NHRA in Australia for next year?

#31 09-05-2007, 09:45 AM

Although I would love it to happen. I think that the logistics of the deal would be too great to overcome.

You are looking at cars, tools, how many engines, spare chassis and bodies... that is a LOT of gear and a lot of 747's. Maybe they could run a fleet of Antonov's over!!

If it were to happen, it would have to be scheduled with a one week break either side.

#32 09-05-2007, 10:20 AM

Formula cars do it all the time and their operations dwarf a NHRA teams!

I agree the logistics don't work but if they brought just what they needed and none of the hospitality stuff of motorhomes etc it would greatly reduce the load.

I think Australia is better than Mexico as far as a fan base!

#33 09-05-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Korreck

Didn't forget Karl. John was racing Gary in match races. And I think Gary lived there. Gary had to keep John's car running because John didn't have the knowledge to keep it repaired. I got that from Force himself.

I could be wrong about Gary living there and I tried to Google it but didn't see anything.

Hey Bob, I'm well aware that John Force has raced in OZ as that is where he actually cut his teeth so to speak and Gary Densham was HIS teacher. I've read all about their escapades "down under" and I'm pretty sure Gary Densham was NOT living in Australia but rather went there on a several weeks or months match racing eschedule back in the 70's. I also realize that the Kalitta's have raced down there during the Winter break for several years now, and typically in a car they sold to and shipped to one of the racers down there. None of that was done on a tight schedule where there was hardly any time to get to-and-from in a 2 week timespan and obviously flying would be the ONLY way to get everything there. Just makes very little sense unless the travel expenses were underwritten by someone besides the teams and then there would HAVE TO be open weeks on either side of the event down there.

#34 09-05-2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Pellegrini

Formula cars do it all the time and their operations dwarf a NHRA teams!

And so do thier budgets

#35 09-05-2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny Miller

And so do thier budgets

LOL yeah, that's an understatement. Let's put it this way, you could run at least 10 TF cars on Michael Schumacher's salary alone (the last year he drove it was $50 million). You could literally run an entire field of TF, FC, PS, and PSB and have a couple HUNDRED MILLION left over on a typical F1 budget.

Besides, I heard a rumor that the race after Indy is going to be much closer to home than Australia.

#36 09-06-2007, 03:47 PM

IMHO, the only way 8 T/F teams could go to Aussieland during the season is to either have a spare car that is sent ahead of time (with tools, spares, etc) or borrow an existing car down there. Another consideration is that during the summer for us, it's their winter. Not the best time to go. Our guys usually went in December/January during their summer, our downtime. And likewise, the Sprint car guys from there come here during their winter there. When our guys used to go down there, they would crate up the cars & equipment right after the World Finals. They generally didn't have them back until after the Winternationals. With all that's involved in getting the equipment and crews back & forth, I just can't believe this is feasible.

#37 09-07-2007, 12:13 PM

I say we race in Oz in February and call it the Summer Nationals.

It CAN be done, all it would take is a bunch of Conrad's 747s and/or multiple trips. Run Oz the last weekend of January or the first weekend of February, then come home and run Pomona last weekend of February and Phoenix the next weekend. Then run the rest of the schedule as normal. The only question is who pays Conrad for the freight? There are no free rides ....

If it did ever happen, I would book my ticket the day of the announcement. I have been itching to go to Oz anyway, this would be the icing on the cake.

#38 09-07-2007, 12:57 PM

My brother Jim has done it two years in a row for Christmas and it is a lot of work to go there. The already had cars down there so there was no need to ship anything. The problem is that you go to the other side of the world and all they do is work! It would be fine if there was a 1 week break before and after the race so they can at least enjoy the trip!

#39 09-07-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Cook

I say we race in Oz in February and call it the Summer Nationals.

It CAN be done, all it would take is a bunch of Conrad's 747s and/or multiple trips. Run Oz the last weekend of January or the first weekend of February, then come home and run Pomona last weekend of February and Phoenix the next weekend. Then run the rest of the schedule as normal. The only question is who pays Conrad for the freight? There are no free rides ....

If it did ever happen, I would book my ticket the day of the announcement. I have been itching to go to Oz anyway, this would be the icing on the cake.

Sure it can happen, but at what cost? And how many sponsors would pony up? Not Many I bet...

#40 09-07-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Sherwood

Sure it can happen, but at what cost? And how many sponsors would pony up? Not Many I bet...

Just call Tony George to see how much it cost to ship the IRL to Japan for 1 race. Then put together a business plan, consult with air carriers, etc. Get some up front financial commitment from the Aussies, or exchange the title rights to the race for the shipping expense (or a significant percentage thereof). Someone in Oz will pony up to be the title rights sponsor, WSID would kick in some capital (they will make it back just in concessions over 3 days most likely).

Like I said, it CAN be done, it just takes a little more vision and leg work to put together than Compton's Crew are willing to do, so the Aussies are going to have to make the first move to get Compton's attention.

I personally don't think it will happen, but I would love to see it, and I would go to see it.

#41 09-07-2007, 04:03 PM

I'd go too

Mark.

#42 09-07-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Cook

Just call Tony George to see how much it cost to ship the IRL to Japan for 1 race. Then put together a business plan, consult with air carriers, etc. Get some up front financial commitment from the Aussies, or exchange the title rights to the race for the shipping expense (or a significant percentage thereof). Someone in Oz will pony up to be the title rights sponsor, WSID would kick in some capital (they will make it back just in concessions over 3 days most likely).

Like I said, it CAN be done, it just takes a little more vision and leg work to put together than Compton's Crew are willing to do, so the Aussies are going to have to make the first move to get Compton's attention.

I personally don't think it will happen, but I would love to see it, and I would go to see it.

Well if any other Country deserves an NHRA race, it's Aussieland! IT seems every race I attend I meet someone from Down under who spent Boo coo Bucks getting here!

#43 09-07-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald McDornan

I agree with Bobby, though it certainly is possible logistics wise. We ship our entire 32-car V8 Supercar Series (read, road race versions of NASCARs) offshore twice a year to New Zealand and Bahrain (going there again at the end of next month). Two jumbo jets get packed with all cars and spares. It's a huge job, but possible.

A problem in doing this is that the fields would probably be just eight cars:

- Australian Pro Stock runs an entirely different formula (400 cube engines)
- shortage of Australian Funny Cars and maybe one would comply with NHRA rules
- Very few Australian Top Fuel cars comply to NHRA rules (most run 90%, SFI compliment of components, etc).

While I may prove to be wrong, I don't think WSID will happen, its possibly more of an opportunistic grab to get some positive PR with all of the negativity down here at the moment.

One thing's for sure, if they were to get the round WSID would have to improve on making results available, having stepped back pre 1995 with their event on the weekend.................................

Oh, and Bobby, good luck on becoming President!

As I said above, we ship our V8 Supercars (32 cars) via airfreight twice a year - began in 2005 with a race in China - check out the gallery V8 Supercars airfreight and another here

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