Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

:confused:This is a sort of rant, but more of a head scratching "what are they thinking" open talk with the NHRA (No Hot Rods Allowed).

Not that I expect that they'll listen, but here goes......

First off, I do not have a dog in this fight, I gave up racing Stock years ago, but no two classes are more near and dear to my heart. In order to watch them I have to dig around on You Tube to find, not surprisingly, well made and produced videos of St/SS qualifying, class runs, and rounds of divisional and national events.

My latest intel, has informed me that some of the better known video folks have been threatened will legal action if they continue.

To which I ask a very simple question of NHRA: WHY???

You don't EVER show any Stock or Super Stock racing on TV, so who are they competing with? I don't know what stick-and-ball sports marketing outfit you listen to, but I'm fed up with your 2 1/2 hour infomercial with a little racing sprinkled in it. I could not care less what some drivers favorite doll was when they were five, or where some crew chief's favorite fishing hole is, or what some chef is cooking for lunch for some pro team. RACING, GIVE ME RACE CARS RACING. I consider myself pretty smart and a keen observer. I know who sponsors who, I'll do my part.

You may not be able to see them from your air conditioned VIP boxes, but there's A LOT of empty seats at national events that you cannot hide with camera angles and colorful sponsor tarps (sorry, it's that keen observer thing again!). I stopped going when, after working my schedule out to see my two favorite classes (Stock/Super Stock) I arrive to find out they'd been changed because some professional dog-and-pony show ran too long, or some smacked-arse CEO who wouldn't know a drag race from a drag queen couldn't get there till later.

Well, if you take away the racing I want to see, then I'll protest with my billfold. There's plenty of REALLY good racing to take in: Nostalgia SS, pro mods, ADRL, Outlaw Fuel Altereds, the collection of Gasser Associations, even a good old fashioned Saturday night bracket race!

So let these folks post their videos. They're not hurting anyone, in fact, it's the ONLY way I've gotten to watch any door car action lately.

Well, I feel a little better having expressed my thoughts out loud, not that I expect any sort of reply, other than some sort of pompous grandstanding about intellectual property or some such nonsense.

NHRA, you can blow me off as just one dissatisfied race fan (and good riddance, yak-yak-yak) but you might want to unseat yourselves from your golden commodes long enough to see if other race fans, old dyed-in-the-wool race fans think like I do (check those grandstands...) The way my friends got treated in Houston was the tipping point for me. And now this video thing.

They couldn't stack arrogant that tall and not have it tip over...OR COULD THEY?

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

You might want to check IHRA's web site, they have been broadcasting some sportsman events on the internet live. They done the World Finals last year and the Immokalee division race earlier this year. I do believe they are planning to do another race later this year. There was several different camera angles and it was pretty impressive I thought. I forget the website that runs the deal but you should find some info on IHRA's page.

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

That would be Mark Walter of DragStory.com, with the live streaming video coverage at www.motormaniatv.com If I can secure sponsorship, I hope to have them covering the Northern Class Nationals at Columbus next year. They do a phenomenal job.

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

maybe NHRA will have a show with the new super cars to promote. I love all stockers but that will be my guess. When a heads up class is run w them, it has a great shot of some tv time. They drag out the alky cars 1 hr show w 3 minutes max of the sportsman. Time for them to move over rover and let the factory stockers take over....
just a hunch.

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

My speechifying is not about WHERE to find door car racing, but NHRA's "I'm telling my mother" attitude on a service provided by race fans themselves because Glendora is too lazy/stupid/arrogant/out-of-touch. There's a good reason all the videos are being posted (and watched) and pulling the Big Brother act is certainly not going to bring back race fans.

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

^^ X2 !

I am very impressed with what Mark and his crew have done in the last 2 years for live streaming coverage. The picture and sound quality has come a long way since 2011. (as well as good camera angles)

If I was an automotive based company and wanted exposure, I would check into being a sponsor on one of his broadcast.

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

I've gotten replies from ESPN but still need more signatures.. this seems like another good thread to bust it out again!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/n...tsmancoverage/

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

They don't do it, they don't wanna do it, and they're not allow you to do it. So, if you want it, you go where it is provided, and if it gets popular enough in their view, they'll invent it (ie., take the idea) and figure out a way to monetize it.

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

Can you say "payperview".

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

I don't go to NHRA races, any more, except to possibly visit with frends from out of state. Don't watch on TV either. When I heard NHRA was going to brodcast live, I thought "great", I'll see racing, other then the "Pros".
"NOT"!!!!!!
Couple of passes of PRO eleminations, and the rest filled in with BS.
NHRA should just go back to recorded coverage, and give the Pro cars back the time between rounds. If they keep that less then one hour turnaround, someone is going to get killed, due to a "hurry up" mistake.

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

Charrlie_S, if want to watch live sportsman racing at national events? check to see if your internet service offers ESPN 3 live and turn nhra audiocast because they only talk when the pros run. Tom

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

Dago Red: man-O-man you took the words right out of my mouth! NHRA, if I can help it, will not get another dollar from me! Unless they change. As a former Stock/Super Stock racer for many years it is because of the management at NHRA and their policies that is why I parked my cars in 1991, and then gave up totally and sold the whole operation, parts, cars, trailer, and ramp truck in 1992. We should have learned that "I do not care about the door slammers" by the ridicules rule changes NHRA made in 1973 which forced many Stock racers to go to Super Stock. Apparently we did not learn even back then. It is all about the $$$ on the backs of the non-pro racers!

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

Dago Red... You've brought up some valid points, I know it was just a rant. This website has 11,859 members as of today. I don't believe there is one that officially is from the sanctioning body's corporate level. I enjoyed the "Live from" coverage we were getting on here, as well as many others I'm sure. The last "almost real" event coverage the sport had was the "Diamond P" series with Steve Evans, Bob Frey and Dave McClelland back in the 80's, even then it seemed like the audition for the "John Force Show ". My initial interest was sparked for the sport back in the 60's on "Wide World of Sports" and "Car and Track". Kinda' puzzling why NHR$ doesn't want to show the World the sport they represent at all levels with every exposing opportunity. Your post on this site won't be effectively read by those that you are "scratching your head about", you should print it off and send it to the CEO, along with a self addressed, stamped envelope and see if you get a response. If you do get an response post it on here and see what happens...JMO. MB.

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

I think the people that make the racing coverage for NHRA are journalism/liberal arts types that love to find drama in everything. Look at the TV car shows and it was more about drama between two guys than it was about someone that could actually make something and show how he did it. I think most of us want to see racing, but those jokers think we like all the drama BS. I liked the ESPN3 coverage except there was no announcer or even a down track camera at the finish line. It was almost "OK let the one camera run and let's go eat lunch before the Pros get back!"

I think the Sportsman coverage could be expanded to include more classes rather than just the alcohol classes. I do like seeing them, but I like stock and SS like most on here. I'm not sure I want to see every round of the Super classes, but the last couple of rounds would be cool. I think NHRA wants to control all the video for mostly legal reasons in case of an accident, but probably want control of anything they could make a dime off of even if they don't know how to do it themselves. Modern corporate thinking - we don't know what the hell we're doing, but we're not letting anyone else do it.

Re: Stock and Super Stock Air Time
 

what a great thread. the mention of diamond p brings back fond memories. just go to you tube and see their coverage of the 1978 sport nationals. wouldn't it be great if nhra ceded the rights for all sportsman coverage to speed tv? with their shows like pass time, pinks, and pinks all out, i'm sure they would do justice to you great guys and gals on national tv.