Pontiac, Columbus/Norwalk

[ol fart]

Am I missing something here? Why is Pontiac so upset over not being "in on" the move? sure they had a right to be informed, but is that reason enough to pull the sponsership? Isn't Norwalk a better location for them? seems to me they would be pleased to have their name associated with a little more classy place. I wonder if this isn't just an opertunity to scale back on advertising what with the slowdown in the auto industry. something sure dosen't seem to add up. (not that I really give a rats--- if NHRA looses a sponser)

[Billy W]

Pontiac might have had a bunch of money laid out for some type of promotion for the race to still be at the previous site..... some type of big commitment to the area.... And we all know how NHRA is a rat with a gorilla attitude...

Sooner or later NHRA is due a reality check..not just from suporters like Pontiac but the fans also.... the mushroom therory can only go so far... before the mushrooms defect..... IMO

Billy

[Tire_Shake]

I think when others peoples money is involved they like to know what your plans are for spending it.

[fuelfan]

Is Columbus a bad facility or is Norwalk just a better one?

[Lloyd Christmas]

Is Columbus a bad facility or is Norwalk just a better one?

Both......

[gary4205]

Is Columbus a bad facility or is Norwalk just a better one?

Both! Rumor has it that Pontiac knew nothing about the deal until it was announced. That's just not good business. It's kinda like if your wife goes out and buys a new house without telling you. You might love the house, but you'll be pretty upset that she didn't tell you!

NHRA needs to learn that you can't do this kind of thing. :eek:

[BrianMo]

Pontiac does do alot in the Columbus area before the race. on the Wednesday before the Columbus race they have a huge show at Dave Gill Pontiac all of the Pro Stock Teams and 10 or so nitro teams pull their trucks on the parking lot of the dealership and unload their racecars. then there is a huge autograph session. Pontiac also does a helmet raffle and raise alot of money for Childrens hopspital of Columbus. these are traditions in the area that go back more than 15 years. I cant blame Pontiac for being upset that NHRA would not tell them of their plans,

[Bob Korreck]

Is Columbus a bad facility or is Norwalk just a better one?

I've raced at Columbus. I've been to a lot better and a lot that were worse. The event has been there a long time and everything seemed to be OK.

I've heard that Norwalk was super nice but I've not been there. Hope to correct that soon.

[NitroFishBlue]

I hate to say it but I was very disappointed to hear about the switch from Columbus to Norwalk. The Columbus event was the only one I could ever attend. For many years, I was there for Saturday qualifying. I have several pictures of the flooded parking lot. One year, I got my car out right before the lot was completely flooded. That just added to the atmosphere of the event.

Indy has priced itself out of my budget.

Due to work (and health) reasons, I can't make that longer drive to Norwalk. That would mean an additional 200 miles for me to drive in one day.

Now how will I get my yearly nitro fix?? Oh well, things always change with time. At least there is TV to watch the action.

[The_Leaker]

Columbus was a great event...


IF it didnt rain it was a ice skating event... stab and steer

If it did rain it was a boating event

If it continued to rain it was a water park event

If it still rained it was a "HELP ME TOW OUT MY RIG" event

In any event columbus event was always a interesting one..


Ahh to remember the days of sitting in a mall parking lot waiting on tech...

Kinda like the old days at the oaks mall... (can you guess the event )

[anotheridiot]

Norwalk is a track that constantly paid the big name teams to show up for their night of fire. We ran a nostalgia deal there when force and tony p were doing a match race a while ago. It was cancelled when a wheelstander went over the wall. Its a much nicer track than columbus that is for sure, track and grounds. Hopefully attendance will be good and you can keep a race in Ohio. I know not having a race in chicagoland for so long was really a bummer. But with all the upgrades at tracks around, the track owners either have to improve so the nhra brass can sit in a pretty skybox or they will go somewhere nicer.

I just hope Columbus can afford to keep the track running without the support of the national event to keep the racing alive.

[iceman]

Does NHRA still own that track?

[babaloo]

Am I missing something here? Why is Pontiac so upset over not being "in on" the move? sure they had a right to be informed, but is that reason enough to pull the sponsership? Isn't Norwalk a better location for them? seems to me they would be pleased to have their name associated with a little more classy place. I wonder if this isn't just an opertunity to scale back on advertising what with the slowdown in the auto industry. something sure dosen't seem to add up. (not that I really give a rats--- if NHRA looses a sponser)

You haven't got a clue. Racing is all about business! Pontiac probably had a valid business reason, that we will never know anything about, for paying the money to sponsor the Columbus race. So by NHRA moving the event without consulting the event sponsor, their business reason probably is not valid in Norwalk. I do not blame Pontiac one bit if they bail out on all of their participation with NHRA. My question is, why is it taking them so long to do so? I would have pulled the plug the same day I heard about the change of venue.

[DPigg]

I understand that NHRA is all about the money and you can say what you want about the bad points of the facility. The bottom line is that NHRA has owned this facility for over 10 years and every year, we were promised bigger and better improvements that would make NTR one of the premier facilities on the tour.

Those improvements kept getting delayed and changed. When they tore down the pit side bleachers 5 or 6 years ago, they never replaced them. Instead, they rented some for the event every year. Then last year they moved the event to May, which is always wetter than June in Columbus.

I could go on and on but my point is, all of this leads me to believe that NHRA has been planning this move for a long time.

I live 25 minutes from NTR and I have attended the event pretty much every year since 1975. I have seen some great racing and alot of cars get out of shape in a specatacular fashion!

Back in the day before this became such a big business, you could sit around and chat with the racers and crew. Most of the people I talked to loved NTR and saw it as a challenge. Whoever could master the track and win the event was "The Man".

It is unfortunate that the 30 + year tradition of this event at NTR and the loyalty of the Columbus area means nothing to the Compton-istas at NHRA.

Which track will be next?

[Nater99]

I worry about Maple Grove being next. Especially with its move to August. Traditionally, it had been one of the fastest tracks around, mostly because of the time of year of the event. I've been going to that track since I was 6 years old. I've seen all kinds of incredible stuff there.