Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

OK, I guess I'll ask again. Why can't something like this be done?

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Ted Jones with "Inside Drag Racing" mite be the only way it would happen, last episode showed 2 super comp cars and what they go through to qualifiy at a national event. Set up a show and try selling it to them, use Fletch and a new cj for contrast and show what S and SS go through at a national event. It would be a start.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Billy,

Money is all it takes.

Have a friend who runs limos Connecticut. Carts around executives from ESPN and being a good driver is sociable. When discussing class racing and big money bracket racing the answer was: "Great stuff but we need money to get production going and develop marketing"

The interest is there. They want to produce TV that people watch but it is money driven.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Hi Frank, Ok then why can't (won't) one of the above mentioned companies (or another), in their advertizing budget, find away to do something? I know that the companies that I've mentioned already do more than enough for Sportsmen racers (Bracket racers included) but I refuse to believe that somebody won't step up.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

A reason the putrid NHRA Pro show is even on, is that cable networks have hours to "fill" with anything...I believe that ESPN only picked up NHRA after they lost NASCAR; although money is a driver, one must wonder why poker, aerobatic plane racing, bowling,strongman contests, wood chopping, LeBron, etc get on the tube....cable has a voracious appetite to show "something"

I'm probably wrong, but a concept of sportsman racing/traveloge/reality show could be as entertaining as any of the above...think travails of Fletcher (with his commentary) or "on-the-road-with-the Hills", our group is full of "characters" and human interest stories, brought to you by "California Car Cover" or Lucas Oil (they sponsor everything else), or as somone mentioned a paid info-mercial....with Dodge and Ford flexing their race heritage, maybe they could be approached

Would take someone connected along with deep pockets and time to run some concepts by the cable channels....heck if food network, and house sales can consume a whole channel, certainly an hour long sportsman show should be attractive to Speed, or any of the ESPN family....it certainly can and should be done by NHRA, but they are too shortsighted

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

"American Stocker" starring Billy Nees and his cast of 'characters'.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

The group or individual would have to want to do it and believe in the concept, meaning turn them a profit.
The numbers involved may be large. Equipment and personnel are extensive, although it could be done on a small privateer scale but ESPN is not. ESPN people are nitro crazy right now. Just like any other new fan to the sport. They will evolve possibly turn their interest toward lower classes.

Bottom line there is not a lot of money on the street, hasn't been for longer than you may think and what there is is tough to convince to take the risk.

Don't know if you remember the drag racing message board I believe was part of Sports Channel years ago. There was discussion about drag racing on TV and began e-mailing someone who claimed to work for the networks. Proposed a half hour, fast moving show with wheel standing super stockers and stockers along with fast and exciting comp and alcohol runs. Don't even try to show a race make it be an exciting fast moving show of great runs. Just entertainment. Broadcast it during the week when racers are home looking for something good to watch not on weekends when everyone is at the track. Racers would watch, car enthusiasts would find out about it and tune in. Once the show could get a footing then expand it to let the public know what drag racing is really about and develop an audience.

Well the answer was over and over "it will never work".

Again the money people, the producers, the broadcasters, advertisers, promoters must believe in the concept and feel there will be a much wider audience for the programming than racers. And turn everyone involved a profit.

NHRA knows that through the years top fuel and funny car are the only eliminators to receive any regular attention by the press, TV and radio. At this time it is the only product they have to sell. Once fuel racing grows in the public mind, the fan base evolves in their knowledge of the sport, hopefully the product line will expand.

Keep in mind this is not a selfless endeavor, there will need to be lots to skim off the top to make the effort worth while. But the power people in the NHRA are not all seasoned racers who came up through the system they are managers interested in feathering their beds and those that are are old fuel racers set in their ways. It will take open creative minds, a pile of money and a perfect storm.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

It can be done Billy.

How do I know?

Because we did it!

USCN was broadcast on ESPN2 and it was not that expensive to produce.

Granted Ted Jones and Bret Kepner gave us a huge break, but in the grand scheme of things a monthly show can be done for peanuts by MEG with a couple of paying sponsors.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Alex, the important questions are:

Could it be done again?

Would you do it again?

Would you help someone else?

Would enough racers show up?

Could it be done as a series?

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

And Alex, Thank you again for doing it I'll never forget it.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

1) Yes, 2011 would be the 10th anniversary

2) Maybe, with enough racer support, a major sponsor or two, and no whining.

3) Probably not. Everyone has their own oppinions of how to do it and knows better than me and our little troupe. At least that's what they all told me afterwards LOL. Many have tried since and I don't recall one as successful.

4) Why not? We had over 500 the first time and most of the IHRA regulars dogged us even though we had IHRA's full support.
Some bull**** about a points race and too far to travel as I recall. More LOL
Touring pro's snubbed us as well. I think they didn't believe we could pull it off. Maybe they would show up this time?

5) Maybe, but I would not want to be in charge of a entire series. A annual event I would consider.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Then the time to start planning is ASAP. I feel that one of the ingredients that helped make the event a success was the fact that you worked it out way in advance, which not only helped people plan, but also gave it time to spread the word among those not on the internet.

Let me know what you need. I have a race purse calculator spreadsheet, and I can do flyers, decals, race coverage, etc.

Several times over the years I've thought about putting on such an event, but the bottom line is: I'm not Alex Denysenko, and I feel that's another major ingredient that made it what it was. I don't think you could make a even a carbon-copy of the original work without it.

Proud to have been a part of The Original!

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Proud to have been a part of The Original!

"I'm game"

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

I'd be in for any help, also.

I drove past that points meet (25 miles from home) and a chance to race, and went 400+ miles just to spectate, and glad that I did. One of the most fun races I have ever been to.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Proud to have been a part of the first USCN & ready to be a part of the second. We had better do it again before we are all too old to remember the MAGIC of the first.... Alex, I'm ready, anytime! Let me know. I can bring Ronnie for backup. :~)

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

I'll be there. I hope?

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

After watching the meaningless drivle they call interviews and a couple of commercials they finally show a peddle fest first round match up 4 times over (okay we got it the first time). Instead of this CRAP they could show tidbits of sportsman racing and increasing the amount of actual racing.BUT NOOOOOOO they want to show "sounds of the strip" instead!

ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME!

The piss poor editing, lack of real racing and the "pro wrestling' mentality of NHRA on tv has once again confirmed that NHRA & ESPN HATE sportsman racing. WHY? Maybe because we are more interesting and they know it but dont want to let people know that.
Okay i have vented but seriously is there someone out there who can set us up with a good tv producer and get us our own show?

Does anyone else agree with me or am i just a ranting fool who believes we have marketing value?

Lawnmower racing gets better coverage than we do...[/QUOTE]

Kenny, I couldn't agree with you more (and I'm glad that many have added their thoughts to this as well). I wrote a (Reaction Time) letter to the editor of ND (nearly 10yrs ago), speaking of this same issue. Obviously my thougths were wasted, because there so-called coverage of the"Lucas Oil Sportsman" on ESPN2 only has given us 2 minutes worth of coverage over a 60 minute show (and that's not all of the national events)!!! We used to have "Inside Drag Racing" to enjoy divisional & national event coverage, but that went away in 2006...all IDR seems to show now is mostly SEMA stuff (with a little bit of racing...but I HAVE YET TO SEE ANY OF OUR CLASSES ON THAT SO-CALLED DRAG RACING SHOW!!!), and of course ESPN put them out to local FOX affiliates.

There so-called sportsman coverage (at the national events), should showcase the last two rounds of all the classes (instead of the alcohol (injected nitro) dragsters/funnycars! Once in awhile I've seen a Wheel-standing Stock/Super Stock car prior to (or post) a commercial, but not often enough.

Heck I even called Glendora about this (you see what that's done...not a damn thing!!!).

Perhaps with you (and many others amongst us) contacting them over this, perhaps there might be a sliver of hope that we'll get the coverage we deserve----heck if "Pinks All Outtakes", can (and did) show "FOUR" wheelstands by Al Corda's Pontiac during their highlight show, I don't buy the notion that people don't want to see our cars on tv (like someone here suggested).

WE DO NEED MORE COVERAGE!!!

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Date, location, format?

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

OK Gary, next time I want you to tell us how you REALLY feel! Jim

P.S. I agree with you totally!



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Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

I would be willing to help also. Central location at a time of the year when the weather would be good. Or maybe No Problem in late October early November. Maybe Pat could host a big bucks combo the week before and we could make it a 2 week-end deal.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

We have a divisional,national and the Dutch in a few week span here in Div1 late in Oct.Not a good time for us Northeast guys.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Ed, no matter when you have a race like this it's going to conflict with someone's local schedule. I think it's more important to support another Class Nationals than worry about missing a race that's close. I would support a race Labor Day weekend that would be on top of Indy.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

The point I'm making is that there are a lot of Div. 1 racers who would have to make a choice on the 3 NHRA races,especially at the end of the year if it has point conderations.
Since a lot of east coast guys raced at the 1st Class Nats. it might hurt the car count.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

If this comes to fruition, the date and the location would be figured out as far as possible in advance to give everyone time to adjust.

And if the date is on top of something (there are only so many weekends in a year as we hear over and over), maybe as a group the local racers could lobby with those in charge of scheduling the conflicting date event to adjust their schedule. This race is unique as we would have to look at the schedule nationally to find a date, maybe a regional race/divisional/combo could change easier. We might need your help "negotiating" with your local event holders. This can be done, especially if you have numbers behind you.

It's hard to find a date that works for 500 racers from across the country. But if this thing happens, we will do our best.

Anywhere that would be "fast" might also have issues with weather. Can't do this too early or too late in the season as some racers aren't ready yet or have already "blowed it up" for the year. Only so many weekends in a year. Need room for national event parking capacities, hotels nearby, etc. If this thing happens, a lot to discuss. Who knows . . . . ;)

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

The original class nationals was my first ever race in Stock. It was the most fun I have ever had being hot and miserable in my life. I think it was over 100 deg in the shade by 10:00 am. I had the privilege of having Amy Faulk kick my ***** first round. I thought the whole think went off very well Thanks to Alex and his Gang.

Re: NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.
 

Yeah Danny, I do because that's how I saw a likeness to my car (albeit the original burgundy red in color), in the finals of an '86 national event...I will forever hate that I taped over that race, since I ruined my chance at possibly getting my car to the finals of the Mile High's 20yrs later. :(

Bret was one of us whether behind the microphone, or when he was/is racing his own stocker...THANKS BRET!!! :)