NHRR Moving from B.G.!!!!

The prick that is responsible is named Matt Baker.

This is from the local TV station.....

A Warren County resident who has been fighting a legal battle with Beech Bend Park has filed another lawsuit against the park’s owner and two county officials.
Matt Baker filed the suit in Warren Circuit Court Friday, Sept. 1, 2006. The complaint cites Warren County Judge Mike Buchanon, Bowling Green/Warren County Planning and Zoning Commission Director Andy Gillies and Dallas Jones, the owner of Beech Bend Park.
In the document it states that Beech Bend Park has not complied with current zoning ordinances that show the park to be operating on land zoned for agricultural use. Baker is requesting that Beech Bend Park cease and desist all operations as an amusement park, campground and raceway.
He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages accusing Beech Bend of depriving him of the enjoyment of his property.

The park has been there since 1898 for God's sake, it's not like it popped up overnight.

Rich

 

Been to all 4 at the bend. after the 1st on I said where are they holding the next one. the bend has all the flavor of a nostalgia met. I am sure nhra had their hand into replacing the event as they own both. I won't be there . I was going to run my fed there this yr, but sickness got in the way.I will try to make the HAMB drags.

 

Well......I wish them well.....but I won't be there.

 

That sux. The camradarie with all of you I have met at BG,was a big part of that event. Plus the after hours cruising,car show, camping was a blast. I will not be going to OHIO,and will miss you all.. Perhaps we can all meet at the Cumberland Run this year(the weekend before HRR) Sparky

 

Wait a minute...

If that park has really been around since 1898 why don't the people that own Beech Bend Park turn the Historical Society loose on that stupid lawyer? They have the means to see that the land is protected and NO ONE can shut the park down. The National Conservation Act can protect the land as well.

 

Mark a new one ON the calendar: Nostalgia Shootout, Valdosta GA Oct. 26-29

Scrub one OFF the calendar: NHHR... bummer.

 

guess i wont be going next year!

it was fun while it lasted. i will miss it...

 

It's too bad that I won't see yall next year. But I'm happy that I'll finally get my dad to attend an event with me again (he wouldn't go to B.G.....too far).

 

I hate to see the NHRR move too (especially to National Trail, aka the Swamp) but the situation in Bowling Green was getting untenable. The traffic this year was awful (even if you left the motel early) and the local law enforcement were not capable of doing much about it. A couple of teams that I know left the motel at around 8 am on Saturday and it took them more than three hours to get to the track in what should have been a 15 minute drive.
For the racers the pit situation was much the same once you got to the track--too many cars for the size of the facility. Add to that the fact that there is no deliniation between the pits and the car show area and the fact that golf carts are available for hire to anyone and traffic in the pits was a nightmare. There also seemed to be a lot of vehicles with Kuntucky plates simply cruising through the pits with no sign of a pit credential--local touristas I guess. When you are trying to manouver a 200" wheelbase dragster around, the looky loos are a real problem as they simply do not pay attention.
Some of these problems could have been addressed by the NHRA but the traffic situation will not change until a different means of access is provided.
That said, I don't think that Columbus will be much better from the point of view of available pit space as they will have to put the car show somewhere.Spectator parking is also a problem at National Trail (although the locals love renting space in their fields) and as previously noted in another post if it rains the place is an absolute swamp for both the racers and the fans (then the locals make more money using their tractors to tow cars out of the mud).
On the positive side, look for Troy Coker's Nostalgia Pro Comp Association to have an event at Bowling Green next year. All HAMB'ers are definitely invited,

Roo Man

 

guess i'll just stay in indy

 

Man this SUX !

 

I've been to Columbas a bunch for the Mopar Nats and the Chrysler Classic.
Any time you've got parking in the grass, rain makes it a mess. They have done a bunch to improve drainage over the years.
As for camping, there's plenty right next to the track; if they can provide enough camping for the biggest Mopar show in the country, they can provide camping for the HRR
As for area for show cars--the Mopar Nats has a few thousand show cars, parked on both sides of the track. Again, I think it'll be fine.
If you can't pit on the pavement (and haven't they greatly expanded the amount of paved pit area?), then I suggest you get there early and pit on the high ground, or away from the ditches.
My understanding was that NHRA moved their big event because of shut-down area concerns.
If Garlits could run a 9 in one of the Swamp Rats while testing the then-new Radirs, and the biggest grouping of Mopar Nostalgia Super Stockers can run it without problem, I think the rest of the Nostalgia racers should be able to deal with it.
I don't think it's the end of the world.

-Brad

 

Aint no easier gettin thru the pits with a racer at Columbus and the mopar nats sucks as far as racing goes too.The track is crap the pits are crap.The HRR is probably as big as the Mopar nats. There are no shade trees and there will be no throw back feel to the event as there was at BG.

Also get ready for the Gestpo to be in full force for any kinda cruisn activity cause they come out in full for on Brice road as that is where most of the hotels are and cruising will be attemped.There will be no cruisn around like you saw at Scottsville road.It will be all choked down to one lane and closed off by 11pm if the crowd is big and the minute somebody does a burnout(which I am not condoning) it will get shut even quicker.Best not chirp a tire in Columbus because they even have cops on bicycles riding around given tickets.

The only reason or one of the main reasons the Mopar nats moved back to Columbus from Indy is it cost alot more to rent IRP than Columbus and The promoters of the event didnt make as much off the event having it at Indy.I may go for the day probably to reniforce my opinion,but I am hoping I am wrong.But I doubt I will be.

The camping does exsist but its all off the grounds and if like the mopar shows you will not be allowed to camp on the track grounds even with a race car.Once again I feel the NHRA has made a bad Decision,but thats a topic for another day.Sportsman racing is not the highest ranking thing on their lists.
Sorry Rant Over

Shoe

PS: Bring your rubbers and a tow strap cause if it rains you dont want to get your shoes muddy and you need the tow strap so the tractor can pull your hot rod from the goat ranch they call the pits.

 

Bottom line, it's all about money. Most of the racers had to wait for weeks for Gibbs to pay them in Kentucky. He paid the cacklefest people up-front with six free tickets (cheap intertainment), he isn't giving free tickets anymore, as there's more cacklefest cars than race cars now. The HRR is just a big cacklefest jerk-off anymore, so I suspect Ohio has a return road, and BG didn't--case closed.

No Hot Rods Allowed!

Don't worry about the cops in O-hi-O, it's the national guard that knows how to shoot straight!

 

I live in Columbus and hate to hear this is happening. I have been to BG 3 times and loved it, I doubt I have the same feeling at Nat. Trails

 

Matt Baker responds in the Bowling Green News...

4-5 million dollar loss to the Bowling Green economy...

http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/4261501.html

 

Same weekend as GG Indy, not a good idea in my opinion. Not that my opinion matters

 

Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals is traditionally the weekend before the NHRR.
Goodguys has not yet published their 2007 schedule.

 

According to DRO (Second story on page): http://dragracingonline.com/agent1320/2006/1320-viii_9-41.html

Looks like "nostalgia" drag racing will be changing... Maybe for the better, maybe not...

 

The hotels in Indy all have the date for GG as June 9/10 & 11 2007. The week before HRR.

BB

 

Some years back, the NHRA purchased National Trails, which the Raider Brothers had owned and operated since the very early 60s. The track was very old and became difficult to play host to a national event. The Rader's finally sold the track to NHRA, rather then make the necessary improvements to keep the Springnationals in Columbus. NHRA was poised and ready to move the event to Richmond, which at the time was a brand new facility. When NHRA assumed management of the Trails they imposed a 5 year improvement plan, to up-grade the facility to world class status. I would say that they have met their goal. The pits are paved today and the parking issues were fixed by the addition of proper drainage, etc. The tower, suites and grandstands are all new. among many other improvements. Traffic in and out of the facility is not an issue. The Norwalk deal is another matter, I posted my displeasure of moving the Pontiac Excitement Nationals to another location, after all the successful years of being in Columbus. At the time the NHRA announced the move, they also said that additional info would follow, relative to the future of National Trails Raceway..........that being said, it would suggest that moving the Reunion has been in the works. I know that the owner of Norwalk has been politicing for a NHRA national event, which he now has, what is confusing is that he owns the IHRA and has hosted the IHRA Northern Nationals for the Pro Mod guys. Another interesting thing that I have just noticed, is that the NHRA covered, publically, the entrants and eliminations of the Pro Mods last weekend from Dallas. First time they have acknowledged their existance on the web site, since the elimination of the Pro Stock Trucks? If you plan to bitch about the HRR being moved, as I did the Pontiac Excitement Nationals, but plan to attend anyway, here's a piece of advice: it's 15 - 20 miles from Reynoldsburg and Columbus to the Trails. It's about 5 miles from Heath, Ohio, where there are dozens of high and low end motels and places to eat..................and lots of places to purchase ice and beer. Let's try this out before we all become critical..........it might afford the opportunity for a massive H.A.M.B. gathering.

 

Damn, that's real disappointing. Despite the ongoing problems at Beech Bend, and with all due respect to the west coast events, the NHRR was still the best large scale nostalgia event of the year and the facility had a lot to do with it. If you've been to Beech Bend you understand what I'm saying. I hope the track ownership (or someone else) steps up and promotes a new event there.

As far as Columbus is concerned, I'm bummed right now and doubt we'll make the trip. I'd rather save up and make a Bonneville/Mokan trip in August.

South Georgia Motorsports Park, October 27-28. Maybe it'll turn into something special. I certainly hope so. See you there.

 

The NHRA owns National Trail Raceway. They pay rent at Beech Bend. Makes sense from a biz standpoint

 

Hate to see it happen...................Good place for a HAMB race ????

 

Rumor everywhere is they are getting out of drag racing. It's a hole in their budget they don't need anymore.

 

Most that are critical are critical because of the feel of the event at Beech Bend. It will not feel the same at National Trails period.

Plus I will miss seeing my Poor Boys pals who never seem to stray far from TN/KY.

 

BeachBend made that event, sorry to hear politicians have their heads up their asses. Need a nostalgia fix go to the Gasser Reunion at Thompson and the Rock & Race at Dragway 42 next year.

 

Make sure you give us a heads up for theese two events. Perhaps when you know dates and info you could post a thread so folks can make plans early.