & staggered starts. For this upcoming season, it is still our opinion that the ‘one size fits all’ approach to the tree is in the best interest of the series in gaining a positive foothold with the track operators. By requ

[ShoeBoxRacer]

                          G/  Probably the most heated debate of the day was centered around the .500 Pro Tree, & staggered starts. For this upcoming season, it is still our opinion that the ‘one size fits all’ approach to the tree is in the best interest of the series in gaining a positive foothold with the track operators. By requiring as few changes to the tracks’ normal operational procedure as possible, we will be less of an encumbrance to them (either real or perceived), and will be able to slot our series into their program in a more seamless fashion. Since it’s easier to slow a fast-reacting car down than speed up a slower-reacting vehicle, the universal .500 tree seems the best concession for the up-coming year of competition. If we meet our goals with regards to car counts & quality of competition, next year may provide us with a better bargaining chip to ask the operators for a bit of additional flexibility such as a split tree (.400 & .500). Another reason for our embracing the slower tree this season is that a fair number of competitors who have shown significant interest in the series are not regular Pro-Tree competitors, and although their vehicles may have ample performance to achieve the required class performance numbers, neither they or their vehicles have  experience with the heads-up format, & the slower tree will aid in their learning curve, & hopefully provide an ongoing larger field of competitors, which is another requirement of the track operator’s in gauging the ongoing success of the series & their willingness to embrace it.
 
                          H/  It  was considered that it be suggested that the scheduled Raceway Park event be contested on an eighth mile format, which may be a requirement of the track at any rate, depending upon the adjacent stock car track’s schedule for that weekend.
 
                          I/  Finally, the matter of allowing some competitors who are performance-challenged an opportunity to move to another class in which their vehicle will comfortably be able to compete, although not meeting all of the class requirements as established in the NHRA and/or IHRA rulebooks was discussed, and it was agreed that the proposed rule allowing a competitor to move one class, either up or down, is an acceptable method to provide the flexibility to allow these racers to compete while keeping the classes in check. It’s going to be very important to the success of this series that a measure of flexibility is provided in this area to attract new blood into what for most is a new & untried form of racing. Placing roadblocks in the way will do nothing but limit the amount of racers who might entertain competing in the series, which will not help it’s potential longevity. A request from the floor to allow bikes and sleds to run within the pre-determined classes was presented, but unfortunately, after a vote was taken, it was determined that at this time only cars will be competing in the series.