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Chuck Norton · 08-17-2009, 08:09 AM

Greg,

I am sadly lacking in my ability to express my opinions on the questions you have raised without carrying the discussion past the point of good common sense. Of course, it's easy to pass that point when dealing with an issue that carries a heavy burden of emotional baggage.

A casual observer might form the belief that the upper management of the organization has a distinct emotional attachment but it is not to the esthetics of drag racing nor is it even remotely related to Sportsman racing or Sportsman racers. It is directly related to making money. I don't remember exactly when it happened but, some years ago, there was a published announcement that, henceforth, the organization was no longer a "club" but something else that was no longer responsible to the "members" but to a Board of Directors that was independent of the "membership." Ask Bruce Noland about the fine points, he's much more completely informed. I just know that it's been many years since "accountability" to "members" was anything but an illusion. Any of the "members" who retain a belief in that illusion will be ultimately disappointed but will continually be in a state of angst about the way things are going. This is a down-to-earth, in-your-face example of what happens when a group of people who are emotionally or passionately involved with an activity such as drag racing come face-to-face with another group of people who are emotionally or passionately involved with making a profit. What's happening isn't personal, it's merely business.

"Standing up" would be an option if anyone were to be astute enough to figure out how to herd cats! Picture an inner city skid-row situation in which all the addicts living on the streets became organized, elected members to an advisory committee, wrote a business plan and "stood up" to the pushers, asking for lower drug prices, home delivery, cleaner needles, and respect. Does that sound like a program that might engender a high expectation of success?

The good news is that we are (mostly) not living on the streets, are (mostly) able to find something else to do, and are (mostly) in possession of our faculties. It's just that making the personal decision to walk away from the needle is a tough one. You young guys have a much tougher decision to make than do we old-timers. You're facing more years to live without the needle.

Nice chatting with you. Hope things are going well in Derbyland.

c

08-17-2009, 08:09 AM	#1
Chuck Norton Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Covina, CA Posts: 474 Likes: 114 Liked 89 Times in 19 Posts	Re: AHFS details Greg, I am sadly lacking in my ability to express my opinions on the questions you have raised without carrying the discussion past the point of good common sense. Of course, it's easy to pass that point when dealing with an issue that carries a heavy burden of emotional baggage. A casual observer might form the belief that the upper management of the organization has a distinct emotional attachment but it is not to the esthetics of drag racing nor is it even remotely related to Sportsman racing or Sportsman racers. It is directly related to making money. I don't remember exactly when it happened but, some years ago, there was a published announcement that, henceforth, the organization was no longer a "club" but something else that was no longer responsible to the "members" but to a Board of Directors that was independent of the "membership." Ask Bruce Noland about the fine points, he's much more completely informed. I just know that it's been many years since "accountability" to "members" was anything but an illusion. Any of the "members" who retain a belief in that illusion will be ultimately disappointed but will continually be in a state of angst about the way things are going. This is a down-to-earth, in-your-face example of what happens when a group of people who are emotionally or passionately involved with an activity such as drag racing come face-to-face with another group of people who are emotionally or passionately involved with making a profit. What's happening isn't personal, it's merely business. "Standing up" would be an option if anyone were to be astute enough to figure out how to herd cats! Picture an inner city skid-row situation in which all the addicts living on the streets became organized, elected members to an advisory committee, wrote a business plan and "stood up" to the pushers, asking for lower drug prices, home delivery, cleaner needles, and respect. Does that sound like a program that might engender a high expectation of success? The good news is that we are (mostly) not living on the streets, are (mostly) able to find something else to do, and are (mostly) in possession of our faculties. It's just that making the personal decision to walk away from the needle is a tough one. You young guys have a much tougher decision to make than do we old-timers. You're facing more years to live without the needle. Nice chatting with you. Hope things are going well in Derbyland. c