Here's my point of view on the event, from being a racer last year (that broke) to a spectator this year:
Last year - I broke early, before eliminations. Not long afterwards, the track experienced a power failure. 2.5 hours pass before power is restored, at which point the remainder fo the program is rushed. Does the track turn on their generatot(s)? No. Apparently for those running the show (George Case?), this is too costly of a solution.
This year - I'm spectating. The ONLY reason I'm there (no offense to my Pontiac brothers and sisters) is to see some nostalgia funny cars and FED's. After last years generator debacle, I said I'd never come back, and I didn't this year, except that it was rained out. Had the rain out date not fallen on the "Geezers" race, I wouldn't have been there.
We (my wife's Uncle Donnie and I) arrive around 9:30, and park with Bud Lyons in his pit. We later learn that the timing equipment is broken from an electrical storm the previous day. Well, it increasingly looks like it's going to be one big nostalgia car show, so we walk the pits.
In meeting with other Pontiac racers, we learn that the program is going to be combined, ie - the Pontiacs will be racing in the same classes with the nostalgia cars. Pontiac racers wondered what would happen to their purse payouts (and so was I). It was later learned that the purses would be "combined", ie - both the Pontiac racers AND the Pontiac sponsor(s) were going to get the short end of the stick. It is at this time we learn that Jim Zeek has long since left in disgust.
OK, the timing equipment is fixed and there's racing. We sit and watch for at least an hour and, what's this? A Chevy Suburban and an 80'something Oldsmobile lining up? I came to see some nostalgia cars, WTF is this? Thankfully, that only happened once.
OK, some of the Pontiac heavy hitters are coming out. Scott Rex aborts his pass shortly after the 330' cone, John Langer is right behind and does the same, nearly tagging the wall. It is then the crew comes out to clean the track. I tell Donnie not to worry, they'll be back for another pass later. But WAIT! What's this? There's only going to be ONE TIMED RUN for everyone for the day! Well, ok...I'll go along with that because the track was packed and there was some down time in the morning. Much to my suprise, however, the "Top 32" class later gets a second timed run, but they're the only class that gets one. WTF is up with that?
Live music in the newly constructed beer garden. Yup, that makes ALOT of sense while racing is going on.
Even more annoying to hear music over the P.A. system at the same time I'm hearing live music from the "garden".
I can't say that I had a bad time, I didn't, but I do feel for those that were racing that got the short end of the stick, because the racers are the reason the spectators are there.
Paul Spotts did indeed have the fastest FED there (save for the two nitro cars), albeit most of the other FED's were merely injected and not blown. Even still, a 10 second injected alcohol FED is not very exciting. 9 second is a little better. 8's are great, but I only recall seeing one injected FED that was that fast.
If I were a sponsor/promoter, I'd investigate having this Pontiac event (or another like it around the same time of the year) at Cecil County. It'll still draw the same "crowd", and the treatment the sponsor(s) and racers will get would be better.