Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland
I don't see DRC as "responsible" to report. They saw an opportunity because of a need and market interest. The problem is how to make it financially practical. NHRA would say the same thing, and in their case would look at different options (maybe raising the membership fee to cover the expense, looking for corporate sponsors, etc.). If DRC chooses to charge a fee for their service, then each one of us would have to make the decision whether it was worth it. Remember that DRC reports a lot besides just NHRA. Possibly the revenue from a service charge would allow them to offer expanded services. Information is not free, nor is it a right.
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Dead-on. Another thing to consider is the staffing pool. Larry might actually want to retire sometime in the next 15-20 years.
Add up any kind of hourly wage and travel expenses times the number of events they cover, and I think you'll find the cost to maintain DRC is pretty astronomical.
While there are other services out there like 1320go (which you pay for and isn't available everywhere), and fully produced live video like we'll have at the Auto Meter Northern Class Nationals through MotorManiaTV.com (which you know NHRA wouldn't have at a National event competing with ESPN, and wouldn't pay for it for a Divisional). DRC really has its own niche, not only for live results, but also as an amazing repository of archived research material. I use it extensively when writing race coverage for events.
Regardless of what happens, a heartfelt thanks to the whole crew for all their hard work over the years.