How would you SAVE CLASS RACING ???

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by Bernie Cunningham

This is a reprint from post 85, page 9 from Mark's (A56)post

LOTS TO DIGEST FOR SOME PEOPLE !!!!!!!! Some can't even follow along at all, it seems! Thomas, Ken, Dave and others get it.

I want to post a lot but don't have the time right now, I'm outta town at the frigg'in dyno trying to make more power.

Please understand the biggest point here, This is NOT an NHRA plan, there exists a committee that consists of manufactures and NHRA that sits down to figure out how they spend their money with US, the racers, so that when we do well with their products they can spread the word of success. It's costly and a hard concept to believe that it actually works and they've been meeting for years!!!! They are the ones that actually PAY YOU for winning Class, NOT NHRA, they are the fine manufacturers that posted your awards for using their product, PERIOD............................

Current Class Racing has been diluted over the years and, frankly has no significance to the past, you know, the glory days. Lack of payments to us by the manufacturers has been dwindling for years now ( 10 -15 ) and I'm not surprised to see this new deal in this economy.

It was gonna be THIS or NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!! It may even bring in some more manufacturers because it builds more excitement back to them and their products. Send in ya comments because they do need our feed back, elbeit, (sp) sensible and not self preserving!

REMEMBER ONE THING, follow the money!!!!!
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Now, if you had the job of drumming up financial support for Class racing, how would you present it to the 'cash cows', aka the manufacturers that would like to spend their money to pay US, the racers ??????????????

I'm back home and would love to hear some suggestions as I'm sure Charlie at NHRA would as well. He came up with the plan and it could use a few tweaks, no doubt, but he's open to suggestions.

Trust me, from an informed observer, Charlie and the manufactures are doing their best to SAVE CLASS RACING !!! So should we.

Bernie you can pass these ideas along to Charlie and others,

It would be nice to give the manufactures every possible way to participate. I run a business and am starting a mopar performance parts business, and can clearly see where contigency may not provide the return on investment many must have;

Suggestions;

Class only postings, without the elimins, etc.

small class postings....for example Mark or another small business wants to pay $10 per class win using his headers....

With the new program, allow the manufacturer to post in the currently non-paying 8 if they like.....Not everyone will be able to pony up to the double payout races

For the new championship format give manufacturers the option of contributing towards a purse for the 4 winners....Give them advertising space....the NHRA could pitch in too.

Imagine the response that would follow if the following were implemented:

1/2 contingency payout for the 8 qualifying races(something for the racers)(full even better!)

National Class Champions in the 4 classes get 10,000 a piece

And the 4 double contigency races

NOW THAT WOULD GET ATTENTION.

Hopefully these are constructive ideas.

I am certainly effected by the changes, not a bystander, I am finishing a stick car and a GT truck largely off the old class rules this winter.........

Class racing deserves to thrive, not just survive.

Sincerely

Eric Merryfield
Stock 1883, Superstock 1883