Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

Isn't this what we've spent several pages debating? What the Sportsman side has to offer, especially from a presentation/marketing perspective?

Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

Yes, it is. What does "splitting" the pro program and the Sportsman program as they exist now have to do with who is old?!?

Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

It had to happen Ed Wright or the sport would have been long gone.....It was on life support right before Bracket racing took off...….

IMHO there is no way the Pros and Sportsman can be split other than we no longer are included in National events other than maybe a couple sportsman only events....and maybe one to decide National Champs.....

Division Champs + maybe a few more positions race for the National title..

Drag racing as it was in the past is never going to happen and there's no way it could be like it was in the past....

Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

Those people are more likely to be longing for the glory days of yesteryear when there was an insatiable thirst for drag racing-based entertainment.

Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

Very true. But as far as "they" are concerned, we're all green, paying for the privilege of playing in their sandbox. Divisional ads usually focus on alcohol cars and maybe the booked in show if they have one. At a national event, do they really care if spectators still in the stands after the fuel cars are done have a preference?

While we're talking about TV ads, why does NHRA have fuel cars blowing up and crashing as the attention grabbers in their ads, when they clearly see that as a bad thing and are proactively trying to limit the frequency of that happening? Is that what the casual fan hopes to see when he buys his ticket.

Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

Yup.

Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

Before I started trying to race again, I would go to close by National events to watch my long time friend Mike Edwards. I was surprised to see the stands empty when the fuel cars finished a round. I learned to wait behind the stands for them to empty, and go find a good seat. I asked a couple of guys leaving why they don't stay to watch Pro Stock? Both said "Too boring".

Had a good seat for Pro Stock, Comp & SS. I personally won't suffer through the fuel cars.

Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

Yes I'm old, older than some here not as old as others. What I'm not is living in the past longing for the good old days of the NHRA. The good old days are right now! I live in the present, adapt to change and play the game. I'm having a great time racing with my son. I don't care about fans, clearly don't care about payouts what I care about is WINNING that is the reason why we do this.

Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

Mark I would sell it as the greatest car show on earth. Drag racing. Get a shot of all the sportsman car lined up with each other. Showing some of the old iron with some of the new. Then show 2 super stockers leaving the line wheels up. Any business I ever owned I had to market the hell out of it to make it successful. Certainly didn't turn one paying customer away. BP

Re: A subject for discussion on a winter's day.
 

To 1320. I can appreciate how you want to race not giving a crap really about the sport or the future of it. Let them crap on you and just keep doing your thing. That may be great for you but that's not how the majority of us sportsman racers want to race. I don't want to go back to the old days. I'm happy and accept changes. I just hate to get screwed by an organization that my support helped build the last 40 years. It's disheartening to watch how they have treated almost anyone they deem as not a big enough revenue stream. Like modify production, pro stock trucks, now pro stock and all the sponsors they have chased off. How do you stick it to VP after they have been with you all those years. It's all about short term money. Who ever has the deepest pockets that year. I have had several businesses over the last 40 years. All have been successful and their business model is not one that will have long term success. Some day they will need to go over those bridges they burnt. I race stock and the class cars still have a lot to offer to fans if just marketed the right way. BP