We’re not going to say that NHRA has all perfect tracks. There are some dives on that side and while we hear promises from certain ones they’ll fix the place, nothing happens and the NHRA declines to intervene.  

Our statement is each year the event comes to town, it’s as if this event is a complete surprise and all repairs and upgrades are made in the days prior and not the months as it should be.

We did not imply Bobby Lagana, Jr. was low. We implied when a good natured racer that never complains such as Lagana does so then you have a problem. You read one thing and took it another.

By your own admission you say if the IHRA is unhappy about it, let them say something about. With all due respect, does that mean that we cannot have an opinion? If so, who do you speak for? – Editor

We’re not going to say that NHRA has all perfect tracks. There are some dives on that side and while we hear promises from certain ones they’ll fix the place, nothing happens and the NHRA declines to intervene.  

Our statement is each year the event comes to town, it’s as if this event is a complete surprise and all repairs and upgrades are made in the days prior and not the months as it should be.

We did not imply Bobby Lagana, Jr. was low. We implied when a good natured racer that never complains such as Lagana does so then you have a problem. You read one thing and took it another.

By your own admission you say if the IHRA is unhappy about it, let them say something about. With all due respect, does that mean that we cannot have an opinion? If so, who do you speak for? – Editor

We had to be towed out of the mud and grass in 2006.  This year, the pits were still all patched, we had to park on the grass, the rains caused all kinds of problems, and then water oozing up through the track to make it an 1/8th mile race is the final straw.  Add to that all the trouble at US Customs in both directions after following the instructions given to the racers makes it impossible to want to go back to Canada at all, especially this track - no motels close by, no decent restaurants close by, bad track, bad pits, expensive fuel in Canada, and the anguish of the US Customs. – Chuck Demory, Winfield, IL

This is a one sided and narrow minded view of a successful race.

As a local resident and long time competitor at TMP, I have seen many improvements at the track. Yes, we also complain and wish for more improvements, especially the pit area pavement repairs.

What you failed to photograph was the full to overflowing grandstands for both the afternoon and evening qualifying shows as well as those that stayed until 11:30 pm to watch the sportsman eliminations. These fans would have returned Sunday for the pro eliminations had it not been for the rain.

We have a strong and knowledgeable drag race fan base here in Canada and certainly hope to keep the IHRA national event here for a long time.

Don't just pick on TMP for track improvements. In my 30+ years of sportsman racing at both NHRA and IHRA national event tracks, I have seen many other tracks that have not put the effort into improvements that should have been done, especially for the sportsman racers.

For example, NHRA's Maple Grove Raceway has seen little in improvements for the sportsman racer in 30 years except for moving the return road to the opposite side of the track. It still has gravel roads to pits in a field.

Even at Indianapolis many sportsman racers are pitted further than the sand traps, then travel on grass or gravel roadways to get to the staging lanes.

Constructive criticism along with the sanctioning bodies working with the tracks will result in both better relations and improvements. - FJ Smith, Cayuga Ontario

Our view was not that the area was bad and race was unsuccessful, it is that racers and fans were made promises five years ago and those are largely unfulfilled. Every year, it’s the same wait until the last minute deal and half are not completed that are crucial. Other facilities were put under that same pressure and some complied and others didn’t. The ones who didn’t are no longer on the tour. This editorial had nothing to do with the quality of racing or crowds. It had everything to do with the quality of the stadium and the “locker rooms” – not the playing field.

I race at Toronto Motorsports track in Top Dragster and it never gets up graded or improved so I have to ask WHAT does IHRA do for or with our money because in the past when we racers call IHRA with safety concerns they just don’t get it or don’t seam to care, You should try racing there all year and bring a sponsor out to this dump! - Randy Caddell, Milton, Ontario

Over the years this track has had a lot of great racers race on this track, it has a lot of history many racers got a start there and I think its neat to race at, but if you look at places that take in families and offer entertainment it has got to be clean and user friendly much like Canada's Wonderland, Disney, Six Flags or any professional place to entertain, U.S. 131 , Norwalk , most NHRA/IHRA race tracks are nice, this sport needs to grow not stand still, NASCAR is strong and so should IHRA Drag Racing, maybe Toronto Motorsports needs help, is there some way to help them and not write negative stuff about the place. I have seen worst places. - Ron Shilling, Ontario, Canada .

We were there racing 2 weeks prior to the IHRA event (Canadian Street Car Nationals). This was the 1st time racing race at the track as a driver (3 years before as a crew member). I have to state the starting line was fantastic as the traction was there. BUT the pits were the same as they were 3 years ago. The improvements that they were talking about back then to the area did not seem to be there with the exception of the washrooms and concession stand, My biggest complaint is the sound system, I had heard that they were going to install more speakers and upgrade the system, that was/is not the case, the asphalt is still coming up in chunks. I hope that IHRA will be able to convince them that the pit area has to be cleaned up. - Bob Burton, Ottawa Ont. Canada

I do not agree with some of the comments made in this, what you would call an editorial of TMP.  I have lived in Cayuga most of my life and have been going to and racing at this track for more than 30 years and to say that they have not improved is a bold face lie.  Our quarter mile track is second to none in the country.  As far as the pits are concerned I have been to other tracks where all you had to park on is dirt and gravel.  The fact that this track has survived for more than fifty years speaks for itself.  I am sure when the IHRA goes to other venues there is much of the same prep work required for such an event.  I wonder if the NHRA would have as much of a problem with our track as the IHRA. As always we look forward to the show every year and agree that TMP needs more improvements but it is not the garbage you’ve described in your article. - Susan DeAngelis, Cayuga Ontario Canada

You’re totally right, that place could be the best drag strip in Canada if some one takes it to the next level. - Joe Boniferro, Niagara Falls

As a Canadian and a huge Drag race fan who follows NHRA & IHRA at least two hours a day every day of the week by way of the internet, it makes me sick to my stomach if this is what we up here are providing to our brothers from the south. But not only to you pros but to all of our own people who flock there to race whenever they can because it is so close to our largest provincial city (Toronto). I will be honest and admit that even though I am only an hour from this track, the last time I was there was in 1981 when the brother-in-law and I decided to drive my 72 (396)Nova to the track, take off the mufflers and see what she could do. The reason that I was so shocked by your article is that I actually know quite a few local guys still in the game but have never heard from them, any comment about the disrepair of the complex. I guess being weekend warriors, all they care about is getting their cars to go down the track, but obviously there are standards that have to be met to bring the top organizations in, that people love to see. This combined with what I have heard regarding border hassles that teams are receiving this year combine to make me sick and make me feel a little less proud of my heritage. I can imagine how it must make our own Canadian group of racers who compete in both organizations south of the border feel. I do not know if the situation is the same for the tracks out west or the one in Grand Bend, but as a rabid fan of the sport, why give them another stay of execution. Pull the plug and tell them to call when they have a world class facility to offer. - Charles Lamb, Brampton Ontario Canada

Without slinging stones, I find it hard to fault some of your concerns however I have to ask if you were at the event? It is easy to criticize anything, but were you wearing the shoes of IHRA, or a fan, or a sportsman competitor, or a touring pro? I was in attendance at both Milan and Cayuga and experienced conditions that were very similar. Fact is the sportsman pits are much better at Cayuga than at Milan. I am not faulting the Milan facility, but it was just the way it was, period. I believe that your editorial borders on grandstanding, while you raise some valid issues, the IHRA has not shown the entrants or the spectators how good "they" can truly be. I witnessed confusion at the racers entrance bordering on stupidity(at both races!), and complete ignorance in regards to special passes (purchased) as well as extreme waits for e ticket confirmations. I am sure issues come to light at almost every event and it is the management of the problems and the swiftness of solutions that save the day.

I enjoy racing IHRA and value my relationships with all the racers, and the IHRA personnel that I have met over the last few years. I agree that TMP has some issues, but also point out so do many of the member tracks. It is easy to fault, and say we won’t come back, but look at the market that you suggest the IHRA turn their back on. If you were truly concerned, your editorial would have offered solutions, or suggestions. Perhaps further than that you could have called the management and or owner, and discussed with them the unhappiness of those you talked to. - Venice Perno, Stoney Creek, ON

TMP is my home track for weekly bracket races, so as I’m sure most racers feel there is an attachment to their stomping grounds. I feel quite ashamed and disappointed after reading the article about the track. I wish I could argue with any of the points that were made but I simply can't. - Ross Booker, Hamilton Ontario

Dead-on with a zero! This place will never change until it is sold and the current owner (Bieri) is gone.

Some of that asphalt in the pits dates back to when John Fletcher owned the facility. The promises about repaving go back to the early 90s.

The washrooms look nice until you want to have a shower...say, on Saturday of the National Event, then there is no water to speak of. The other nice feature is the nice smell that surrounds the washrooms on a regular basis.

IHRA needs to give them a date to fix the long list of upgrades by early spring and plan to yank the National Event, if the work hasn't met that milestone.

I compete at Grand Bend on a regular basis because they do make improvements and provide a safe racing facility.

Under the bus TMP...- Rob Laing, Moffat, Ontario

I totally agree with you...........I used to go to Mid-Michigan for the Northern Nat's and IHRA pulled the plug because it wasn't up to par. They should do the same thing with Cayuga. Our home track is Grand Bend and they invest heavily every year to maintain and update/improve the facility. It isn't fair to them that they do things right and Toronto" does not. It's all about Toronto, Toronto, Toronto. The whole province hears this all the time. The same rules should apply to all tracks regardless. - Bob Mencel, Kincardine, Ontario, Canada