Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

They need to shorten the schedule do that and get there would be some new little guy teams to join

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

The bigger question is, Does nhra have deep enough pockets to survive this pandemic?

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

What happens if they don't ?

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Back in the Day we had Steve Evans, Dave McClelland, Bob Frey along with the likes of Diamond P Productions. They became the Voice of Drag Racing. They initially exposed the weekly excitement of John Force and stoked the Fire of Rivalry between other Teams and Drivers. NHRA was Alive and Well at that time. There was American Sports Cavalcade that televised National Events as well as weekly segments of Diamond P coverage. If we all check our outdated video libraries, we still should have several recordings we can watch, while waiting. Diamond P also produced many Special Recordings that could be purchased at National Events. Remember those were also the days when you could have that Personal Interaction with your favourite Driver when you bought a T-Shirt from him or his Wife.
All that got taken away because someone was Promoting our Sport correctly and making a living doing it. The Racers and their Professional Personalities are The Show. Every Driver and Team Member is an Ambassador for the Promotion of the Sport. NHRA had it good for a long time, but some "Educated,Clean Handed, Shiny Shoe Decisions" took over. For years they have turned it into the "John Force Show" which now has grown into the "John Force and Family Show". Its too late to turn back the Hand of Time. Anybody that has left the sport, left for a reason and it wasn't because of happiness. I don't think John Force is a positive means of "Life Support". MB

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Sorry, but this is not even close to being accurate .
Not sure how many times we all have to go over this....

Typical National Event:
say 1,000 sportsman entries, car and crew x $350 each $350,000
100,000 Spectators over the three days, at an average of say $40 each: $4,000,000

And this is not counting all the promotional items sold to the spectators.

The fuel cars bring the spectators, and the spectators pay for it. Which allows us to play with our expensive toys at the big show.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Hi Kevin,

I think you misunderstood what I meant. I was talking strictly entry fees. For right now there aren't going to be any fans or very few. I am well aware that most people go to the National events to see the nitro cars. The NHRA will need to get some dollars from entry fees as there will not be the big crowds that they are used to. So maybe try and get more sportsman entries at the national events. Just how I see it

C.P.
6664 Drag Pack

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

They might be thinking outside the box, but they are keeping it to themselves if they want to stay employed. How many people have we seen come into NHRA with experience and fresh ideas, step on the wrong toes, and get disappeared faster than an enemy of the Clintons?

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Indy papers reporting Force team is sitting out with no comment.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...is/5390544002/

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Interesting that when they announced the new National schedule on 6/3 they indicated no Lucas Oil competitors but today’s schedule release shows Jegs Super Quick, TD and TS. Is that some sort of special invitation deal or what? They show 5 rounds for each category. Who’s on first?

Now I see they’re also having Juniors and a bracket race the following weekend, it would seem they want some “filler” without the hassles on fuel checks and such. Whatever but a clearer communication stream would be beneficial.

http://www.nhra.net/2020/images/NHRA...dy_1_Final.pdf

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Back in May at the Texas Motorplex, NHRA ran a TAD/TAFC show as a fill-in for the MidWest Pro Mods. There was also TD and TS but NOT the LODRS versions.
Same thing happening here in INDY I think.
Dan

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

They announced these categories the day it was announced that they were going to have these 2 events in Indy. They took the first 40 TD/TS and Jegs SQ was open to all. Next week’s bracket race is wide open as well. Obviously, no points will be earned in any sportsman category, however, it counts as a National Open for TD/TS.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

The Indy Top Dragster and Top Sportsman events will be like a normal National or Divisional event - 6.10 index quarter mile. The Jeg's Super Quick will be part of their series and run on the eighth mile with a 4.50 index.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Yes, Just not a "LODRS" points race
Dan

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Meanwhile, NHRA is supposed to go to Denver the first weekend of August. And right now Bandimere is getting it's rearend run through the ringer by local officials because they had *gasp!* more than 175 people at it's July 4 event - and some of them were even standing close to each other.

Oh, the humanity!....

There is so much money, power and influence to be gained that we have "experts", health "professionals" and government "leaders" doing their best to get a piece of the action. Damage to the economy, businesses, livelihoods and freedom be damned.

"They" are telling us there's a spike. ICUs are nearly full. Positive tests are way up. But we need to listen to what they aren't saying.

What percentage of people in ICUs are COVID patients? Are hospitals still getting a big payment from the feds if they decide a patient has COVID? How many ICUs are filled? How many more tests are being done now than at the beginning of the crisis? And how many people testing positive are actually sick? Has the death rate spiked as well? These are questions I'm left asking after listening to any news reports.

The public is being beat up and spoon fed so much BS right now, it's just a shame.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Guess I didn’t read all their announcements....here’s the one I saw.

“The Indianapolis events, both of which will be televised on the FOX Broadcast Network, will be open to a limited number of spectators, with offers being extended via email to NHRA members and 2020 U.S. Nationals ticket holders. The first event, July 11-12, will feature all four Mello Yello classes – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle – while the second event, July 18-19, will feature Top Fuel and Funny Car along with the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series presented by J&A Service, Mickey Thompson Tires Top Fuel Harley Series, and the SAMTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown. Neither event will include Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition.”

Not trying to be argumentative, but keeping up with the plan is not easy.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

The latest I heard is Chevy pulled out.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Interesting take on things. Totally different than my take on things. At the end of the year one way to tell how real it is, will be by how many National Events actually get run.

Stan

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Info. source; I listen to 700WLW, the ATN, from Cincinnati from 12:00am to 5:00am, and you learn alot about what is going on, that you don't hear elsewhere. In the begining it was very hard to get tested, now you could get tested whenever you want, and results get explained in various ways depending on who is talking. Truckers and gate guards can tell you alot of things. John Kissel

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Wonder how many big $ Pro teams got a PPP bail out-they should have been eligible?

Even NHRA corporate employees .. yes-?

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

I guess it's ok to post about Covid19 "sometimes"



pS

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

https://www.dragzine.com/news/bandim...lth-violation/

These people appear to be trying to see how many businesses and activities that they don't agree with can be forced to shut down and close up.

Give someone a hammer and the power to use it, and everything starts to look like a nail.

I'm less concerned about NHRA than I am these racetracks.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

I'm sick of it and look forward to NOT talking about it, hearing about it, dealing with it and life being upside down because of it.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Watched NHRAtv for Pro Stock, then first few minutes of FC to see if Alan would address the elephant in the room (no JFR). He indicated he had no insights and confirmed JFR has made no formal announcement. Personally don’t care for JFR or DSR but with the large fan base that Force enjoys you’d think he’d owe them some kind of statement. Many may say “who cares?” but since the thread is NHRA’s survival it’s pertinent that one of the super teams that NHRA promotes so heavily may be folding.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

To answer the question in the title of this thread... No matter what Force has done in racing, it's racing that made NHRA and Force. Wally Parks stumbled upon an undiscovered addiction and did a good job developing it.
Force has been smart enough and entrepreneurial enough to take advantage .Even if NHRA has put too many eggs in the Force basket, NHRA will survive despite itself. Racing is bigger than NHRA and/or Force.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Along the same lines, not drag racing, but shows the pure stupidity of some of these "edicts". I was in Lincoln, NE this weekend to watch my grandson play baseball.

We were in the stands watching the game preceeding his. Between games, the "edict" came down that we were not "social distancing", there fore we could no longer sit in the grandstands in the shade. We had to move to the sidelines to watch through the fence. Several of the fans for both teams were grandpas and granmas in their 70's. The majority had to stand through 2 games, in 90 degree heat......all 100 of us, if that.

#5458

Curt Rees

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Watched the Fox coverage of Indy without Force. It looks like everything went just fine without him.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Or else what?...

To be polite about it, I would have refused and wouldn't have stood for Grannies and Grandpas standing in the sun for 2 hours. Until people stop complying with this crap, "they" are going to continue to play Kings & Queens with no concern for the ramifications.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

It seemed strange without the John Force group there, but the event went well.

Curt, I don't agree with grand parents in their 70's or so having to stand to watch a game or 2, especially in 90 degree heat. They could have them sit distanced without any problems, I would think.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

NHRA survived the retirement of Garlits, Prudhomme, Glidden and every other star. It will survive the loss of Force--and his organization if he shuts it all down after he retires.

Hard to tell what NHRA will look like in the future though. It could be sold, split, or just continue as it has. The people in charge have to be careful with the gimmicks and enhancements that the marketing and TV "experts" are trying to use to attract the "casual" fan. They are in danger of jumping the shark like NASCAR has and alienating the hardcore people.

The legacy sportsman classes are mostly populated by old guys. I don't see a strategy to attract young people to those classes. A good start would be to stop treating them like a redheaded step child, stop trying to squeeze every nickle they can out of them and pay some damn money. There were 700 people who showed up, and paid thousands in entry fees to race for big money last weekend - and it's happening other places almost every weekend. I'm not saying they have to pay $1.1m or even $100k, but c'mon guys. Look at where your GOAT sportsman guys are going.

I hope they figure it out, stop trying to be all things to all people and avoid ending up being the next IHRA.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Or it could be after what happened with the Pro Stock Truck deal. They are trying to do away with you without actually saying they are doing away with you. :eek:


Stan

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

I just sent an email to the Mayor of Lincoln. I am sure I will get a gobbide gook answer back.

#5458

Curt Rees

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Perhaps this has something to do with Force sitting out....regardless, unless local policies permit significant crowds in attendance NHRA won’t keep this up long.

https://www.competitionplus.com/drag...reduced-purses

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

I hope I'm wrong but I don't see the current NHRA around much longer then maybe 2025 look at the age of Stock, SS, and Comp. racers it would be interesting to see the break down say of 20to30, 30to40, 40to50 and 50+ then look at the TRUE COST of racing a car for 3years I hear the Large Woman is almost ready to sing.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Maybe a better question is will Super Stock and Stock survive?

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

There's an art to making someone go away when they don't really want to go away, without making it look like you actually want them to go away.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Jeez oh Pete! Can we please, please turn down the negativity?
Can we please stop biting the hand that feeds us?

Good heavens this is getting old, and it would seem a large portion of the posts with negativity originate from folks that don't even currently race.

Based what I have observed, the overwhelming majority of us race NHRA class racing because of the technical challenges, the fascination with a restricted class based on production body cars like ours, and the drive for that coveted Wally, in particular winning one and hoisting it up in front of the folks at a national event.

Some of these keyboard warriors wax on and on about payouts.... When is the last time you won an event? Oh, ok, sorry, I get it... you weren't at the event.....
Yes, I understand now, you would have been at the race and won, but the payout sucked, so you didn't go at all. Rrrrright.

S and SS Classes at many events, fill at 7 grade points. There are plenty, plenty of young drivers in S and SS. Don't give me that crap that we are all old and dying, and the classes are dead....

Can we please stop with the fake news?

Am I concerned and disappointed with low quota's at national events, yes for sure. But those active and committed racers who are also concerned, should be professionally, and politely speaking out to their division reps. Not bashing our sanctioning body anonymously on a public forum, where no doubt, their sponsors and creditors check in on.

All the discontent, payout-complaining racers (an non-racers) are free to try their hands at those big money bracket races you all like to point out, and claim is the future.
Knock yourself out, and best of luck. You'll have better luck at your local taxpayer-funded, local government-hack lobbying, downtrodden-town, who lost its industry and real source of revenue's casino.
And yes that was a hellacious run-on sentence.

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

Updated scorecard Monday 7-13....NHRA 1 - JFR 0 ......

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

I am not sure if anyone did more of the math from the past weekend race at Indy. Not just the Force team should be the big worry. I dont think they had enough fans to even cover the staff for the merchandising trailer or the food stands. Not to mention that DSR had 25% of the nitro cars (4 top fuel and 4 funny car) and 2 of those Fuelers are just on 2 race deals. What happens when Connie Kalitta finally retires he has 3 cars. How about when Chandler stops paying for Beckman and Johnson Jr. Yes the drop in purse is sad but not the biggest problem they are going to have. Did any of the staff at head office take a pay cut? as they are shortend race weekends.
As far as the world of big bucks bracket racing it seems very alive and well with a ton of cars and some fierce competition. It will be very interesting to see how the rest of this season goes. Grab some popcorn this is going to be good.

C.P.
Drag Pack

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

I've always said they were chasing Nascar, drag racing is FAR different-never happen. But of course Nascar has been on a downswing for years. To the point where the All-Star Race at Bristol tomorrow night will have the door numbers towards the back (wooo!) and NEON LIGHTS on the suspensions. What "gimmicks" is NHRA contemplating??!

Re: Can NHRA survive without John Force ?
 

If NHRA ever goes away I'm sure the class racers will adapt and go bracket racing or buy a boat. The real question is what are all the doom and gloom people on here going to do, how will they survive without spreading fear on a daily basis. Pray for the NHRA and God bless Donald J. Trump in 2020!!!!