NHRA price hike

[T Hall]

http://www.nhra.com/story/2009/4/8/n...petition-fees/

[Rick Bailey]

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Yeap! they already changed the form...............lisense is now 100.00
20.00 for add. #
__________________
Rick Bailey 3439 SC

[SC1317]

I am definately bummed, especially since my physical is next week to renew my license(3 classes!) and my membership! It's not that I can"t afford it, but as Fletchburger said, it's an insult! I'm not sure if they are trying to raise more capital because of low car counts or whatever, but how much is the sportsman racer suppose to take responsibility for? And Please NHRA, spare me the sob story that even with the increase, you will still have to subsidize the sportsman program! Luckily, I am not one that depends on this sport to make a living, because with the increase in fees, entry, and travel and the lack of increase in payout and decrease in contingency, the professional sportsman has his work cut out for him.

Back to your average sportsman racer. Most of us will suck it up and continue to complain on our favorite message boards. It's been suggested that we boycott a large race in protest or at the very least, write the heads of NHRA. I think we really should make our opinions heard, but am discouraged that it will really help. NHRA has a one sided view of the sportsman racer and it has nothing to do with our benefit.

I will write a letter to NHRA about my concerns and I will support a well organized boycott, but I really have my doubts as to what they can accomplish.
Many of us are addicted to NHRA national and divisional programs for many different reasons (friendships, travel, excitement of racing against some of the best in the country...the parties) but how much is enough?

[mannymen]

Will this decrease the car counts even more for those even more upset with this change? It doesn't make sense anymore to race Nats and Divsionals since the payouts and cost associated to do so are ridiculous.

Having to spend more for less doesn't make sense at least to me.

Thompson IHRA Pro Am
Entry $135 Winner payout $1100 each day

Go down the road that sat to Norwalk and the pro payout is $1200 for $30 entry fee
Go to Milan on Sunday and the pro payout is $1200 for $45 entry fee.

Is it worth the extra entry fees to go to these IHRA/NHRA Nats and Divsionals in this economy???

Maybe we stand a better chance at the pro am since there will only be 20-24 cars in each class as compared to 100-150 in Pro. I guess it's all about the odds???

[Bill Mitchell]

Got physical at 11:00 A.M. yesterday, was making copies before mailing & noticed Dr. had not signed form so took back to office for signature & decided to wait and mail today during noon hour. Mailed priority mail then got online to check St. Louis entries & seen fee increase. Since the postmark was today will they hit me for the extra fees or reject or?

[SC1317]

If paid by check, they might let it go(to much work). By credit card, I'd check your statement!

[SG1809]

Originally Posted by Rick Bailey

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Yeap! they already changed the form...............lisense is now 100.00
20.00 for add. #
__________________
Rick Bailey 3439 SC

Many of us have our own Companies or work for someone (maybe) in these hard economic times. I can't comprehend going to a customer or client etc. and telling them we need to raise our price/rates etc. 100%. In this case License was 50.00 now 100.00, Chassis Cert. was 75.00 now 150.00!!!. Doing that would be insane yet NHRA does it. I would think a reasonable increase would be more acceptable and timely considering many of us are strugling to get by right now. Where is the concern for the racers? I personally will be looking for other avenues to race.

Just my 2 cents or wait maybe I should increase that to 4 cents.

Pat I.
SG1809

[H.A.A.C. Racing]

I agree with the above. I don't even mind prices going up, but double is insane no matter what the economy.

Almost makes you wonder if NHRA even wants us. Don't forget, a couple of years ago they were ready to split the pro's and sportsman racers when HG ?? wanted to buy the pros. Maybe all they want is pro classes @ national events and they will have wheelie cars and jet trucks going up and down the tracks between rounds.

Think about it, qualifying and bull**** show stuff on Friday & Sat. Then run the whole show on Sunday. They have the turn around times so fast, they can run the thing round after round until it's over

I guess the question is......what do they make off of us and are we worth all the extra space and people it takes to run us?


Things that make you go hummmmmmmm.
(Jason should be proud)

[Adger Smith]

Just start adding up the numbers on license & membership & Certifications. A little math will show what is brought into their coffers. Out of the old $75 fee they cut the amount the Certification employee gets, then they raise the fee to $150. I was told that just the Certifications in each division brought in enough money, at the old price, to run the Each Division. I was told this quite a while back, before the changes, by someone pretty high in NHRA that I consider very credable. Then they have all these other fees that they charge to all the alternative associations & local tracks. They have license & Certifications too. I don't buy the retoric that they are subsidizing the sportsman. The numbers just don't add up. I think the Sportsman being subsidized is more of a case of "Say the same thing over & over & it will become believed as the truth, even if it isn't." Think about it... Some profit center is paying for all the FREE that the Pro's get. What other big profit center is there besides Sportsman racers & T.V.? OH yes, Spectators, but they have given them a small reduction in ticket prices. I don't mind paying a little more, but double in these economic times... ??

[Michael Pliska]

This really stinks! I'm running on 60% of my regular salary, but was looking forward to bringing my Super-Gas car back out for the first time in 15 years. I suppose I'll pay the extortion for renewing my license (since I drive other people's cars on occasion), but I think my car is about to get throttle stopped to 10.10 (and skip the chassis cert). Literally I saw the NHRA article on this as I was coming in from working on the car, looking up the local chassis cert guy to see if he can recertify next week.

Regards,