Is IHRA Going Under?
 

In the last couple of months I have been trying to get answers to some rumors I have heard and I recently I got them. They were not he answers I wanted to hear. Anybody who has tried to contact anyone in the IHRA knows how increasingly difficult it is to find anyone on the other end of the phone or the email you send. It was confirmed to me that there only but three people in the entire IHRA office now. Most have either been relieved or "retired" and are moving on. When asked if there was even going to be an IHRA next year the answer was....... well, lets just say it was NOT "Oh sure, we are doing fine!". I was also told that while the IHRA may be in business "technically" next year, it was doubtful the Sportsman racers would have any venue or be any part of the IHRA!
It seems that Mike Dunn has cut the heart out of the IHRA and that he believes they should be a Traveling Nitro Show complete with side show acts and clowns to draw spectators. Screw the racers who pay the bills (where have we heard this before?).

My initial question was to inquire about what had happened to the Drag Review Magazine. I was shocked to be honestly and directly told that there was no magazine anymore either in print or online and there was no plan to continue it ever again! When I asked if there was going to be a rebate for the cost that members had paid for the inclusion of the Drag Review in the membership fees I was told I would have to take that up with Scooter Peaco, the V.P. of the Association.

I hate to be the bearer of such terrible news but the facts are the facts and I felt that all the Sportsman racers who have supported the IHRA for all these years should know. I couldn't even be told that there would be a World Finals this year. I'm not sure I would go now even if they say there will be. I feel we have been lied to ever since Mike Dunn became President!

I would suggest that if you are concerned over this at all you call the only number that seems to get anyone who is alive at the IHRA office and let them know what you think of all this. I was told that all calls were being recorded so keep it civil, the people you talk to there are being "retired" very soon and are feeling the same betrayal that you as racers should be! Call now and call often! (419) 660-4215. Jim

I am disgusted!


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Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

As I said before even rats know when to abandon a sinking ship I did it a few years back So sad I did enjoy my years with IHRA. I just hope somewhere in the future they can get it all back together get some sponsors in and turn that whole thing around It will be even worse with Nhra as the only game in town

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Didn't they try that a couple of years ago?

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Yes and they called them "National Events" or "Nitro Jams" but they had a Sportsman program along with it.This year as far as I know there were no Sportsman classes at the Nitro Jams. The Divisionals (Pro Am) are the only Sportsman races. Nitro Jams are booked in shows with Nitro Funny Cars, Nitro Harley's and Pro Mods. Jim

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Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

They had the national w/ sportsman at MDIR aka MIR aka buds creek

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

The pro-am races were not well supported by the sportsman racers. Car counts were low at most races. Division 2 has been growing and had the best car counts at the Pro Am races here this year. Other divisions had minimal support. The track owners did little to get any spectators in the seats. The payout and contingency were still pretty low. I hope we have an IHRA next year as that is about all that we have here in Florida. Interest in Stock and Super Stock is at an all time low in all of the sanctioning bodies. Even our Southern Stock Super Stock Assn is having a hard time this year with participation. I am not sure where all of this will end up but it does not look good. NHRA is steadily cutting out the sportsman racers at the national event level with the stingy quotas. Pretty soon it will be just a few of the traveling pro sportsman at the nationals. Looks like the end is not too far out for the little guys.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

You are right. They were at a couple of selected Nitro Jams this year. None at Orlando and Philly I know. Jim

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Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

I don't know about the rest of what has been said but Ihra announced no DRM in January.

http://www.ihra.com/ihra-tracks/trac...ne-going-green

The Mike Dunn announcement was early February. I sure hope the world finals is still on this year I've ran 6/8 races in D4 in super rod and still have a shot at making it. Would suck to spend all that time and money this season.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

I know exactly where it's gonna end up. Where neither sanctioning bodies exist right now... Big $ Bracket Racing. With the if the stock and super stock guys raced bottom bulb races purses would probably have a nice little bump up. And you can enter a $10k for like $150. And if ya lose on Saturday you can race on Sunday. Just a prediction

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

I actually renewed my IHRA membership this year and was planning to go to some of the D2 races but then I found out it was 1\8 mile at SGMP and Orlando, just couldn't see towing 9 and 10 hours for that.
Planned to go to Piedmont, they cancelled on a Wednesday could have ran it in my opinion. Then I thought I would go to Darlington, forecast looked horrible so I didn't go, they couldn't finish it.
Wanted to go to Budds Creek but was having RV trouble.
When I look at the way they've made decisions and handled things over the last few years I'm not surprised, I'm disappointed but not surprised. Just hope it's not true.....

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Wow. Very Sad. Lets hope its not so.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

There may be a little coincidence that PBIR has been closed for the past two weeks saying that the timing system isn't working correctly. I've heard that the track was sold to an investment company, maybe this is just away of side stepping any connection with IHRA and legally avoid liabilities to the IHR association.
We are hoping that they even open again and not sold out to Prat and Whitney aircraft engine building plant. P/W just got over a billion dollar contract for plane engines and may need to expand, PBIR is just across the street latterly. .

Casey Miles
248H Stock

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

A lot of good times our family had with IHRA. The association race here in div 7 last week had 3 cars show up and the Div 6 Lucas race had 30 cars. Seems class racing is at a all time low even the millionaires don't show up for Lucas races any more. Be thankful for big $ bracket races on the east coast because there is nothing out here. Hope Loose Rocker will expand west!

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Casey, PBIR is owned by IAG which owns IHRA currently. IHRA was (or is) planning to move their headquarters from Norwalk to Palm Beach. Several of the higher ups said they would not move knowing how unstable the company was. Don't know if the PBIR being closed has anything to do with that.Jim

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Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Here's my perspective.......
It's not 1975 any more. Look for drag racing vids on YouTube.
I see video after video of Nitrous , Turbo and Blower combos...guys running all these different "small" sanctioning bodies.
Todays racers aren't much interested in SS , S or Comp style racing.
All they want to do is go fast using whatever means they can.
I used to go to the Southern Nat's every year specifically to watch SS , Comp and Pro Stock. SS , minus the "chrome bumper" cars is a bore.....too many automatics too ( LOL ). Boy do I miss traditional muscle cars in drag racing.....read that "classics" , with 4 speeds thank you. Not nearly enough of them for me.............never have been.
The fuel cars were cool in the eighties..................now its just a circus freak show that , as far as I'm concerned , should just go away. Mike Dunn , you and your Nitro classes suck. The only ones that care about fuel cars are the fuel racers and some casual fans impressed by the "freak show".
Even Pro Stock has become a monotonous bore. The NHRA hangs on and the IHRA was always the minor league..............always.
Anyone that won world championships in the IHRA , from what I observed , would have had their butt handed to them in the NHRA.........at least in the Pro classes anyway.
If the IHRA dies because Dunn has no appreciation for sportsman racers................then the hell with em.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

United Technologies is there too.
They should have plenty of room to build engines..!

WPB old Moroso Speedway can run Sports Cars and Drag Races.

D

Olden Days Advertising !
 

I remember in the 70's racing at 75&80 in MonRoOOow-veeeya, MD.
Always had good attendance.(Monrovia, MD)

You always heard advertising on the radio.
Little blurb in the Washington Post and Star in the Sports section.

Today there is nothing.
May see some social media if you are a racer.
Just do not see a concerted marketing campaign to bring in customers.

Drag Racing can be bit boring for the spectator.
Few activities to keep their interest.
Food venue sometimes iffy.
Washroom facilities are challenging.
No place to take a shower if you are a racer.

My wife does not like going because restrooms do not look clean.
Women are half the population.

There are positives.
Such as a great IHRA Tech and Track staff to keep the program move seamlessly.

Also thing IHRA should have a National Record Setting day.
One day set aside for tear down and certification with decent scales.
Class Heads up day and then a big race right after.
Suggest a Cold (Cooler) Air Day near about October.

Rent the most popular track everyone can get to.
Don't know why IHRA cannot rent an NHRA sanctioned track for one day.

Never understood why both bodies cannot schedule races at same tracks.


My 2 cents
D

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

I live 7 miles from Piedmont, they could not have finished that race with the weather that weekend.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

YES it will be gone as we know it today!

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Get rid of Mike Dunn

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

If that's the case, Dunn is a POS!!! I've supported them my whole life, even kept my SS engines conformed to their production rules...figures, I should've changed my stuff over to NHRA long ago! UnDAMNbelievable!!!

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Does this mean that the 2016 season is "Dunn" as well? Get it? Seriously folks, I was
looking at going to the Empire double event next month and wanted to ask the boss for
a couple days off...any hints about what happens for the rest of this season?

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Everything I've seen and been told is that the 2016 season will finish as usual. Remember that Summit pays for all of it and I got to believe they are good for it. Jim


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Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

And who would have thought at one time ihra was so close in the same strength as nhra ,,When this nitro jam bull crap was the demise of the format and tourn. of champ,,when ihra had the same format as nhra,it seemed the strongest,and i thought like others M.Dunn was the savior of sac. body ,he was there to pull the plug,This is sad for motorsports if this does happen .

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

I spoke with a couple of Division Directors today. Apparently they aren't telling the guys in the field much. Josh Peake (D2 DD) says he has heard nothing about all this. But I asked him that if he were the company CEO, would he tell his workers 6 months ahead that they would not have a job Jan1, 2017. He said no and that he sees my point. This is the way it's done in the corporate world. They wait until Friday to tell the workers not to come in on Monday! I'm sure some of you reading this can relate.

Those of you who have not run with the IHRA and think this will not affect you, think again! We had a huge scare several years ago with NHRA, remember? This could initiate a domino effect with NHRA. Are you willing to gamble with it? I would ask that ALL racers get involved and do your own investigation on this situation. Call Mike Dunn (417) 660-4207 and ask him! Call Scooter Peaco (419) 660-4217 and ask him. I am only one person. If more of us called and showed concern maybe they would rethink this! It's worth a try! Jim


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Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

This is horrible and I hope there is a way forward as I've always liked IHRA better than NHRA. That said, this is my first week taking over a new maintenance shop and guess what, for a shop of mechanic's, nobody is into racing, most drive imports and they all enjoy demo derby's. Point being, those who appreciate competition or can appreciate hard work and dedication are quickly being replaced by mouth breathers who want to see carnage. A monster truck running over a car is more exciting to them than racing. The worst of it is, in talking to them yesterday (about this exactly) they could care less if the car being smashed was a corolla or a hemi cuda, it meant nothing. Zero appreciation, and this is MECHANIC'S! They might as well be repairing toasters as there is no "love" of things mechanical, just a job to make a paycheck.

(they call me a dinosaur and I look at it as a badge of honor compared to what they are)

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

two comments...

1. happy to see some have woken from their coma

2. America no longer has a car culture, Americans no longer have a love affair with cars and therefore Americans have no interest in car racing!

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

That's right...........
too many other distractions now. Social media ,video games , etc etc.
Never mind cars are so much more sophisticated and generally light years ahead of old muscle cars , the incentive to improve isn't there.
Its us "old guys" now.............and after we're gone...........?

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

"American's don't have a love affair with cars" I beg to differ. Me and my family have been car dealers for over 60 years. And the new car business is selling just as many new cars as in the heyday and go ask Barrett- Jackson and Mecum auctions and all the other classic car auctions they have how business is. They're all doing great. On top of that that new car manufactures are in with both feet with the Cobra Jets, COPO and Drag Paks, The problem is the cost of racing is sky high and NHRA and Ihra have dropped the ball in promoting their type of racing. When Pinks All Out and Street Outlaws can get the type of following they have, Both HRA'S need to take note. It's not the LOVE that's gone!!. IMHO

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

It took a stone idiot to hire him so what chance did the association have after that?
By the way that's an IHRA buckle from when it was run in an acceptable manner!

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

I think you guys are painfully dead on correct but let me add to the "no car culture" and the "old guys muscle car club" comment.......it is still the ECONOMY that has to be figured in too-----the ECONOMY is IMAGINARY NOW AND HAS BEEN FOR EIGHT YEARS and does not support young guys getting in the sport nor the interest, the Spectator is not there for the tracks with or without the freak show. It will be up to the smaller organizations like Eastcoast and CCRA to market it and sale it and include the IHRA type cars if they want a place to race and a sport to hold on to. Local regional organizations need to get busy, somebody could be creating a market here if they have enough interest and business sense. The tracks need it too.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

The Barrett Jackson cars sold won't do a thing for drag racing. Those cars are coveted collectables now. The new cars are too expensive and generally , unless you have deep pockets and an insatiable quest for g forces or speed won't get touched by most guys............let alone see a drag strip.
The love may be there , but the hands-on desire to "tinker" isn't.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Joe your right about the "tinker" part. But it's because these new cars are too hard to work on and too expensive.



Bret Velde
2003 SS/LA

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

IHRA will survive.
They leave a lot of opportunity on the table.

NHRA is struggling too!
They have enough of a better model.

d

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

I think this is when you saw Bill Bader exit then Polburn and Scooter Peaco took over...that's when things began going down hill. Peaco tried to tell everyone that they were sportsman friendly and you could talk to him anytime. You could talk to him but it was like talking to a brick wall and they were dead set on changing what Bader had built! What a shame to see it go away, we have had a lot of great years racing and meeting new friends from all over the country but it will never be like it once was. That said, I don't think it is all Mike Dunn's fault, the ground work was laid by the previous regime.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

I think you have to remember that IHRA has been bought and sold twice in the last 10 years. They are currently owned by IRG, an insurance company. You have to know that whatever happens, good or bad, it is not without approval of the "mother" company. It IS possible that Dunn was brought in to slice and dice IHRA into an all "Pro" Nitro WWF style show. After all money is the root of all evil, right? Jim

BTW - I have a call in to Scooter and Mike.


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Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

I really enjoyed running the IHRA races when Bill Bader was the boss. It's a shame that they have slowly reduced it to nothing.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Imagine, everyone speaks of the demise of IHRA, NHRA with good reason. I believe the model of drag racing is so flawed it must die in this form. Bracket racing will never replace heads up all out racing. Watch round track grow because of low cost and many cases spec or sealed motors.
Cut the costs, simplify the car specs, make TIGHT rules on technology and some kids might enjoy. Very few who know Pokémon know cars because of costs and friends.
Any basic class would be better than current flood of variables and factors.
I miss the class racing but not the issues created by the classes and rules.

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

Jim, Tracy is right-on about this not being Mike Dunn' fault .. Back about 4-5 years ago when IHRA left VMP and went to Memphis... Tracy was right , it was after Bader had left that things got much worse !!! I don't think any one at Corporate cares about Sportsman Racers .... All we do is get increasing entry fee's & less prize money than 30 years ago ????
Let's hope IHRA can get their Act Together , because we Racer's need
to have options on where to Race ? Remember, the worst thing that can happen to us , Is to have only one place to Race your car ... When you don't have Choice's, you are Stuck !!!!

Re: Is IHRA Going Under?
 

My hope is that IHRA is simply going through a reorganization and probably needs some time to sort out everything. If this isn't the case, and they intend to go nitro and not much else, they'll die out for sure. All that you need to verify this is a look over at the other outfit.

The sportsman racer-- liked or not by either sanctioning body, is the true backbone of competitive drag racing. It's the first step on the ladder to moving up to the professional classes. The one thing class racing has over regular bracket racing is a heapin' helpin' of "class". The class cars all look great, they run absolutely fantastic once you understand what they're doing and how stringent their rules are, and the racer's pride in their car's performance and their dedication to the craft is second to none. In fact, more is probably asked of this guy or gal than anyone else in racing. When was the last time your regular weekend bracket racer was demanded to tear their engine down for inspection?

The sanctioning bodies would do well to keep featuring sportsman racing, not throw it away. If it ends up that they ARE that dumb and kick it to the curb, hopefully somebody else will step up and create a league for it. The racers will attend, there's plenty of us, and all that's asked by them is a safe and fairly prepared place to do it and a payout that is reasonable for the entry fee demanded.