NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Below is a email I received from NHRA. I don't usually repost emails, but since this email went out to all competitors at the Summernationals I figured it would be okay. I thought everyone would like to see NHRA's reason for the schedule and poor track conditions for the sportsmen.

It looks as we have made an impression with NHRA, and I would think David Barton was a big part of that. Hopefully they will see fit to wave the fine, given David's legitimate frustration over the track conditions.

"Dear Toyota NHRA Summernationals Competitors,

The NHRA would like to thank you for your participation in the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Based on racer input the schedule was structured so competitors were not required to wait all day to complete their qualifying sessions or time trials. Competitors in Stock Eliminator and Super Gas ran in the morning while Super Comp and Super Stock ran in the afternoon. Unfortunately the outcome of this schedule modification did not produce the intended results. The running of like-type vehicles back-to-back created unrepairable bald spots despite our best efforts to repair the starting line damage.

In addition the schedule was structured so all Lucas Oil Drag Racing categories were eliminated down to the semi-finals going into Sunday. Our intentions were to provide sufficient time so we could parade and interview each winner on the return road. Completing all Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series finals prior to the finals of the Mello Yello and Pro Mod Drag Racing Series allowed us to complete winners circle in a timely manner and provide each of you an opportunity to arrive home at a reasonable time. This schedule adjustment appeared to be favorable to most racers and therefore plan on continuing this format at the upcoming National Events.

Again, thank you for your participation and support of NHRA Championship Drag Racing. We look forward to seeing you at your next NHRA event."

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Not being at E-Town I can't comment on that race, but in general I like the attempt to get us more track time and less sitting. If they can work the bugs out with regards to track prep this is progress.

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

In light of that response, NHRA should rescind the fine against David Barton, he obviously had a legitimate gripe.

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Chad,


I agree , let's hope they show some understanding on David Barton's part !!!

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Agree.

I'm glad to see NHRA acknowledge the cause of the problem.

"The running of like-type vehicles back-to-back created unrepairable bald spots despite our best efforts to repair the starting line damage. "

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

'74 Summernationals -and we brought our own cool .And we all hooked .Thats Stan Welsh in my 'pool' ........It sure was a different time .

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Jack how were you so lucky to get the shade lol.

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While I like the run format for Eliminations, The qualifing /TT schedule sucked for everyone.
The only plus side is SG got all their runs for a change !
There is a big hole in NHRA's arguement of running like wheelbase cars cars in succession , The Stockers were out first ,and the track was bad for many of them right from the start.
There was definately more wrong with the track than run order and track temp.
If the concrete wont hold the rubber,it's time to grind or replace.
Many of us have been to Budds Creek ,MD in the dead of Summer ,with track temps over 140, and the track wants to rip the rear out of the car !
At National events the track is prepped for the 70 or so Pro cars who can adjust power level, clutch, ect, at the expense of 300 plus Sportsman competitors , Especially those on a limited tire .

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

There 'ya go.....nailed it

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Hey Tommy, You better lay low or they may come take that 'big' little man back!!! Oh by the way Congrats to you & Kathy. E

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

So why did they say this was what there plan was rather than keeping it on a need to know, things may have turned out different.

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

The NHRA has admitted that the starting line was, in their own words, "damaged". For that reason alone; logic dictates that they should rescind David's fine.

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

NO !!

Listen to your comments.

I am a Soccer Referee and exposed to opinions of Players, Coaches and Parents at times upset with my decisions on the field.
Have been involved in Soccer for almost 30 years, 40 years in contact sports, been an owner of a Soccer League, Coach and now Soccer Ref.

Not with standing the actions of NHRA.

Based on what was written in these posts.
The actions of Mr. Barton's outburst would be considered "Abusive Language" which is a Red Card.
Resulting of the player being kicked off the field and I would have to write a detailed report.

There is no sports institution that will put up with the anger displayed in public.
Which includes face to face confrontations that I have experienced.

Mr. Barton was right to be upset. Have no argument about that.
However, he survived the crash because the safety equipment designed to keep a driver safe worked.
The rules did what they were suppose to do. Improved over the years as our sport got more sophisticated.
By people thinking ahead. Not hearing anyone cheer about that.:rolleyes:

Mr. Barton had he not been so expressive and behave a bit more professionally.
He may have gotten his point across and more effectively without the crass behavior.

There is a difference in being mad and being angry.
Mad is the reaction on these posts of NHRA's negligence.
Anger is what Mr. Barton expressed.

Mr. Barton please return the money and pay the fine.
OR
Collect it pay the fine
and
use the money to properly to form a union of racers to protect our Sport.
We are NHRA Members.
With our collective and coordinated power NHRA will listen but will not do so easily without proper and persistent persuasion.
Which is the real goal !!

The issue is NHRA lack of quality management and poor attitude of the Sportsman ranks.
It seems to be the prevailing long term issue that covers far deeper ills because profit motive has become radically more important than the racer and the sport.

This is the same ill and attitude in a far larger scale that has afflicted our country over the last 30 years.

NHRA has demonstrated how this ill has embedded our sport.

Sincerely,

Dan Fahey

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

It took years for NHRA to approve a secondary brake system for dragsters and that was a no brainer. I cant say the people making the decisions have the racers best interest in mind.

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Well organize better to make is so, instead of letting things happen !

D

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

The sportsman racer committee was fully on board, and racers sent tons of emails.
I don't know how better organized you can get.

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so besides all the politically correct response's and variety of opinions.
the bottom line to me is, Do I spend approx $2,000.00 drive 900 miles one
way spin the tires on my SStker on a poorly prepped track and chalk it up to
it is what it is a peddle fest instead of drag racing. Or turn my car into a
Drift car so at least I'll know what to expect for track conditions. To me
sportsman are professional racers and like a grunt in the Army have dig for
every advantage. the sportsman class's pay a higher percentage of total
income to NHRA so we own a bigger slice of all the track equipment usage,
so lets be fair. I don't want to add will the track be prepped correctly, when
deciding to go to a NHRA event. lets race ( this rant has been monitored
by the CIA,NSA,FBI,ATF,IRS,NHRA & Jay Leno)

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Dan Fahey....You have always been a class act and I wholeheartedly agree with your post..

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Well said Mr. Fahey.

There was no problem with David's message, it was how that message was sent. "Mr. Barton actions were inappropriate and a poor representation of the professional image we strive for." (Portion of response to email I sent asking the monetary portion of David's fine be removed)

David,
Realistically this is a leadership opportunity you may only be offered once.
Use it correctly and there will be long term benefits for you, your family and business. Used incorrectly this is all a waste of time.

Best Wishes

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

as long as you guys continue to pay your $, show up and play THEIR game, NOTHING will change.

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A little comedy is always good. Calling soccer a contact sport is pretty funny to me. When I was growing up only girls played soccer and after watching about 1 minute of the Seattle Sounders things are still the same. Only girls. As far as Mr. Barton is concerned sometimes faces need to be gotten into. PC does not always work.

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Thanks Guys:

I look at every problem in my business as an opportunity.
That attitude has always paid off too.
Things get solved when opportunity meets preparation.

As a President of my company it is my job to fix what broke, make good better, and sleep with good conscience.

In business and family when a problem arises many times I am the last person to know about it. Just the nature of things.

Have been reading lots of griping about NHRA this and that, yet nothing seems to get done.

We are NHRA Members, we are a UNION of Racers.
Know a lot of you hate that word but get over it.

Our objectives are simple.
Safety, fun, fair treatment and dignity at the tracks.

Side Note:
I remember when tracks were never prepped and seems that VHT though makes tracks consistent can also cause maintenance issues and inconsistent traction of if not correctly used.

Back to Topic:
NHRA is a business and its Leadership is a large complex organization trying to seek a balance with fans, players and gripy people.
Just like any other sports organization.

Believe me sometimes it is not fun.
I have Reffed Soccer Games from Hell...in fact recently.
Despite calling the best games of my life there is no pleasing those that want to win and have all the calls go their way.

Back to our Sport.
We have the right to petition our NHRA Leadership.
However there is no leader or team of advocates, that I know of.

Who advocates for us now, because IMHO it does not seem to be NHRA?

Think IHRA is trying hard to working well with racers.
Yet most racers are NHRA centric and not migrating to IHRA that seems more pro racer.

We the members of NHRA want them to be successful.
I know they are trying to do their best. They are not monsters.
All of us have a lot in common especially regarding our investments and theirs.

It would be to our advantage to organize, challenge NHRA and IHRA professionally and not be adversarial to help them manage their organization.

Now back to work...

D

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Well what I meant by contact sports is 40 years of Martial Arts (Civilian & Combat). In the early 70/80's did a lot of Full Contact Kick Boxing.
Now practicing JDK, Silat, Lameco, Bando, Filipino, Brazilian and American Wrestling.

AND Soccer can be a contact sport, usually followed up with a RED CARD !!

You right PC does not always work !
But it does work.

However, unprofessional behavior puts us all back a notch.


D

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Dan

I have to say,your the first President of a company that I have come across.... to endorse that "Union" word.You have to keep in mind,this is a hobby for most of us. Good, worthwhile, Unions are alot of work, alot of time,and have many, many teething pains.I know as I've been in the middle of starting up 2 of them.I can't think of any " hobby" organizations that are Unionized. And this one is spread out over the entire US. I think it would be a disaster and in the end...fail. The SRAC is a great idea,but this membership of racers needs to talk to your reps and keep them informed of your feelings. I.E Do they even(your rep) know, if this race gets rained out,where your choice for the make up race is?Do you tell them/Do they ask.? In my line of work, all these questions would be answered by the Union stewards or by me. IE.. A steward or myself would go get you the answer your asking Like....what kind of compound is on that track? I doubt most people even know who their rep is.I'm betting they are willing to do all they can, but you need to be involved also.What we have will work, we just have to work on it. Make it stronger, make it better,with more communication.....

Jeff Niceswanger
President UE Local 718
ConAgra Foods
Lancaster Ohio

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

PC meaning "politically correct" translates in the real world to " political corruption ". And I agree that unprofessional behavior puts us all back a notch. That is most definitely unprofessional behavior putting cars down a track in unsafe conditions. As far as fines or penalties for what transpired I advocate using the "first or worse" rule. The first infraction is a dangerous track, worst would be unsafe conditions. The fine should be reversed and levied toward the cause not the effect.

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!------------------------------I can feel the Humidity ..was there all three days..as a 24 YO and his friends would do.We had a 24 ft Ford straight job from my Trucking Co. and we slept and lived in the box..cooked on a makeship grill and had a 55 gal drum filled with and ice and adults refreshments for the not so adult guys.-------------------------------------!

.Remembering...Butch Leals winning Ply-SSB pulling the wheels on every shift..>Popular with the fans..and Larry(with the Grump) Lombardo beating (Wayne) Gapp and Roush. Maverick 4dr Taxi...Jungle Jim's (R.I.P.) wild wheel-stand in the FC final ..against winner Al Segrini.

Those WERE the days.

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Finally - a well thought out comment

Ron

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Daniel, with all due respect, we (NHRA) are not a UNION................far from it. I am a NHRA member, but I do not pay dues to a UNION. I pay for membership to NHRA, by choice and not because I have to...... and none of it goes to any UNION. Other than a membership fee, I pay nothing (sounds like Sgt Schultz)...I pay nothing to UNION to influence a political vote that is contrary to mine. So, my question(s) to you Daniel are: How many employees do you have, and how long before you are fired.

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Al the bitching,moaning and pontificating isn't going to accomplish squat.There was a thread a while back about NHRA sending a memo out to all NHRA members about waiving all rights to vote on any aspects of the operations of the organization.The membership
supposedly gave up their right to do so.So now this is what it has finally come to.
And BTW Wally was in charge then and hadn't developed Alzhiemers yet.

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Some Get It ! most don't lol

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One of nhra's problems is there lack of experience with the starting line crew and the safety safari not knowing what to to with this traction problem. If i correctly remember back when steve gibbs and buster couch were on board there was very little issues at all. They would stop and correct the problem with a different compound of some kind and go on. Maybe they should go back and research this and maybe they will find how to correct this. Thank you. Melsf

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With all due respect to Mr. Gibbs and Mr.Couch the one thing they didn't have at that time was Stockers running in the eights ......

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Mr Fahey, sometimes a good old fashioned *** chewing has a better effect than a long drawn out blah blah blah email. I've been in David's position before and to pay your money to supposedly have a safe and properly prepped track and spin your balls off and lose just plain SUCKS no matter how you slice it!!! When it happens, and any chance you have to win sits there on the line with you, your aren't thinking of how you will compose your email. You are PISSED OFF!
There isn't a place for time outs in drag racing. A good buddy of mine told me, "you have to say something or people will think you like getting f@#%ed!"

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Bingo!

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Amen. The wussification of this county is pathetic.

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I would like to know the names of the mysterious racers that seem to be giving bogus advice to nhra. For some reason they are always wrong and nhra throws them under the bus with regular frequency. They should be allowed to defend themselves.

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

Couldn't have said it better myself ! ------ When you blow the tires off you imediately know it's OVER !!!! Not like a red light OVER!!! that's YOUR fault! This is somebody elses fault that you PAID good money to! The blood rushes straight to your neck and like Byron said , you are PISSSSSED OFFFF!!! It would have been cheaper to pay some big dude to kick your *** and throw the rest of the money in a f####ing trash can!!! ------ My 2 cents

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FALLON, Nev. - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Stock Eliminator at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, event at Top Gun Raceway:
Weather conditions: air temperature 99 degrees, relative humidity 14 percent, barometer 25.99 inches, adjusted altitude 7,008 feet, track temperature 148 degrees.

I wonder if they had any spin problems with 148 degrees track temp? A winner always has a plan a loser always has a excuse [Ercie Hill]. Tom

Re: NHRA's Response - Summernationals
 

I would guess they are probably making a little less horsepower up there than they would be at sea level.

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Sometimes yes, sometimes no. In this situation it appears that the sportsman ranks gained some ground.

Barton certainly got NHRA's attention.