NHRA regulates off track behavior.........

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Jim Craig

perhaps NHRA ought to buy some ad time during the 4 hour time slot (of "Motor Mondays" on Discovery) touting the advantages and benefits of being a member of the NHRA, they'd sure as hell be getting more looks at their prospective audience then they get on any given Saturday night at 2 am or Sunday night at 10. Got to look at it from the marketing side....it's all about the benjamins' and those guys are garning the most of it right now.

x2. They chose the route they did, which has generated a firestorm, instead of turning it into a positive and using the existing show as a platform to promote legal drag racing. They could have created incentives to draw the participants and its fans to sanctioned dragstrips (which tracks have independently already been doing), and created fun and safe events at those tracks where people could legally participate in the loosely structured environment they crave.

I personally couldn't stand more than 15-20 minutes of the show the one time I stumbled across it, but their reach and fan base is undeniable. The sanctioning body had an opportunity to turn the messaging in their favor, but their choices ended up alienating a large swath of their potential audience instead.

[Alan Nyhus]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

x2. They chose the route they did, which has generated a firestorm, instead of turning it into a positive and using the existing show as a platform to promote legal drag racing. They could have created incentives to draw the participants and its fans to sanctioned dragstrips (which tracks have independently already been doing), and created fun and safe events at those tracks where people could legally participate in the loosely structured environment they crave.

I personally couldn't stand more than 15-20 minutes of the show the one time I stumbled across it, but their reach and fan base is undeniable. The sanctioning body had an opportunity to turn the messaging in their favor, but their choices ended up alienating a large swath of their potential audience instead.

Absolutely. And consider that the Street Outlaws show opens with a disclaimer: "Street racing is dangerous and highly illegal. Just because we're dumbazzes doesn't mean you should be."

Had NHRA bought some commercial time, the show would actually be supporting NHRA's position.

Who advises these guys on marketing strategy????

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by cal

You know I have always had a problem with that wordage.

Driving is not a privilege, it is my right as a citizen of the USA to obtain a driver license.
Now if I miss use that right it can be taken away.

Just like walking down the street or going from state to state is not a privilege, It is my Right as a citizen of the USA.

Yes there are rules and laws to follow, and if I break them you can have these right also taken away. Put in jail, pay big fines ECT ECT ...

But these are our rights as citizen of this GREAT country.

OK I'm done running my mouth now, just had to get that off my chest

Cal
S/ST HR 1177

But driving is not a right; it's a privilege. As a citizen, you have the right to apply for a driver's license under equal protection of the law, but is is not a right that you can get in your car and operate it on public roads. It is a privilege you earn once you have shown that you know the laws, you agree to abide by the laws and you prove that you can operate a vehicle in a manner that does not endanger others or compromise the rights of others. Then you are given the privelege to operate a vehicle on public highways where the safety and rights of others will be observed. If you do not continue to operate your vehicle within the laws and guidelines that govern it, then the public authority (the government) will revoke your privileges. They do not take away your right to drive. You would still have the right to drive your vehicle somewhere beside publicly governed property, but you do not have the privilege to drive on public roads. In that manner, it is not a right. It is not even a right to walk down the street if you are going to do so in a manner that infringes on the rights or safety of others.


In like manner, NHRA is not "taking away rights" from these people. They are exercising their right to protect their image, reputation and standards that are explicitly stated in their membership material. Those standards are what you agree with to become a member. It's like unions restricting members from working on jobs or for others who do not observe union standards; you can go do the work if you want, but you won't be a union member if you do. An NHRA membership is not a "right" to race at NHRA's events. It is an extension to you of a privilege to participate. If you choose to not adhere to their membership standards, then they have the right to revoke that privilege.

[Dan Fahey]

NHRA is upset because it is upstaging their own TV Nationals Program
The Funny Cars and AA Fueler and Pro Stockers are not getting top billing.

I seen a golden opportunity...!!

Another Pinks like Street Car Outlaw program.

There are a lot of shut down and active Tracks that could capitalize on this Street Racer fad..

It is huge but there is nobody upstairs with the Drag Racing Management and Marketing skill to capitalize on this.

Just like them ignoring COMP, Super Stock and Stock...

Street Outlaws maybe hanging five on legality.
I like the intrigue..
Yeah we know it is staged....grow it !!!

Dan

[Ed Wright]

Dwight is correct.

[j gardiner]

if NHRA was smart they would figure out how to capitalize on the shows success and use it to steer fans to the racetrack. Their are already some no prep races going on now they should jump all over that. Advertise on the show and get them to come to the track instead of sending out stupid letters threatening people all that is going to do is drive people away. They are just creating more of a outlaw image for those guys. It just makes NHRA look like big brother trying to bully people.

[j gardiner]

The rights vs. privilege debate is all semantics. I have the right to own a gun but if I break the law I can lose it, so is it a right or a privilege.

[SS Engine Guy]

Take that driving is a privilege statement and see how it holds up in a court with a real lawyer. Operating a motor vehicle in a licensed and legal manner is a right as a tax paying (which built the road) citizen. Know that a judge can not take or suspend your license? Only recommend to the transportation and licensing department that they be revoked for a certain length of time. And then as a US citizen you still have the right to have a review by that entity of whether the suspension, or length of suspension is warranted. Usually gets reduced or no suspension at all. Now back on topic. Maybe if the payouts were more for 6-7 rounds than what you can make in one pass on the street there would be less street racing. Don't take this as promoting street racing. Quit that back in my 20's when a guy rolled a nova on a country road one sat. nite. Luckily the guy wasn't hurt badly, but that crash, and the 45 min. wait for emergency crews ended my street racing days. Get off that wallet sanctioning bodies and pay real money if you want to do something about street racing. 2-3k including contingency is peanuts with what Sportsman racing has become today. We used to win 12-16k at a divisional before the for profit not for profit attitude prevailed and we just kept showing up. Some local tracks are offering grudge night with flashlight starts, no prep and timers turned off but still have to pass safety regs and have emergency crews on duty. Some are even free if you are running your car as a service to their communities. Maybe add some big money grudge racing to events instead of other bs filler. Might draw a crowd? But sanctioning bodies running your life? Not mine. Some very good suggestions have been posted here. Now somebody needs to get off their butt and implement them.

[j gardiner]

This is NHRA's problem in a nutshell. They have a whole gang of people in suits, board of directors, marketing department, etc. and they're getting crushed by a bunch of guys who were posting videos on youtube. and the only response they can come up with is threatening letters. No wonder drag racing is in the shape it is in. Maybe instead of banning those guys they should hire them.

[SSGT Mustang]

Originally Posted by SS Engine Guy

Take that driving is a privilege statement and see how it holds up in a court with a real lawyer. Operating a motor vehicle in a licensed and legal manner is a right as a tax paying (which built the road) citizen.

I suppose. If you're OJ Simpson, you can get the right lawyer to make it look like you didn't kill your wife and her boyfriend. But that's not the point.

Taxpayers own the statehouse, the Whitehouse, whatever. Doesn't mean you can move in or take a piss on the stairs.

You do not have a right to drive. It is a privilege. It can be taken away any time the states wants to. Whether they do or not is irrelevant.