NHRA Decisions
 

In defense of NHRA.if a person looks at NHRA as a business I can understand the decision they make for the overall for the good of their company I believe in most cases the decisions have been made looking at the overall picture , Keep in mind they have to make money in order to survive and provide a race for all of us .In some cases the decision is made for the good of the racers ,in some cases the decision is made for the good of NHRA and in some cases the decisions made for the good of the sponsors believe me they want to make money in all instances as In any decision made by NHRA it will not satisfy all of its customers

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

Ya know Don, there's a few of things that I can agree with here BUT, at some point in time, I wish that someone would clarify the definitions of a couple of things for me;

"NHRA as a business";
being a card-carrying (and paying) member of the NHRA AND an active Racer;
Am I a business associate? I'm obviously physically and financially involved in the "business" by being actively involved in the show.
Am I an investor? I'm obviously financially (as are you) "invested" in guaranteeing NHRA's ability to put on a show which whether NHRA believes it or not, we are a part of.
Am I a private contractor? After my initial investment to be "involved" in the production of the show am I not repatriated/paid for being "involved" in the show?
Am I a sponsor? By having an NHRA decal and other NHRA inspired "signage" on my car not only for the show that I'm putting on but 24/7, am I not publicizing the NHRA business model?

Where I'm really going with all of this B.S. is, you're really not referring to me or any other Racers on here as "customers" are you?

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

I think this fits the racers relationship better -

“The general rule is that an individual is an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work and not what will be done and how it will be done.”

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

OK then.............................................. .............ummmm, the "independent contractor" would be whom? The NHRA being "paid" by the Racers to supply the Racers with a place to race or the Racers being "paid" (yeah, that's a joke) by the NHRA to supply the NHRA with a show?

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

As much as NHRA tries to frame it otherwise, we are simply the customer. And NHRA pretty much has a monopoly on the market.

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

NHRA pays you (purse money lol) to be involved but they don't control (to most extent) what or where you decide to race. Kind of goes along with this -
Am I a private contractor? After my initial investment to be "involved" in the production of the show am I not repatriated/paid for being "involved" in the show?

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

My most recent research of the online version of the Rule Book I soon realized that much of it's content was authored by Corporate Lawyers and would guess that Billy's questions can be answered somewhere within the Rule Book.

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

IMO in today's market we're no more than inventory to the NHRA!

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

This is my point for another thread, and especially now that I know the Az Nats are only contesting 10 categories, while the Gator Nats are presenting 15? If they're out to make money, I'll give you a an apples to apples comparison to the Gators....Super Street quota 40 X $350= $ 14,000.00! NHRA, this is what you're passing up on with just the 40 entry quota (add $10,500 to that for a 70 car field)! My 2cents worth.

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

Actually, Don, since NHRA is a non profit, they don't have to MAKE money. They just can't afford to LOSE money. I understand many of their decisions as the cheap, easy way out, for the best short term profit margin, and the easiest to implement. The decision made is ALWAYS the best for their bottom line, if the racers gain any sort of benefit, then that's a bonus that they get to brag about.



Sorry, NHRA is supposed to be a non profit, taking care of its members and its focus, in this case, ALL of drag racing, but as is the case with many non profits, you have a few top level executives drawing an utterly exorbitant salary, a few people who are mid level making decent money for their position, and a ton of people who are barely above volunteers, taking money out of their pocket to support something that they love and believe in, most of whom are used and abused, far beyond what most of us would tolerate.


Sorry, Don, I appreciate your point of view. But I sincerely and completely disagree. NHRA has not acted in the best interest of all of drag racing in decades. NHRA has been focused on the short term bottom line, and ever increasing salaries and bonuses for the top level executives, for a long time. It got far worse when Wally Parks died, but it was already bad long before. I honestly wish that I was wrong. A non profit, originally founded to take care of its members, NHRA now takes care of its highest paying "customers", and its executives. Even the sponsors get the bare minimum.

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

I know that it is 2023 and NOT 1975 anymore.

I know that NHRA stands for No Happy Racers Allowed.

I know that NHRA is a not for profit business.

How about if ALL the rich suits in NHRA take a pay cut to help the overall situation.??? Put the money into the funds available to pay the racers of National and Divisional events.

Many businesses have either closed or made big changes to help them stay afloat in the new world, NOT NHRA. Come on NHRA make the racers happy again. Raise quotas, where possible, and increase the payouts for the racers.

I know that I am no longer a racer, but these thoughts are just my 2 cents.

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

I don't see this happening at all.
IMHO, the "suits" already have something legally drafted that will, when the time comes, allow them to close the doors and dispose of the assets dividing the funds amongst themselves.

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

Disbanding a nonprofit is fairly complicated and is very different from a company closing.

I saw it first hand in my small town. In the 1950s, a group of businessmen and civic groups started a fund drive to build a hospital. Of course, this was pre-interstate, so the nearest big city hospital was an hour or more away. They wanted to change that.

They managed to fund a 10 bed facility. By 2000 or so it had grown to 200. But, it WAS a new century where everything was based on whales devouring minnows. A very large chain made an offer to buy them out, and the local board knew that times had changed and they wouldn't be able to compete for doctors, supply prices, etc. against the giants.

Lots of negotiations, but the bottom line is that a foundation was established and funded with 6 million which was invested. Quarterly, they make grants to organizations who help people - food banks, free clinics, schools, etc. They give out about a 750k a year and have yet to touch the principal and it's been maybe 7 or 8 years.


So this is what happened with a 501 company here, but I see no way to apply that to the NHRA. If the board moved from their line-their-pockets thinking and did such a thing, the only way it could help racers would be if the grants were paid to a new association actually controlled by the people who join it.

Imagine that happening.

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

I recall IHRA tried to help our cause but were denied by NHRA loyalists (circa 2012 San Antonio Raceway, Southwestern International Raceway, and Rocky Mountain Raceway, and the big race held in Tennesee)! Thanks in part to that, we no longer have many of the tracks we had then, entry fees are $70.00 - $110.00 more, and entry qoutas caused by catering to pro classed big rigs, have squeezed many of us out of races we wanted to be in! D7 lost Rocky Mountain Raceway was lost, but when IHRA was there the stands were packed, and even though the nitro burners drew in many fans, we Sportsman racers were shown lots of love, from lower entry fees, to similar (and in the 2010's bigger payouts)! Tucson has dropped out of divisionals, Fontana is long gone, and other divisions have lost key race tracks too. Seems to me competition is needed for Glendora too, but if they get it, will we embrace it, or reject it like 11yrs ago????

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

Two years ago, I made it down to the last 5 cars at the last Atlanta GA National event in Super Street. I got $250. The entry fee was $320. How does NHRA justify this kind of pay out? I made it down to the last 5 cars at a National event, and I can't even get my entry fee back with the winnings? Am I wrong, or is there is something really wrong with that picture? With all the money a national event brings in, why can't a racer even win enough to cover their entry fees with the earnings of getting down to the last 5 cars. Oh, and when I sent them an email with my concerns about this, they responded with how LUCRATIVE their contingency program is. They don't even understand that the only racers who receive contingency money are the winner and runner up! I was so infuriated with their response to this. It was like they were telling me, "Well, we do pay out if you get to the final, but if you don't, oh well, thanks for coming and spending your hard earned money to pay all of our executive vise presidents salaries." Pros don't pay entry fees, and get paid just to make qualifying passes, but we cant even get our entry fees covered by making it to the quarter finals? But, we all keep going back don't we!

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

Must be for that Wally! (see thread "Spoiled Brats")

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

Here's my Top Five reasons for still going, by order of significance:

1. IHRA was rejected out west, so this is my only drag racing option.

2. I still love the competition. I'm not nearly ready to hang up my helmet.

3. The camaraderie and racing family I get to enjoy in this sport.

4. I love the travel to and from the races.

5. This is a sport that I've been blessed to be fairly good at.

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

You make some very valid points Gary.

Even though I haven't had a race car of any form for many years, I still feel very much a part of the sport thanks to the many friends that I have met along the way. I drive into an event and am greeted like a family member. Whether it is a Divisional, National event or local bracket racing or a NHRA Open I feel like I belong. So a BIG thank you to all the friends/family that make me feel welcome. Looking forward to each and every event that I am able to attend this coming year. God Bless ALL of you and good luck at each race this year.

P.S. Can't wait to see the schedule for the North West Class Racer Association this coming year.

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

So what's the difference between a crack head and a Sportsman Racer?

A crack head knows he's not getting money from his drug dealer !!

Re: NHRA Decisions
 

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