NHRA price hike

[Bryan Gillespie]

OK 100% increase, but 1st. in 10 years so that's 10% per year , 10% a year is a little high but if they don't do it for another 10 years that's only 5 % per year and that is normal inflation.
This is NOT a poor mans sport.
Half the racers that are *itchin are headed to a race as I type.
When a organation is in $$ trouble it is usely it's members that HELP pull them out.
So bottom line if you can't or won't HELP then go play tennis or golf they only take 1 ball.
As for me I have 40k in a car that is not street legal and I like to race (hate golf) so buckup and lets RACE !

[Jason Oldfield]

So, if this is a normal inflationary increase, why haven't our purses gone up 10% per year for the last 10 years? Or, why haven't we seen a 100% increase every 10 years? Fact of the matter is, NHRA can sell it anyway they want, but they're putting the extra money in their pockets. I don't mind paying more when I feel like I'm getting more. But, from NHRA I'm paying more and getting LESS. There isn't a single company on this entire planet that I would continue to give my business to that had that type of philosophy, unless I was absolutely forced to do it.

At the end of the day, I have tens of thousands of dollars tied up in my racing operation as well (24' enclosed trailer, brand new 4-wheeler, 32' motorhome, plus the race car itself), and the extra money isn't going to bankrupt me. But, this is just one more instance of NHRA taking more of my money, and giving me NOTHING for it in return, simply because they can. At some point you have to say enough is enough. Obviously, you haven't reached that point yet Bryan (you obviously also don't work in sales, as I'd love to see you pitch a 100% price increase to my customers - they wouldn't give a crap if it had been 10 years or not since the last price increase, not to mention that 3% is the customary annual increase due to inflation, not 10%, or even 5%).

Show me what I'm getting for my money...just don't take more of it and tell me "because we have to". If that's the case, then I challenge NHRA to open their books to show me the proof, which I'm guessing they will politely decline to do.

Seriously Bryan....Have you ever thought about exactly what it is that you get for your money? $50/year for the license. $64/year for the membership. $50/year for the chassis certification. $60/race for the insurance (oh, and if you have two cars, you have to pay it twice). What do I get for all that? Oh yeah, I forgot...National Dragster, a pin, a patch, and a decal. If I came to your house, and told you to give me $200 for the right to race this year, what would you say to me? I highly doubt it would be, "OK, here you go!"

Is $200 going to break any of us? Probably not. But, who's to say that NHRA is going to stop at $200 per year. Why not $500? What are you going to do about it then? How about $1,000? $2,000?

[Bryan Gillespie]

Jason it's their sandbox, if you don't want to play get some bait or some clubs.

[Jason Oldfield]

Um, no. I'll choose to take my BUSINESS elsewhere! This is not a private country club, even though they do treat it like one.

Besides, I hate fishing, and my golf swing sucks...

[Mark Schmidt]

I spent over 35 years spending what I could to go racing. Upgrading my stuff, moving to Div and Nat events and totally enjoyed it. Loved the people I raced with and overall enjoyed the change to NHRA races. With the downturn in economy, we decided to cut back a bunch and only go to a couple of races. I wound up selling my car, and I have to say with all the crap going on during tough times, if I get back in it will be with a fast dragster for 1/8 mile racing. The big races have lost their luster for me. Our divisional guys (3) rock, but it's hard to justify vac time for racing this year. NHRA needs to justify the expense to its CUSTOMERS. Aren't we called MEMBERS. They could at least provide a forum for discussion. Low class in my opinion.

Just my .02 cents...thanks for listening.

[1855sc]

Bryan, you are right this is is rich man's sport, however this doesnt just affect the "regular" NHRA sportsman. This also affects the local bracket racer who quite frankly can care less about running a National or Divisional but still has to pony up the extra $$$ just to race 1 day a week if he goes fast enough. fair to them???

Debbie Moses

[Rick Bailey]

It must be the business trends.................look at the Credit card companys........the recived bailout monies (taxpayers money) and now their doubleing the intrest rates

[BIZMANRACING]

i have been reading this forum for years. in the begining i used to post offen because i was going to be a divisonal followed by a national event racer in super street. it had been a dream of mine since i saw my first national event in atlanta back in the 80's. at that event warren johnson was the top quaifier at 7.11 in pro stock. but the money wasn't there. i was a submarine sailor down in kings bay georiga and it was everything i could do to support my family while working for the Navy. but, i knew it would not last forever. the fire burned inside of me, then one day i retired from the navy after 20 years (95) and said good-bye to my naval electronics job and took up life as a car saleman.

13 years later here i am. i managed to attend 4 divisonal events in divison one. delaware, englishtown, atco, and cecil county. i should of been a sititng duck but managed to get into the second round at all the events. then i crashed my car by blowing out the front tires after some heavy braking at atco. i was done. but, the idea of finally quailifing for the national at englishtown made me work hard to get the car back on track. but, little did i know that in those days super street closed at 4 mins after mid-night since it closed that fast because divsion 1 has alot of money in this area, and without a grade point of 7 i had no chance. i was pissed, but that was racing. i've been tiring to get back ever since.

today the car runs 9.460 and i'm ready to go, but i cracked the block over the winter. $4200 right up a hogs *** just to get it running again. i'm still waiting to get my engine back. now all this. i was moved by the post by the guy who i.d'ed himself as a "no body" it was his first post. after reading it i decided to put mine in here since i read it everyday but never post since i don't feel contected since i only bracket race.

my times at the divsionals were the most fun i every had. winning the round helped, but it was the people who took me in as one of them. they gave me beer and food and knew my name. i couldn't get enough of it. i looked into a motor home, bigger motors, all of it. but, i got to be real here i could pay this but maybe the people aren't the same, 4 dollars a gallon for an 11 mile per gallon suburan is real and right around the cornor again. i've been there and done that. if it hadn't been for this forum i'm sure i would of paid the money and tried again. but, reading your posts your all so angry. this sport is made up of rich people. lets not fool ourselfs. we all got money and maybe to much of it. we are pissed because we don't want to give it up for no return. everything is based on value. thats all that we really want. my 79 camaro cost me in 79 probally around 8000. i got more than that in the motor like all of you. so now you want twice the money. where is my return. sometimes i sell a car warranty for customers new toyota for 1000. its a good bye and i believe in it and have warranties on my own cars both my wife and daughter. but, if i can't convince the customer that its a "good value" and that its "money spent wisely" it ain't happening.

so in closing, some will pay others will not. the fall out is yet to be seen. they will make a business decsion at that time. but, i for one will not race in that forum if most of my friends are not happy with the outcome. there is no shame in bracket racing.

[Jason Oldfield]

Originally Posted by Rick Bailey

It must be the business trends.................look at the Credit card companys........the recived bailout monies (taxpayers money) and now their doubleing the intrest rates

Don't forget about giving their executives raises and bonuses. NHRA must have missed the memo on that one...