[dragracer9911]

I have been a member of the NHRA since the 1969. I missed two years when I first got married because I could not afford the membership.

Personally, I can't remember when I ever "voted" or was asked to cast a vote anything as a member of this assocation. I am a member of several other assocations and I am lucky enough to have a few stocks, in which both have asked for me to vote for different things like board of directors, COF's, CEO's, etc. So I have offen wondered why, for example, I get a "Fan Guide", Decal/Sticker and a "Hat Pin" with my NHRA membership, but I no longer get a "Rule Book" (in paper form), that I can really use. I didn't get that choice, like so many other things.

I have not renewed my membership as of yet for this year, and probably will not. I have retained my IHRA memebership, more for insurance as I race most at IHRA tracks. The "straw that broke the camel's" back for me was the position that NHRA took with regards to the TV Show Street Outlaws. No, I don't condone street racing. I have supported most of my life Legal Drag Racing, competed at scantioned tracks. But this was a darn TV show. At least it comes on at a decent time, when I am still awake. To me, it's no different than Pro Wrestling, Dancing with the Stars or Fast and Loud, it's entertaining to me. NHRA drag racing on TV has become boring and drawn out. NASCAR has become the same way. The cars are all the same, the racers are all the same, the results are predictable.

Big Rigs. I mean not disrespect to those who have all the cool stuff, hell yes, if I ever win the Lottery, I will have it too. And yes, I would love to see better and timely payouts, but the reality of "our" kind of racing is, if run as a business, we would all be broke. At our local track, the weekly bracket program has gone from $1,000.00 to win to $1,500.00 for TOP ET. The average rear engine dragster, truck and trailer and support equipment is over $100,000. Many are well over $ 250,000 if they have a decent motorhome, stacker trailer, etc. Entry fee, crew entry, food, drinks, fuel, etc is at least another $150.00 to $200.00 or more. So, even at our track, that pays back to the second or third round, tell me, as a business man how the racer or the track operator ever breaks even.

We, or should I say I, do this for the fun and love of the sport that I have loved for 54 years. I do it now with my wife, son and grand-daughters. We don't go on vacations or family trips. We go to the track. Sometimes it's our home track, sometimes we travel, but we do it as a family and for the love of the sport. We race two cars and a JR when we can afford it. We have a 24' box trailer and a 16' open trailer with a box on it. We tow with an old Expedition and older Expedition. We are generally lukcy enough to go to the money rounds, which helps us race the next weekend. When we don't go rounds, we have to watch our money and budget our races. That's just the way it is for us and a whole lot of racers.

Good luck to all.