Run N Gun Survey and Questions: Please Take a Minute

[Clois Harlan]

The question keeps coming up about moving Run n Gun Event to different tracks so here is a couple questions and a poll:

1. What facility would you like to see Run N Gun at in the future (name your track)?

2. Since very few tracks can accomodate all challenge venues which are most important to you?

[mr bruce]

http://www.beaverun.com/

[RICK LAKE]

Clois Harlan Hard question. Gateway has been GREAT to this event for many years. They have been VERY EASY to work with. Even when we have had a FULL MOON and done some REAL STUPID things on and off the track they have looked the other way, giving you a mulligan and get you get back on the track. SAFETY is number one for this event, everything else is second. I like to think it is the great people and fun you have over the 3 days and how everyone trys to help each other in maken better drivers, better handling cars( Thanks Morris ) better and stronger motors, ( Thanks to Keith Craft and George Anderson and others), getting parts at great prices ( Brent B.) and the long term friendships over the years.
Dan and Tim are great people and it's hard to say it's time. I am ready for a track change to another one. I liked the Mid-Ohio R&G, the road course was big and fast. I didn't race on this one. We didn't have autocross at this track. Parking lot was not that big and alot of dirt there.
If I had a choice and it is another 200 miles more for me to go to each way, I would like to race on the new MPH track in Neb or Mid America one. This one is a little more travelling to me. I solo drive and am not getting any younger. I am looking to buy this year a new enclosed trailer so I don't have to rap up my car after racing. for the long drive home.
I don't know how many more years I will be racing the car, at lease a couple more. I would like to go to MPH next year. That's my vote for next year. 1 Question, How hard are the safety issues going to be ENFORCED?? Other tracks are not going to be as leanent as Gateway. Wearing the correct and updated clothing, the correct and updated helmets,( this means Nomex not motorcycle helmets) padded roll bars, and other small infractions that happen every year. Other track will sit you out for a day with a safety infraction, no ands, ifs or butts.
Speed at St Lious on the roadcourse is about for most cars inthe 130's to 135 mph coming down the front stretch. Pro's are faster in the 140's and low 150's. Again talking pros. There is no real run off areas at St Lious off the front stretch but to go around the outside of the track which I do every year and like this. Car is happier too. Going to another larger track is going to increase the speeds, if there are larger run off areas or corn fields thats great. Most of the guys racing here are limited drivers with BASIC driving skills, like myself. In my 18+ years of going to R&G no major accident where someone was killed or permaniently hurt. I would like this to continue in the future. I know speed kills, I wouldn't want to see this happen at this event ever. This would have me stop racing and sell my car and do something else like boating.
My vote is for MPH next year or Mid America. I would like to see an east coast event at Millville NJ or VIR some time. Both have 2 different road courses. There are others. Rick L.

[Clois Harlan]

Each year we get questions from several parts of the country wanting to know if Run N Gun will ever come closer to their area and I just thought there might be another venue that could support the different challenges we incorporate in RNG.

Rick,

You are right on with the hospitality that Gateway has shown us over the years and perhaps it is time for a spring RNG and a Fall RNG at oposite parts of the country. Right now I don't know if there will be 50 cars at RNG this year or 100. I would love to see RNG at one of the tracks closer to the coasts so we could grab some of the east and west coast drivers. Just think of the other tracks in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania,New York,Virginia, Georgia, Florida or California, Arizona, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, etc. The list goes on and on but only a few could or would host Run N Gun. One of the problems facing moving or having another event would be the front money for the event at a new track since many years ago we had some unscrupulous promoters that stiffed the tracks.

Along these same lines of thought would have to be the cost per participant. What is a fair price for three days of events? Lot's of things to consider. I just wanted some input from folks that might like to see RNG in their neck of the woods.

Clois Harlan

[Clois Harlan]

Mr. Bruce,

Beaver Run reminds me of Road America a little. It looks like a great facility. Have you ever had your Cobra on their track?

Clois

[mr bruce]

Clois, BeaveRun is a great track, real resonable on their rates too. the Shelby National Convention is there this year in August. Track got rave reviews fron the CrankyClub a few years back. Never run one of my snakes there , but I have had Mean Mr Cheetah there many times. I will be doing some track testing of the Griffith reproductions I'm working on this fall.

[PurpleVenom]

Although not opposed to traveling, I have no way of getting my car anywhere. I drove it to Gateway, then drove it on the track. For me, Gateway is good, but I could see some getting bored with the track and area. If it moves, and I'm involved with the event, it will be without my car, until I can find a trailer I guess. The other thing about St. Louis, it IS mid america. Mid america isn't in Iowa, Wisconsin, or Indiana. Missouri is halfway, St Louis is east of halfway. Maybe the East/West Coast drivers would attend, but isn't it good enough to attract the midwest drivers?

What about Putnam in Indy? I am not familiar with any other tracks, and can only speak to my experience here. I know there has been negotiations falling on deaf ears here, so, moving to another location might not be a bad idea.

As for the events, well, to me, my car is about handling, not 1/4 mile time. The drags were fun, and I'm a straight line person, but I did feel a bit uncomfortable at 119mph with concrete on both sides of me, in a short sleeved shirt no less. So, for safety reasons, I think the drags are way to hard on the people as well as the cars. On the RNG forum, I have solicited ideas there too. An interesting slalom idea came up.

[Clois Harlan]

I think Gateway has been great and the location is perfect. Each year we receive a dozen or so calls and emails and this year a couple of the manufacturers chimmed in as well.

Clois

[STL Mark]

Heartland Raceway Park in Topeka, KS

Putnam, just west of Indy.

Bluegrass Motorsports Park - Brand New Track - 20 minutes south of Cincinnati

[john chesnut]

I think that Gateway is great. It is a long drive for me but it's worth it. Every one I know like the Roadcourse and Auto Cross. More time on the Auto Cross would be great! I don't care about drag racing.

[vector1]

so why don't these people that want the same kind of event at different locations step up to the plate? you've done something that is comfortable for you and has worked well and is established, something people count on every year.

you start changing locations and the dates could likely change, prices will be higher the closer to the east and west coast, you will lose some locals but could possibly pick up others. are these same people who want the locations changed going to make the new venue, only if the dates work for them?

so every year you have to work at locating a new track, pricing, motel situations, rule changes, etc. people need to know ahead of time where the location is and dates to make arrangements.

is it worth it to you?

i could possibly see a spring run n gun at a different track, but my vote is to keep gateway.

of course, just an opinion.

[Clois Harlan]

There are no plans to scrap Gateway...it would be hard to find another Tim and Dan to work with us. Plus we finally have got some help from the St. Louis Cobra Club that was great last year. If you will notice our web site is now hosted by the St. Louis Cobra Club thanks to Mark Earls and his staff.

With all the emils and phone calls I just felt that there might be a venue out there that might work for another date (preferably Spring or Summer) and get some more people involved.

Don't shoot the messanger, I am just trying to apease some of the folks that have been asking questions.

Clois

[JKleiner]

Clois,
I became hooked as a first time participant last October, and have kept my calendar open for this year! I'd rank event importance to me as:
#1) road course, both timed and t&t
#2) autocross
#3) drags or some other straight line challenge such as 0-whatever-0 as has been mentioned. If we stayed with traditional drags I don't think you'd get much objection to going with a 1/8 mile format given the obvious safety concerns.

Being a Hoosier, needless to say staying in the Midwest gets my vote---ideally at Gateway. Putnam Park, Bluegrass, Mid-Ohio and Autobahn Country Club could be possibilities if a move from Gateway were to occur. Maybe the roadcourse and strip at O'Reilly Raceway Park (it will lways be Indianapolis Raceway Park to me!) also. Personally, as a competitor, I couldn't have been more pleased with Gateway; the track was interesting and well prepared and the staff was totally accomodating. One thing that is a huge plus for me is the garages. It is SOOO nice not having to load up/cover up/secure the cars at night. I don't think any of the other venues mentioned can offer that option.

Thanks for asking for our opinions and all that you and Dean do to make this event happen! If you guys ever need help with some part of the organization or planning all you need to do is post here and I'm sure you'll have plenty of volunteers!

Jeff

[BT SNAKE]

Clois,
You and Dean do an outstanding job of getting this event to where it is.
I personally would like a different track just for a change. However, because Dan and Tim do give a lot of lead way and work with you guys, I feel
it wouldn't be a good idea to try another track.
There were a bunch of first timers last year and I'm sure many of them will return.
I like the roadcoarse and the autocross. The drags I can take or leave. All are fun.
If there is anything I can do to help please let me know. I
wasn't much of a help last year. That first day I felt like crap.

Anyways, I do hope more of the folks on this forum try to make it. They
won't really know how cool it is unless they go and get their feet wet. As
hard as we try to describe the event, it just doesn't do it justice. You will make life long friends and learn all kinds of good stuff. Things like driving tips, suspension setup, and lots more. Plenty of pros around that are glad to help.

Hersh

[Clois Harlan]

Hersh,

Email me you telephone number I have been calling your old number!

Clois

[Mac VABCH]

Virginia International Raceway. www.virclub.com

[ROUSHAC]

Gateway is a great facility that has served us very well. The timed track time, test and tune autoX, and then drags would be my order of preference.

If Gateway says no to the 1/8 mile drags, someone mentioned on the Gateway Cobra Club Forum about possibly having a 200 foot timed acceleration and stop between the start/stop lines as another possibility that might work.

If Gateway says no to the drags in any form, and you just "gotta have one of those little slips of paper", there are plenty of dragstrips around all over the country that have test and tune days early in the season so that you can see what your car does. They may kick you out if you go under a certain time without what they feel is the proper safety equipment, so just do a few runs to practice your start and keep the terminal speed down. Then do one full blown run to get the slip with your time as they escort you off the track. (Not that I've ever done that myself, of course. )

I think that Gateway's central location and their experience with us is a VERY big plus. If you had it one year on the West Coast you would conceivably have to have it the next year on the "Right Coast" , and then maybe the Gulf Coast the next to "be fair". It may be a long trip for some of us, but to travel to the opposite coast would prevent a lot of us from making it back every year. It was a long drive for me, like John, but I enjoyed the trip there and back.

I guess what I'm trying to say is IMHO, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[PurpleVenom]

In case someone doesn't have the links for the RNG forum.

http://www.runngun.net
http://www.gatewaycobraclub.com/foru...splay.php?f=70

[1985 CCX]

New Hampshire Motor Speedway
http://www.nhms.com/
Great track which hosts two NASCAR events
Has a road course used by COM, BMW, Porsche, Audi and SCCA events
Seacoast venue
Manchester Airport as a hub
Great NE club support
GM is very motivated with events
45 Minutes from NE Dragway
Camping access

[Clois Harlan]

Thanks Jeff!

I had talked to one of our guys that comes to Run n Gun from NH that had mentioned that track. I would just love to come up to your state for a visit. That would be a good excuse.

Clois