National Dragster

[Joe Marcinowski]

I thought the article on the Hill's was great. Nice article on Glasbrenner and a cover shot to boot. Nice picture of Mike Cotton in the latest issue. I kinda like the nostalgia pics also. That said, I do miss the records and index pages.

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Originally Posted by stock1080

I would be glad to send in an extra dollar to add the records and index pages back in
I would think that NHRA members are 95% sportsmen? tks

Didn't you do that when they cut the issues in half? I must say I enjoy reading the Fletcher, Emmons and others articles about their experiences, (I mean who hasn't screeched a ramp loading in the dark for your neighbors sleeping pleasure?) plus many of the regular guest columns like the Doc. Those are the issues that get passed along the most.
My pass along pipeline has dried up some with the latest issues with all the articles about the pros vacations, they aren't as interested in getting them...

[Superfan1]

As others have mentioned, I definitely miss the National Records and Class Indexes.

[Adam Strang]

I leafed through half of it this morning and saw the pic of Shauls car and thought well maybe they`re trying .Wow was I wrong,saw the Sportman coverage with the three pics for each section and no quilifing and threw it the trash. WEAK.

I wonder what the reason is with removing the records and indexes,does it really save that much paper?

[Bob Lasko]

This is a e-mail recieved from Phil Burgess after I e-Mailed him the link to this thread.
Bob Lasko


Hi Bob,

Thanks for the link. We’re already aware of this thread and have been monitoring it for constructive feedback.

It’s our belief that the current Sportsman package we are presenting differs from years past – a necessity once the print schedule changed – it still offers an equitable (if different) amount of coverage.

The main motivation for these changes was the print schedule change to bi-weekly. In an internet and TV world., a weekly magazine long ago stopped being a news vehicle. Once we were able ourselves to accept that premise – as we ask of the members and racers who get their info first elsewhere anymore – the tone and content of the coverage had to change, too.

Although stats were trimmed to the quarterfinals on, all of the previous rounds are available online and it’s our belief that anyone who really cared about those stats surely has already reviewed them online and is not waiting for the print issue to see them. Because the issues are bi-weekly, any indexes we publish could have been superseded or changed in the weeks between issue and, again, all of that is online. We do recognize in print the individual record setters in the Lucas Oil divisional coverage.

The new weekly Sportsman columns include a look at everything that’s going on in the class, and not just the national results. It also includes LODRS coverage and mini features. This is EVERY week, which was not even the case for Sportsman results previously.

We’ve also added a Sportsman personality feature and an up-front two-page color-spread Sportsman Hot Shot in EVERY issue, things that were seldom part of the whole contents. Every event has a beautiful color spread Featured Flyer that is always a Sportsman car.

Additionally, there are more Sportsman-car photos in the photos pages and in a dedicated photo gallery online after each national event.

We understand that change is difficult for everyone, but we think that given the framework of the current print schedule, we’re offering as good – some might say better – a Sportsman package as ever.

National Dragster has always provided the best and most complete Sportsman racing coverage of any publication, and we believe that it still does. The staff loves the Sportsman racers and Sportsman racing, and we remain committed to showing that love. It might not be in the manner they’re used to, but I believe it it’s still head and shoulders above what any other magazine –print or digital – does for them. We’re proud of that.

Feel free to share my comments with the group.

Thanks again for the link.

Phil


Phil Burgess
Editorial Director
NHRA Publications
626.250.2315
NHRA members get National DRAGSTER. JOIN NHRA NOW!



From: Bob Lasko [mailto:lasko@optonline.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 2:01 PM
To: NHRA Web Email
Subject: nhra

[Rich Biebel]

I have been reading ND for as long as I can remember. For about 10 of those years I did not race and reading the weekly ND was a way to stay informed about the sport and was a highlight of my week......

The modern day version of ND is nothing like it once was and I agree about them posting old pictures.....It is cheap easy filler and serves no purpose other than to add pages.....Ads and old pictures.......and the event reports are jammed together with as little page space as they can come up with...

If I wasn't required to buy a membership to race.....I would not spend the $$

I get ONE car magazine anymore and it is just about the same deal.....ALL ads and pictures.......

Phil Burgess.....if your reading this.......You can see your paper is not getting high marks from some of us veterans......

I'd take an old black and white edition from the old days over the color picture version of today in a heartbeat....

[Lew Silverman]

Just got my National Dragster dated March 8th this morning. Is this the issue everyone is complaining about??

Last year the Sportsman classes were featured the week "after" the Pro's. This year because of the change in the publishing schedule the coverage has been combined.

I thought the two-page spread on the Division #2 event at Gainesville was good, as well as the 4 pages of Stock/Super Stock coverage from Pomona written by our friend Kevin McKenna, who always does an excellent job! I'm also sure Mike Cotten enjoyed the two-page picture of his Mopar on pages 16-17. I do believe there were more Sportsman articles than the professional categories. Yes, it's not the same National Dragster it was 40 years ago, but then neither is anything else.

If you really miss the National Records and Index's, you should be able to find them on the NHRARacer site.

Lew

[600ci]

so when im old and tired and decide to sell my race car for a crap load of
money at barrett jackson (not really) and show its winning and record setting
history. I can hold up a piece of paper saying what website to go to and print it out in stead of holding up a n/d to validate the crap load of money i spent
to get there. at one time that it self, was an award even though I had to wear
glass's to see it

[cicero819]

Phil, who buys your paper, not the copies you give free at all the races to the general public but the ones who really buys your By-monthly, it's the racers, past and present, so please Phil reduce the Force and lets have more about the people who buy all those motor-homes and their stackers, because they're the ones who are buying from your advertisers! Let's recap, more sportsman influx, such as Fletcher on the road, for all of us who wish we could have the intestinal fortitude to chuck our jobs and go racing full-time and more articles on all the great people such as the Hills,Cottens,Teutons and I can't named all since I would need more than this tidbit)that makes this sport so great. How about articles on your average hard working class and bracket racers who buys all their racing equipment from Summit and Jeg's. Hope you're listening Phil.Claude Ruel

[cdh124]

Why not make the magazine out of toilet paper with tear away pages, then all the articles would be useful to all the subscribers.... not just those with birds....remember to recycle!!!!!!!!

Doug Humes