National Dragster
 

Am I the only one that is disappointed in the new National Dragster??
The WinterNationals, there were no pictures of rounds in eliminations in
any of the sportsman catagories. There is no National records & no National indexes.
I hope it doesn't stay this way. Personally, I would like a little more info on the
Sportsman catagory.
Joe Greek
#1222, P/S, S-10

Re: National Dragster
 

No you're not, and I agree! Moreover, I'm not happy about the contingency/purse postings that used to be in the souvenir edition, not being in them so far either...at least they weren't for the recent AZ nats....I too hope this doesn't continue...guess it's time for a phone call to the mag....maybe a bunch of us should do that, since there's strength in numbers...

Re: National Dragster
 

What a joke..They actually charge money for this! It is no longer a news source for racers; it is now a way to attract more of the public to go watch their lame 1000 ft racing. It is so bad that I lined a bird cage with last weeks and the birds won't even crap on it! The manufactures will wake up and realize that the racer is no longer reading it and (I hope) pull their advertizing money. It is treated like a "People" magazine now.

Re: National Dragster
 

Not happy with it at all.I never thought there was enough sportsman coverage,but I also don't like to have to go on the internet to read the rest of ND.

It looks like they are trying to make it somewhat like a magazine,and it fails in that area too.

Re: National Dragster
 

I will have to agree with this.The last National Dragster with coverage of the Winternationals was quite disappointing.I used to look forward to the National event coverage of all Sportsman classes with photos of at least the semi and quarter-finals.Maybe there was some better coverage at NationalDragster.net,but I didn't look.I spend too much time online as it is,I don't need to have to go to yet another website for information.

Re: National Dragster
 

I miss the National Record pages too.

Re: National Dragster
 

2x that ss/e ss/d record holder can nhra make you buy it. door is opening wider if some one with savy can seize the opurtunity (IHRA )

Re: National Dragster
 

It seems that each addition has more and more nostalgia fuel car pictures back to back. That might be cool to some, it seems to be too much. One picture occasionally, but several in each edition. Plain filler, with no real journalism.

Maybe its just me and the area I live in, but I have never seen a ND at the book store or grocery store. So how is it that ND is even getting in front of the public for sale at the news stand? The only marketing would be online, and online subscriptions. Yes they give ND's away at national events but that covers a very small market to make an impact on gaining subscriptions. The only repeat customers are the sportsman racers and I would think we are the majority with subsciptions. So if Mr. Burgess is really reading our posts. The sportsman are not too happy with the current version of ND.

Sean

Re: National Dragster
 

How do you fill all the pages of ND with out much effort ?

Why, with huge pics of course.

Take an old photo....say 40-50 years old, blow it up and make a 2 page spread out of it. Of course it has to be a TF or FC....:rolleyes:


Oooops...no pages left for the records and indexes.

Just an observation.

Re: National Dragster
 

I would be glad to send in an extra dollar to add the records and index pages back in
I would think that NHRA members are 95% sportsmen? tks

Re: National Dragster
 

I thought the article on the Hill's was great. Nice article on Glasbrenner and a cover shot to boot. Nice picture of Mike Cotton in the latest issue. I kinda like the nostalgia pics also. That said, I do miss the records and index pages.

Re: National Dragster
 

Didn't you do that when they cut the issues in half? I must say I enjoy reading the Fletcher, Emmons and others articles about their experiences, (I mean who hasn't screeched a ramp loading in the dark for your neighbors sleeping pleasure?) plus many of the regular guest columns like the Doc. Those are the issues that get passed along the most.
My pass along pipeline has dried up some with the latest issues with all the articles about the pros vacations, they aren't as interested in getting them...

Re: National Dragster
 

As others have mentioned, I definitely miss the National Records and Class Indexes.

Re: National Dragster
 

I leafed through half of it this morning and saw the pic of Shauls car and thought well maybe they`re trying .Wow was I wrong,saw the Sportman coverage with the three pics for each section and no quilifing and threw it the trash. WEAK.

I wonder what the reason is with removing the records and indexes,does it really save that much paper?

Re: National Dragster
 

This is a e-mail recieved from Phil Burgess after I e-Mailed him the link to this thread.
Bob Lasko


Hi Bob,

Thanks for the link. We’re already aware of this thread and have been monitoring it for constructive feedback.

It’s our belief that the current Sportsman package we are presenting differs from years past – a necessity once the print schedule changed – it still offers an equitable (if different) amount of coverage.

The main motivation for these changes was the print schedule change to bi-weekly. In an internet and TV world., a weekly magazine long ago stopped being a news vehicle. Once we were able ourselves to accept that premise – as we ask of the members and racers who get their info first elsewhere anymore – the tone and content of the coverage had to change, too.

Although stats were trimmed to the quarterfinals on, all of the previous rounds are available online and it’s our belief that anyone who really cared about those stats surely has already reviewed them online and is not waiting for the print issue to see them. Because the issues are bi-weekly, any indexes we publish could have been superseded or changed in the weeks between issue and, again, all of that is online. We do recognize in print the individual record setters in the Lucas Oil divisional coverage.

The new weekly Sportsman columns include a look at everything that’s going on in the class, and not just the national results. It also includes LODRS coverage and mini features. This is EVERY week, which was not even the case for Sportsman results previously.

We’ve also added a Sportsman personality feature and an up-front two-page color-spread Sportsman Hot Shot in EVERY issue, things that were seldom part of the whole contents. Every event has a beautiful color spread Featured Flyer that is always a Sportsman car.

Additionally, there are more Sportsman-car photos in the photos pages and in a dedicated photo gallery online after each national event.

We understand that change is difficult for everyone, but we think that given the framework of the current print schedule, we’re offering as good – some might say better – a Sportsman package as ever.

National Dragster has always provided the best and most complete Sportsman racing coverage of any publication, and we believe that it still does. The staff loves the Sportsman racers and Sportsman racing, and we remain committed to showing that love. It might not be in the manner they’re used to, but I believe it it’s still head and shoulders above what any other magazine –print or digital – does for them. We’re proud of that.

Feel free to share my comments with the group.

Thanks again for the link.

Phil


Phil Burgess
Editorial Director
NHRA Publications
626.250.2315
NHRA members get National DRAGSTER. JOIN NHRA NOW!



From: Bob Lasko [mailto:lasko@optonline.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 2:01 PM
To: NHRA Web Email
Subject: nhra

Re: National Dragster
 

I have been reading ND for as long as I can remember. For about 10 of those years I did not race and reading the weekly ND was a way to stay informed about the sport and was a highlight of my week......

The modern day version of ND is nothing like it once was and I agree about them posting old pictures.....It is cheap easy filler and serves no purpose other than to add pages.....Ads and old pictures.......and the event reports are jammed together with as little page space as they can come up with...

If I wasn't required to buy a membership to race.....I would not spend the $$

I get ONE car magazine anymore and it is just about the same deal.....ALL ads and pictures.......

Phil Burgess.....if your reading this.......You can see your paper is not getting high marks from some of us veterans......

I'd take an old black and white edition from the old days over the color picture version of today in a heartbeat....

Re: National Dragster
 

Just got my National Dragster dated March 8th this morning. Is this the issue everyone is complaining about??

Last year the Sportsman classes were featured the week "after" the Pro's. This year because of the change in the publishing schedule the coverage has been combined.

I thought the two-page spread on the Division #2 event at Gainesville was good, as well as the 4 pages of Stock/Super Stock coverage from Pomona written by our friend Kevin McKenna, who always does an excellent job! I'm also sure Mike Cotten enjoyed the two-page picture of his Mopar on pages 16-17. I do believe there were more Sportsman articles than the professional categories. Yes, it's not the same National Dragster it was 40 years ago, but then neither is anything else.

If you really miss the National Records and Index's, you should be able to find them on the NHRARacer site.

Lew

Re: National Dragster
 

so when im old and tired and decide to sell my race car for a crap load of
money at barrett jackson (not really) and show its winning and record setting
history. I can hold up a piece of paper saying what website to go to and print it out in stead of holding up a n/d to validate the crap load of money i spent
to get there. at one time that it self, was an award even though I had to wear
glass's to see it

Re: National Dragster
 

Phil, who buys your paper, not the copies you give free at all the races to the general public but the ones who really buys your By-monthly, it's the racers, past and present, so please Phil reduce the Force and lets have more about the people who buy all those motor-homes and their stackers, because they're the ones who are buying from your advertisers! Let's recap, more sportsman influx, such as Fletcher on the road, for all of us who wish we could have the intestinal fortitude to chuck our jobs and go racing full-time and more articles on all the great people such as the Hills,Cottens,Teutons and I can't named all since I would need more than this tidbit)that makes this sport so great. How about articles on your average hard working class and bracket racers who buys all their racing equipment from Summit and Jeg's. Hope you're listening Phil.Claude Ruel

Re: National Dragster
 

Why not make the magazine out of toilet paper with tear away pages, then all the articles would be useful to all the subscribers.... not just those with birds....remember to recycle!!!!!!!!

Doug Humes

Re: National Dragster
 

And, does anybody really give a crap if one of Force's kids fly on a jet? Really?

Re: National Dragster
 

Burgess & Co. forget that a vast majority of the racers who get the print version of Dragster , do so because we are dinosaurs who still embrace print media ,read newspapers and such.
Am I the only one who finds NHRA's web site difficult to find stuff on?
Stuff I'd probably read is obscured by all the other crap that clutters their website.

Re: National Dragster
 

Tom I know for me you have hit it right on the head, we are dinosaurs( I'm 61).
The old way of doing things is gone and is never coming back.
One day National Dragster will be offered online only.
The race cars I am used to seeing on the track will be museum pieces soon enough.
Haven't subscribed to Dragster for 3 yrs now and don't see that changing anytime soon.
Adapt or perish?
Obviously it's not that serious but we need to get used to the brave new world.
Dan.

Re: National Dragster
 

Yes Tom I agree and I also find that many days I cannot even access the NHRA.com website. Here at work or at home. If I want to look up something or just amuse myself the website is not available for some reason...

And yes I too read A newspaper every morning and have for most of my adult life.......

Re: National Dragster
 

I've been getting my Dragster online for 2 years now. I get it a week before the printed version comes out. Prior to that I would often get my printed version a week after the east coasters! In addition, National Dragster.net has a lot of race coverage, during the event and afterwards. I'm on a computer all day long at work so I'm liking the online version.

The printed world is rapidly fading away. I now read books, using my Kindle app, on my iPad. I subscribe to our local newspaper online. I rarely buy a magazine or cookbook anymore as I can obtain everything I need online through blogs, websites, Pinterest, etc. I subscribe to one magazine, Martha Stewart Living (those that know me understand!) and that I even get online. I like not having to worry about magazines and papers piling up, where do I store them, who do I give them, too.

Not everyone likes change but digital media is the way things are going.

Re: National Dragster
 

****, I just turned thirty-three, and would still rather have it in my hands to read (guess I'm going to have to start taking the laptop into the bathroom now...).

TMI, I know...

Add me to the list of those who thinks the new ND is...I'll be kind and say "not that great".

Re: National Dragster
 

Again, ND has slowly tuned into "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". I've been a subscriber for over 30 years and could care less about Schumacher, Force or some other silver-spoon fed up-and-comer that's "paid their dues" racing alcohol cars. They say we (sportsman) are the backbone of the sport. If so, then ND needs to back it up! Truth is, ND has slowly morphed into a fan magazine. That's my rant.

Re: National Dragster
 

What I like:
Color print.
1) Articles are sometimes well written.
2) Tech articles.
3) Featured Flyers.

What I don't like:
1) Sportsman coverage is lacking. What happened to the "about the winning car" section? ND assumes we know all about the winning vehicle. Or that we don't care. The answer is "no" to both statements.
2) What about the runner-up? Previously there was at least an honorable mention. Not now.
3) Missing qualifying order. This is useful information to the reader & provide recognition where it is deserved. Put it back.
4) Deleted pictures of prior rounds of competition. Show a few rounds of competition, not just the final. We're all part of the show!
5) Missing National Records. This goes back to when ND stopped allowing sponsor tags next to the national records. I was told "nobody reads them". That was BS then and it's BS now. Maybe somebody at ND needs to build a class car and attempt to win a race and set a national record. Then they will understand.
6) Nostalgia pictures; less is more. Direct readers to the online store if they want more. ND is not a history book, it's todays events.

Re: National Dragster
 

Well said! Agree 100%. Sometimes change is NOT good! Most of the subscribers of ND could care less about the Force family outings or all the fake "pressures" they are under! Jim

.

Re: National Dragster
 

I to do not like the new ND, race coverage for the division races stinks and so far the national race coverage is crap to.
I guess the new ND is the way of the future but there was nothing worng with the way it was.:(

Re: National Dragster
 

As for the national records, I cannot understand why NHRA won't post the 1/8th mile records on their site like they do the 1/4 mile...strange.

I had to go dig around in the digital back issues of ND from late last year to find them.

Re: National Dragster
 

Thanks for making me smile Julie,
I recall your line of work (and I'm sure it has nothing to do with your choice of reading material, but...) and I'm going to have friends asking me why I'm chuckling all weekend long, and they'll never know!

Re: National Dragster
 

Yesterday, I called NHRA, and got to leave a voice message for Phil, as nobody would answer the phone. I suggested he not put his shoulder out of wack patting himself on the back about the recent changes. I left my member #, stated that I had been a member most years since 1970, our 1 computer is usually busy and don't feel the need to buy another or a battery powered pacifier to read what I didn't ask for. Here's a question for ya', since the Sportsman coverage is so weak now, especially with photos, how can a sponcer of a car that didn't win feel. Before they could see photos of late round action and get their company or service seen on the car they sponcer. This reminds me of 1990 or so, when 98Rock in Tampa went Led Zeplin all of the time and the "new coke",neither of which turned out reeeel well.:rolleyes:

Re: National Dragster
 

Wow...I just love Burgess' response. Sounds to me like, "Hey guys I hear you, but YOU are wrong and WE are right." Typical NHRA response...

Come on guys, NHRA just gave you an enhanced ND experience...you just don't see it.

Oh, that's what they teach you in Glendora Management Training...

N - Never
H - Have
R - Respected
A - Anyone

Re: National Dragster
 

They sent out surveys. Majority rules. It may not be the majority of the classracer.com demographic but it must have been the majority of Nation Dragster Subscribers. Just saying.

Re: National Dragster
 

Surveys aren't always what they are cracked up to be. Some seasoned racers here might comment on that. And 'majority rules' ain't all that, either.

The 'new' ND may or may not be as liked as the old one, but I do like the magazine format and all color printing. That in itself has got to cost a ton. The thing I like the best about all of the ND's-new or old- is the advertiser's index and advertising-I can find a phone number quicker going to the back of ND than I can looking it up online. I like print media much better than electronic, and I'm not quite of dinasaur status at 46 y/o. I find it easier to quickly leaf through ND and find event ads and race schedules than to look them up online.

I do miss the class indexes and records, however. Those, along with the advertiser's index, were my favorite parts, actually.

Re: National Dragster
 

Maybe so, but I would gather that it was administered much in the same way that their marketing strategy and disfunctional hp ratings are....

There is no doubt that printing costs are very high, and there is always a need to cha ge with the times.

My concern is that there are the wrong people at NHRA pushing the yes men into these changes.

I like some parts of the Dragster to be fair, but more sportsman stories would be welcome.

They also need to support the local racers and tracks across the country. If NHRA does not offer franchaise support, they will go elsewhere.

Any track can organize a bracket race TD or TS race. NHRA is enamored with the non performance classes because they are easier to run then Stock, SS, Comp, etc.

They don't realize it, but the track owners will figure out that they don't need NHRA to do this before NHRA does.

Missing the mark with the new Dragster is simply a window into what they have become.

It is too bad some new blood with the love of the sport AND business sense can't come in and show theoverpaid cronies the door out in Glendora.

Those in NHRA that love the sport get squished by those that have only their own interests at heart.

You watch the next step for Dragster will only be features that are merely infomercials that are bought and paid for, just like most magazines.

I quit subscribing to magazines because of this. Instead, I buy 20-40 year old mags. At swap meets. Much better stories and more feature articles on sportsman.

Re: National Dragster
 

What if NHRA agreed to let somebody else like National Speed Sport cover sportsman racing? How many of you would subscribe to it too?

Re: National Dragster
 

My biggest problem with the digital media, is explaining to the wife, why I need to take the lap top to my "after dinner meeting" room!!! E

Re: National Dragster
 

We do not want to let this go away, so maybe we should let Phil
of NHRA re-think his priorities AND decisions.
We want out Indexes and records put BACK in the ND.
Thanks to all for voicing your opinions.
Joe Greek
#1222, P/S, S-10