NSS Rundown?

[turnleft]

gov cup fans view from Vince P.

I ventured into the pits, pre-race to see old friends. The quality of cars at this race was unbelievable. Was very impressed with the number of states represented. Seeing that many cars on the track at once is just impressive. Pre-race festivities were great as usual. Now for my few minor observations;

1. double file re-starts destroyed 3/4 of the field. The winner of the race mentioned, that "up North" they are not allowed to shift on the starts, because it causes to many accidents! Most of the restarts saw 3 wide racing into turn 1, which was part of the problem. This race is becoming more and more of a crash fest every year.

2. NSS needs to pave the infield, I was only in the infield for 2 hours, the dust is unbelievable. I cant imagine how the teams do it all weekend. The track is to well known, to have a dust pit infield.

3. Pit line was way to long, waited in line for 1 hour and 15 min. Almost just went to the other side. I only went on Sunday, but everything seemed to be running behind a little on the schedule.

4. 4, is the number of tow trucks they need for this event. Although I am sure the extra time on clean ups, helps the concisions, and lets fans stretch there legs.

5. Restrooms were clean! Which was nice to see!

All in all it was a great event, seeing the winner dice his way through the field, was the highlight of the weekend, it is what many people go to see, not wreck after wreck on re-starts.

Vince P.

[Boneman]

You are right about the pit lines. It amazes me that so many tracks get this wrong. If I have people lining up to give me money, I will find a way to get it from them in a hurry.

"Double file restarts destroyed 3/4 of the field." You and I can debate this one until next year. It didn't look like many of the crashes occurred that soon after a restart, but were more a result of lots of cars out there and everyone running hard.

You know who surprised me? #129, Spencer Davis. He was pretty rough!

[Don Nerone]

You are right about the pit lines. It amazes me that so many tracks get this wrong. If I have people lining up to give me money, I will find a way to get it from them in a hurry.

"Double file restarts destroyed 3/4 of the field." You and I can debate this one until next year. It didn't look like many of the crashes occurred that soon after a restart, but were more a result of lots of cars out there and everyone running hard.

You know who surprised me? #129, Spencer Davis. He was pretty rough!

Double file restarts destroyed 3/4 of the field
I hate them but a 2 wide start never recked a car. A driver that hold his line and has to beat his way to the bottom is what wrecks cars. Have tried di doo it many times and it was hard to keep a car count.
It is great for the fans that like to see cars in big piles. Yep it aint boring.
I have seen people on here saying they wont go to a race that dosent have double reastarts. Are those people race fans? Not in my book.
O bue the way how was the croud on Sun. I did see the great car count. There were lots of first class teams there.

don62

[bubba]

Crowd was great. Long slow line and not so great signage for reserved seat line..caused some frustration.

I had a great time this yr both Saturday and sunday. The wrecks were rough, but mostly the result of stupidity. The backstretch was calamitycorner for some reason. Lots of wrecks going into 3 w people getting hit in the right rear at speed. Must have been the thing to do this yr.

Hope the event keeps growing, great job by NSS putting it all together!

[MJM10]

"NSS needs to pave the infield, I was only in the infield for 2 hours, the dust is unbelievable. I cant imagine how the teams do it all weekend. The track is to well known, to have a dust pit infield."

I have been saying this for years, the place is a dust bowl. The infield needs to be paved, or at least set it up like five flags and have a loop going through the infield about the width of five cars, paved nice. You can still have all the grass, its the dirt sections that kill everything. The line up for tech is right in everyone's way and pit road is not long enough to house all the cars, so if your not on pit road you have to pit off the track at big events. Its only a matter of time before someone gets run over. When I was back up North I talked to several Modified drivers that said they don't go down to Speedweeks because they have to spend a week cleaning their cars and trailers out of dirt and rocks when they get home. You can't have $50-100K Race cars driving down a dirt road to get to the track (I know that sounds stupid but it's true), and guess where all that ends up...on the track. It's the next step NSS needs to take towards becoming a first class racing facility. PLEASE pave the infield.

On a positive note thank you for having a sweeper there to clean the track, two big thumbs up for that.

[OldSchool+]

IMO, the Governor's Cup turned out to be the biggest event of the year.

With that many cars and that much moola on the line, dust was flying, figuratively and literally.

Thank you, Kim Brown & the entire crew for an overall great event.

[Frasson118]

I'd guess I've seen 20-25 Governors Cup races, and this weekend stands out above all the others, with the possible exception of my first one at Golden Gate.

My only BIG complaint about it was only having 2 tow trucks, and them dragging the time out.

When a wrecked car needs towing in, get it to the infield and go get the next one off.

I found it ridiculous to tow a car off the track, through the pits, across the track, and deliver it to their trailer up on the hill.

6 or 8 minutes to deliver a single car, when 5 more need towing, is unacceptable in my book.

[OldSchool+]

sidebar--Recently at St Pete a wrecked car sat for a few minutes and I turned to the person next to me and said "Anyone know someone with a wrecker?" .

Re: Dust part II. It is Florida. Many, many summer nights the Sat night races are run at least partially in the daylight. If that place is one big paved bowl collecting heat all day long, it could be miserable come race time. Something to consider.

It wasn't so bad on the north side of the scales, I guess. I went over the #111 prior to race time and mostly removed fingerprints from fine tuning, not dust.

[sbracer58]

Pave the infield with concrete and sun/heat won't be a factor. Plus it's more resistant to chemicals/gas vs. asphalt. I'll bet the Sergi clan could knock that job out in a week or so...

[Frasson118]

I was in the infield pits while the SLM were going through the Tech station, while the Mods were headed up for hot laps....
It was a cluster fuck of cars trying to dodge each other just to get to where they were supposed to be.
I can't claim to have a solution, but I do see a problem.

In all fairness to NSS, this is a problem from having TOO many cars for a plan that's always worked before.

But isn't that the BEST problem a track can have? Too many cars that the old plan no longer works?

I'm betting that a better plan comes into play to relieve the congestion they had this time around.

[Benny The Mule]

Wish i would have been down there. This could have been my 1 race of the season.............not including my 1 speedweek show.

[zerofor]

Man it sounds like I missed out.Hell of a weekend to have my back hurting so bad I wasn't up for the drive.

[ocalasp76]

Had a great time with friends and race family. We lost the engine about 10 laps into the OWM race. Broken crank.
Gotz another motor already though. Will be back stronger than before.
NSS is a great track run by great people.
-JIM-

[Old Sunshine Fan]

NSS is a great track run by great people.
-JIM-

Question for Jim Higgenbottomorwhatever....have you been practicing pointing with your left hand this past week?..............OSF

[ocalasp76]

Question for Jim Higgenbottomorwhatever....have you been practicing pointing with your left hand this past week?..............OSF

You are a phunnie old fart sometimes... No, I'm getting used to using my right hand in certain neighborhoods. Others can't count and would not understand..
Question answered? .....
-Ge-Um-