Send Letters to NHRA

Ken Miele · 04-10-2009, 02:32 PM

Pat,

With all do respect and by the way you have done a fantastic job with your track. I can not see you losing business over these increased fees. I will attended 6 national event, have my car certified, pay my membership and license fees and it will cost me an extra $210.00 for one year. I can understand why NHRA members are upset, but $210.00 is not going to make me stop racing. I know I am in the minority, but I do not know what NHRA's financial position is and do not know what it takes to run an origination of this size.

The economy is not doing well, but racing is not a god giving right. It is a luxury and not everyone can do it. If the NHRA members feel such contempt for Tom Compton and they way NHRA is run, why do they support it? I would not support something I felt was unfair to me. To say you pay money and have a right to complain is fine, but if things do not change, why do they continue to support them? Many have said NHRA has been screwing us for years, if this is so why are they still a member.

Alan, comparing the US government to NHRA is way off base. We all are forced to pay taxes, no one is forcing you to go NHRA Drag Racing. Some of you have some great ideas. You all should get together and try to run your own sanctioning body. If you can deliver everything you want NHRA to deliver, you will have the most successful drag racing organization ever.

Ken Miele · 04-10-2009, 03:33 PM

Ed,

So what should the members do with the crooks as you call them. Should they tar and feather them, throw them in jail, what is you answer to fix the problems.

I see in the past you have supported NHRA, do you still have membership with NHRA?

It is beyond me why people will support something they hate so much. It does not matter how much you supported them in the past, there is no future in the past. NHRA has been doing the same thing they have always done, do you think anything will change. Its just like the stockmarket, if you want to keep putting money into something that gives you a poor return, shame on you. I think I get my moneys worth with NHRA, and when I can't afford it anymore, I will stay home.

Alan Roehrich · 04-10-2009, 03:44 PM

Ken, I do not hate NHRA. I vehemently disagree with a lot of what they do, but I do not hate it.

Someone has to keep the organization honest. NHRA does not belong to those who are running it. NHRA belongs to the dues paying members, and the dues paying members must do everything they can to keep NHRA honest.

If, in the past, everyone who saw NHRA taking a dump on the racers had said nothing, and done nothing, it would be a lot worse than it is now.

As Dan Fletcher said so well, this is not about a small (to some) amount of money, it is about principle. Where do we, or you, draw the line?

You SHOULD know about NHRA and their finances. You are member, a dues paying member, of a supposedly non profit organization, that is supposed to be looking out for the best interest of its members. As such, you are entitled to know all about NHRA, and how they spend your money.

Phillip marvetz · 04-10-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

Pat,

With all do respect and by the way you have done a fantastic job with your track. I can not see you losing business over these increased fees. I will attended 6 national event, have my car certified, pay my membership and license fees and it will cost me an extra $210.00 for one year. I can understand why NHRA members are upset, but $210.00 is not going to make me stop racing. I know I am in the minority, but I do not know what NHRA's financial position is and do not know what it takes to run an origination of this size.

The economy is not doing well, but racing is not a god giving right. It is a luxury and not everyone can do it. If the NHRA members feel such contempt for Tom Compton and they way NHRA is run, why do they support it? I would not support something I felt was unfair to me. To say you pay money and have a right to complain is fine, but if things do not change, why do you continue to support them? Many have said NHRA has been screwing us for years, if this is so why are you still a member.

Alan, comparing the US government to NHRA is way off base. We all are forced to pay taxes, no one is forcing you to go NHRA Drag Racing. Some of you have some great ideas. You all should get together and try to run your own sanctioning body. If you can deliver everything you want NHRA to deliver, you will have the most successful drag racing organization ever.

I have to pay for a NHRA membership and number so that I can earn track points at the national opener at mission, no membership no race, no race no points, no points I may not win the track championship,no track championship no gold card for the next year, no gold card means I Have to lay out alot of cash to race. NHRA has us bent over a barrel by making us become members to race for our own track point's.

Ken Miele · 04-10-2009, 09:36 PM

Alan, you may not hate NHRA, but there are many that do. This forum is full of unhappy racers. Unhappy the way they are treated by NHRA. Contempt for Tom Compton and his salary. NHRA finances are not my concern. I worry about my own finances. Anybody that goes into debt so then can race with NHRA is a fool. If they raise there fee's, then I have to assume they have good cause to do so. My god, if you can not afford on avarage of $200.00 more a year, should you really be racing?

Some say that's not the point, what is the point? Do you think drag racing should be a right? You pay money for a service, you don't get the service you want. Why would anyone pay for that service again? I am still at a lose why some racers would continue supporting something that has not changed for over 20 years. I knew what I was getting into when I started my membership. And even if I didn't, after few seasons I would have quit if I felt NHRA was not living up to what I thought a sanctioning body should be.

Do you really think that you or anyone else has had major impact on NHRA and there policy towards the sportsman racer? In all the years that I have been racing with NHRA, I have not seen them doing anything different they have done today.

If NHRA fees are to high and they are not looking out for our best intrest, then logically the membership will drop along with its participants. I guess time will tell, but I don't see that happening. If it does, then you can tell me I told you so.

As for me, I'm going NHRA racing. I enjoy it, knowing its not perfect, but in this world nothing is. I will take the best parts of it and not worry about the things I can not control. You go on, fight for what you think is right, I whish you well. Life is to short for me not to find good in the sport I love.

treessavoy · 04-10-2009, 09:58 PM

The money is not my concern but what someone needs to do is send a copy of the IHRA letter, found elsewhere in this site, and send it to the NHRA so that they may see how other associations treat their racers!

sc4400 · 04-10-2009, 11:01 PM

I fully understand Ken's points. Maybe even agree with all of them. But that does't negate the foolish timing of the enhancements. The following is what I sent to NHRA last night..............

Folks, 2 years ago, at the age of 50, I found myself taking economics at the local tech college to complete a 2 year degree. It is amazing how NHRA could believe they are immune from the laws of economics. I'm not ready to quit, but I have no doubt that some will. Double up the fees?? You don't have to be a Harvard phd to know that raising costs is how you discourage activity. This is like the water dripping on a rock. Drip long enough, you get a hole in the rock. Our sport is in more trouble than you folks might care to admit. 1000 ft fuel racing is a joke. Fans aren't interested. Now is the time to cultivate participation, not kill it. My first National event was 1984. It was a lot more fun then. I didn't even bother entering my home event in Houston this year. I'm being much more selective.

Someone is making bad decisions. I hope my 2 grandsons will carry on NHRA dragracing like my son and I do now. I have my doubts of NHRA survival.

Now is the worst time to make racing harder.

Mike Van Winkle
SC4400

P.S. I hate to tell you, but the website @&^#%!((# .... pulls a vacuum for user friendliness.

Adger Smith · 04-10-2009, 11:18 PM

Ken,
Please don't toss me off for this post. You make quite a few good points. There are always those with half full or others with half empty glasses. In your last post you made the point that you look out for your own finances. That is understandable, we all do if we are responsible. NHRA is looking out for themselves. In your case I can see you have no other choice than be a supporter of what NHRA does. I can see very clearly that taking the wrong side could have a negative impact on this forum, in many ways. The big deal to me is they have no Love for us, only our pocketbooks. It shows by what most of America is doing in these hard times & what they choose to do. Point: Most every Friday night I stop by my (National Chain) Pizza place & get a medium 3 topping pizza for my wife & myself. That is our Friday night meal I cook. :~) Until a few weeks ago it cost 14.95 for that meal. It has gone down in price by almost 1/3. It is not on special. The manager told me it was due to the economy & sagging sales. She also said most items on the menu have had a decrease in price. I apreciate that approach in hard times. As stated in other places on this forum there are other companies taking the lower price approach. Most business is taking the lower price business model for these hard times. I have a good friend that is a manager at one of our local Wal Marts. He told me today that their last months sales were up 1 1/2 percent, even with an overall 28 % lowering in prices. Just spend some time reading Wall Street reports & a few investments prospectus. It's pretty ovbious the leadership of NHRA went to a different business school. Most everything said in this debate, pro & con, has merit. Thanks for providing this forum where we can voice our opinions & debate issues.

Ken Miele · 04-11-2009, 07:13 AM

Mike, It maybe turn out to be a bad decision to raise the fees, time will tell. With all of the negative feedback on this forum they may listen, they may not. I can't begin to know what it takes to run an organization the size if NHRA.

Adger, I do not remove posts or thread because they have a different opinion then mine. If that were the case, half the threads would be gone. You have a right to your opinion and I respect that. I do not agree with they way some members view NHRA, but as long as members stay relatively civil and respect the rules it is fine with me.

Passing judgment on NHRA without knowing all the facts is a mistake in my opinion.

This forum has opened my eyes when dealing with a larger number of members. There are no membership fees on Class Racer, we offer free classifieds and free forums for associations along with lots of features for the members to enjoy. Yet there are members that are not happy with the way I run the site. Most complaints are with the classifieds, but others have problems with the site in general.

I receive letters calling me the worst names you can imagine. I charge no fee and people are still not happy. Thankfully it is a very small percentage, but I wanted to point out you can never make everyone happy all the time.

I know i'm the minority about NHRA. I have had issues with NHRA, but its not enough to make me stay away. There is to many good things about the sport that overrides the bad.

Jim Hanig · 04-11-2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

Mike, It maybe turn out to be a bad decision to raise the fees, time will tell. With all of the negative feedback on this forum they may listen, they may not. I can't begin to know what it takes to run an organization the size if NHRA.

Adger, I do not remove posts or thread because they have a different opinion then mine. If that were the case, half the threads would be gone. You have a right to your opinion and I respect that. I do not agree with they way some members view NHRA, but as long as members stay relatively civil and respect the rules it is fine with me.

Passing judgment on NHRA without knowing all the facts is a mistake in my opinion.

This forum has opened my eyes when dealing with a larger number of members. There are no membership fees on Class Racer, we offer free classifieds and free forums for associations along with lots of features for the members to enjoy. Yet there are members that are not happy with the way I run the site. Most complaints are with the classifieds, but other have problems with the site in general.

I receive letters calling me the worst names you can imagine. I charge no fee and people are still not happy. Thankfully it is a very small percentage, but I wanted to point out you can never make everyone happy all the time.

I know in the minority about NHRA. I have had issues with NHRA, but its not enough to make me stay away. There is to many good things about the sport that overrides the bad.

Ken , i thank you for the right to read and post Jim Hanig

04-10-2009, 02:32 PM	#1
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,832 Likes: 453 Liked 16,310 Times in 1,493 Posts	Re: Send Letters to NHRA Pat, With all do respect and by the way you have done a fantastic job with your track. I can not see you losing business over these increased fees. I will attended 6 national event, have my car certified, pay my membership and license fees and it will cost me an extra $210.00 for one year. I can understand why NHRA members are upset, but $210.00 is not going to make me stop racing. I know I am in the minority, but I do not know what NHRA's financial position is and do not know what it takes to run an origination of this size. The economy is not doing well, but racing is not a god giving right. It is a luxury and not everyone can do it. If the NHRA members feel such contempt for Tom Compton and they way NHRA is run, why do they support it? I would not support something I felt was unfair to me. To say you pay money and have a right to complain is fine, but if things do not change, why do they continue to support them? Many have said NHRA has been screwing us for years, if this is so why are they still a member. Alan, comparing the US government to NHRA is way off base. We all are forced to pay taxes, no one is forcing you to go NHRA Drag Racing. Some of you have some great ideas. You all should get together and try to run your own sanctioning body. If you can deliver everything you want NHRA to deliver, you will have the most successful drag racing organization ever.

04-10-2009, 03:33 PM	#2
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,832 Likes: 453 Liked 16,310 Times in 1,493 Posts	Re: Send Letters to NHRA Ed, So what should the members do with the crooks as you call them. Should they tar and feather them, throw them in jail, what is you answer to fix the problems. I see in the past you have supported NHRA, do you still have membership with NHRA? It is beyond me why people will support something they hate so much. It does not matter how much you supported them in the past, there is no future in the past. NHRA has been doing the same thing they have always done, do you think anything will change. Its just like the stockmarket, if you want to keep putting money into something that gives you a poor return, shame on you. I think I get my moneys worth with NHRA, and when I can't afford it anymore, I will stay home.

04-10-2009, 03:44 PM	#3
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,095 Likes: 1,541 Liked 1,770 Times in 402 Posts	Re: Send Letters to NHRA Ken, I do not hate NHRA. I vehemently disagree with a lot of what they do, but I do not hate it. Someone has to keep the organization honest. NHRA does not belong to those who are running it. NHRA belongs to the dues paying members, and the dues paying members must do everything they can to keep NHRA honest. If, in the past, everyone who saw NHRA taking a dump on the racers had said nothing, and done nothing, it would be a lot worse than it is now. As Dan Fletcher said so well, this is not about a small (to some) amount of money, it is about principle. Where do we, or you, draw the line? You SHOULD know about NHRA and their finances. You are member, a dues paying member, of a supposedly non profit organization, that is supposed to be looking out for the best interest of its members. As such, you are entitled to know all about NHRA, and how they spend your money. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

04-10-2009, 09:36 PM	#5
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,832 Likes: 453 Liked 16,310 Times in 1,493 Posts	Re: Send Letters to NHRA Alan, you may not hate NHRA, but there are many that do. This forum is full of unhappy racers. Unhappy the way they are treated by NHRA. Contempt for Tom Compton and his salary. NHRA finances are not my concern. I worry about my own finances. Anybody that goes into debt so then can race with NHRA is a fool. If they raise there fee's, then I have to assume they have good cause to do so. My god, if you can not afford on avarage of $200.00 more a year, should you really be racing? Some say that's not the point, what is the point? Do you think drag racing should be a right? You pay money for a service, you don't get the service you want. Why would anyone pay for that service again? I am still at a lose why some racers would continue supporting something that has not changed for over 20 years. I knew what I was getting into when I started my membership. And even if I didn't, after few seasons I would have quit if I felt NHRA was not living up to what I thought a sanctioning body should be. Do you really think that you or anyone else has had major impact on NHRA and there policy towards the sportsman racer? In all the years that I have been racing with NHRA, I have not seen them doing anything different they have done today. If NHRA fees are to high and they are not looking out for our best intrest, then logically the membership will drop along with its participants. I guess time will tell, but I don't see that happening. If it does, then you can tell me I told you so. As for me, I'm going NHRA racing. I enjoy it, knowing its not perfect, but in this world nothing is. I will take the best parts of it and not worry about the things I can not control. You go on, fight for what you think is right, I whish you well. Life is to short for me not to find good in the sport I love.

04-10-2009, 09:58 PM	#6
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Send Letters to NHRA The money is not my concern but what someone needs to do is send a copy of the IHRA letter, found elsewhere in this site, and send it to the NHRA so that they may see how other associations treat their racers!

04-10-2009, 11:01 PM	#7
sc4400 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: lake Charles La Posts: 28 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Send Letters to NHRA I fully understand Ken's points. Maybe even agree with all of them. But that does't negate the foolish timing of the enhancements. The following is what I sent to NHRA last night.............. Folks, 2 years ago, at the age of 50, I found myself taking economics at the local tech college to complete a 2 year degree. It is amazing how NHRA could believe they are immune from the laws of economics. I'm not ready to quit, but I have no doubt that some will. Double up the fees?? You don't have to be a Harvard phd to know that raising costs is how you discourage activity. This is like the water dripping on a rock. Drip long enough, you get a hole in the rock. Our sport is in more trouble than you folks might care to admit. 1000 ft fuel racing is a joke. Fans aren't interested. Now is the time to cultivate participation, not kill it. My first National event was 1984. It was a lot more fun then. I didn't even bother entering my home event in Houston this year. I'm being much more selective. Someone is making bad decisions. I hope my 2 grandsons will carry on NHRA dragracing like my son and I do now. I have my doubts of NHRA survival. Now is the worst time to make racing harder. Mike Van Winkle SC4400 P.S. I hate to tell you, but the website @&^#%!((# .... pulls a vacuum for user friendliness.

04-10-2009, 11:18 PM	#8
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Send Letters to NHRA Ken, Please don't toss me off for this post. You make quite a few good points. There are always those with half full or others with half empty glasses. In your last post you made the point that you look out for your own finances. That is understandable, we all do if we are responsible. NHRA is looking out for themselves. In your case I can see you have no other choice than be a supporter of what NHRA does. I can see very clearly that taking the wrong side could have a negative impact on this forum, in many ways. The big deal to me is they have no Love for us, only our pocketbooks. It shows by what most of America is doing in these hard times & what they choose to do. Point: Most every Friday night I stop by my (National Chain) Pizza place & get a medium 3 topping pizza for my wife & myself. That is our Friday night meal I cook. :~) Until a few weeks ago it cost 14.95 for that meal. It has gone down in price by almost 1/3. It is not on special. The manager told me it was due to the economy & sagging sales. She also said most items on the menu have had a decrease in price. I apreciate that approach in hard times. As stated in other places on this forum there are other companies taking the lower price approach. Most business is taking the lower price business model for these hard times. I have a good friend that is a manager at one of our local Wal Marts. He told me today that their last months sales were up 1 1/2 percent, even with an overall 28 % lowering in prices. Just spend some time reading Wall Street reports & a few investments prospectus. It's pretty ovbious the leadership of NHRA went to a different business school. Most everything said in this debate, pro & con, has merit. Thanks for providing this forum where we can voice our opinions & debate issues. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS) Last edited by Adger Smith; 04-10-2009 at 11:21 PM. Reason: sp

04-11-2009, 07:13 AM	#9
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,832 Likes: 453 Liked 16,310 Times in 1,493 Posts	Re: Send Letters to NHRA Mike, It maybe turn out to be a bad decision to raise the fees, time will tell. With all of the negative feedback on this forum they may listen, they may not. I can't begin to know what it takes to run an organization the size if NHRA. Adger, I do not remove posts or thread because they have a different opinion then mine. If that were the case, half the threads would be gone. You have a right to your opinion and I respect that. I do not agree with they way some members view NHRA, but as long as members stay relatively civil and respect the rules it is fine with me. Passing judgment on NHRA without knowing all the facts is a mistake in my opinion. This forum has opened my eyes when dealing with a larger number of members. There are no membership fees on Class Racer, we offer free classifieds and free forums for associations along with lots of features for the members to enjoy. Yet there are members that are not happy with the way I run the site. Most complaints are with the classifieds, but others have problems with the site in general. I receive letters calling me the worst names you can imagine. I charge no fee and people are still not happy. Thankfully it is a very small percentage, but I wanted to point out you can never make everyone happy all the time. I know i'm the minority about NHRA. I have had issues with NHRA, but its not enough to make me stay away. There is to many good things about the sport that overrides the bad.