National Dragster
 

Anybody disappointed in the new National Dragster? Do you remember when National Dragster reported on local tracks and divisional races? The one that came this week looked like a program from a national event. What racer really cares about anybody’s wedding or
vacation. All the nostalgia pictures are from when National Dragster was a real news paper. Man...I hope this is premature, but I think that we have seen one more step to the end of racing as we know it?

Re: National Dragster
 

Conway , I,m with you on this one ,, half the issues They should charge us half the subscription ,,It,s all heading toward the tubes !!!!!!!

Re: National Dragster
 

Here it is January 25th and I've yet to receive this years 1st issue. So typical of Central N.Y.

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I agree Conway. Just thumbed through it last night, and wondered why I bothered.

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Well, this morning I was greeted with an e-mail about my National Dragster online. I believe what you will eventually see is an end to home delivery of National Dragster and an online issue only available. Just my opinion....

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the old style format of the dragster was costly, it was cutting into Comton and crew's beer money

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I agree with Conway , Why doesn't NHRA listen to the racers at all ???

Does anyone at NHRA care about the Racer's ? Who's making all of these Bad moves & Why ? Look's like another Bad Rush Job ...

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Re: National Dragster
 

I called membership services yesterday and expressed my thoughts on the sudden changes in the ND format and delivery. I kept it short and to the point. I mentioned that I read that they were offering an 11 week extension on memberships to those who complained about being boned out of half of what they payed for. I was told that the offering was for those who lived out of the US and those in the US who paid extra for 1st class delivery. I was offered a rule book or a tee shirt for my time and trouble.

Re: National Dragster
 

He must pay first class postage then! As it shows Texas. Another No Name poster. Oh I am sorry I must be whinning.

Sean

Re: National Dragster
 

Is "whinning" the opposite of "loosing" then?

Re: National Dragster
 

how many of you actually read something in ND's last issues that you did not already know ??

now you guys know i NEVER miss a chance to bash NHRA but...
there aint a print publication (newspapers to monthly mags) that isnt in big trouble...
face it guys > you get your news from a phone !

so i dont blame nhra for its inability to change the world.

now about a rebate on my dues to cover the 50% reduction in publishing and mailing fees let me know where to sign up...but im sure it just goes on that list of "ways nhra has screwed me" and just take it like a captain :)

jack

Re: National Dragster
 

I stopped getting ND a few years ago and just purchased the rulebook each year. I was going to buy 2013 rulebook today until, I was checking out and they wanted $10.71 for shipping, No thanks. So, yes they are pushing for more online interaction. I did find NHRA members can download PDFs of the rulebooks for free.

Regards,
William

Re: National Dragster
 

Anyone got there 1st issue yet ?

Re: National Dragster
 

Over 10 days ago. 2nd "release" was the fan guide that use to accompany the first issue.

Re: National Dragster
 

[QUOTE=Jack McCarthy;366570]how many of you actually read something in ND's last issues that you did not already know ??

now you guys know i NEVER miss a chance to bash NHRA but...
there aint a print publication (newspapers to monthly mags) that isnt in big trouble...
face it guys > you get your news from a phone !

so i dont blame nhra for its inability to change the world.

now about a rebate on my dues to cover the 50% reduction in publishing and mailing fees let me know where to sign up...but im sure it just goes on that list of "ways nhra has screwed me" and just take it like a captain :)

jack[/QUOTE

Good Luck Capt. Lmao

Re: National Dragster
 

I havent even got anything yet

Re: National Dragster
 

You can buy a rulebook at a national event at the NHRA store, use your 10% discount. Dyno

Re: National Dragster
 

I've gotten both of mine.

You might want to contact them.

However, you aren't missing much. :)

Re: National Dragster
 

I got my1st issue for this year yesterday............ without the fan guide.
Each year I'm a bit more disappointed with the lack of coverage of our Sportsman categories. Thanks Goodness for guys like Ken, Jack and all the others that make a special effort to post updates etc. from the divisionals, and national events they attend.
Walt

Re: National Dragster
 

each division should clone larry & patsy hill and then they could just keep thier advertising pig and we'd all be better off !!!!!!!!!!

captain

Re: National Dragster
 

My fan guide came by itself this year.

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I got my first issue and fan guide but I twice now I have gotten emails that say I can view the current issue online. When I log in all I can see is the fan guide. Anyone else having issues viewing online?

Dennis Breeden

Re: National Dragster
 

No, I have viewed the first issue, the fan guide, and, today, I viewed the third issue with Brittany Force on the cover.

Re: National Dragster
 

I got my e-mail today and all I could get was the fan guide. I tried back about an hour later and was able to read the current issue.

By the way, there is a big picture of Larry Hill's car in the first couple pages. Nice shot!

Re: National Dragster
 

It was really slow and I had to click a ton of things to few it.

However, I did finally get it to load and was able to view it.

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ya Larry and Patsy Hill does a great job reporting on here make us feel like where there with them !

Re: National Dragster
 

NHRA doesn't listen because Sportsman racers aren't really part of the sport anymore. Their version of drag racing is all about the Circus/State Fair/Music Festival atmosphere and the revenue that consumers wandering around looking at shiny stuff can generate. The new ND is simply a reflection of that mentality. As somebody said, it's just another version of a National Event program. Everything they produce is a marketing piece. I haven't actually read a Dragster in years; because there's nothing in them. I subscribe because I have to, to race.

Re: National Dragster
 

I'm SUPER PISSED about not having the Championship posters anymore. The first time since '94 a Mopar won Prostock and I can't get a poster!!!!!! They aren't even available through the NHRA stores.

-NO printed rule book.(Have to pay for one now).
-NO Campionship poster
-LESS actual National Dragster isssue ( with LESS actual sportsman coverage).

They can keep the stupid Fan guide. Who really cares about it any way?
And the kicker is...You HAVE to be a member to get a license!

Re: National Dragster
 

This whole thing has angered me, I have been a faithfull, repeat faithfull, subscriber since 1969, now we get half the issues, no pin, patch, sticker and so on.

Oh, I forgot, I have yet to recieve the first issue as of 2/3-13.

Back in the day, a event was done on Sunday and a few days later (Friday or Saturday) I got an issue. Now it's a couple of weeks after a event, lousy service since they print up in cheeseland.

With what I have been reading here and other sites, sounds like ND is no longer a real racing paper but a marketing propaganda piece.

Also since SS & Stk are my favorite classes, I can already get annoyed that the coverage will be weak.

Oh how I miss Drag News!



SuperStocks@LionsDragStrip.

Re: National Dragster
 

C'mon guys...this year you get all these pictures of Brittany Force LOL.

I'm getting so sick of the DSR/JFR Fan Rag they now publish I could puke!

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Re: National Dragster
 

I'm with both you and Dennis on this one Conway. Wow cut in half the issues we get to read, reduce the coverage us sportsman racers used to get, yet double the licensing and competition number costs, lower our indexes, and reduce our altitude correction factors to levels fair only for cars that use throttle stops and delay boxes for their et's!!!

No wonder I was hopeful that the Norwalk, Oh. group expanded their sportsman offerings out west here. Now that the Drag Review group has new owners of their HRA, I hope the southwest will be given another try, but with more emphasis on us class racers! Monopolies don't drive down costs, competition does! It's high time the Glendora, Ca. group gets some competition for our racing dollars...especially since we're the ones who primarily pay their bills!!!

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On the front of the new National Dragster they are talking about Brittany Force being under pressure?
Come on how stupid do they think we are! What pressure? Seeking the next big time sponsor they can get? That's about all it is to them, just sucking as much money as possible and getting as much exposure as possible.
I respect John Force and Austin Coil because they have paid the dues of Fuel Racing. But it is a bit of a stretch to say any of his kids are pressured, like they really know anything about racing when in fact they are avenues for making more profit for JFR.
I have no proof of this but it is the feeling a regular guy gets.

Re: National Dragster
 

Guys, when a company or organization stops offering you what you as a consumers demand for your hard earn money, it's time to stop buying their products. I did three years ago and haven't miss their garbage one darn issue. Maybe they will get the message when none of the sportsman buys their crap. Claude Ruel

Re: National Dragster
 

Nice full double page picture of the Hill Cuda in the new Dragster.Way to go Larry and Patsy!!!!

Re: National Dragster
 

NHRA membership is a requirement to obtain a competition number. If you aren't a member, you can't run at NHRA events.

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This year the fan guide actually counts as one of the ND issues. Holy crap how about a break once in a while. Just one hoseing after another. I usually don't bad mouth nhra because they are the only game in town. It just isn't getting any better for the sportsman. I forgot in Washington State we will be refered to as sportspeople. No more sportsman,firemen,postman, you get my drift.

Re: National Dragster
 

O.K. I fially got my Dragster today and if it was,nt for the two page photo of Larry and Patsys great looking stocker in it was on its way to the trash.....Oh wait my wife says I don,t throw any thing away !!!!!!!

Re: National Dragster
 

I remember when a sportsman car would always be on the cover of the issue that covered sportsman classes. I remember John Lingenfelter, David Nickens, all kinds of sportsman racers; heck even I was on the cover. But those days are gone sportsmen don't mean NOTHING to NHRA anymore. The technology and quality of the cars is much higher but cost is much higher now than when "We" got some ink. After all that is all we are in it for, it sure isn't the money!