attention NHRA and IHRA Where have all the class racers gone

[Alex Denysenko]

In case you haven't noticed NHRA and IHRA, we the S/SS RACERS are dropping like flies either due to death or debilitating illness and we are not replacing ourselves. Even son and daughter legacy racers are diminishing in frequency. I cringe before logging onto Class racer fearing there is another new R.I.P. or prayers needed thread about a dead or sick class racer. Don't you NHRA and IHRA, ever ask yourselves why there is hardly any new blood coming into our ranks? Or how come there are so many die hard veteran class racers who are quitting or remain parked?
It isn't only about the financial expense, which is substantial. It is more about the"fun factor" and rewards which you, the sanctioning bodies combined, have managed to take away from class racing by constantly changing the rules and/or adding "enhancements". No racing for class at all anymore in IHRA and no class win money reward or any recognition to speak of from either sanctioning body. How about eliminating divisions altogether in the case of IHRA. This plus increasing our expenses in some way shape or form every year without increasing our compensation. I don't think that the NHRA S/SS pay outs have changed since 1980 Why does NHRA find it necessary to continue adding classes at LODRS events the new index class car counts are nothing to write home about and just how many more fans have snowmobiles put in the stands? IHRA isn't much better these days seemingly following NHRA's lead at every opportunity raising fees and expenses. And how about those cheesy $2.00 plaque's when we did have class racing in IHRA? Why couldn't we get one of those iron persons for a IHRA class win? I'm still not certain of the sex of the new ones. LOL
Ok, NHRA and IHRA - are you hoping we just die off and fade away? The Detroit manufacturers are deeply involved in Class Racing now with the new muscle, but where will the drivers of these cars come from if there aren't veterans to guide them?