Nhra strikes again - must read for stk/ss at ned nat event

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Don Kennedy

has anyone gone to a pro sports event lately??

No, Don, and I haven't been to any Rock concerts lately either.

And your point is ??

[Alan Roehrich]

Don,
That's an apples to oranges comparison. Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL, just to scratch the surface, are purely for profit organizations of extremely wealthy owners of billion dollar franchises, provided with government subsidized venues, and paying union represented athletes millions of dollars.

By comparison, NHRA is a 501 (c) non profit sanctioning body charged with promoting safety and the sport of drag racing.

NHRA is charging exhorbitant gate fees, and absurd licensing fees, not to mention a huge cut of concessions. Mostly from private track owners, and fans. They get massive cuts of every sale on the property. It's a combination of a monopoly and a RICO violation.

The absurd cost to attend an event, which they do a horrific job of promoting to begin with (remember, promoting drag racing is the main reason for their NON PROFIT existence) prevents most working class families from considering a weekend of racing as good affordable entertainment.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by B Parker

Alan You have hit the nail right on the head !!! It's one of the few businesses that I know where you can treat your customers like ##it and they keep comming back for more. It's only for the love of the sport by all us racers pros and sportman that we are still there. Sad they have chased off so many sponsers too. Now if they were making a ton of money I quess we would have a hard time arguing with their logic. But with them loosing money year after year what can they be possible be thinking. We can only hope that they loose enough that they are forced to sell. BP

Alan what combo are you thinking about building? I to have been thinking about jumping back in. I have been looking at the 1970 camaro 402/405 hp or a 1971 corvette either the 454/420 hp or the 350/270 hp. I think I could get either of them to run the index.

Barry,
I think you have it right. It sure looks a lot like they're trying to get the last of the money they can get before it crashes.

I've got my heart set on a 69 Chevelle, it makes a good companion car to Kevin's 69 Camaro. We can share nearly any combination outside of the ZL-1 we have sitting on the shelf, it makes sense for us, and I've loved the 69 Chevelle since my friend Harry Vineyard had his wicked white 427/425 Chevelle years ago.

I like that 70 Camaro combination, I think it's a good one. Jimmy Bridges and I looked at that one. Keith Lynch had Schroeder's black 70 Camaro running well. You guys can make a rusty roller skate run 1.00 under, you'll do real well. I just hope we can get back out sometime soon.

[Pistol Pete]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Barry,
I think you have it right. It sure looks a lot like they're trying to get the last of the money they can get before it crashes.

I've got my heart set on a 69 Chevelle, it makes a good companion car to Kevin's 69 Camaro. We can share nearly any combination outside of the ZL-1 we have sitting on the shelf, it makes sense for us, and I've loved the 69 Chevelle since my friend Harry Vineyard had his wicked white 427/425 Chevelle years ago.

I like that 70 Camaro combination, I think it's a good one. Jimmy Bridges and I looked at that one. Keith Lynch had Schroeder's black 70 Camaro running well. You guys can make a rusty roller skate run 1.00 under, you'll do real well. I just hope we can get back out sometime soon.

Barry, whatever you build make it a Black Car....
I'll maintain the looks on the car for a burger n a beer....

[Don Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

No, Don, and I haven't been to any Rock concerts lately either.

And your point is ??

Entertainment dollars are expensive .of course if a person is concerned about expensive costs find out the mark up on other items that you buy all the time it will make you think a little about prices we pay to race. lol

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Don Kennedy

Entertainment dollars are expensive .of course if a person is concerned about expensive costs find out the mark up on other items that you buy all the time it will make you think a little about prices we pay to race. lol

I suppose this thread is more about spectators, but if you look around, you'll see a lot of 70+ year old racers that can afford to do this. That's all well and good.These guys have worked long and hard to get to this point in their lives.
But the question is, still, what will be left for their children and grand children,so that they can continue to participate?
Bringing in the latest flash in the pan group, is just putting a band -aid on a long standing problem, rather than confronting it head on....in MY opinion.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Don Kennedy

Entertainment dollars are expensive .of course if a person is concerned about expensive costs find out the mark up on other items that you buy all the time it will make you think a little about prices we pay to race. lol

Don, the problem that I have with your analogy comparing NHRA to Pro Sports is quite simply, when I go to an NHRA Event, I have to pay to be the entertainment! If they want to pay me like the Professional Athlete that I am, endangering my life in the highly-tuned, Professionally built piece of equipment that I'm driving, then we can talk. Otherwise, they exist to keep me from playing with my toys in the street.

[Mile High]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Specific ideas ? Post them.
.

Here's an idea for promoting sportsman racing.

Instead of stacking for days before the race to get that "great" pit spot have NHRA arrange with large parking lots ( shopping malls, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's etc.) to show off your cars. Have a sign up sheet so they would know who is available. NHRA would then reserve pit space near the pro's for those that participated. Also while showing off the cars the racers could hand out discount coupons. This would get the cars and racers in front off the public. And with their commercials promote these car shows.

Jeff

[Mike Jones]

Originally Posted by Mile High

Here's an idea for promoting sportsman racing.

Instead of stacking for days before the race to get that "great" pit spot have NHRA arrange with large parking lots ( shopping malls, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's etc.) to show off your cars. Have a sign up sheet so they would know who is available. NHRA would then reserve pit space near the pro's for those that participated. Also while showing off the cars the racers could hand out discount coupons. This would get the cars and racers in front off the public. And with their commercials promote these car shows.

Jeff

Thats a great Idea Jeff
A few things though. What day leading up to the event would you be there? More time off from work? Is there enough room in the parking lot? What is in it for the shopping mall? The biggest problem is that this is all nostalgia stuff to most. Its all old news.
But its worth a try. I also think that social media works for a lot of things. Why not this?

Mike A114
P/SA

[novassdude]

Originally Posted by Mike Jones

That a great Idea Jeff
A few things though. What day leading up to the event would you be there? More time off from work? Is there enough room in the parking lot? What is in it for the shopping mall? The biggest problem is that this is all nostalgia stuff to most. Its all old news.
But its worth a try. I also think that social media works for a lot of things. Why not this?

Mike A114
P/SA

Mike I believe he is talking about the same people doing it that would be sitting in stacking before the national event. they don't need to take more days off because they are already there.

I think it is a great idea. They would still get the good spot for being early while supporting the race.