Just got this email from IHRA...
 

This just came a Few minutes ago. Hope it's OK to post it here:



To: All IHRA Sportsman Racers



Dear Members:



Since the recent announcement of NHRA raising fees, my phone and e-mail have been going crazy. Evidentially the "internet experts" that populate the message boards have suggested that IHRA will be following suit with price increases to sportsman racers. This is based on the assumption that IHRA does everything NHRA does.



Any sportsman racer who has actually done a burnout at an IHRA event knows we have our own ideas and philosophies on how sportsman racing is to be conducted. This is not a knock on NHRA, it is simply a realization that we handle sportsman racing differently. As an IHRA member you know that, and I would assume you are a member because you enjoy the opportunities and programs IHRA offers sportsman racers. Unfortunately, this bad information is put out by sportsmen who don't actually race with us on a national or divisional level. Normally, we wouldn't even respond to such nonsense, but these are not normal times. Everyone is sensitive to the economic environment right now so I wanted you to hear this from the source.



We are not....have no plans to....and have not even discussed raising fees to sportsman racers. We are in the same position as the rest of the world when it comes to the need to increase the bottom line, but we have been able to reduce spending internally rather than going to the customer to create additional cash flow. In fact, we have been talking a lot about how to reduce costs for racers and spectators, create more value and develop our entertainment offering for both racers and fans. We just finished a national event in Baton Rouge where we added a dash for cash program for the competitors as well as cooked 4,000lbs of crawfish for the racer party. The Spring Nationals at Rockingham in a few weeks just had the dash for cash racing programs added, a sportsman wheelie contest and we booked a southern rock band for a Saturday night racer party. We are trying to give you more for your racing dollar and create ways for you to compete on the pro am and national level without spending your way into financial ruin.



The IHRA staff members have been working on a variety of different ways to reduce costs in their areas of responsibility and have done a great job so far. We have had to make tough decisions to not take as many staff to events. Everyone is pulling double duty somewhere, we're negotiating better deals with suppliers and travel arrangements are tighter than ever. The bottom line is that we certainly need your support at Summit Pro Am and Nitro Jam Nationals events, but we are not going to put extra financial burden on those that continue to compete on these levels.



IHRA will continue to work on adding programs that create value for you. The double Summit Pro Am weekends, the Champion Systems Sportsman Nationals events and the Tournament Of Champions Sportsman World Championship program are just a few ways we've been able to accomplish these goals.



I hope that puts your mind at ease. We look forward to seeing you at an IHRA event this year....and let's have some fun!



Best Regards,





Skooter Peaco

Vice President

IHRA

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

ha ha !! I got ya by a minute Ed ! Thats too funny !!

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Even though I havent worked for IHRA for several years I STILL think they are the best group out there. You couldnt ask for a nicer bunch of tech people to deal with. The IHRA racers always were like "FAMILY" and I would say those were some of the best years I had being involved with drag racing.

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

NHRA would not send out a broadcast out like that. They are not capable. NHRA doesn't know where to begin when it comes to relations with it members/participants. I am preaching to the choir, I am aware of that...Thanks to IHRA for just the effort they put forth...People at other sanctioning bodies will be singing the "Karma is a bitch" song in the future, you can bet you're clean shaven shiny *** on that.




when's someone gonna come over here and s*** Momma's d*** ?

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

It's just to bad they aren't a viable alternative for majority of class racers.

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

They are a viable alternative if most NHRA racers didn't snub there noses at the guys and gals that run NHRA. All those ones who think the IHRA is beneath them will continue to be enhanced.

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

I have never had a problem with the NHRA tech people. Chuck and Wesley have always been great.
Always very friendly, pleasant and fair. I have been through tear downs with both of them, and never a problem. They always treat everybody equally. I kinda miss seeing Dale and Glenana <SP?> Ham, I have yet to meet (as far as I know) the present div 4 director.

I have yet to meet one IHRA official that was not very friendly, and they all make you feel they are glad you came to race with them. I don't see the big difference racing with one or the other.

1/8th mile? I can live without. Barely better than staying home.

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Sorry Kenny, I didn't see yours. I'm old.

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

NHRA are you listening? That's the way to respond to your customers. Cut back on your bloated, rotten, smelly corpse of a staff and learn how to run a business instead of a country club for over paid drunks! Compton needs to go back to selling dog food and let someone who understands racing take over, like Pat Joffrion. Fire the Vice President of toilet paper exchange, and several other V.P.'s of whatever and tighten your bloated budget like everyone else has to do, instead of just charging more and more so Compton can keep his $770,000 a year job. According to the news,WalMart has reduced prices on 28% of their wares in order to get more customers. What do you think would happen if they said "times are tough so we have increased our prices 50%"? That's just not how smart businesses work.

I give NHRA one to two more years of business before they fold. If they do not make a serious attempt to deal with this monetary crisis they will go the way of AHRA. NHRA must adjust internally and bite the bullet. Participation has already dropped off by 50% and major sponsors are dropping like flies and the only thing Compton and crew can think of to do is up the fees, entry and insurance to the remaining loyal customers?
Wake up Compton! This isn't YOUR NHRA, it's OUR NHRA! I'm not really sure how you got into the position you are in but you are an embarrassment and a lousy steward of MY NHRA! Turn the NHRA over to someone who has everyone's best interest at heart, not just yours. Jim

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Ed & Kenny,

I thought it was a very good move by IHRA... They know that the no-names and the non-racers can't wait to start the rumors about IHRA following in the foot-steps of NHRA... All I can tell you is that I have been racing both for the last 12 years, there isn't any question who treats the racers better... Yes, they have their little problem like late night races, but its still better than getting kicked in the face... We all need to support the people who support us sportsmen racers, or someday there won't be any other choices ... Yes, they run alot of 1/8 mile, but its still fun and is quicker, or you can stay home and sell your car & parts .... I do feel bad for the west coast & northwest where there aren't any tracks, but a couple more days of changes from NHRA, that could all change... Don't you think you should at least give it a try, you might just like the Old time friendly racing........... " the choice is yours "

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

IHRA races are great as long as there 1/4 mile. I hate 1/8 mile. People always say on here the big guns won't race IHRA. Well ive been to IHRA events where Fletch,Bertozzi,Faul,Emmons family etc were there. These guys are guns the last time I checked.

what would you do?
 

just thinking out loud here. a racer to president @ 15% of comptons salary = $ 115,500. pr yr
this frees up $ 654,500 .since the president should make the most , that means the rest of the V.P.'s
salary should be brought into alignment accordingly.Then make the pro's pay their own insurance enhancement. Then pay the DD's that are doing their jobs as well as tech and other workers what they deserve.Make sure all contingency is paid within a certain allotted time frame, if not paid they are out.This plan does not require any extra labor to put into play so that leaves a vast amount of excess cash that can be spread out among the sportsman classes. no extra costs and top management gets paid a reasonable salary instead of milking the company and watching it go under .It seems they dont care what everyone thinks because if in fact they are in financial trouble, they are getting as much as they can before the ship sinks.Let's hear some more ideas on how to fix the problems @ nhra .there seems to be a lot of negative feedback , but at the same time why dont you offer up solutions?

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Dave, I fully agree. I'm joined up into 2010, seriously considering not re-joining when it's up. There are enough IHRA races around here for a semi-retired old man. As Ed said, the Tpo Guns often do show up. It's some of the others that don't. Heck, if it's easy come get some of it. Also, as Pat said, it's going to be hard on their race tracks to keep going also, when entries drop. Not sure what they are thinking. I just have a very small business, so what do I know?

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Dave, I will be going to my first IHRA div race soon, and I have only one gripe,about them, that is the 1/8 mi racing. I started out racing 1/8 mi in the early 80's and that was all I did until around 90. I dont have anything other than that, and that is because of land that the tracks have anyway.

I posted that email, because I thought it was very up front, and mature to go ahead and clear the air, before it gets all shot to hell with MB bickering, I applaud Scooter decision to get it out ther now, and not leave it to speculation. That was why I put that up. It was in no way a slam.

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

This reminds me of a shirt I had made many years ago (1980) and wore to the IHRA race at Bristol. I got a lot of high fives and my photo taken a lot. The front said "Who is Wally Parks?" The back said "Who Cares!!" Some things never change.:rolleyes:

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

I got the same e-mail today from ihra. What nice people. I will see you at the pro-am race at buds creek next weekend 2 races plus a bracket race saturday nite. Sounds like fun to me!!!!

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Any body wanna give me a big IHRA sticker for my wagon?

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Jim Wahl: I read you post and I came away with one thing in mind: You got some BALLS! I really agree with you and feel N.H.R.A. must do something to turn things around. We all know Detroit is taking a big hit and upper management being replaced all of the time, with just cause. N.H.R.A. should rethink doubling prices and find another way to work through these tough economic times. All of us are effected in one way or another and we still try to find ways to continue to race.

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Seriously??? That extra 3 - 5 seconds is worth the sore butthole? I personally couldn't care less!

IHRA and DAMN proud of it!!! ;)

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

I received the same message since I just joined the IHRA and I think it will help the perception of the organization....BUT....there was a hidden message in the email, it said....."I just got fired!"

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Here's one: Where's Bo? (aka Bo Butner) Answer: Same place where Jules & Rich Schoenberger ... went NMCA racing!!

I know, I know...these guys where comp racers. But a good indicator of things to come. I got into a long conversation with Jules & a couple former comp racers a few years back who said "NHRA is gonna have to get their ***** together soon or there will be no more racers, especially after what they did to PST".

Both Bo and Jules have converted super mod cars that are now running heads-up outlaw "street" racing and probably never gonna look back. I also noticed the NMCA Nostalgia Muscle Car classes where the '65 will be headed.

IHRA will be there for performance based S/SS competition. Otherwise there's PLENTY of shoe polish racing at SSSSA, ECSSA, and a ton of other associations, offering 10 times the fun over ANY NHRA enhancement!!!! Times are-a-changin', but NHRA isn't :confused:.

I still can't grasp how anyone pay fees as ridiculious as NHRA and claim to have fun unless they win or get runner up. I've said it before & will say it again, NHRA will not survive on John Force and Don Schumacher alone. And that's pretty much all that's left. (AJR will be in the mid-east by 2012).

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Seriously, and my butthole is not sore. I belong to and enjoy running both NHRA and IHRA. It takes special circumstances for me to run 1/8th mile. I have run 1/8th mile and have had no problems adapting to it. I think it is easier, that may be why some prefer it. It seems to me bracket oriented people like 1/8th mile better than the performance oriented racers. Fortunately for me there is a nice 1/4 mile track across town. Mike Edwards, V. Gains, the Freeman family, and several Comp racers test there all the time. If I lived in a rural area with only 1/8th mile tracks, maybe I would learn to like it better.

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Guess I'm a little slow. Where did it say that?

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

Your not slow, it evidently was hidden behind the text and was written in red. I don't even know how it appeared but I had read the message then clicked away to another email then clicked back to the message and there was the message!.........strange!

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

This is to all the guys that race 1/4 mile, since you don't like 1/8th mile racing could you tell me how you got to the 1/4 mile without passing the eighth?

Just wondering?

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

I think that's probably the best post I have ever read on this forum.

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

I just got home from a race @ Immokalee and recieved my email from IHRA.This is why after 50 years of racing NHRA I only race IHRA. Way to go IHRA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Just got this email from IHRA...
 

any additional ideas for my above posts?lets hear from you