Richmond Timetable
 

At the risk of looking really, really stupid, can anyone point me in the direction of a timetable for Richmond? :kookoo Looking for what time gates open, what time sprints practice, qualify, etc. Cannot locate any info in USAC site or RIR site. Normally, it can be found on the entry form on USAC's site, but since it's recent update, I can no longer find it. Don't think it's there anymore. I'm sure they'll have something for us when we get there, but that doesn't do the fans any good.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Originally Posted by Honest-Sam:
At the risk of looking really, really stupid, can anyone point me in the direction of a timetable for Richmond? :kookoo Looking for what time gates open, what time sprints practice, qualify, etc. Cannot locate any info in USAC site or RIR site. Normally, it can be found on the entry form on USAC's site, but since it's recent update, I can no longer find it. Don't think it's there anymore. I'm sure they'll have something for us when we get there, but that doesn't do the fans any good.

I found this on the RIR site: http://www.rir.com/news/track_news/546913.html

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

I was right. I feel really stupid.

Thanks.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Originally Posted by Honest-Sam:
I was right. I feel really stupid.

Thanks.

Don't feel bad. I had to go back to the website twice before I found it:kookoo.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Don't you think that such information should be easier to access? Don't get me wrong, as a participant, I expect a certain amount of change to the schedule etc., but how do our fans know what time things get underway. According to ALKYMADNESS, there has been a lack of promotion for the event in the Richmond area, so how would anyone know without a lot of searching. Maybe for those who do have tickets, it's printed on the face. I don't know.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Originally Posted by Honest-Sam:
Don't you think that such information should be easier to access? Don't get me wrong, as a participant, I expect a certain amount of change to the schedule etc., but how do our fans know what time things get underway. According to ALKYMADNESS, there has been a lack of promotion for the event in the Richmond area, so how would anyone know without a lot of searching. Maybe for those who do have tickets, it's printed on the face. I don't know.

I heard that IndyCar sent some drivers ahead of time there to do PR work (press conference, newspapers, TV interviews, etc.). Maybe USAC could make an agreement with IndyCar to have some drivers tag along with them.

I haven't been to Richmond in three or four years. I went for the first time in the mid nineties before IRL when they ran USAC only. I saw back then little promotion and yet about 20,000 fans showed up. If they had only promoted more....who knows. I recall thoughts of them trying to make Richmond the "Copper Classic of the East". Hmmm...

I say let's give the new USAC regime a chance to make some things happen. They have a great product, they just need to sell it, sell it, sell it.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

My fingers are crossed:thumb

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

The race that was held back in the 90's (probably the Silver Crown event that Jimmy Sills won along with the midgets) was promoted thru out the area.

I remember ads in the Greensboro and Raleigh newspapers as well as local racing papers and magazines. I believe they also had radio ads on the Roanoke area rock stations.

There was a great car count for both the SC and midgets (I believe the midget event was won by Kenny Irwin over his team mate, Tony Stewart).

However, I later read where Richmond felt they did not get the fan turn out they expected for the advertising budget spent and decided against any future open wheel races (until IRL came along). I think they actually said the crowd was ~12,000 people and that doesn't look like much in a stadium that held about 70,000.
You've got to remember that this was in the hey day growth period for NASCAR when they couldn't get enough seats. Anything that didn't pack the stands like NASCAR was deemed a failure.

There were a lot of tix given away in Richmond area promotions to NASCAR fans who did not care for the USAC style. These are the people that the track listened to.

Even when IRL first started at RIR, the Friday support race was the NASCAR modifieds. Those shows were very successful and drew a lot of fans from the Northeast. I was surprised when they changed over to USAC, but I believe Tony and the IRL had something to do with that.

Since the 90's, the Sawyer family sold RIR to ISC. The Sawyers then bought the old Saluda dirt track (about 45miles east of Richmond) and converted it to the state-of-the-art Virginia Motor Speedway. This is where USAC needs to race at. This is the family that knew how to promote USAC in the 90's and drew 12,000. That would be a major sell-out at VMS. And VMS has a great clay surface and puts on the best racing in VA/NC. The facility is just as good as Lowes and you can actually race there. Last year, the Sawyers introduced a 305w class to try and help grow sprint car racing in the area. They had a great turn out for the Outlaws a few weeks ago. The track is big and wide. Silver Crown would have no trouble running there.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Originally Posted by AlkyMadness:
The race that was held back in the 90's (probably the Silver Crown event that Jimmy Sills won along with the midgets) was promoted thru out the area.

I remember ads in the Greensboro and Raleigh newspapers as well as local racing papers and magazines. I believe they also had radio ads on the Roanoke area rock stations.

There was a great car count for both the SC and midgets (I believe the midget event was won by Kenny Irwin over his team mate, Tony Stewart).

However, I later read where Richmond felt they did not get the fan turn out they expected for the advertising budget spent and decided against any future open wheel races (until IRL came along). I think they actually said the crowd was ~12,000 people and that doesn't look like much in a stadium that held about 70,000.
You've got to remember that this was in the hey day growth period for NASCAR when they couldn't get enough seats. Anything that didn't pack the stands like NASCAR was deemed a failure.

There were a lot of tix given away in Richmond area promotions to NASCAR fans who did not care for the USAC style. These are the people that the track listened to.

Even when IRL first started at RIR, the Friday support race was the NASCAR modifieds. Those shows were very successful and drew a lot of fans from the Northeast. I was surprised when they changed over to USAC, but I believe Tony and the IRL had something to do with that.

Since the 90's, the Sawyer family sold RIR to ISC. The Sawyers then bought the old Saluda dirt track (about 45miles east of Richmond) and converted it to the state-of-the-art Virginia Motor Speedway. This is where USAC needs to race at. This is the family that knew how to promote USAC in the 90's and drew 12,000. That would be a major sell-out at VMS. And VMS has a great clay surface and puts on the best racing in VA/NC. The facility is just as good as Lowes and you can actually race there. Last year, the Sawyers introduced a 305w class to try and help grow sprint car racing in the area. They had a great turn out for the Outlaws a few weeks ago. The track is big and wide. Silver Crown would have no trouble running there.

I was at RIR for USAC in '95 & '96. Sills won one year and Hewitt won the other in SC. I don't recall the midget winners, so you may be right. I do recall Tracy Hines midget (owned by Corky Wheeler?) backed into the wall and it burned to the ground because the RIR fire crew didn't know what to do with methanol. Tracy got some minor burns. He borrowed Chuck Leary's midget and won the following week at Winchester, his first national midget victory IIRC.

I am pretty sure that one of those years I remember hearing over the PA that they announced the attendance at 20,000.

I guess the Sawyer family was pretty impatient, giving up after only two years of trying. That kind of success doesn't happen instantly.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

The Hines midget fire was the year that Sills won Silver Crown. That was a scary deal coming out of turn2.

As far as the Sawyer's, I can't fault them. Remember, a lot of those tix were freebies in the area. And, now I remember that the promotion was thru Skoal.

I do remember that they lost money and were not willing to keep trying without a corporate sponsor. Remember, that's the fairground and you have to get everything okayed by the fair board and you have to bring so much profit to their plate every tiime you run a race there. And pay fairground staff for parking, clean-up, etc. It wasn't a privately owned/operated deal. Strings attached.

That's why I heavily support/promote the Sawyer's latest venture, VMS. They do it right there.

Side story: a few weeks ago, I went to VMS for a MACS dirt late model show. Weather looked borderline, but the forecast was for showers to move in around 11-12. So, I made the trip. Got their in time to buy my $22 ticket (after using the $3 coupon I downloaded from their website) to see the end of time trials. The first two heats ran and then here come the ugly swirling storm clouds. BAM. The storm was bad and they had everyone get out of the stands and take shelter underneath. They planned on finishing the show. Then it got worse. Probably had 2-3 inches of rain in 30minutes. Track was a loss and lightning hit a power pole and killed all but the emergency generator lights.

Then they made the announcement that the show was cancelled. I figured I was out $22 because I wouldn't be able to make it back for the rain date/check. Instead, Sawyer gave everyone the MONEY BACK!!! I was amazed. How many promoters give money back after the racing has already started?

Again, Sawyer's are nothing but first class. Best dirt track in the mid-Atlantic area.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

A huge 10-4 on VMS, Alky. Went there a few years ago while at Richmond for USCS race, Kenny Adams, Terry Gray and the gang. Outstanding facility.

Next day I asked Rollie Helmsley about adding a date at VMS for the USAC guys. He was, of course, non-commital.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Originally Posted by AlkyMadness:
The Hines midget fire was the year that Sills won Silver Crown. That was a scary deal coming out of turn2.

As far as the Sawyer's, I can't fault them. Remember, a lot of those tix were freebies in the area. And, now I remember that the promotion was thru Skoal.

I do remember that they lost money and were not willing to keep trying without a corporate sponsor. Remember, that's the fairground and you have to get everything okayed by the fair board and you have to bring so much profit to their plate every tiime you run a race there. And pay fairground staff for parking, clean-up, etc. It wasn't a privately owned/operated deal. Strings attached.

That's why I heavily support/promote the Sawyer's latest venture, VMS. They do it right there.

Side story: a few weeks ago, I went to VMS for a MACS dirt late model show. Weather looked borderline, but the forecast was for showers to move in around 11-12. So, I made the trip. Got their in time to buy my $22 ticket (after using the $3 coupon I downloaded from their website) to see the end of time trials. The first two heats ran and then here come the ugly swirling storm clouds. BAM. The storm was bad and they had everyone get out of the stands and take shelter underneath. They planned on finishing the show. Then it got worse. Probably had 2-3 inches of rain in 30minutes. Track was a loss and lightning hit a power pole and killed all but the emergency generator lights.

Then they made the announcement that the show was cancelled. I figured I was out $22 because I wouldn't be able to make it back for the rain date/check. Instead, Sawyer gave everyone the MONEY BACK!!! I was amazed. How many promoters give money back after the racing has already started?

Again, Sawyer's are nothing but first class. Best dirt track in the mid-Atlantic area.

They did the same for all the competitors too. All entry fees were refunded. You probably woulda seen me up there, Alky, but I never made it up to the stands before the rains came. (I did get some pictures up on www.luvracin.com though, including a couple of the deluge.

)

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

For those of us that can't make Richmond maybe this will help!!

The USAC K&N Silver Crown Series and National Sprint Car Series are racing Friday and Saturday along with the IndyCar Series at Richmond International Raceway, and live streaming video of USAC action will be provided FREE exclusively on indy500.com! Watch all the excitement from practice, qualifying and the feature races from the fast oval at RIR.

http://www.indy500.com/

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Thanks Lisa!!....bout to send a text...but I'll do this ....Hope things are better..........Brucer'

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Thanks, Lisa!

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Thanks for the info. I can't make it to Richmond this weekend so this will really help. Also, I see on weather.com that it's supposed to be 102 degrees on Friday afternoon at 3pm. Damn!!

Larry (VaDirt), I looked for you, but when the deluge hit I figured you'd slipped out from the pitside and headed home. I checked out the photos you posted and you can tell it was coming down.

By the way, how close were you to that late model that flipped end over end going into turn3? I see you got some of the "after" photos.

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Originally Posted by midgy:
For those of us that can't make Richmond maybe this will help!!

The USAC K&N Silver Crown Series and National Sprint Car Series are racing Friday and Saturday along with the IndyCar Series at Richmond International Raceway, and live streaming video of USAC action will be provided FREE exclusively on indy500.com! Watch all the excitement from practice, qualifying and the feature races from the fast oval at RIR.

http://www.indy500.com/

Fantastic! Thanks for the info!

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

http://www.indycar.com/schedule/pdf/...d_schedule.pdf

http://www.rir.com/news/track_news/546913.html

theres 2 schedules for you, Sam, we heard you were scheduled for a 2 seater indy car ride this afternoon, I volunteered to drive for you too!

The weather is very hot, all the indy teams loaded in this morning first thing.

Haulers that are in line: USAC's, Hoosier Tire, RFMS-Fike, WBR-us, Marietta and Keith Kunz just pulled in. Hoping (praying) for a good car count:thumb

Re: Richmond Timetable
 

Originally Posted by AlkyMadness:
Thanks for the info. I can't make it to Richmond this weekend so this will really help. Also, I see on weather.com that it's supposed to be 102 degrees on Friday afternoon at 3pm. Damn!!

Larry (VaDirt), I looked for you, but when the deluge hit I figured you'd slipped out from the pitside and headed home. I checked out the photos you posted and you can tell it was coming down.

By the way, how close were you to that late model that flipped end over end going into turn3? I see you got some of the "after" photos.

I was right there in the turn three stands. Felt for his young daughter though, because it happened rihgt in front of her. The officials were really good about telling her that he was OK, but she was right there with tears in her eyes. until she saw him get out and walk around.

103? Damn! I'll be there in the pits taking pictures for LuvRacing. Guess I'll be drinking a lot of water!