Just got this email from IHRA...

[Ed Wright]

This just came a Few minutes ago. Hope it's OK to post it here:



To: All IHRA Sportsman Racers



Dear Members:



Since the recent announcement of NHRA raising fees, my phone and e-mail have been going crazy. Evidentially the "internet experts" that populate the message boards have suggested that IHRA will be following suit with price increases to sportsman racers. This is based on the assumption that IHRA does everything NHRA does.



Any sportsman racer who has actually done a burnout at an IHRA event knows we have our own ideas and philosophies on how sportsman racing is to be conducted. This is not a knock on NHRA, it is simply a realization that we handle sportsman racing differently. As an IHRA member you know that, and I would assume you are a member because you enjoy the opportunities and programs IHRA offers sportsman racers. Unfortunately, this bad information is put out by sportsmen who don't actually race with us on a national or divisional level. Normally, we wouldn't even respond to such nonsense, but these are not normal times. Everyone is sensitive to the economic environment right now so I wanted you to hear this from the source.



We are not....have no plans to....and have not even discussed raising fees to sportsman racers. We are in the same position as the rest of the world when it comes to the need to increase the bottom line, but we have been able to reduce spending internally rather than going to the customer to create additional cash flow. In fact, we have been talking a lot about how to reduce costs for racers and spectators, create more value and develop our entertainment offering for both racers and fans. We just finished a national event in Baton Rouge where we added a dash for cash program for the competitors as well as cooked 4,000lbs of crawfish for the racer party. The Spring Nationals at Rockingham in a few weeks just had the dash for cash racing programs added, a sportsman wheelie contest and we booked a southern rock band for a Saturday night racer party. We are trying to give you more for your racing dollar and create ways for you to compete on the pro am and national level without spending your way into financial ruin.



The IHRA staff members have been working on a variety of different ways to reduce costs in their areas of responsibility and have done a great job so far. We have had to make tough decisions to not take as many staff to events. Everyone is pulling double duty somewhere, we're negotiating better deals with suppliers and travel arrangements are tighter than ever. The bottom line is that we certainly need your support at Summit Pro Am and Nitro Jam Nationals events, but we are not going to put extra financial burden on those that continue to compete on these levels.



IHRA will continue to work on adding programs that create value for you. The double Summit Pro Am weekends, the Champion Systems Sportsman Nationals events and the Tournament Of Champions Sportsman World Championship program are just a few ways we've been able to accomplish these goals.



I hope that puts your mind at ease. We look forward to seeing you at an IHRA event this year....and let's have some fun!



Best Regards,





Skooter Peaco

Vice President

IHRA

[Kenny Wigington]

ha ha !! I got ya by a minute Ed ! Thats too funny !!

[X-TECH MAN]

Even though I havent worked for IHRA for several years I STILL think they are the best group out there. You couldnt ask for a nicer bunch of tech people to deal with. The IHRA racers always were like "FAMILY" and I would say those were some of the best years I had being involved with drag racing.

[Robert Pare Racing]

NHRA would not send out a broadcast out like that. They are not capable. NHRA doesn't know where to begin when it comes to relations with it members/participants. I am preaching to the choir, I am aware of that...Thanks to IHRA for just the effort they put forth...People at other sanctioning bodies will be singing the "Karma is a bitch" song in the future, you can bet you're clean shaven shiny *** on that.




when's someone gonna come over here and s*** Momma's d*** ?

[Harry 6674]

It's just to bad they aren't a viable alternative for majority of class racers.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Harry 6674

It's just to bad they aren't a viable alternative for majority of class racers.

They are a viable alternative if most NHRA racers didn't snub there noses at the guys and gals that run NHRA. All those ones who think the IHRA is beneath them will continue to be enhanced.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Even though I havent worked for IHRA for several years I STILL think they are the best group out there. You couldnt ask for a nicer bunch of tech people to deal with. The IHRA racers always were like "FAMILY" and I would say those were some of the best years I had being involved with drag racing.

I have never had a problem with the NHRA tech people. Chuck and Wesley have always been great.
Always very friendly, pleasant and fair. I have been through tear downs with both of them, and never a problem. They always treat everybody equally. I kinda miss seeing Dale and Glenana Ham, I have yet to meet (as far as I know) the present div 4 director.

I have yet to meet one IHRA official that was not very friendly, and they all make you feel they are glad you came to race with them. I don't see the big difference racing with one or the other.

1/8th mile? I can live without. Barely better than staying home.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Kenny Wigington

ha ha !! I got ya by a minute Ed ! Thats too funny !!

Sorry Kenny, I didn't see yours. I'm old.

[Jim Wahl]

NHRA are you listening? That's the way to respond to your customers. Cut back on your bloated, rotten, smelly corpse of a staff and learn how to run a business instead of a country club for over paid drunks! Compton needs to go back to selling dog food and let someone who understands racing take over, like Pat Joffrion. Fire the Vice President of toilet paper exchange, and several other V.P.'s of whatever and tighten your bloated budget like everyone else has to do, instead of just charging more and more so Compton can keep his $770,000 a year job. According to the news,WalMart has reduced prices on 28% of their wares in order to get more customers. What do you think would happen if they said "times are tough so we have increased our prices 50%"? That's just not how smart businesses work.

I give NHRA one to two more years of business before they fold. If they do not make a serious attempt to deal with this monetary crisis they will go the way of AHRA. NHRA must adjust internally and bite the bullet. Participation has already dropped off by 50% and major sponsors are dropping like flies and the only thing Compton and crew can think of to do is up the fees, entry and insurance to the remaining loyal customers?
Wake up Compton! This isn't YOUR NHRA, it's OUR NHRA! I'm not really sure how you got into the position you are in but you are an embarrassment and a lousy steward of MY NHRA! Turn the NHRA over to someone who has everyone's best interest at heart, not just yours. Jim

[Dave Ribeiro]

Ed & Kenny,

I thought it was a very good move by IHRA... They know that the no-names and the non-racers can't wait to start the rumors about IHRA following in the foot-steps of NHRA... All I can tell you is that I have been racing both for the last 12 years, there isn't any question who treats the racers better... Yes, they have their little problem like late night races, but its still better than getting kicked in the face... We all need to support the people who support us sportsmen racers, or someday there won't be any other choices ... Yes, they run alot of 1/8 mile, but its still fun and is quicker, or you can stay home and sell your car & parts .... I do feel bad for the west coast & northwest where there aren't any tracks, but a couple more days of changes from NHRA, that could all change... Don't you think you should at least give it a try, you might just like the Old time friendly racing........... " the choice is yours "