AHFS details

[Jeff Teuton]

Believe me Bruce, I totally understand. I am just greatly dissapointed after the SRAC was formed with a promise of better relations for the Sportsman.

[Jim Wahl]

I think we all understand your disappointment Jeff. I think we are all very disappointed. Jim

[Chuck Norton]

Disappointed but, sadly, not particularly surprised, Jim. People who have been around long enough have seen so many reversals and backtracks that nothing is really a surprise. Recall the days when sedan deliveries had hydros? Remember the year that Stock was simply wiped out and we all automatically became Super Stockers? I've seen pictures of the Modified Eliminator protest parade but I wasn't in attendance that day. I was at Indy the year that Pro Stock Truck was discontinued. Then, there are a number of smaller things like the recent spark plug adapter system that was reportedly approved in writing before it was disclaimed. Last year it was a Stocker suspension system that had been ignored for years that was deemed to be outside the intent of the rules.

This is a business. The organization owns the business. We get the business.

Jeff, and the SRAC, thanks for trying.

Cheers,

c

[Greg Hill]

Chuck, I don't see any of management at NHRA with shares of Stock. I also don't see any of them with their own money invested. How can the management own NHRA, a non profit corporation, that's supposed to be doing things to benefit the members of the organization. They had an opportunity with the SRAC to be more inclusive and racer friendly and chose not to do that. Are they violating their non profit charter by loading the board with members picked by management? Why is their no accountability to the members? Until racers and track owners stand up nothing will ever change. The combination of ignorance and arrogance is especially dangerous.

[Chuck Norton]

Greg,

I am sadly lacking in my ability to express my opinions on the questions you have raised without carrying the discussion past the point of good common sense. Of course, it's easy to pass that point when dealing with an issue that carries a heavy burden of emotional baggage.

A casual observer might form the belief that the upper management of the organization has a distinct emotional attachment but it is not to the esthetics of drag racing nor is it even remotely related to Sportsman racing or Sportsman racers. It is directly related to making money. I don't remember exactly when it happened but, some years ago, there was a published announcement that, henceforth, the organization was no longer a "club" but something else that was no longer responsible to the "members" but to a Board of Directors that was independent of the "membership." Ask Bruce Noland about the fine points, he's much more completely informed. I just know that it's been many years since "accountability" to "members" was anything but an illusion. Any of the "members" who retain a belief in that illusion will be ultimately disappointed but will continually be in a state of angst about the way things are going. This is a down-to-earth, in-your-face example of what happens when a group of people who are emotionally or passionately involved with an activity such as drag racing come face-to-face with another group of people who are emotionally or passionately involved with making a profit. What's happening isn't personal, it's merely business.

"Standing up" would be an option if anyone were to be astute enough to figure out how to herd cats! Picture an inner city skid-row situation in which all the addicts living on the streets became organized, elected members to an advisory committee, wrote a business plan and "stood up" to the pushers, asking for lower drug prices, home delivery, cleaner needles, and respect. Does that sound like a program that might engender a high expectation of success?

The good news is that we are (mostly) not living on the streets, are (mostly) able to find something else to do, and are (mostly) in possession of our faculties. It's just that making the personal decision to walk away from the needle is a tough one. You young guys have a much tougher decision to make than do we old-timers. You're facing more years to live without the needle.

Nice chatting with you. Hope things are going well in Derbyland.

c

[Jack McCarthy]

eloquently said chuck... i particularly like the "herd cats" reference...

it is impossible to get the members to stand up together, cause everyone is on thier own agenda...
there will never ba a boycott of any race... someone will see it as an easy opportunity to win, with no idea of the big picture.

i have raced my last indy... i have built my last stocker motor...i only joined nhra this season to run pat's race... which should be the model for all sportsman races !

captain jack

just a big block and a posi away from rod runs with the big wagon... holds a lot of beer / friends !

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Jack McCarthy

eloquently said chuck... i particularly like the "herd cats" reference...

it is impossible to get the members to stand up together, cause everyone is on thier own agenda...
there will never ba a boycott of any race... someone will see it as an easy opportunity to win, with no idea of the big picture.

i have raced my last indy... i have built my last stocker motor...i only joined nhra this season to run pat's race... which should be the model for all sportsman races !

captain jack

just a big block and a posi away from rod runs with the big wagon... holds a lot of beer / friends !

Dont forget to add the A/C to keep the beer cool.

[X-TECH MAN]

[QUOTE=Chuck Norton;

The good news is that we are (mostly) able to find something else to do, and are (mostly) in possession of our faculties.
c[/QUOTE]

That could be debatable......lol.