Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Drag racing pays my bills. In 2008 83% of my business was drag racing. I have various hobbies, none of which include cars. When price hikes/economy cause my customers not to spend dollars with me then it is seen in my books. I'm still waiting for my stimulus as I'm the LAST one that gets paid at my shop. As of lately I am not being paid as well as in the past.
A car # costs nothing to produce and very little to keep track of. example: I keep bob weights and various clearances, differences, special specs on all work done in my shop. I never thought about it but I guess you can say that the cost of the administration of this is included with the price of the work. A chassis inspection takes about 30 mins.or less on S/SS cars. 150 bucks an hour at the old rate.....300 per hour at the new rate. And other than the presence of the sticker means absolutely nothing. example: During the winter I helped knock the side bars,kickers and rear braces out of a mild steel current chassis inspected car with an 8 lb. sledge hammer because the welds were so bad yet it passed and ran over 150 mph. Competition lisence has cost associated with it and I have no idea of the amount due to reviewing medical conditions, etc. I bear the brunt of the cost however, as I have to pay my Dr. for an appointment/ specific exam. Had to go to an opthamologist this time since my Dr. quit using eye charts. I don't really mind the Dr's. visit since it has found problems in some friends that they didn't know existed. I have several "memberships" that I pay on a regular basis. However, I have never been told that I couldn't come to a board meeting to state my feelings/disagreements on how the organization is being run. Any time a decision concerning membership was to be voted on I was notified by mail of when and where this would take place. Two of these are NFP organizations. Guess I don't really have a problem with membership fees increasing but I do know that 2 organizations that I belong to have lowered membership during this less than stellar economy that has been brought on us. I have a REAL problem with raising entry fees when payouts are rediculous compared to the expence involved. That, however, is OUR own fault for not doing something about this a long time ago. Contingency is stressed during a bad economy. Have they had any effort made to keep them from dropping out? example: Lowering the cost of being a contingency sponsor? In closing, I have neither lowered or raised my prices. I feel that I owe that to my long time customers and new prospective customers. I have purchased over 50K of equipment that I felt I needed in order to give my customers the best service available. Ouch.........but I don't do cheap work and I don't produce junk. That is the way a business is run..........well, honestly that is the way a business is supposed to be run but I'm sure some would argue about that. I am able to update and put money into my business in a bad market because I have managed my resources to the best of my ability in the past. Most racers I know are pretty good at managing their operations also. If a business is in financial trouble even in a bad economy I think it can be traced to poor management, poor personel, a lack of respect for its customer base and a total neglect of its product as has been shown with some really big corporations lately. By the way..............fuel prices are the biggest scam going these days and mainly to blame for a downturn in the over-all economy. Just my opinion. |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
NHRA only cares about making money with maintaining the status quo. Take the Pro Mod class for example. That is the most exciting class to watch right now in my opinion, has more personality with all of the different body styles and vintages, but they haven't done a single thing to make a full time National Event class. ADRL is successful and at the heart of their show is Pro Mod. Get rid of pro stock or update the rules, I am tired of seeing 09 GXP's racing against each other. It needs some variety with EFI or turbos, or lose the giant hood scoops.
|
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Quote:
|
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Quote:
I heard that you are so fantastically rich that you often have your car flown to the track to race and have the requisite tall beautiful blondes as your pit crew. I just wanted to talk to you about some swamp....er... land I have for sale down here in FL. LOL! What a collection of idiots, having money doesn't make a difference it's how bad do you want to race...if you don't like what the NHRA has done, go race with the IHRA, if you don't like them the bracket race and make more money than if you won an NHRA race, or nostalgia race and have fun...the object is to race and I don't believe any of you have a contract with the NHRA that doesn't allow you to race elsewhere . |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
treessavoy,
Send me some info, always looking for a good deal...... All kidding aside. This forum mirrors what many think in this country. Class warfare is constantly being waged. If you do well, you will be judge harshly even without knowing the facts. Some of the posts I have read are beyond belief. Making fun of the way people look, the nastiness to people that are successful. I feel sad that America has become a country of such hate for people that do well. The mentality that you are owed something, give me a break, you are owed nothing in this life, people get screwed all the time. learn from it, and do something about it. Everyone that is bitching about the price increases, have you never been screwed before? what did you do about it then?. I can not say this enough, if you pay for a service and the service is not what you expected, why would continually use that service. There are many places to race. If you dislike NHRA's treatment, do not support them. I understand why people are upset at the price increase, but instead of calling them names and constantly whining about its not right. Do something about it, don't sit on your *** and just complain. Write letters, organize, do something, not just ride this popular I hate the way NHRA treats me. Like treessavoy said, there are other places to race, practice what you preach. treessavoy, its nice to see there are a few members that have similar views. I wish the members would remember will all have a right to our opinion, even if we do not agree. We do not have to resort to name calling and disrespect each other. NHRA monitors this site, I think if we were more civil to each other and NHRA, we may have a better chance of them listening to us. Acting like a mob does us no good. |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
There are some really great remarks and opinions here and some that defend and sound like they are on the NHRA payroll. Seems Sportsman ranks always get the shaft. What gets my attention is when guys like Pat and Dan post their thoughts and facts. I agree with them and others and will support them 100%.
What I would like to see is a reply from NHRA on how they arrived upon their decision to ding the Sportsman. They could have asked the Pro show to pay the current rate increase that they so easily passed on to the Sportsman but we know that's not going to happen any time soon. Did NHRA cut out raises from the top and take any cuts? Can they have a Pro Show without the Sportsman racers? I don't think so. If they could it would have already happened. The only rollback I have heard is the oil down money and kids under twelve but as it appears they still got their money back. Are their more? I will mail and Email my questions to NHRA. Barry |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
I quit racing because of the cost. Ya, boo hoo for me. NHRA doesn't care about anything but the top 4 pro classes.
Without the racers there is no race. They don't care, they are in it for the money. It's just like religion and the government. Control and money. Sad... |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Quote:
|
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Quote:
|
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Ken, I never knew you were "RICH"
|
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Larry, I didn't know I was rich until JDG71 pointed out I was a rich a$$hole.
Man, I'm sure glad he is on this site, who would thought, I finally made it. |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Larry,
I saw him first....just as soon as the swamp dries....er....ground water evaporates I'll have his millions in my pocket.LOL! Ken, Thanks for the nice words but I was expressing my opinion as is my right, my grandfather, father and myself fought in different wars to ensure that Americans had that right. For the rest of you, you have the right to voice your opinion BUT you don't have the right to slander people in a public forum.....and that's what lawyer's and the court call it......Slander! Tree |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Hey Ken,
Where were you hiding that all girl crew at Atco? |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Yo Ken,
Hot damn, I know there must be shoe boxes buried in the back yard. Come clean, are you are the Atlantic City contingent in a prominent "family?" Care to share in your riches? Evan |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
NOBODY on this forum goes as fast as i do on LESS money... yeah im the one who can qualify in the top 10 and you can find me sleeping in the back of my suburban, in front of the 18 year old open trailer.
what the hell does that have to do with this thread... i run my own business, have two kids burning high tuition too... so i put a premium on spending my money, and NHRA gets way too much for what i cost them they have not raised the payout in my class for approximately 20 years, it used to cost $100 to run indy and paid $1500 to win... and i got to park within eyesight of the starting line (and more cars were entered). they take me for entry fees, memebership, permanent number, insurance, oil disposal, and whatever cut they get on fuel, tires etc i buy at the track. my entry alone WAY MORE than pays for what i can win from thier pocket... the rest is just burning my money paying thier salaries and rent. i would not have renewed my membership BUT PAT JOFFRION made me ... because i wanted to race at the only track where they give a **** about ME... NPR... im was thanked for coming, upon arrival, in tech, at the ET booth, and pat even went out of his way SEVERAL times to drop in and say thanks. i towed 1600+miles and happily paid to enter. so kenny youre right its not about the extra 300-400 it could cost ... its about what i get for my money ... and DAN youre right its about where and when we draw the line... id say unless we get some sanity restored they have drawn it for me...im not going to indy either ... been there 22 of last 30 years. jack mccarthy im just a poor boy trying to play a rich mans game |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Sending letters to NHRA is like pissing into the wind, the only way that they will change is if the bean counters see a significant difference in the money that doesn't come into pockets. It will have start within it's own accounting group when they scramble to pay bills. Crap will start flowing up hill!
Casey Miles 248H E/S (WAITING FOR CHANGES) |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
I didn't read every post but the concensus seems to be....it has to STOP. Same payout for two decades, more costs thrown to us sportsman racers.
Personally, I have a Stock number, ET Number, S/C number and a T/D number and the Competition License that just went from $50.00 to $100.00 alone. To get my numbers and renew my License $160.00 and I haven't even entered a race yet! I decided to just get the Stock number for now, I can race the dragster locally or at big $$ races without the added cost of NHRA License. Will I quit? No, but I will definitely race less this year and not worry about what the sanctioning body is. Now, the one guy who asked about Contingency Money and how it worked. My company, Trailer Toad, was a Contingency sponsor in 2008 I can tell you first hand: We posted at Lucas Oil Drag Series Events and Divisional ET FInals. $1000.00 membership to NHRA to be a posting Contingency Sponsor. $4500.00 in guaranteed payouts to be made, if less than that is paid to racers the balance goes to NHRA. (This is why most Contingency Sponsors decided to take a hike this year.) I think the ET Finals Contingency cost $200 or $300 to post the money but no minimum you had to pay out. We signed up for the 7 - Division ET FInals and the Jr Dragster League (no charge). We also have established our own "Racer Rewards Program" We will pay the same contingency we did in 2008 but we handle the whole thing personally, with our customers. If NHRA does not get a clue that raising every cost at one time was not a stupid move, we are stupid for paying those fees. If I raised the price of the Trailer Toad 50% (because I was going broke) I KNOW I would NOT SELL MORE Trailer Toads!!!!!!! The NHRA is a membership driven organization, if you don't believe that just take a look at the replay of the stands in Vegas for the Pro Semi-finals and Finals.... couldn't have been 1/4 of the seasts occupied. That is WHEN the decision to raise Sportsman costs was made. Wish the news was different but it isn't. Jok |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
I don't race a Stocker or Super Stocker, but I've been Bracket racing for 10 years now so I think I'm permitted an opinion on this... Yeah, I don't have the entry fees like you guys, nor the tow bills, but my family supports me and we try and have a good time racing here in the Northwest just the same despite having a special needs child that now is in the early stages of kidney failure. The car counts have been going down for a while now, especially last year. And now with the economy in the tank it's a real dumb move to say the least. The only thing that I guess I can bitch about is WHY THE HELL THE COMP # FEES DOUBLED? The only reason we bracket racers "need" one is for the ET Finals event at the end of the year.... Yeah, $80/2 years just so I can allowed the apparent privelge of racing at the Finals? All for just hitting the "renew" button or whatever the admin in Glendora does to keep it assigned to me? THAT is crap! The 'white house' in Glendora gets rid of the oil down penalties so I guess they had to recoup that money AND THEN SOME from us. A bunch of you have made a point of how the Sportsman racer is supporting the Pros. Well, throw in us bracket guys and that's a LOT of money from the customers that will be affected the most by it. Thousands of members with a least one number, let alone my fellow racers that are Stockers, the Index classes...
Thank you Dan Fletcher. It's a privilege to see someone as yourself stand up for a principle. To those making excuses for the raises: do I still have a job and can afford the doubling? Yeah, but that's NOT the point. It, along with some other increases were way out of line and when will it stop? Sincerely, Jerry Gossette http://www.cardomain.com/ride/768944 http://www.cardomain.com/id/goose6891 |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
$1000.00 membership to NHRA to be a posting Contingency Sponsor. $4500.00 in guaranteed payouts to be made, if less than that is paid to racers the balance goes to NHRA. (This is why most Contingency Sponsors decided to take a hike this year.)
These guys can teach the Mafia a few tricks. |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Chevy620,
The $4500. is that for the year or per National Event. And what about class payout, could you elaborate on that. Thank You. Ron Ortiz U/SA |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Once your hooked it's over ,you will race till your dead or broke
Well, I guess then I ain't hooked, just broke. |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
Jim and all a long i thought you where gone, glad to see your still kicking. Jim Hanig
|
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
I have been trying to get a handle on this and have a few comments....does anyone remember a number of years ago when NHRA had a membership drive to try and get the membership up to 100,000?....never made it.....now NHRA has had a few devastating events occur within a relatively short time (I realize they aren't the only ones,but they are the biggest)...anyone out there that owns their own business with employees knows what a high cost insurance alone can cost and with several tragic losses over the last few years I would be willing to bet that the insurance cost for NHRA went through the roof, so now to continue to operate they must pay it....now add the economic sucker punch which hit everyone with a major deal and took more dollars from the coffers of the "non-profit".I think they tried to plan ahead for a rainy day with the membership drive but got hit with the "40 days and 40 nights" and are close to drowning....so now we get hit with a knee jerk reaction to generate some "quick cash" where else can they get it and get it quick....remember the $100,000,000 deal that fell through that they were all excited about giving them the cash to do all the things that they wanted to do?.....(you would think someone would lose their job over losing THAT one)....good or bad we will never know what would have come of that....
As a member of an organization I look at the good things that they provide knowing that there are bad things that are hard to ignore, but I still feel the need to support and promote them...if every member out there would make an attempt (in theory) to "drum up members" it would only take a 15% success rate to reach 100,000 members.... Car counts have been dropping over the last decade in sportsman classes and that is fact, so revenue from that has fallen off drastically also, but, this is not an economic condition as far as the economy is concerned, this has been going on for years....the surprising thing is car counts in stock has remained the same or is UP a couple points on average so far this year at national events..... Is there a fix for all this?...I believe so but it isn't easy or quick....I ran several deals as "open book" so that everyone knew what was going on and where we stood, unfortunately I don't think NHRA would EVER do that because I think it would open them up for scrutiny on the "NON-PROFIT" aspect of the organization and that would make some individuals sweat a little..... |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
NHRA is self-insured! Jim
|
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
That's even worse then if it is the case because you are required to hold enough cash to cover ALL possible losses that may be incurred on a daily basis.....insurance laws in that area are REALLY strict....
|
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
I would like to say that everybody is entitled to his opinion and should be free to post it as long
as it is in "bounds". The guy that called Ken an ***** Hole should be banned from this forum. I would hope everybody that is involved in this discussion would have the decency to remember that some kids and a lot of women also read this forum and love racing as we do. I also agree with what Bill said about the situation. S.E. |
Re: Send Letters to NHRA
If the insurance is the issue why not make the ones that couse the problem pay for it. The Pros are the reason for the high cost of insurance yet the sportsman pay the bill. This is not right sorry there is no way to make that right.
|
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:01 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Class Racer.com. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.