Just talkin' here,

[Tom Broome]

Originally Posted by Dan Fahey

Tom...you wrote it down..Dan wants slow(er) cars..!
You are taking a back stroke now?
D

Dan.....You're the man, it's good to have you around. Don't let me ruffle your feathers.
I did write it down.....You want Pure Stock and Crate Motor cars.....That's the slow cars I was referring to.
I don't know if I need to work on my communication skills or your reading comprehension.....'cause I'm not trying to argue.

I'm trying to make you understand that NHRA has too much on their plate already, trying to keep the "big show"(not Stock & SS) classes in check. Tech Inspectors/Officials are stretched thin trying to maintain control of those classes. It's asking a lot to have Officials knowledgeable in the nuances of these classes and capable of conducting an thorough teardown on a Stocker or Super Stocker.
Your average Top Sportsman/Dragster team brings just as many paying crew to the track as Stock and SS. NHRA doesn't have to tear down these cars, yet gets to profit from the expanded certifications and safety equipment required for these classes. Certainly you recognize that.....We don't have to like it.

I hope you don't think I want Super Stock and Stock to go away, that's not the case. But we need to be aware that pushing for more classes in an already crowded and challenging Eliminator doesn't serve to improve the sanctioning body's viewpoint.
I don't have the answers to the situation, I want to understand why we see seemingly arbitrary decisions taking place.

[63corvette]

I no longer race stock however, I still race since retirement SG so I see this from several classes perspective. I have class win trophys before they were Wallys.
NHRA has cut its staff and the length of the events so the stock and super stock classes which require more tech time (staff for fuel check and weights/classification) in my opinion will continue to suffer.
Just look what happened to Pro Stock.
NHRA does not even tech cars at the Nationals however, fuel checks etc are required for some of the classes which takes time and staff.
SG, SC, TS, and TD takes no time for staff at the Nationals. No tech or fuel checks.
Weight for these classes is the only requirement and that is not always done.
The real issue for all those classes except SG is the time it takes to run those classes due to burnouts across the starting line and the TS and TD taking so long to prepare for their run.
From my perspective NHRA is all about cutting costs to run the events and it costs them more to run some classes than others. TV time is also a consideration.
It is really all about money and that is the same thing in any business.
Just My 2 Cents and Observation
Rick Cates
Canyon TX. SG 56 in 2019. SG 76 in 2020

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

It is really all about money and that is the same thing in any business.
Just My 2 Cents and Observation
Rick Cates
Canyon TX. SG 56 in 2019. SG 76 in 2020

BUT!!!!! The NHRA is a NOT-FOR-PROFIT business! If it can even be considered a business. Is it an organization? A club?
It is SUPPOSED to exist for the benefit of it's members not for the benefit of it's B-O-D's salaries and golden parachutes!
Some time ago, then Pres. Tom Compton tried to "split" the Pros from the Sportsmen in order to make the Pros into a "for profit" business. It would have made the Sportsman NHRA into a smaller but more Sportsman friendly organization. I don't know what ever happened to that but I'm guessing that the B-O-D wasn't going to be happy with the ($$$) outcome.

[Dan Fahey]

Originally Posted by Tom Broome

Dan.....You're the man, it's good to have you around. Don't let me ruffle your feathers.
I did write it down.....You want Pure Stock and Crate Motor cars.....That's the slow cars I was referring to..

Thank you Tom
This is fun Bench Racing..
Nobody can get a Ticket !

Still do not understand SLOW CARS..!!
PS and CM could fit well in the current A-Z index.
PS cars would fit from G to T/S.
CM's go all the way to AA/S.
Figure my F/PS would fall between O/P/Q/R.
Depending how NHRA rated PS Engines.

My contention is that lower cost alternatives invite Hot Rodders to get into our Sport.

As for NHRA Management, dig what you wrote in your second Paragraph.

My question is what made it work before all the cost cutting?
What made it work before some of the rule changes?

You could buy a car from the Dealer, tune it up and go racing in Stock.
That is what Bracket Racers do now and nobody is considering Stock.
Reeling in new racers to our sport is like fishing, need to lure them in.

There are a lot of second hand affordable Chevy SS, GTO, G8, Dodges, Mustang, Camaro on the market racer want to get into PS.
They are not going to tear a car completely apart to race them in Stock.
Most do not have the facilities.

If I were managing NHRA and the issue is with too many cars.
Would spread it out to a 10 day week.
Have Class Run Offs, National Record Runs, Tear Down, T&T, 4 races
Pair down and race 8 on Saturday. Finalists on Sunday of each heat.
Have some evening entertainment.

One thing that kills Public Interest is the lack of National Records.
That was a real thing years ago.
One minor issue no Points are earned setting them.

I am trying to provide ideas and solutions.
Majority of our cars are 30 ,40, 50, 60, 70 years old.
Our generation is passing away very quickly.
The Big 3 have made some hot new cars which have been a big hit.

Young racers in our day were 20..now more like 50 - 80 years old.
That would be interesting to know everyone's age.
Still most of the older well healed drivers are buying the new cars.

Peace

[Tom Broome]

Originally Posted by Dan Fahey

Still do not understand SLOW CARS..!!
PS and CM could fit well in the current A-Z index.
PS cars would fit from G to T/S.
CM's go all the way to AA/S.


My contention is that lower cost alternatives invite Hot Rodders to get into our Sport.


My question is what made it work before all the cost cutting?
What made it work before some of the rule changes?

You could buy a car from the Dealer, tune it up and go racing in Stock.
That is what Bracket Racers do now and nobody is considering Stock.
Reeling in new racers to our sport is like fishing, need to lure them in.

I am trying to provide ideas and solutions.
Majority of our cars are 30 ,40, 50, 60, 70 years old.
Our generation is passing away very quickly.
The Big 3 have made some hot new cars which have been a big hit.

Young racers in our day were 20..now more like 50 - 80 years old.
That would be interesting to know everyone's age.
Still most of the older well healed drivers are buying the new cars.

Peace

Dan, I made a few edits, hope that's okay.
I see your thought process. You made some good points here. The problem is, your thinking with your heart. You love class racing like the rest of us. That's not NHRA's thinking anymore, those people might still exist there, just not in any meaningful corporate positions.
I'm not sure NHRA is motivated by a love of the Sport at this time.

[Mike Jones]

Originally Posted by Tom Broome

So, let's slowly phase the racers out of the market, and replace them with more malleable participants. NHRA doesn't want to "fire" the current racers.....they want them to leave of there own free will.

When they got rid of Pro Stock Truck, I remember hearing about law suits from racers who were left without a class. Don`t know the conclusion.
NHRA has nothing to worry about when it comes to participants in Stock. I think there will always be enough and why not collect the money? But if they were to "phase out" Stock, would there be legal ramifications?
MJ

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Mike Jones

But if they were to "phase out" Stock, would there be legal ramifications? MJ

Knowing that the NHRA is a "not-for-profit" and knowing the salaries being paid the B-O-D, I would participate in a class action suit.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Mike Jones

When they got rid of Pro Stock Truck, I remember hearing about law suits from racers who were left without a class. Don`t know the conclusion.
NHRA has nothing to worry about when it comes to participants in Stock. I think there will always be enough and why not collect the money? But if they were to "phase out" Stock, would there be legal ramifications?
MJ

Yep, and the Comp racers won, and settled for an undisclosed amount.

Now the perps tip toe around and squeeze classes out , little by little.
Believe it yet?

[Tom Broome]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Yep, and the Comp racers won, and settled for an undisclosed amount.

Now the perps tip toe around and squeeze classes out , little by little.
Believe it yet?

Exactly, that's why I said 'phase the racers out', not phase the class out. Make it so objectionable that the racers want to quit.