NHRA price hike
 

Re: NHRA price hike
 

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Yeap! they already changed the form...............lisense is now 100.00
20.00 for add. #
__________________
Rick Bailey 3439 SC

Re: NHRA price hike
 

I am definately bummed, especially since my physical is next week to renew my license(3 classes!) and my membership! It's not that I can"t afford it, but as Fletchburger said, it's an insult! I'm not sure if they are trying to raise more capital because of low car counts or whatever, but how much is the sportsman racer suppose to take responsibility for? And Please NHRA, spare me the sob story that even with the increase, you will still have to subsidize the sportsman program! Luckily, I am not one that depends on this sport to make a living, because with the increase in fees, entry, and travel and the lack of increase in payout and decrease in contingency, the professional sportsman has his work cut out for him.

Back to your average sportsman racer. Most of us will suck it up and continue to complain on our favorite message boards. It's been suggested that we boycott a large race in protest or at the very least, write the heads of NHRA. I think we really should make our opinions heard, but am discouraged that it will really help. NHRA has a one sided view of the sportsman racer and it has nothing to do with our benefit.

I will write a letter to NHRA about my concerns and I will support a well organized boycott, but I really have my doubts as to what they can accomplish.
Many of us are addicted to NHRA national and divisional programs for many different reasons (friendships, travel, excitement of racing against some of the best in the country...the parties) but how much is enough?

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Will this decrease the car counts even more for those even more upset with this change? It doesn't make sense anymore to race Nats and Divsionals since the payouts and cost associated to do so are ridiculous.

Having to spend more for less doesn't make sense at least to me.

Thompson IHRA Pro Am
Entry $135 Winner payout $1100 each day

Go down the road that sat to Norwalk and the pro payout is $1200 for $30 entry fee
Go to Milan on Sunday and the pro payout is $1200 for $45 entry fee.

Is it worth the extra entry fees to go to these IHRA/NHRA Nats and Divsionals in this economy???

Maybe we stand a better chance at the pro am since there will only be 20-24 cars in each class as compared to 100-150 in Pro. I guess it's all about the odds???

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Got physical at 11:00 A.M. yesterday, was making copies before mailing & noticed Dr. had not signed form so took back to office for signature & decided to wait and mail today during noon hour. Mailed priority mail then got online to check St. Louis entries & seen fee increase. Since the postmark was today will they hit me for the extra fees or reject or?

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If paid by check, they might let it go(to much work). By credit card, I'd check your statement!

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like i said before **** nhra

asta

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Thats it!! You will not see me at another NHRA national or divisional event!! I'm done with em. How much longer will you guys let NHRA do this? It's crazy! I can't believe they are using the excuse that they haven't raised fees in a decade. When is the last time they increased payouts? I'M DONE

IHRA and DAMN Proud of it!!!

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Many of us have our own Companies or work for someone (maybe) in these hard economic times. I can't comprehend going to a customer or client etc. and telling them we need to raise our price/rates etc. 100%. In this case License was 50.00 now 100.00, Chassis Cert. was 75.00 now 150.00!!!. Doing that would be insane yet NHRA does it. I would think a reasonable increase would be more acceptable and timely considering many of us are strugling to get by right now. Where is the concern for the racers? I personally will be looking for other avenues to race.

Just my 2 cents or wait maybe I should increase that to 4 cents.

Pat I.
SG1809

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I agree with the above. I don't even mind prices going up, but double is insane no matter what the economy.

Almost makes you wonder if NHRA even wants us. Don't forget, a couple of years ago they were ready to split the pro's and sportsman racers when HG ?? wanted to buy the pros. Maybe all they want is pro classes @ national events and they will have wheelie cars and jet trucks going up and down the tracks between rounds.

Think about it, qualifying and bull**** show stuff on Friday & Sat. Then run the whole show on Sunday. They have the turn around times so fast, they can run the thing round after round until it's over

I guess the question is......what do they make off of us and are we worth all the extra space and people it takes to run us?


Things that make you go hummmmmmmm.
(Jason should be proud)

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Just start adding up the numbers on license & membership & Certifications. A little math will show what is brought into their coffers. Out of the old $75 fee they cut the amount the Certification employee gets, then they raise the fee to $150. I was told that just the Certifications in each division brought in enough money, at the old price, to run the Each Division. I was told this quite a while back, before the changes, by someone pretty high in NHRA that I consider very credable. Then they have all these other fees that they charge to all the alternative associations & local tracks. They have license & Certifications too. I don't buy the retoric that they are subsidizing the sportsman. The numbers just don't add up. I think the Sportsman being subsidized is more of a case of "Say the same thing over & over & it will become believed as the truth, even if it isn't." Think about it... Some profit center is paying for all the FREE that the Pro's get. What other big profit center is there besides Sportsman racers & T.V.? OH yes, Spectators, but they have given them a small reduction in ticket prices. I don't mind paying a little more, but double in these economic times... ??

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This really stinks! I'm running on 60% of my regular salary, but was looking forward to bringing my Super-Gas car back out for the first time in 15 years. I suppose I'll pay the extortion for renewing my license (since I drive other people's cars on occasion), but I think my car is about to get throttle stopped to 10.10 (and skip the chassis cert). Literally I saw the NHRA article on this as I was coming in from working on the car, looking up the local chassis cert guy to see if he can recertify next week.

Regards,

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IF NHRA has to spend so much to subsidies the sportsmen classes, than somebody needs to find out where all of Forrest Lucas money is going. NHRA is not a business; therefore they do not make money, they only take it in. Having said that, any money they pay out either comes from you the racer or a company paying for the right to sponsor something. So for them to say we cost them money than they are full of s---t. Maybe if they would learn how to get ESPN to pay them for the rights to show the races, instead of NHRA paying ESPN; they could save some of the millions of dollars that they are trying to suck out of us.

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I sent NHRA a polite and professional e-mail about this whole deal. Maybe we should ALL do that. I do not agree with what they did I just don't like to complain where it does no good. I don't think you tracks or division had anything to do with it.

Just a thought, BB

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Hi.

This is my first post here, but Ive been reading the site off and on, mostly whenever there is some crisis or goings on in the drag racing world. First off, I'm a nobody. Ive raced one divisional and one national, and was an easy trip for my opponent to the next round at both events.

As a novice S/G racer, I didnt expect to set the world on fire, all I wanted was to not look foolish. I barely met my goals. You see, I sat in the stands for years at the only National event within a reasonable distance of my home. I live in North/West Ontario, and my closest track is BIR. If I dont mess around I can make it there in 6 hours.

For many years, I watched the NorthStar--Champion Auto--Colonel's truck--Lucas oil Nationals from the stands and wanted so badly to someday race there. I had an 11 sec bracket car I owned since I was 15 years old, but at 3900lbs, it was a poor choice for super gas car. SST isnt contested at BIR, so I decided to construct a new car. As a professional mechanic, with great science and math skills, an ability to learn and read anything I can get my hands on, I knew I could do it.

Now, Im not a rich man, I worked hard on my dreams, doing whatever I could to get my car completed. I even went into great debt to do it. I built my own motor, transmission, rear ends etc.. I did my own welding, my own tin work, and I even painted the car myself in my own garage. A show winner it isnt, but I can park it anywhere, even amongst show winners, and it still looks pretty good.

So with the car done, years after I gave into my desire to race in S/G, I began the process of using it. Remember I said Im not rich, and I live 350 miles from the closest possible place to race, so using this car is an expensive adventure. A weekend going to race can get to $1000 pretty easily, so I'm lucky to get out more than 3 times/year. At BIR brackets, youre lucky if you can get more than 15 runs in 3 days, unless you enter 2 classes and pay more entry. Anyway, you can imagine at that rate,the S/G learning curve is very slow, especially for a guy that does everything himself.

So, since Im a Canadian that likes to race, and needs a competition license, I have to subscribe to National Dragster. Initially, I enjoyed it, but with everything NHRA, you can see its rapid decline in quality. I have to drive 6.5 hours to Minneapolis to get my chassis certified, and out of the 3 times Ive had it done, never once have I paid less than $150!! He seems to charge what he wants?? and of course, everytime it gets certified,he tells me I need another bar here, or another bar there.

Anyway, Im a shoestring budget racer, and there just isnt room for these cost increases. In 07, I entered the divisional, got my grade point, a $1000 grade point. I entered the National, whatever the cost was, I was excited to reach my goal. I was suprised at the "insurance" cost, epecially since there was no policy??? I know when I buy insurance anywhere else, I get a copy of the policy, so I know what Im insured for. Not this time.

anyway, to end this boring long story... after fuel prices went crazy last year, I decided to sit things out, and spent some money on home improvements, something that I can get a return on, instead of drag racing. I was hoping to return to racing this year, but the increase in everything $$NHRA$$, Im forced to sit it out again.

This time Im sitting out for good. I will never renew my membership, licence, or get my car certified, or enter anything NHRA ever again. I'l cut up my car if I cant sell it, and part out the rest. I still have my old bracket car, and if I need a fix, I'll race it now and then, staying out of the license range. Im not the only one who feels this way

Re: NHRA price hike
 

I sent a professional but firm letter to NHRA, and a different one to Lucas Oil. I mentioned it on another thread, but I wonder what Forrest and Charlotte Lucas think about this, seeing as how their name is synonymous with NHRA Sportsman Drag Racing. With any luck (and more people contacting them) we can have the Lucas' on our side.

I've been adding up the cost of bringing my car back out (with all the SFI recertifications that were not necessary back when I raced it last). I'm thinking that I can run it consistently in the 10's for bracket races, so I'll only get a trans shield. I'll be one less car at LODRS that would have otherwise been there.

Regards,

Re: NHRA price hike
 

I'm pround of all of you. It's amazing what one little policy change at NHRA can do for the length of the average post on this board. ;-)

That said, Mr. Asta may have said it best. John and I haven't always seen eye to eye, but we most certainly do on this topic.

Also Pat I. made a perfect point about announcing 100% price increases to his customers. Think about that...what would your customers say to you if you told them that you haven't raised prices in 10 years, so you're going to raise them 100%? They'd tell you that you're nuts, this is the last time you're going to see them as a customer, and that if you really need to increase your prices 100%, you had better figure out a way to reduce your expenses or improve your processes if you want to stay in business. My customers these days are looking for price CUTS, not 100% increases

Now, if you have a monopoly, things are different. You can do whatever the hell you want, and your customers can't do a damn thing about it. Time Warner is currently trying this now in Rochester, NY with their Road Runner service (along with Austin, TX and Greensboro, NC), and for the most part since there is no real competition, they might be able to get away with it. The difference is the Time Warner deal affects MILLIONS of people, and those people have now gone to their local government officials to try to get help. Nobody else is going to get involved in our fight because it affects so few people...it is up to us to fight this fight on our own.

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OK 100% increase, but 1st. in 10 years so that's 10% per year , 10% a year is a little high but if they don't do it for another 10 years that's only 5 % per year and that is normal inflation.
This is NOT a poor mans sport.
Half the racers that are *itchin are headed to a race as I type.
When a organation is in $$ trouble it is usely it's members that HELP pull them out.
So bottom line if you can't or won't HELP then go play tennis or golf they only take 1 ball.
As for me I have 40k in a car that is not street legal and I like to race (hate golf) so buckup and lets RACE !

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So, if this is a normal inflationary increase, why haven't our purses gone up 10% per year for the last 10 years? Or, why haven't we seen a 100% increase every 10 years? Fact of the matter is, NHRA can sell it anyway they want, but they're putting the extra money in their pockets. I don't mind paying more when I feel like I'm getting more. But, from NHRA I'm paying more and getting LESS. There isn't a single company on this entire planet that I would continue to give my business to that had that type of philosophy, unless I was absolutely forced to do it.

At the end of the day, I have tens of thousands of dollars tied up in my racing operation as well (24' enclosed trailer, brand new 4-wheeler, 32' motorhome, plus the race car itself), and the extra money isn't going to bankrupt me. But, this is just one more instance of NHRA taking more of my money, and giving me NOTHING for it in return, simply because they can. At some point you have to say enough is enough. Obviously, you haven't reached that point yet Bryan (you obviously also don't work in sales, as I'd love to see you pitch a 100% price increase to my customers - they wouldn't give a crap if it had been 10 years or not since the last price increase, not to mention that 3% is the customary annual increase due to inflation, not 10%, or even 5%).

Show me what I'm getting for my money...just don't take more of it and tell me "because we have to". If that's the case, then I challenge NHRA to open their books to show me the proof, which I'm guessing they will politely decline to do.

Seriously Bryan....Have you ever thought about exactly what it is that you get for your money? $50/year for the license. $64/year for the membership. $50/year for the chassis certification. $60/race for the insurance (oh, and if you have two cars, you have to pay it twice). What do I get for all that? Oh yeah, I forgot...National Dragster, a pin, a patch, and a decal. If I came to your house, and told you to give me $200 for the right to race this year, what would you say to me? I highly doubt it would be, "OK, here you go!"

Is $200 going to break any of us? Probably not. But, who's to say that NHRA is going to stop at $200 per year. Why not $500? What are you going to do about it then? How about $1,000? $2,000?

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Jason it's their sandbox, if you don't want to play get some bait or some clubs.

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Um, no. I'll choose to take my BUSINESS elsewhere! This is not a private country club, even though they do treat it like one.

Besides, I hate fishing, and my golf swing sucks...

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I spent over 35 years spending what I could to go racing. Upgrading my stuff, moving to Div and Nat events and totally enjoyed it. Loved the people I raced with and overall enjoyed the change to NHRA races. With the downturn in economy, we decided to cut back a bunch and only go to a couple of races. I wound up selling my car, and I have to say with all the crap going on during tough times, if I get back in it will be with a fast dragster for 1/8 mile racing. The big races have lost their luster for me. Our divisional guys (3) rock, but it's hard to justify vac time for racing this year. NHRA needs to justify the expense to its CUSTOMERS. Aren't we called MEMBERS. They could at least provide a forum for discussion. Low class in my opinion.

Just my .02 cents...thanks for listening.

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Bryan, you are right this is is rich man's sport, however this doesnt just affect the "regular" NHRA sportsman. This also affects the local bracket racer who quite frankly can care less about running a National or Divisional but still has to pony up the extra $$$ just to race 1 day a week if he goes fast enough. fair to them???

Debbie Moses

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It must be the business trends.................look at the Credit card companys........the recived bailout monies (taxpayers money) and now their doubleing the intrest rates

Re: NHRA price hike
 

i have been reading this forum for years. in the begining i used to post offen because i was going to be a divisonal followed by a national event racer in super street. it had been a dream of mine since i saw my first national event in atlanta back in the 80's. at that event warren johnson was the top quaifier at 7.11 in pro stock. but the money wasn't there. i was a submarine sailor down in kings bay georiga and it was everything i could do to support my family while working for the Navy. but, i knew it would not last forever. the fire burned inside of me, then one day i retired from the navy after 20 years (95) and said good-bye to my naval electronics job and took up life as a car saleman.

13 years later here i am. i managed to attend 4 divisonal events in divison one. delaware, englishtown, atco, and cecil county. i should of been a sititng duck but managed to get into the second round at all the events. then i crashed my car by blowing out the front tires after some heavy braking at atco. i was done. but, the idea of finally quailifing for the national at englishtown made me work hard to get the car back on track. but, little did i know that in those days super street closed at 4 mins after mid-night since it closed that fast because divsion 1 has alot of money in this area, and without a grade point of 7 i had no chance. i was pissed, but that was racing. i've been tiring to get back ever since.

today the car runs 9.460 and i'm ready to go, but i cracked the block over the winter. $4200 right up a hogs *** just to get it running again. i'm still waiting to get my engine back. now all this. i was moved by the post by the guy who i.d'ed himself as a "no body" it was his first post. after reading it i decided to put mine in here since i read it everyday but never post since i don't feel contected since i only bracket race.

my times at the divsionals were the most fun i every had. winning the round helped, but it was the people who took me in as one of them. they gave me beer and food and knew my name. i couldn't get enough of it. i looked into a motor home, bigger motors, all of it. but, i got to be real here i could pay this but maybe the people aren't the same, 4 dollars a gallon for an 11 mile per gallon suburan is real and right around the cornor again. i've been there and done that. if it hadn't been for this forum i'm sure i would of paid the money and tried again. but, reading your posts your all so angry. this sport is made up of rich people. lets not fool ourselfs. we all got money and maybe to much of it. we are pissed because we don't want to give it up for no return. everything is based on value. thats all that we really want. my 79 camaro cost me in 79 probally around 8000. i got more than that in the motor like all of you. so now you want twice the money. where is my return. sometimes i sell a car warranty for customers new toyota for 1000. its a good bye and i believe in it and have warranties on my own cars both my wife and daughter. but, if i can't convince the customer that its a "good value" and that its "money spent wisely" it ain't happening.

so in closing, some will pay others will not. the fall out is yet to be seen. they will make a business decsion at that time. but, i for one will not race in that forum if most of my friends are not happy with the outcome. there is no shame in bracket racing.

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Don't forget about giving their executives raises and bonuses. NHRA must have missed the memo on that one...

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Sooner or later someone will realize that Sportsman racers arent rich, but only the rich can afford to sportsman race.

I included that in my email to the Div 5 Director. I think it sums up the dwindling car counts. Too bad many of the poorer guys (like me) are being priced out of our beloved sport. I hope you richer guys never have to feel this way.

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Roo drag racing has all kinds of different classes.
Pro for the (rich)
Sportsman racing @ Nat. & Div. level (rich & uppermid)
Bracket racing all the way down to high school level ( all mixed )
You have to race at a level that fits your wallet.
There are alot (most) that can't even afford to pay their monthly bills in this economy let alone go racing.
So to hear people *itch about extra money to race is crazy. you all should look around and be happy that
your home is not in forcloser, car repoed , are even food on the table.
So if you can't afford to race then don't and if you can you are lucky in life.

NUFF SAID !

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I completely understand your comments.

My concern is that everyone must race according to their wallets, but many people's wallet is shrinking. It's shrinking for a multitude of reasons, one of which is the 100% price increase in many of the fees racers are subject to.

Now, this amount may be trivial for you, but it happens to be my personal breaking point. This is what it takes for me to stop racing, next time costs increase, it may be your breaking point.

It sure seems to me that more and more people have reached their own breaking points judging by car counts, and participation at all races. I suspect the median age of sportsman racers involved with the NHRA is increasing steadily, which is a disturbing trend if the sport and NHRA wish to sustain themselves.

NHRA doesnt offer you a tangible product for these increases. A chassis cert? The costs have not doubled, so why should the price? Its really just another of their blatant money grabs, and its sole purpose is to sustain itself at current levels. What they need to understand is that their member must also sustain themselves in their own lives, and if that means someone can no longer compete , then its really the NHRA's loss, and aren't you a member?

As a matter of discussion, those that wish to continue racing, should be the loudest opposition of the new fees, because when people cease supporting your sanctioning body, the results are going to drive up the cost for you. So, if you want to hurt your pocketbook, now and in the future, just pay the fees, keep quiet, and keep racing

Im thankful for all I have, and rich is a relative term. Today Im not rich enough to continue racing, tomorrow it may be you.

'nuff said??

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Roo I think you hit it on the head in your last post.

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Isn't there a jail in Leavenworth, KS?

Re: NHRA price hike
 

Yes, we have 3 the FED, USDB, and the State.