Henderson

[bpthirteen]

The Score sight says that starters will be broken into 2 groups starting at different times. Anybody have any info on what the starting order will be? Anyone heard the rumor about a landrush start? Hey John, you need to come down and check out the car so you can change my title. Finally!

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[bpthirteen]

I just got this info from Score.

Group 1 will start at 6:00 am with a car leaving every 30 seconds

Starting order : (3 laps) 10, SL(12), 5, 1/2-1600, 3, 5-1600, 9

(2 laps) 11, SPT

Group 2 will start at 8:00 am with a car leaving every 30 seconds

Starting order : (3 laps) TT, 1, PT, 8, 7, 7S, 7SX

(2 laps) SF, SM

8-hour time limit for all classes


I guess the slower group 1 cars are going to be looking in the rear view mirror all day. How long before the Trophy Trucks start catching them?

[Gabe_Lara]

Brandon,

I read that on the SCORE site as well...
Starting the slower vehicles first just doesn't seem right to me either.

-Gabe

[Kritter]

probably because more people will come to a start line to spectate at 8 rather then 6...If I was in group 2 I would be pissed...

I still dont understand why they dont switch henderson and laughlin...so many more people would attend as spectators and so many new people would attend laughlin by accident if the dates were swtiched. Laughlin in the winter, henderson in the summer is backasswards.

[JrSyko]

I think that Laughlin wants to be the "first race of the year". Kinda like kicking off the season. I agree with you though, they should switch it. Has anybody ever made a formal inquiry?

[erikh]

If the slower cars start first, 2 hours ahead of the first TT, and it's roughly an 80 mile loop, won't they be at least half way around the first lap? Better to have a forty mile gap than start behind the faster cars where a TT could be on the slower cars from the get go. Meaning, a TT would probably be finishing the first lap right before or after the Group A guys are getting off the line. So you could have current race traffic blowing by cars that haven't even gotten off the start line.

But, what do I know?

erik

[martininsocal]

HDRA used to do this at Barstow for the Fireworks race years ago. The idea was that the classes would finish about the same time. It worked back then, but lap requirements were different. On any loop race, folks have to watch the mirror anyway. Advantage, the slow guys may be getting to start line when folks are still there to cheer!

[Henderson_CVB]

Great discussion.

I would like to explain the theory because it is different.

If you start the slower cars first, at 30 miles per hour (based on last year’s average), it will take 2.5 to 2.6 hours to complete a lap. With a 2-hour lead, they will only be passed once if they don't have problems, possibly twice if they are running 3 laps.

If you start in the normal starting order of all cars at 30 seconds apart, a TT and Class 1 will pass that same vehicles all 3 laps.

Also, as someone stated before, it adds to the spectator element. By 8 am it should be non-stop.

It may not work and we may never do it again, but with all other types of racing, spectators drive the money to the sport (such as sponsors and television). As you all know it's not an easy sport to watch and we would like to try new things that will grow the fan base.

[Kritter]

"we would like to try new things that will grow the fan base."

Laughlin has the highest visitor rate in July....you want specatotors and new blood...thats when the race should be held there. Laughlin is packed with racers in the winter who come for the race...not vacationers who could get hooked!

Henderson in the summer...125 degrees...from the outside looking in does not sound like fun. Ask somebody who knows nothing about desert racing and see if they would go sit in Africa heat to watch the race...the most common answer is no (i asked), but if you add in casinos, river, boating within rock throwing distance...you got more chance to get them there...

[Will_Higman]

What about the Class 10 cars? Last year the top guys in our class averaged 45-50 MPH that puts us starting just ahead of the TT's. If we don't average the 45 MPH then it puts us right behind the slower truck classes. Either way this is set up to fail. It would be best to start everyone in the normal fashion or split it into two separate races like Primm.

My .02
Will Higman