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I think there is a lot we dont know Stu. I only hope that someone is doing a good investigative journalist job and getting in front of the key players. Someone made some very bad decisions under pressure and decided to stick with them rather than change them when all around was falling apart. I still think the big thing to learn is support the purpose built tracks for big championship rounds. What I do feel angry about is that the consequences of those bad decisions were thrown at the racers who had to make a terrible choice not of their making. In the end safety has to be the final arbitrator and I think they made the right decision. I do worry about Hockenheim's future as a major European drag strip. Big changes have to be made if it is to survive.
I took this from the official Nitrolympics website. It is there stance on the farce after the racer’s 'no race' decison was taken but before the demos.
'Speed Group as administrator of the European Drag Racing Championship has just informed the organizers that unfortunately all FIA classes, except Top Methanol Dragster, have decided not to run elimination races on Sunday.
The majority decision of the FIA drivers is not really understandable for us, because on Saturday three qualifying runs were performed. Throughout the weekend, as well as before the NitrOlympX our crew worked continuously to prepare the best possible track for the upcoming competitions. The pilots of the FIA Top Methanol Dragster and all drivers of the UEM classes (Top Fuel Bike, Super Twin Top Fuel, Pro Stock Bike and Super Street Bike) will carry out their final races on the Rico Anthes Quartermile.
All other Sportsman classes and the show runs of the Top Fuel Funny Cars and Jet Dragster are starting as well. Viewers can still look forward to a spectacular day of racing at the Rico Anthes Quartermile in Hockenheim'.
It raises some important points.
1.The TMD vote to race should be looked at in the light of the nationality of the entrants involved and the nationality of those who did not show for the first round.
2.What stance will the FIA take as far as the drivers refusing to race. There could be further ramifications for them and the championship.
3.The demos did not go well.
4.Qualifying is not the same as racing.
5.If the organisers do not understand why the racers refused to race maybe they should question their ability to run such an important round of an international championship. Or are they positioning themselves for further battles?
6.It is true they were put in an impossible position by the F1 drivers and the organisers when the order to scrape was issued. They made a decision to continue – probably under pressure from financial considerations as well as enthusiasm. But when it became clear that they were not able to recreate an acceptable track in the time left they decided to keep digging themselves into a hole that was already very deep. From there website statement they still appear to be digging.
7.Bikes can be more selective in the path chosen on the strip.
8.Are we reaching a situation when the machines require tracks that not all promoters are able to deliver – particularly in the worse recession since the 1930s.
I do not know everything about modern drag racing but as someone who was deepelyy involved I feel it is important to comment on such an important situation. Maybe the current stance of the organisers puts the 2013 Hockenheim round in doubt – even though there is no F1 round there next year. Surely this farce shows us that racers and owners of purpose built tracks need to work even more closely. In times like this it is crucial that the sport sticks together. Maybe this should be considered a wake-up call.
'Speed Group as administrator of the European Drag Racing Championship has just informed the organizers that unfortunately all FIA classes, except Top Methanol Dragster, have decided not to run elimination races on Sunday.
The majority decision of the FIA drivers is not really understandable for us, because on Saturday three qualifying runs were performed. Throughout the weekend, as well as before the NitrOlympX our crew worked continuously to prepare the best possible track for the upcoming competitions. The pilots of the FIA Top Methanol Dragster and all drivers of the UEM classes (Top Fuel Bike, Super Twin Top Fuel, Pro Stock Bike and Super Street Bike) will carry out their final races on the Rico Anthes Quartermile.
All other Sportsman classes and the show runs of the Top Fuel Funny Cars and Jet Dragster are starting as well. Viewers can still look forward to a spectacular day of racing at the Rico Anthes Quartermile in Hockenheim'.
It raises some important points.
1.The TMD vote to race should be looked at in the light of the nationality of the entrants involved and the nationality of those who did not show for the first round.
2.What stance will the FIA take as far as the drivers refusing to race. There could be further ramifications for them and the championship.
3.The demos did not go well.
4.Qualifying is not the same as racing.
5.If the organisers do not understand why the racers refused to race maybe they should question their ability to run such an important round of an international championship. Or are they positioning themselves for further battles?
6.It is true they were put in an impossible position by the F1 drivers and the organisers when the order to scrape was issued. They made a decision to continue – probably under pressure from financial considerations as well as enthusiasm. But when it became clear that they were not able to recreate an acceptable track in the time left they decided to keep digging themselves into a hole that was already very deep. From there website statement they still appear to be digging.
7.Bikes can be more selective in the path chosen on the strip.
8.Are we reaching a situation when the machines require tracks that not all promoters are able to deliver – particularly in the worse recession since the 1930s.
I do not know everything about modern drag racing but as someone who was deepelyy involved I feel it is important to comment on such an important situation. Maybe the current stance of the organisers puts the 2013 Hockenheim round in doubt – even though there is no F1 round there next year. Surely this farce shows us that racers and owners of purpose built tracks need to work even more closely. In times like this it is crucial that the sport sticks together. Maybe this should be considered a wake-up call.
For some of us who have worked tirelessly over nearly fifty years to try and put Drag Racing on the motorsport map, this is an avalanche that has taken us to the bottom of the mountain. What must other motorsport think of us all. I just hope lessons are learned. I can assure you, the FIA will want to distance itself from the Hockenheim meeting and lets face it, they are partly to blame for the outcome.
The FIA and F1 drivers refused to run over the end of the strip, so they ripped up the whole quarter mile???? They then expect our guys to run on a track which is unsafe and could cause injury or even death. Just again shows how much the FIA care or know about our sport. As has been said, there could well be further ramifications when the dust has settled.
The FIA and F1 drivers refused to run over the end of the strip, so they ripped up the whole quarter mile???? They then expect our guys to run on a track which is unsafe and could cause injury or even death. Just again shows how much the FIA care or know about our sport. As has been said, there could well be further ramifications when the dust has settled.
I have to agree with the comments so far. For the governing body of world motorsport to put drivers and riders lives at risk is unacceptable and I believe the people responsable should be held to account for this diabolical situation. I myself was at Drachten on friday with the DHRA working with thier tech crew and I mentioned the situation to several people who were copmleatly dumbstruck andcould not believe that the whole track had bean scraped. one comment I had was "are the FIA complete morons"
There is quite a discussion on this posted on the Pistonheads drag racing Forum. In particular Graham Ellis has some important info. If anyone knows Graham could you ask him to post it on this discussion - preferably without the swear words but I understand his anger.
crazyhorses wrote:There is quite a discussion on this posted on the Pistonheads drag racing Forum..Health discussion but I think that sometimes some things are better left to be discussed on Pistonheads then on here Brian
This section of the forum is entitled "The Sport Today" Jon. This is certainly the sport today if anything is!!
Stu Bradbury wrote:This section of the forum is entitled "The Sport Today" Jon. This is certainly the sport today if anything is!!Fair point Stu, as long as stays sensible as I've seen these threads get out of hand before.
We can rely on you and your moderators to chop the discussion if it gets out of hand Jon and rightly so.