How do you feel?

Tom Joseph · 05-09-2013, 11:28 AM

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-...y-a-disconnect

TS310C · 05-09-2013, 11:50 AM

I agree completely! Something needs to be done. But who knows if it ever will!

Rick Bailey · 05-09-2013, 12:21 PM

totally !

Chris Williams · 05-10-2013, 12:30 PM

As long as sportsman racers are considered "filler" for national events, this will continue to happen. NHRA's focus is on the pros, and they'll tell you this quite directly. "People are there to see the nitro cars."

And you know, that's true, as long as that's all NHRA promotes. If NHRA really put some energy into promotion of the sportsman classes, taught people how those classes work, promoted the idea of a huge car show, gave the sportsman racers some respect, and got people pumped up about the 500+ cool cars at the race, we'd see something different.

But as it stands, sportsman racers are just the rodeo clowns. Little difference between us and "Ed the Outlaw Jones and his Jelly Belly Wheelstanding Stage Coach", the jet cars, the Geico Clowns, and the T-Shirt Canon. Keep things happening, keep the noise going, and don't cause any trouble. Guess that'd be OK if we didn't PAY to be there...

This is an attitude problem. Wally's roots were in the sportsman classes. He's gone, and now those roots are being left to die -- at least as part of the national traveling circus.

Steve Dunn · 05-10-2013, 02:50 PM

Chris,
Having been around the sport for nearly 50 years, I couldn't agree with you more, and definitely couldn't have said it better! Nice job of verbalizing.

Keith 944 · 05-10-2013, 04:57 PM

My thoughts: disconnected? absolutely!
If you continue to kick a dog, it will either give up and leave, or it may just bite you in the ***. I left the NHRA a while back, now I am creeping back into it, but now I know I will be the only one to blame if I agree to go back to the circus and the clowns make me cry.
I am however, supporting the local series. the .90 nats and the new massa series is a great way to continue to run this style of racing and not have to feed the beast!

05-09-2013, 11:28 AM	#1
Tom Joseph Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 97 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	How do you feel? http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-...y-a-disconnect

05-09-2013, 11:50 AM	#2
TS310C Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Morton, IL Posts: 323 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How do you feel? I agree completely! Something needs to be done. But who knows if it ever will! __________________ Ryan Koener S/G 310C

05-09-2013, 12:21 PM	#3
Rick Bailey Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 502 Likes: 5 Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts	Re: How do you feel? totally ! __________________ Rick Bailey 3439 SC

05-10-2013, 12:30 PM	#4
Chris Williams Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 401 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How do you feel? As long as sportsman racers are considered "filler" for national events, this will continue to happen. NHRA's focus is on the pros, and they'll tell you this quite directly. "People are there to see the nitro cars." And you know, that's true, as long as that's all NHRA promotes. If NHRA really put some energy into promotion of the sportsman classes, taught people how those classes work, promoted the idea of a huge car show, gave the sportsman racers some respect, and got people pumped up about the 500+ cool cars at the race, we'd see something different. But as it stands, sportsman racers are just the rodeo clowns. Little difference between us and "Ed the Outlaw Jones and his Jelly Belly Wheelstanding Stage Coach", the jet cars, the Geico Clowns, and the T-Shirt Canon. Keep things happening, keep the noise going, and don't cause any trouble. Guess that'd be OK if we didn't PAY to be there... This is an attitude problem. Wally's roots were in the sportsman classes. He's gone, and now those roots are being left to die -- at least as part of the national traveling circus. __________________ Chris Williams 6304 SC, TD, ET

05-10-2013, 02:50 PM	#5
Steve Dunn Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Grove City,OH. Posts: 33 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How do you feel? Chris, Having been around the sport for nearly 50 years, I couldn't agree with you more, and definitely couldn't have said it better! Nice job of verbalizing.

05-10-2013, 04:57 PM	#6
Keith 944 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dela-where? Posts: 2,193 Likes: 1,160 Liked 1,877 Times in 577 Posts	Re: How do you feel? My thoughts: disconnected? absolutely! If you continue to kick a dog, it will either give up and leave, or it may just bite you in the ***. I left the NHRA a while back, now I am creeping back into it, but now I know I will be the only one to blame if I agree to go back to the circus and the clowns make me cry. I am however, supporting the local series. the .90 nats and the new massa series is a great way to continue to run this style of racing and not have to feed the beast! __________________ KEITH MAYERS 2-1/2 X somebody Still many X nobody