Maybe I Was Wrong

[Bobby Fazio]

Admittedly, I live for national events and sharing the big stage with the pros. Love the crowd and talking to spectators that ask about the cars and I hand out flyers explaining our classes. Racing Johnny D 4th round at Maple Grove Nats in front of that big crowd was sweet.

I vote for 2 Q sessions on Friday, 3 rounds Saturday, 3 rounds Sunday. If we run class then Q1 and class on Friday or utilize Thursday for Q and and run class on Friday old school heads-up racing in front of people. Have to race in front of people if we want manufacturers to pump any money and life back into it. Some don't need or care about that and that is understandable. And lastly yes I dream of winning a national on Sunday in front of the crowd. If pros and sportsman split off I will probably go bracket race or sell. Just my take.

[Kevin Panzino]

Couldn't agree more Bobby.


John D you are of course entitled to your opinion and to lobby nhra for your desires, including in your articles. So long as you (and NHRA) understand you don't represent anyone other than yourself.

I found your suggestions in print where, perhaps some non-sportsman connected nhra employee/marketing types likely to read it, very concerning.
I can just hear the 23 year-old, fresh out of college, marketing major new hire in nhra saying " see, even the sportsman racers themselves don't want to be there on Sunday"

If a racer is so concerned about the financial aspect, getting home sooner, or minimizing the dead time at the race, there's a class for that. bracket racing.

A lot of us are in this class specifically because we enjoy the technical aspect of class racing and we enjoy being part of the big Nhra show.

While I was at first glad to see you wrote a second article admitting you might have judged us wrong (i believe for the majority of us, you did) alas, less than halfway through the piece you couldn't help yourself but to go right back to your original plot.

Again, you are of course entitled to your opinion, and can write whatever you like in your magazine. But if in doing so you attempt to lobby nhra for something I, a fellow nhra member disagree with, ill be calling nhra on Monday to let them know you don't speak for me.

I encourage everyone else who is in the same boat, to do likewise.

[John DiBartolomeo]

Originally Posted by Kevin Panzino

Again, you are of course entitled to your opinion, and can write whatever you like in your magazine. But if in doing so you attempt to lobby nhra for something I, a fellow nhra member disagree with, ill be calling nhra on Monday to let them know you don't speak for me.

I encourage everyone else who is in the same boat, to do likewise.

Appreciate your comments, but by all means, PLEASE... I encourage you to call NHRA as you mention and make your feelings known, as I encourage anyone else to do the same. If they don't hear from their constituents, they're going to go right on doing what they please. If you go into a restaurant and get lousy service or the food stinks, chances are you're not going to go back or at least going to speak to the manager. NHRA Drag Racing is the same thing.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

Admittedly, I live for national events and sharing the big stage with the pros. Love the crowd and talking to spectators that ask about the cars and I hand out flyers explaining our classes. Racing Johnny D 4th round at Maple Grove Nats in front of that big crowd was sweet.

I vote for 2 Q sessions on Friday, 3 rounds Saturday, 3 rounds Sunday. If we run class then Q1 and class on Friday or utilize Thursday for Q and and run class on Friday old school heads-up racing in front of people. Have to race in front of people if we want manufacturers to pump any money and life back into it. Some don't need or care about that and that is understandable. And lastly yes I dream of winning a national on Sunday in front of the crowd. If pros and sportsman split off I will probably go bracket race or sell. Just my take.

Bobby, when I was a younger man I also enjoyed Natl. Events. They just don't "do it" for me anymore. Now maybe I just got older and maybe I just got smarter but the time and monies spent and aggravation endured don't make it worth-my-while.
One of the facts about modern-day Natl. Events is that the purse structure hasn't changed in over 20 years while the contingency program has been left to dwindle to nothing. In the 1990s, I could take home 12-15K for winning Stock at a Natls.. Today, in the same car, I couldn't make 5K and my expenses have tripled or quadrupled. For me, it's just not good business and I don't need the ego massage of being "bathed" in the light of John Force. I can go to the Div. Races and hang out with my buds, maybe make a couple of bucks and get my "fix" and I'm good.
There is a column written by a guy named Jok Nickelson on another site (DRO) that I feel might be worth the read. It is his last column as I believe that the site is closing down. It is mainly involving Bracket Racing but the lesson is the same.

[nhramnl]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Bobby, when I was a younger man I also enjoyed Natl. Events. They just don't "do it" for me anymore. Now maybe I just got older and maybe I just got smarter but the time and monies spent and aggravation endured don't make it worth-my-while.
One of the facts about modern-day Natl. Events is that the purse structure hasn't changed in over 20 years while the contingency program has been left to dwindle to nothing. In the 1990s, I could take home 12-15K for winning Stock at a Natls.. Today, in the same car, I couldn't make 5K and my expenses have tripled or quadrupled. For me, it's just not good business and I don't need the ego massage of being "bathed" in the light of John Force. I can go to the Div. Races and hang out with my buds, maybe make a couple of bucks and get my "fix" and I'm good.
There is a column written by a guy named Jok Nickelson on another site (DRO) that I feel might be worth the read. It is his last column as I believe that the site is closing down. It is mainly involving Bracket Racing but the lesson is the same.

Couldn't agree more, with every point Billy brings up. National Evens have completely lost their luster for me as well.

[Keith 944]

When I was younger there was nothing I wanted more than to win a national event! In those days you shared the stage with the pro winners and you also got a medal, reminded me of something you would win in the Olympics and of course there was also the giant Wally. to me this was the highlight of being a national event champion. Back then I had gotten to two or three finals and lost.the year I finally broke through and won a national they had done away with the medal and of course we were no longer sharing the stage with the pros
they have separated us and took away lots of little things while the pros still get that damn medal! I certainly hope they don’t separate us anymore winning a national event should be something to be proud of!
When IHRA did this very thing a national event was more or less which day you won. Saturday could be the national and Sunday be the divisional. Wasn’t a whole Lotta glory winning the right day...

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

When I was younger there was nothing I wanted more than to win a national event! In those days you shared the stage with the pro winners and you also got a medal, reminded me of something you would win in the Olympics and of course there was also the giant Wally. to me this was the highlight of being a national event champion. Back then I had gotten to two or three finals and lost.the year I finally broke through and won a national they had done away with the medal and of course we were no longer sharing the stage with the pros
they have separated us and took away lots of little things while the pros still get that damn medal! I certainly hope they don’t separate us anymore winning a national event should be something to be proud of!
When IHRA did this very thing a national event was more or less which day you won. Saturday could be the national and Sunday be the divisional. Wasn’t a whole Lotta glory winning the right day...

Don't forget the nice jacket they would give you. Maybe they give you a T-shirt now?
Probably has John Force on the back.

[Jeff Niceswanger]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Don't forget the nice jacket they would give you. Maybe they give you a T-shirt now?
Probably has John Force on the back.

They still give you a nice National Event specific jacket Mark.I Wonder what Fletch and Rampy has done with over 100 winter coats ! Don't we all wish we had such a problem.. lol

[Keith 944]

Yes you still get the jacket. But that will probably be next to go. First time I won the IHRA world championship was the last year hooters was sponsoring it
the Hooters girls were still in the picture, hooters still got their name on the trophy and ring, but Unlike previous years we got no hooters jacket LOL go figure
This has got me to thinking, over the years can anybody say any perks have been added instead of taken away? Kind of reminds me of our NHRA membership