Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Beard
Many of these issues are a self-fulfilling prophecy. Like scheduling, just as a for-instance, nobody went to Montgomery last year (even with no real conflicts), so why on earth should they lose their hide again? And contingency... I used to be able to make close to $9K at a National. One reason that it's down so much is the lack of support by the racers. How much value does a sponsor receive for their advertising dollar with short fields? (Don't forget the number of racers out there that don't even have a sticker on their cars!)
Greg Hill has the necessary attitude. If everybody with an excuse would just GO, guess what? The car counts *would* be big. With big car counts, the tracks make money. When tracks make money, you would see better and more consistent scheduling/locations. With quality cars, tracks, and schedules, sponsors would return to fight for your hard-earned dollar.
A sanctioning body is what YOU make it. Re-read that sentence and think about it.
$.02,
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Michael, I think you are right about a lot of this. Obviously there are a few legit issues in some people's eyes. We would have run Montgomery last year but 2009-2010 was the worst 2 years business wise that my dad and I have ever had, we didn't do any racing to speak of. I am going to the Nitro Jam in Baton Rouge, and going to try and run D4 for points (as finances allow). I think IHRA's heart is in the right place, they are trying to make things better for the sportsman racer. I do think they should read/listen to some of what's being said here, as some of it has merit.
As far as the contingency issue goes, unless you are a touring pro, or a perennial final rounder ( Beard, Bertozzi, et al) then is it REALLY a big enough issue to keep you at home?