Quick "BITCHING"

[Myron Piatek]

Originally Posted by dartman

Maybe they need the money.car count are are down and the money is not rolling in.up goes the price of playing.it's the way it is.

I thought that perhaps one day I could race some close NHRA events with a different combo when time, money and scheduling with IHRA would allow. But it doesn't look like it will happen. I haven't been an NHRA member for almost 2 years and only ran brackets. So perhaps I can qualify as an objective observer. But NHRA's actions over the years seem to be a calculated, systematic plan to see what they can get away with and eventually achieve some long-term goals. "The money is not rolling in" for them, but it it isn't rolling in for the average sportsman competitor either! I see people say, "If you can't afford an extra $50.00, $200.00, or whatever, to race, you shouldn't be racing". Well, how many times has that comment been used to defend them over the years? It's starting to sound like a broken record. The business logic has already been outlined and their approach isn't logical to maintain or increase their "grassroots" participants. It's financially more difficult to patronize a business and less people show up. So the business raises the prices to make up for it??? My impressions are that they are either trying to "prune" those participants to an exclusive/specific clientel or simply chase most of them away. In most big businesses/corporations, the "suits", "desk jockeys", or whatever you want to call them, don't have a clue of what it's like at the bottom of the totem pole, and/or don't care. Their money and position has spoiled them and the bottom line is all they look at. It's the same attitude that got the economy in the situation it's in now.

I bet their spectator prices haven't gone up in proportion to sportsman competitor prices!

....Just my opinion.

[Dave Ribeiro]

Hey Jack,

You should be careful, your beginning to show your true colors...If the pros are pulling the cart, then let them pay for it ... The sportsmen racer is always getting it the shorts, we lose parking spots, we pay more entry fees, insurance, etc... Yes, we keep going back, but I think these times are different, no-jobs and alot less money ....
So if racers want to keep racing, it will done at local tracks only, just look at National events they are way down and getting worst .... Wrong time to kick racers when they are already down on their knees and can't effort to travel ... Oh well , why should they listen now, as you say they never cared enough to ask before....One last thing not only sponsors are down but payouts are down 30-40 % , they must think our bills haven't gone up too..... Thank God for choices, so you better start supporting people who support sportsmen racing...........Try it , you may just enjoy racing again !!!!

[John Warehime]

Hey Dave! What's the best way to get to Rockingham from 95 around Richmond?

[Jack Matyas]

Dave -- You're the one who should be careful of what you wish for as a National event can be run without Sportsman racers .Pros are the ones who put people in the stands and pay the bills -- imagine how many employees NHRA could get rid of at National events if they killed off Sportsman -- tech people , staging , scales , fuel check , teardown , tower personel , credentials , the list is endless .All needed for Sportsman racing and they could run without us with a crew of probably 25% of what they use now .

Somehow I missed the part where they reduced the purses by 40 % -- how did you figure that ?

We kept racing last year when gasoline was up over 4 bucks and diesel was over $ 5 -and you're still buying gas and diesel from ExxonMobil - is $200 per year that much of a hardship ? I hope I'm not sounding like I'm supporting the NHRA or their recent price hikes as thats not my intent -- I feel they're just trying to exist like the rest of us ....................

PS-- Yo Ken ! ! ! -- how about a little help here -- I'm standin' all alone ............and the 'injuns( or cowboys in this case ) are circling my wagon .

[Bruce Noland]

Jack,
You haven't picked anything apart line by line. Do you suppose the Internet will disappear if nhra goes under? Do you think the debates here will determine nhra's future? Do you think your lame attempt to pick at my post will stop me from saying what I feel? Are you a new nhra spokesman? You sure sound like you are. You missed the meassage about the cart. Probably because you were too busy working on your Brittany Spears taunt. BTW it was way worse than my cart - which you are helping to pull. You must love the whip.

Also, National events can not be run with out Sportsman racers. Where did you get that from Mr. nhra?

[Billy Nees]

Jack, if NHRA dumps Sportsmen from their national events they will lose their not-for-profit status. Ask your accountant about that.

[Ken Miele]

Jack, we do not have a chance. The only question I have, will they take prisoners or skin us alive.

[bill dedman]

Is it possible that FINALLY, NHRA is going to find out what a "non-profit" ledger actually looks like???

How long will those suits stick around if this "not-for-profit" organization ACTUALLY fails to make a PROFIT???

Might be interesting to see...

[Bob Miller]

What I would like to see,,,,,, Pros pay at least the same entry fees as us, crew passes too, maybe give them 4 free crew but also give us 1 free. They can afford it more and they get more help financially than any ten or more sportsman racers. Then it will be more realistic and sportsman can see they are paying to race the same as we have too. Just a thought. I still hope to be out there racing as much as I can though.

[Bryan Worner]

Originally Posted by Mr Warehime

Hey Dave! What's the best way to get to Rockingham from 95 around Richmond?

Take 85 South to 220.