D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

This idea was brought up by a couple of racers....due to the fact that the "S.R.A.C." Does NOTHING! It was proposed that racers in the D1 area boycott a divisional race collectively.We need to get the power of decision back to the racers who support the association. As there will always be the handful of racers who will show up just to get easy pickens. If we all bond together and NOT SHOW then what will they do?

This is just an idea and we were wondering what you all think of it?

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO NOT SHOW UP TO A DESIGNATED RACE TO SHOW OUR DISPROVAL OF NHRA's DECISION MAKING PROBLEM?

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Chris..

Boycotting a Divisional race would only hurt the poor track operator who has to pony up the money well ahead of time to NHRA to host the race with the hopes of making it back later on entry fees and concessions. Besides, most of the decisions that make you want to scratch your head come from a little further west than Warrington, PA.

-Mike

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Chris,

I agree something needs to be done, something that's effective in getting the attention of NHRA. Doubling of fees etc. is completely out of line. I'm due in May to get my car certified and I was going to have it done at the Grove. The way I figure 170.00 to get in I guess and another 150.00 for cert. = 320.00 just to start. It's a burden for me right now. Something need to be done.

Pat I.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Than suggestions of what we can do to fix this is welcome.....What do you all suggest / come up with that will help us relay our disapproval of NHRA's Decisions.

If we get some good suggestions we may all bond together and have a meeting at a race to verbally discuss the plans at someones trailer.

Lets get some good ideas flowing

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

They all come from the Ohio , Indiana racers not ILL.lol

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I agree something needs to be done, but like already mentioned a divisonal race will only hurt the track NHRA gets thier fee weather one car shows up or a thousand.

Best place to make a statement to the NHRA is Indy.

Another suggestion is flood the divisonal offices with e-mails and phone calls in dissaproval, E-mail member services in California, contact the sportsman advisory members, but it is doubtfull anything will come of any of this short of a TOTAL SPORTSMAN BOYCOT, One event may give them a sign, but several in a row will get thier attention for sure, lets see how they pay the "PROS" without the sportsman $$$.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

oops

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Sportsman racers will never get together and unite about anything. A simple example of how racers disagree on this very topic can be found right here on Classracer in the S/SS section. Throw in the "friction" that is often exhibited by some S/SS racers toward some of the other classes..... and all I can say is forgetaboutit !!!

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Maple Grove or E Town would be the Nationals to boycot. I don't think boycoting a Div race would get NHRA's attention

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Waiting until E-town or Indy is too late to make a statement about decisions made this week,if a protest should be made,do it in Atlanta at the National Event,a Divisional won't get the press coverage...there are a few ways to do it,but it should be organized ,not a mob scene..it worked in the 60's!!,,you have to have a spokesman not a group yelling all at once...just a thought ,if they raised prices as they did but also put more round money up at the same time there would be no bitching ,like the extra 1 mil for the pro's could have been 750 for them and an extra 250 for us!!

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

If you were too boycott, it would be best if that track was NHRA owned. But in reality if you check the NHRA Event Stats page, only the hardcore are entering, seems a lot of people are already protesting by not being there.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I agree that we need an ORGANIZED discussion with a spokesperson and D1 is filled with people that are respected (from a racer standpoint) and does not care what needs to be said weather it is nice or not, but that person needs to be able to speak his mind in a professional way (not me L.O.L.) but what needs to be discussed is what we can do to make them listen to that person

There needs to be something HUGE and ABNORMAL for them to look at and get worried if they do not listen.

What could that be? How about go to a National event and PICKETT the staging lanes until we are heard by a BIG WHIG?

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I think this was a very good suggestion that all concerned can do:
." Another suggestion is flood the divisonal offices with e-mails and phone calls in dissaproval, E-mail member services in California, contact the sportsman advisory members,"

If everyone on this forum did this I think someone at NHRA would be compelled to listen.



Pat I
SG1809

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

If the extra $75.00 for cert. and $10.00 for each class is that big of a impact to your budget you shouldn't be racing in the first place.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

that would be like boycotting the gas stations .it will never work

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I agree something needs to be done or we will be forced out,maybe this is the beginning of the end for sportsman racing @ National Events. Could it be that NHRA is slowly trying to get rid of us,1st by limit of cars & classes @ races,then by raising prices to compansate for lesser car count ,less employees @ track to maintain same profit margin. I though this is why they set up "THE SPORTSMAN ADVISORY COMMITEE" but if NHRA does not want to lissen then guess what boys & girls as much as I love to go to National Events I'll go back to bracket racing on Saturday Night @ Atco !

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Atco is a better pay out anyway.
Notice the signature below S/Pro is 1st.
$65.00 to enter $2000.00 to win @ Capitol Raceway in Maryland
And you can run the stop if you want.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Yea Brian but Atco is closer & most important has a BAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I agree that the best place to make a statement would be INDY. But I don't feel that enough people will agree to do it. It would be like getting all of the Supercomp racers to agree on what the best stop stall is to run your engine.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I know it would never happen... but if you really want to catch NHRA'S attention? Boycott the Nationals in Joliet and the Jegs Allstar race.
That way all the classes are there, No S/ST in Indy.
What ever race you guys do i am with ya.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Brian
Quite obviously this is not the make or break spending that will stop us....it is one thing on the pile of problems. As I had said b4 there are some people who will not understand the "PRINCIPLE" (you do not). Either we stand up at some point or we just keep EATING ****!

If you do not want to stand up / be heard than dont. There are 5 more people that will stand in your place.

I like the pickett the staging lanes along with FLOOD the offices with letters and E-mails.. However the emails can be deleted and letters shredded.. we need to stop them from operating until they hear us. If EVERY national event the sportsman racers picketing the staging lanes until Graham Light came down to hear them we may get something done!

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Chris.....In 1980 or 1981? when NHRA decided to drop Modified Eliminator......the racers staged a protest at Indy. I was not there but I believe they blocked the return road and tried to disrupt the event. Ultimately it had no effect on NHRA's decision. As I said before...NHRA has a long history of doing as they wish with no regard for their members. The best thing that could happen is for Sportsman to just go somewhere else to race but unfortunatley there is no alternative for many racers and NHRA knows it! NHRA says sportsman racing fees don't cover the costs to administer their programs. As a member of the Association I would like them to show us the numbers on that...... ALL Fees collected vs expenses we incur.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

It would be interesting to see if ESPN would even acknowledge such an action? I agree with your dad Chris, something tells me NHRA dont care if there are any Sportsman at the National level.
I think they would be happy doing away with S/SS,Comp,90's classes, keep the alcohol classes and add a full Pro Mod program, that would be a "National Event " to them. We all would be racing at the Div. level only.
How about the fact that multi million dollar pro teams continue to get in for free? Thats a real kick in the pants!...lol.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

so the general idea is take it or leave it? .... THAT SUCKS..... I would like to believe we ultimately be able to sway their judgment.Just like unions.... they listen or we dont support

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Not that I don't agree with you Chris, but how long do you think we'd picket he lanes before NHRA has the Security rent a cops and the NJ State Police either remove us from the premisis or have us arrested? ......Many years ago the Super Gas racers banded together at the Keystone Nats and refused to race in misty ,unsafe conditions , The Pro Stock racrs even agreed with us! .....We only succeded because we had some very persuasive [intimidating] racers leading the charge.........How did NHRA respond ?, they sent us back and we did not see the race track again untill about 4:30 Sunday afternoon, They did'nt care if we raced or not. ....Tom

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Im all for trying to open their eyes to our feelings, but picket lines are serious Sh*#. Ive been apart of many being a Union member for 22 yrs with Verizon. There are many legal factors, you have to be a certain distance from the party you are picketing, and yes, they will have the cops disband things fairly quickly if it was done on track property. Plus you would have the "Pro Sportsman" crossing the line because of sponsorship committments and the fact that they do it for a living,things can get ugly.
I feel the only way to show them we are fed up is to show them an empty pit area at National events, sending letters and emails.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Chris didn't I see your name on the entry list @ Atlanta ?
And Tommy the bar is great ! all tracks should have one. P.S. now there's a pickett line I'd be in.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I have to agree with Tom, Trying to set up a picket line would only create more problems for us. I think dealing with this on a professional level in a professional way may call attention to our concerns. They say the pen is mightier than the sword. Let NHRA know how we feel about the increases through coorespondence. This is something that we can all easily do. Even a petition may have an impact. For me it's not just about the money it's the principle and lack of consideration that bothers me. Fee's are increased 100% and we have no say, no input. Pay or don't race. NHRA should consider the racer, pro or non-pro, after all it's supposed to be an Associtation. Just one other thing I would like to add, doing a chassis certification normally takes 15-20 minutes at $150.00 that's pretty expensive. How is that justified?

Pat I
SG1809

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

This is just my .02 but disrupting races and boycotts is not the answer. I believe getting an open meeting with the big dogs at a national event would be of value. If you can't afford to go to the races because the price doubled, it's a fair arguement. A lot of racers won't finish the season if they break a motor. Times have changed and we got the short end. NHRA owes us at least a chance to discuss.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Don't forget, that alot of these fees hikes effect more than just those of you that go to Divisional and National events. Anybody that has a car that runs faster than 9.99 or a competition number or races at a NHRA sanctioned track is effected. So the number of protesters is much larger than you might think.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I agree with Mark to talk to the Big Dogs to me would be the best bet & try to get some answers about were sportsman racing is heading. Again will the big dogs speak to a crowd of angry racers or is this why the set up SPORTSMAN ADVISORY COMMITEE.Chris & myself will be in Atlanta how many commitee members will be there? Lets try to get some answers this weekend!

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I've said this before and someone else mentioned it earlier, the "pen is mighter than the sword." I would like to suggest that everyone who is taking the time to complain on this board about this latest "problem" would make better use of that time by sitting down and composing a letter/e-mail directly to the powers-that-be. I'm not suggesting the use of this board is useless, but it's awful easy to just post. Petitions don't work and protests are another problem. Stick a petition on someone's desk with a thousand-two thousand-whatever signatures and it can be easily ignored. But stick that same amount of letters on someone's desk and it's hard to ignore. Anyone can simply sign a petition, but a letter tells me the person is serious about their concerns. You have to make an effort. I seem to beleive that the greatest form of protesting has got to be the dwindling pre-entries at national events (if that is indeed the reason). Now it's time to flood the offices with letters. Maybe it won't have any effect, but you can't say it we didn't try. Don't just complain, do something!

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Brian,

You may want to take a better look at the S/C and S/G entry list from atlanta.....Im in both! I will be composing a letter in Atlanta and will post it before I send it so EVERYONE can be on the same page...Suggest the same is done by everyone else on this site....lets put our heads together

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

How's a guy suppose to afford to drink with all these price increases?

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I guess there's this thing (gross as it sounds) called a "single" shot. Never had one, but I guess you could have them instead of a double. Personally I'd rather sell the wheels off the car than have a watered down Jack & Coke.

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Does anyone here have a direct way to contact Forrest and Charlotte Lucas? Maybe we should focus this through them, as it is their name which is associated with NHRA Sportsman racing. In other words, see if they can be our allies in this and help in the discussions with NHRA.

Regards,
Michael Pliska

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I LIKE IT! That is a GREAT idea. Jeff Kundradic knows them well..

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Maybe quit sending them membership money as well as a boycott? How big a dent would that put in their budget?

Or send them a duplicate copy of your entry to any othr sanctioning body's event you attend with a note, "this is because of your treatment of sportsman racers, I won't be at your event this weekend."

Hurts local track owners and promoters if you boycott NHRA events? Maybe they need to rethink their association with the NHRA

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

Great idea,isnt one of there drivers super comp world champ? Wonder what his feelings are about this?

Re: D1 NHRA Boycott?
 

I could write War & Peace on this subject, but I'll keep it short. IMHO, the ONLY way to get NHRA's attention is to hit them in the pocketbook. They basically know that they have us all bent over a barrel with what they feel is the only game in town. I'm all for giving letter writing a try, but whether you put one letter on my desk or 1000, I can still easily throw them all in the trash without even reading them (I'll just need a larger trash receptacle - and e-mails are even easier to delete, as I bet I easily delete 100 per day without even getting past the subject line).

Protesting at a race will do nothing. Ask the Modified Eliminator boys what they're little show got them other than their name on NHRA's ***** list.

But, if the money stops flowing in, now you're going to get their attention. Not counting crew passes, 500 cars times $250 per car = $125,000. What does NHRA pay out at a national event, $50,000 tops? Taking $75,000 away from them (again, not counting crew passes, concessions, souvenir sales, etc.) will have more of an affect on them than writing 1,000 letters. And if they don't get the hint after one race, continue it at the next until they come looking for us to have an open discussion.

Remember, WE ARE THEIR CUSTOMERS! This is not some special society that only the privledged can join. If you have $64 per year, you can be a member of NHRA, and for $270 more, you too can compete at one of their "prestigious" events.