Is IHRA Going Under?

[HR9121]

If IHRA wants to increase car counts they should start by increasing their contingency program. I mean hardly any of us do this for money but we do weigh it into how far and where we will travel. I think I can earn $400 for a win at a Pro Am, that is rediculous. Somebody needs to get to work on this.

[Keith 944]

Originally Posted by HR9121

If IHRA wants to increase car counts they should start by increasing their contingency program. I mean hardly any of us do this for money but we do weigh it into how far and where we will travel. I think I can earn $400 for a win at a Pro Am, that is rediculous. Somebody needs to get to work on this.

This is what I have been stressing for years! Where is that rabbit loving blowhard to tell us we are all wrong and everything is peachy keen?
We all miss Bill Bader....

[Rich Biebel]

In the past a racer could win a purse for an NHRA national event that may have been equal to what he had in his racecar...

I know that to be true because I did win a National event and know what I won...vs what my car was worth...

A points race was also worth probably at least double what it is today....and that was in the 1980's so it really is way more than double with todays costs...

Today that is NOT happening and not even close. Contingency $$$ has been the real problem.....and there are varied reasons why companies dropped out.....

The track operators need to make a profit sure....but as has been written many times the cost to compete has skyrocketed.......in all categories...

Your potential return is pitiful and it is driving the sport into the dirt from everyones point of view......

Class racers like to bash .90 racers or bracket racers it seems sometimes. The sport needs everyone and bracket racers that ran the .90 classes helped drive things up. Car counts.....revenue.....contingency sponsors....

The 1960's left the building folks !!! And the car culture is aging out....

The sport has become too expensive and the people participating has shrunk at most every level...

Look at the number of cars that DO show up and compete at the High $$$ bracket events and some draw very big car counts....ask why do they show up in sellout numbers.....real simple...

PAYOUTS.......giveaways.....free BBQ's and things like that.......that was all part of big events years ago.....by the HRA's.....

Today you're lucky if you get a thanks for coming.....

NHRA has always been the only choice in my area.......except for a few tracks that tried IHRA and even some other sanctions years ago..

I always hoped IHRA could expand in my area and succeed.....competition maybe would make things better for both HRA's.....never happened

[Bob Mulry]

Hi guys,

One of my gripes, and I am told that I have many, is that the NHRA rules never remain static......

Years ago when you finished building a car, it was finished......

Now the rules get "updated" (I mean more expensive) every year and sometimes even more frequently......

All this does is increase the cost, without return, for everybody....

When everybody has the trick of the week, it's not a trick anymore...

I could make list of the changes, but it would run for several pages and we would still end where we started. Only with less $$$$$$$$$......

Bob

PS:
If IHRA had a presence on the West Coast I would race there too........

[Ed Carpenter]

Originally Posted by HR9121

If IHRA wants to increase car counts they should start by increasing their contingency program. I mean hardly any of us do this for money but we do weigh it into how far and where we will travel. I think I can earn $400 for a win at a Pro Am, that is rediculous. Somebody needs to get to work on this.

If your in racing to make money you should find another sport. Fletcher is probably the only one who makes money racing.

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by Ed Carpenter

If your in racing to make money you should find another sport. Fletcher is probably the only one who makes money racing.

Ed, you misunderstood what I am saying. I'm saying if I do win a race it would be nice to at least win enough to cover my cost for the weekend.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by HR9121

Ed, you misunderstood what I am saying. I'm saying if I do win a race it would be nice to at least win enough to cover my cost for the weekend.

You are correct. $400.00 won't pay for your diesel and race entry many weekends.

[treekiller]

In my humble opinion one thing that hurts also is where most tracks are located. I live in New Orleans and the three tracks around here are in the middle of nowhere especially no problem. State Capitol is somewhat close to Baton Rouge and they can get a decent spectator turnout from time to time. Neighbors and noise complaints have problems for years in drag racing but when you have to put tracks so far out its tough to draw spectators even when big markets are only 40-60 miles away. Someone w vision and deep pockets needs to build an indoor dragstrip. Never any rainouts and you could have a race every day of the week.

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

You are correct. $400.00 won't pay for your diesel and race entry many weekends.

The last pro am that I won paid $1200.00 purse and I had $700 contingency. That was last year.. Cost me about $800 for entry, race gas and fuel for the truck.

[Ed Carpenter]

Originally Posted by HR9121

Ed, you misunderstood what I am saying. I'm saying if I do win a race it would be nice to at least win enough to cover my cost for the weekend.

I understand........ive never won any contingency money so I wouldn't know lol.....