[Elarson]

Track closings can be for a myriad of reasons.

Kil Kare Dragway in Xenia, OH is an interesting example. There's lots of encroaching development but their operation as a racetrack is grandfathered in. If they ever cease to be operational, they lose their status and can never be reopened as a racetrack. The sand & gravel company across the street is hoping for that; so they can swoop in and buy the property for sand & gravel excavation.

Mid-America Raceway in Wentzville, MO is another story. According to Wikipedia..."In 2005 it was sold to a developer, after facing years of hostility from the neighboring homes that had built on property adjoining the race track." The other part of the story is that the owner had several children. One was interested in running the track...the others were not. In consideration of future inheritance issues, the only fair way to accommodate all the kids was to turn the track into a cash distribution among them.

Eric

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Nacs Fab

Ill tell you, with some pretty major NHRA sanctioned Tracks getting Demoed in the last 3 or so years, its been pretty pathetic to watch the NHRA go down the way it has. I think IHRA is doing a killer job promoting and brining back these old tracks. Is the tracks below going away due to NHRA issues or track owner issues?

Tracks GONE: Bandimere Speedway, Atlanta Dragway, Heartland Motorsports Park, and Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park

NHRA has really gone down hill over the last 20 years, with them speed running the stupidity and nonsense over the last 10 years. Those in charge are so far separated from reality its no wonder they're struggling. We're seeing similar cases across other major players in motorsports.

Competition breeds competition, which results in a better product for everyone. Watching the IHRA rise from the ashes and start chipping away at what the NHRA has neglected for years has been satisfying to watch. Let's see how the NHRA responds.

I dont have much faith in them doing anything noteworthy.

[Jay S]

Heartland Park at Topeka was getting charged 28,000 a month in property taxes. Hard to blame that one on NHRA. The county made them sell the property for tax reasons. Then the county went in and reevaluated the property taxes after the track owners pulled out and the value of the property went down 2.3 million dollars! On top of that consider the revenue stream that Topeka lost every year from loosing the NHRA National event and some of the other big venues like the country music festival that had about 300,000 people attend. It is utterly amazing how blind the politicians were down there. You just can’t fix stupid.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Nacs Fab

Ill tell you, with some pretty major NHRA sanctioned Tracks getting Demoed in the last 3 or so years, its been pretty pathetic to watch the NHRA go down the way it has. I think IHRA is doing a killer job promoting and brining back these old tracks. Is the tracks below going away due to NHRA issues or track owner issues?

Tracks GONE: Bandimere Speedway, Atlanta Dragway, Heartland Motorsports Park, and Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park

Atlanta was noise complaints and they were going to build something else on the land.

K

[Jay S]

NHRA seems like they have always been slower than IHRA adapting to make changes in classes and offering new classes. Usually IHRA and WDRA (now all IHRA) were running new class several years before NHRA adopts them. But if NHRA does something successful IHRA usually follows pretty quickly. It took about 15 years for NHRA adopt the Pro Mods as anything but exhibition. In many ways IHRA’s vision has benefitted NHRA, hopefully that holds true now becuase IHRA is really moving forward with a lot of changes, and new classes. Hope they both grow. In my area IHRA gained a huge footprint merging with WDRA.

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

If it weren't for the lack of venues, landspeed racing is open to anyone.

Yes and no. I used to work in Palmdale at General Atomics. My facility was very literally on the El Mirage Dry Lake bed.

I was super interested in having some sort of record and did a bunch of research into classes that seemed gettable, and relatively affordable.

But my problem was that you had to be part of a club to participate. Which, im a little anti social so that didnt super appeal to me, but I recognize thats a "Me" problem. But even still, I was doing deployment work, and likely wouldnt have been able to meet the volunteer requirements.

It just seems there was a lot more gatekeeping to landspeed than is necessary. I wanted to just be able to pay whatever entrance fee, show up pass tech and race.

It was also never clear to me if I had to have a push vehicle? So do I have to show up with two vehicles? The safety cost, is a lot higher too I think. Needing fire suppression systems and all.

Im still super interested, even though I dont live in that area anymore. I would like to do some standing mile stuff if there is any in the midwest, but like you said venues can be a problem.

[Keith Seymore]

Does IHRA require a competition license for 9.99 and quicker?

My NHRA license has expired. Chassis will need a re-cert in May 2026. Norwalk is the only remaining NHRA track near me (3 hours away).

Milan, Martin (US-131), Stanton (Mid Michigan Motorplex) and Lapeer are all something else now. Onondaga is presently closed (hopefully temporarily - due to noise complaints).

K

[opeliac]

In my personal opinion, this will end badly for the NHRA...Their arrogance has about ran its course, and the money behind the IHRA can buy and give away the NHRA...

[Jay S]

My just read that IHRA purchased Heartland Park at Topeka. That would be awesome!

[Probird]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Does IHRA require a competition license for 9.99 and quicker?

My NHRA license has expired. Chassis will need a re-cert in May 2026. Norwalk is the only remaining NHRA track near me (3 hours away).

Milan, Martin (US-131), Stanton (Mid Michigan Motorplex) and Lapeer are all something else now. Onondaga is presently closed (hopefully temporarily - due to noise complaints).

K

Yes they do require a license at 9.99(6.39) and a chassis cert at 6.00 in the 1/8th. The good thing is IHRA will accept an NHRA license and certification.But NHRA will NOT accept the IHRA licensing and chassis cert. I keep my NHRA up to date for this reason even though my local track is IHRA. IHRA is the best bang for the buck for us sportsman racers.

[hojs69]

FYI: https://ihra.com/ihra-pro-stock-replaces-fss

[mgarblik]

The best possible outcome for this war is for both organizations to stay in business and compete. The racers, fans and sponsors can only benefit if that happens. Competition almost always improves the product. I have to admit, though, I enjoy the resurgence of IHRA. NHRA has treated the sportsman racers like crap for decades and the fans even worse. Their super arrogant attitude has really turned allot of people away from the sport. IHRA has the money to really put serious pressure on the NHRA. Just like Sears found out, no business is "too big" to fail.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

If it weren't for the lack of venues, landspeed racing is open to anyone.

IF you can pass their safety rules.

I ran the Texas Mile last October. I needed a helmet with an SA15 or newer cert, and some other common sense clothing. Tires have to be less than 7 years old, and a few similar things. A basic tech inspection, then I was good to run to 150mph. After making a controlled pass in the 140-150mph, range, I was then certified to run up to 199.9. I think older cars may have to have more safety equipment.

I ran 167.40 in a stock '16 Corvette. It was fun!

ECTA runs the Arkansas Mile, which is actually 2km (right at 1.25 miles), but they require a full fire suit. They have some other events as well, possibly a Bonneville Mile in July.

SCTA rules seem WAY more restrictive. From what I've read, sounds like ALL cars must have rollbars.

[GTO Dan]

Give the attached YouTube link a quick view and consider it. It is his opinion and a “tinfoil hat” theory but it has merit. Cooper Bogetti is Cletus McFarland’s old partner.

Having spent 40+ years on Wall Street and in banking….maybe…hope not…but…maybe…

https://youtu.be/YuxD9Zcj3eA?si=0j5xpUKqQ20QreMZ

[hojs69]

Related to GTO Dan's post above, a good discussion here:

https://nitromater.com/threads/this-...-2#post-467009

[hojs69]

https://ihra.com/IHRA-aquires-atlanta-dragway

[hojs69]

https://dragillustrated.com/virginia...ion-of-tracks/

[hojs69]

https://ihra.com/111-ihra-sanctioned-tracks

[hojs69]

https://www.ihra.com/news/ihra-acqui...-the-northeast