No really. What are NHRA racers going to do?

[Rollins_2241]

As much as many people, particularly bracket racers, don't want to admit it, there are some unique features of NHRA drag racing that keep me coming back:

Publicity. ND has a much wider circulation than any other sanctioning body's. Yes, they mostly get read on the toilet, but I get calls for months after winning an NHRA race from people who read about it. Quick: who won the Thursday $10K bracket race at SGMP? Yeah, they had one. No, I don't remember either. And I was in at 7 cars. But I know who's leading the Jeg's points in Top Dragster or is national champ in Super Stock.

Safety. I crashed and could have died this year - at an NHRA-owned track with an ALS ambulance there for a test and tune. I shudder to think what would have happened at some other tracks. That stuff costs money. When you race at a Lucas Oil or Full Throttle event, that's what you're paying for. They actually care if your helmet is on in the shutdown area. They care if you are wearing arm restraints in the water box (if I hadn't been, my wife would be wiping my butt for the rest of my life). Nothing else matters once the shiny side is no longer up.

Fair competition. Yes, electronics and other issues have advanced faster than they can keep up. At least they weigh the cars, care about the rules, put cars on a ladder the same way every race, and keep the points updated. How many of you have seen a "house car" "put back in the race" at a big-buck bracket event after a "bad timing issue"?

Schedule. I'm too old to race until 3 in the morning four days in a row. Those days were fun in the old B&M series and such, but I like knowing what they plan to do and when. No, they can't control the weather, and neither can IHRA.

Their biggest weakness is "not invented here" mentality. Their senior staff should all be required to "mystery shop" by attending, as a racer or spectator, one IHRA, one ADRL, one big-buck bracket race, and one heads-up outlaw race per year, to see how other events are putting thousands of spectators in the seats and 400 cars in the pits. What works and what doesn't. Then they should contact every lapsed member they can find from the past 5 years and do a quick survey of why. Finally, they should poll racers who quit or have not run a class when they consider a rules change - not the current population of class racers whose primary interest is protecting their competitive position.

That was more than two cents, but thanks for listening.

[Michael Beard]

Quick: who won the Thursday $10K bracket race at SGMP?

Timmy "Two Toes" Smith. And then he backed it up with a win on Friday, too, to collect a big bonus.

Sorry. I'm a fan of the sport. BUT the point rings true. That major point... RECOGNITION. It's not just National Dragster. It's "LIVE from" on ClassRacer, it's Live Timing/Audio/Video, it's Drag Racing Action magazine, it's Drag Review. Used to be TV coverage on IHRA. I think the series that REALLY work hard on the providing timely real coverage and human interest stories of their events are the ones that will rise to the top. If nobody knew about a Wally, nobody would care if they won one. It's coveted because of its history and the recognition that goes with it.

[Ed Fernandez]

Until NHRA either changes direction or loses it's contract lock on the tracks around the country,NHRA still is in control of the board. Once the exclusive contracts run out then IHRA,ADRL etc. will have the opportunity to set up shop.

[bigshow2966]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

Until NHRA either changes direction or loses it's contract lock on the tracks around the country,NHRA still is in control of the board. Once the exclusive contracts run out then IHRA,ADRL etc. will have the opportunity to set up shop.

ADRL? How many stockers and super stockers you think they will allow? It will be interesting to see if they even exist next year since the Sheik is not tossing baskets of cash around anymore.

I would like to see the IHRA with a bigger piece of the pie around here, but they just can't hold on to any tracks for too long.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by bigshow2966

ADRL? How many stockers and super stockers you think they will allow? It will be interesting to see if they even exist next year since the Sheik is not tossing baskets of cash around anymore.

I would like to see the IHRA with a bigger piece of the pie around here, but they just can't hold on to any tracks for too long.

I included ADRL just for the fact that independent series organizations wouldn't be
beholdened to NHRA to deal with tracks to run their races.
IHRA will never grow as long as Feld Ent. owns it.

[Michael Beard]

Racers drive tracks to a particular sanction, and racers attract sponsors. It's ultimately in YOUR hands.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Racers drive tracks to a particular sanction, and racers attract sponsors. It's ultimately in YOUR hands.

You're right to a point.Be still,as long as NHRA has contracts with the vast majority of tracks, no other group,either racing assoc. or S/SS groups will be allowed by the
tracks sanctioning organization.

[Jimi B]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Timmy "Two Toes" Smith. And then he backed it up with a win on Friday, too, to collect a big bonus.

Sorry. I'm a fan of the sport. BUT the point rings true. That major point... RECOGNITION. It's not just National Dragster. It's "LIVE from" on ClassRacer, it's Live Timing/Audio/Video, it's Drag Racing Action magazine, it's Drag Review. Used to be TV coverage on IHRA. I think the series that REALLY work hard on the providing timely real coverage and human interest stories of their events are the ones that will rise to the top. If nobody knew about a Wally, nobody would care if they won one. It's coveted because of its history and the recognition that goes with it.

I can also tell you one of my close friends Disco Dean Karns won the $10k today and almost the $5k tonight going out in the 7th round!

[Jimi B]

Back to the lecture at hand... Wait. Probably not a lot of Doctor Dre fans in this thread.


Anyway. I guess us junkies are screwed! Maybe if I ever win a Wally (especially not in my fwd turbo car (cause we know how much respect ill actually get for that)) Ill be able to quit NHRA Cold Turkey!

[Michael Beard]

Guess you have to decide what's important to you: A hunk of metal called a "Wally", or the respect, admiration, and recognition from your peers along with your own personal satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.

In my opinion, it's what's behind the trophy and *how* you win it more than the trophy itself.

$.02,