Send Letters to NHRA

[Pat Joffrion]

As a track owner and NHRA Stock/Super Stock racer, I am encouraging every person affected by the recent fee increases to write a letter to the board to have their decision reversed.

It is the track owners that will suffer the most when members decide to just sell their cars and take up another hobby. When I think about how I spent over $500,000 upgrading my facility in the past six months, and how management's poor decisions will affect my ability to repay the loans I made for these improvements, to say that I am a little pissed is an understatement.

I led the effort to "reduce" the racer entry fee in division 4 for all of the 2009 divisional events. It was a small amount (from $155 to $150), but it was done in an attempt to let the racers know that we understood how tough it is in today's economy.

NPR competiton licenses, membership fees, and chassis certifications added over $30,000 to the NHRA coffers in the past 12 months. With the new fee schedule, I doubt seriously if we will send in 1/2 of last year's fees. NPR earns nothing from these fees, so it is no skin off of our back. But, in order for us to continue upgrading and expanding our facility, we need customers. And, whenever any individual, or group, makes a decision that will cause us to have fewer customers, well, I get really upset.

I am not aware of a single track operator that was consulted about the decicion to double fees in a time of economic hard times. I have mailed my letter of complaints to NHRA this morning, and I encourage all racers to spend 42-cents for a stamp to send thier letter to Glendora.

BTW, years ago, I suggested to several board members that NHRA could save major bucks by relocating its operations to Indianapolis. Guess it is easier to try and take more from the racers than to move out of sunny California. Only it is the track owners and racers that have to bare the burden for poor and sometimes desperate management decisions.

Pat "No Problem" Joffrion
4308 SS/KA 4808 F/SA

[joe176]

Amen Pat...my letter is going in the mail today!!!!!!!!!!!!! As a business owner myself, I know what it takes to encourage customers to come in the door and spend, and in these trying times NHRA should be making concessions to the racers to encourage participation....instead they are discouraging it with higher entry fees, raising the chassis cert fee and so on and so forth.... I know I will cut back on races due to the increases. Getting a little tired of being treated like a sucker. My money can be spent on other forms of recreation.

[Alan Roehrich]

Pat is correct, as usual, which is to be expected from an astute and successful business operator.

Everyone should pony up for a $0.42 stamp and a $0.10 envelope, and write a calm, rational well thought out letter to NHRA. The more people write, the more attention it will get.

List your complaints, and your reasons. There are plenty.

NHRA says they haven't raised fees in a decade. Fine.

But they have not raised the payout in a decade or more either.

NHRA says it costs them more to operate now.

But it costs us more to operate now, too, except for fuel to get to the track (which we all paid dearly for last year, by the way).

NHRA fails to mention (but Dan Fletcher helped us out with the information) that contingency wise it pays 1/3 LESS to win this year.

NHRA fails to mention that they refused to make concessions for contingency sponsors. So 1/3 of them, or more, did not post this year.

In fact, the only concession NHRA did make this year were some ticket discounts for spectators, unless you count their staff reductions, and the reductions in allowances for staff expenses.

The list can go on, and maybe it should. But you should all make your own list. Make it short, concise, and to the point. Be civil, and polite, but firm.

Glendora appears to have become as disconnected from reality is D.C., in fact Glendora is to drag racing what D.C. is to the country. In light of the fact that these fees are much the same as taxes, and we are evidently suffering from taxation without representation, maybe we should all put a tea bag label in the envelope with the letter. However, if you do this, you may want to include a small brief note explaining the purpose and intent of the tea bag label, as Glendora may not yet grasp that simple concept.

[RPinoski1]

Does anyone know how the contingency program works? I believe the monies not claimed go directly to NHRA too. Can anyone confirm?

[Smitty]

How much have the fees gone up? So it's now $300 to enter a race and chassis inspections are $150 if they are done at the track? Wow that's some serious raping going on there.

[Ed Swearingen]

As always, Pat has a way of saying what's on my mind better than I can say it myself. I hope to be able to see some of the people who can have some input on reversing this decision in Atlanta this coming week.
Ed Swearingen
Silver Dollar Raceway

[Ken Miele]

Pat,

With all do respect and by the way you have done a fantastic job with your track. I can not see you losing business over these increased fees. I will attended 6 national event, have my car certified, pay my membership and license fees and it will cost me an extra $210.00 for one year. I can understand why NHRA members are upset, but $210.00 is not going to make me stop racing. I know I am in the minority, but I do not know what NHRA's financial position is and do not know what it takes to run an origination of this size.

The economy is not doing well, but racing is not a god giving right. It is a luxury and not everyone can do it. If the NHRA members feel such contempt for Tom Compton and they way NHRA is run, why do they support it? I would not support something I felt was unfair to me. To say you pay money and have a right to complain is fine, but if things do not change, why do they continue to support them? Many have said NHRA has been screwing us for years, if this is so why are they still a member.

Alan, comparing the US government to NHRA is way off base. We all are forced to pay taxes, no one is forcing you to go NHRA Drag Racing. Some of you have some great ideas. You all should get together and try to run your own sanctioning body. If you can deliver everything you want NHRA to deliver, you will have the most successful drag racing organization ever.

[Ken Miele]

Ed,

So what should the members do with the crooks as you call them. Should they tar and feather them, throw them in jail, what is you answer to fix the problems.

I see in the past you have supported NHRA, do you still have membership with NHRA?

It is beyond me why people will support something they hate so much. It does not matter how much you supported them in the past, there is no future in the past. NHRA has been doing the same thing they have always done, do you think anything will change. Its just like the stockmarket, if you want to keep putting money into something that gives you a poor return, shame on you. I think I get my moneys worth with NHRA, and when I can't afford it anymore, I will stay home.

[Alan Roehrich]

Ken, I do not hate NHRA. I vehemently disagree with a lot of what they do, but I do not hate it.

Someone has to keep the organization honest. NHRA does not belong to those who are running it. NHRA belongs to the dues paying members, and the dues paying members must do everything they can to keep NHRA honest.

If, in the past, everyone who saw NHRA taking a dump on the racers had said nothing, and done nothing, it would be a lot worse than it is now.

As Dan Fletcher said so well, this is not about a small (to some) amount of money, it is about principle. Where do we, or you, draw the line?

You SHOULD know about NHRA and their finances. You are member, a dues paying member, of a supposedly non profit organization, that is supposed to be looking out for the best interest of its members. As such, you are entitled to know all about NHRA, and how they spend your money.

[Phillip marvetz]

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

Pat,

With all do respect and by the way you have done a fantastic job with your track. I can not see you losing business over these increased fees. I will attended 6 national event, have my car certified, pay my membership and license fees and it will cost me an extra $210.00 for one year. I can understand why NHRA members are upset, but $210.00 is not going to make me stop racing. I know I am in the minority, but I do not know what NHRA's financial position is and do not know what it takes to run an origination of this size.

The economy is not doing well, but racing is not a god giving right. It is a luxury and not everyone can do it. If the NHRA members feel such contempt for Tom Compton and they way NHRA is run, why do they support it? I would not support something I felt was unfair to me. To say you pay money and have a right to complain is fine, but if things do not change, why do you continue to support them? Many have said NHRA has been screwing us for years, if this is so why are you still a member.

Alan, comparing the US government to NHRA is way off base. We all are forced to pay taxes, no one is forcing you to go NHRA Drag Racing. Some of you have some great ideas. You all should get together and try to run your own sanctioning body. If you can deliver everything you want NHRA to deliver, you will have the most successful drag racing organization ever.

I have to pay for a NHRA membership and number so that I can earn track points at the national opener at mission, no membership no race, no race no points, no points I may not win the track championship,no track championship no gold card for the next year, no gold card means I Have to lay out alot of cash to race. NHRA has us bent over a barrel by making us become members to race for our own track point's.