Video at NHRA events

[SSDA Hemi]

Thank you for clearing that up Brett, my feelings pretty much agreed with everyone posting so far. I can sleep better tonight knowing NHRA is not that ignorant about publicity for sportsman racers. ESPN's stand on this issue is pretty much obvious.

But with that said, I think the door is pretty much wide open for the Stock/Super Stock organizations to pick the ball up and run with it. Here is a video made earlier in the year at the Combo in the Hills race and the format with first round reaction times and et's. OUTSTANDING!



The fact is, first round of Super Stock at the recent division 1 LODRS race I looked in the stands while under the tower and counted the fans in the stands with both hands… And I put half my fingers down, LOL. The video posted had over 1100 fans (views). If sportsman racing is ever going to grow with publicity, video of non NHRA/LODRS events is the only answer I can see from here forward.

[Bobby Fazio]

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

You're wrong, Alan.

The very first clause in the ESPN contract guarantees totally, complete and outright exclusivity of all photographic and video content to ESPN/ABC/Capitol Cities/Disney.

This is the way ESPN (and every other network) handles any sporting event.

Although it is ESPN's demand, it's on the shoulders of the host organization to police the rule. Why? Because ESPN demands it. Why are they cracking down now? Because they never really HAVE before except in the case of a fatality, (which was in the interest of NHRA's liability and legal defense).

You might recall the P.A. announcement made at NHRA events for the past decade which, (as at all sporting events with broadcast rights at stake), mentions the phrase), "without the express written permission of the NHRA". Note it does NOT say, "without the express written permission of ESPN". It puts the responsibility squarely on the NHRA, (or NFL, MLB, etc.), because they're liable to the broadcasting network if the contract is violated.

The proliferation of NHRA content via social media has (apparently) gotten to the point at which NHRA must crack down or be sued into oblivion by ESPN. This would explain the NHRA's desire to control all media and they've gone to great lengths to secure it over the past twenty years. One of the first methods used to control it is to charge money; it quickly weeds out the low-ballers onsite for their own entertainment and restricts, (for the most part), all ontrack media to legitimate outlets. Ask the photographers how much it costs to get on the starting line in 2012. Non-ESPN videographers are restricted to pit area interviews only and may not include any results from the event itself until after the race. This is ANYTHING but "new". The NHRA is just cracking down on it.

You folks want NHRA Drag Racing to be treated like a "real sport"? Well, here you go. In this instance, it's the same as baseball, football, soccer and Formula One.

Orme described the situation very eloquently but these are the details. Feel free to call me a defender of the NHRA, a media hack or just a liar. I'll counter with the same response I give to any and all criticism of any drag racing association's rules:

Don't like it? Don't go.

By the way, Don Kennedy mentioned. "I have never seen any Pros on YouTube". The reason for this is NHRA's quite vigilant watch for any and all clips on YouTube, (and everywhere else). B. Parker added, "They may be able to punish us racers if we record but what can they do to Joe public?". The answer is simple. They can do anything and everything they want to do. YouTube works very closely with all companies who have exclusivity rights violated and anybody can be found by any post made anywhere on the 'Web. Folks would be wise to heed the warning; the NHRA's legal counsel has come down on violaters like a ton of bricks in exactly the same fashion as NFL, MLB, etc., (although maybe not as hard as F1; mess with them and it's almost a death sentence). If you only knew the dollars involved in the lawsuits concerning the posting of video and photos of the last runs of Scott Kalitta and Darrell Russell, you'd be stunned.

This isn't a matter of posting a video and having NHRA contact you to take down the video and never contacting you again after it has been removed. This is about swift, serious and incredibly expensive legal action just because the video or photo was posted in the first place.

You can debate the legality, morality or reality of this subject but none of it matters. These are the facts. Now, you can't even claim, "I didn't know!".

I've never seen ESPN at a divisional so does that mean it's ok to video there?

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

You're wrong, Alan.

The very first clause in the ESPN contract guarantees totally, complete and outright exclusivity of all photographic and video content to ESPN/ABC/Capitol Cities/Disney.

This is the way ESPN (and every other network) handles any sporting event.

Although it is ESPN's demand, it's on the shoulders of the host organization to police the rule. Why? Because ESPN demands it. Why are they cracking down now? Because they never really HAVE before except in the case of a fatality, (which was in the interest of NHRA's liability and legal defense).

You might recall the P.A. announcement made at NHRA events for the past decade which, (as at all sporting events with broadcast rights at stake), mentions the phrase), "without the express written permission of the NHRA". Note it does NOT say, "without the express written permission of ESPN". It puts the responsibility squarely on the NHRA, (or NFL, MLB, etc.), because they're liable to the broadcasting network if the contract is violated.

The proliferation of NHRA content via social media has (apparently) gotten to the point at which NHRA must crack down or be sued into oblivion by ESPN. This would explain the NHRA's desire to control all media and they've gone to great lengths to secure it over the past twenty years. One of the first methods used to control it is to charge money; it quickly weeds out the low-ballers onsite for their own entertainment and restricts, (for the most part), all ontrack media to legitimate outlets. Ask the photographers how much it costs to get on the starting line in 2012. Non-ESPN videographers are restricted to pit area interviews only and may not include any results from the event itself until after the race. This is ANYTHING but "new". The NHRA is just cracking down on it.

You folks want NHRA Drag Racing to be treated like a "real sport"? Well, here you go. In this instance, it's the same as baseball, football, soccer and Formula One.

Orme described the situation very eloquently but these are the details. Feel free to call me a defender of the NHRA, a media hack or just a liar. I'll counter with the same response I give to any and all criticism of any drag racing association's rules:

Don't like it? Don't go.

By the way, Don Kennedy mentioned. "I have never seen any Pros on YouTube". The reason for this is NHRA's quite vigilant watch for any and all clips on YouTube, (and everywhere else). B. Parker added, "They may be able to punish us racers if we record but what can they do to Joe public?". The answer is simple. They can do anything and everything they want to do. YouTube works very closely with all companies who have exclusivity rights violated and anybody can be found by any post made anywhere on the 'Web. Folks would be wise to heed the warning; the NHRA's legal counsel has come down on violaters like a ton of bricks in exactly the same fashion as NFL, MLB, etc., (although maybe not as hard as F1; mess with them and it's almost a death sentence). If you only knew the dollars involved in the lawsuits concerning the posting of video and photos of the last runs of Scott Kalitta and Darrell Russell, you'd be stunned.

This isn't a matter of posting a video and having NHRA contact you to take down the video and never contacting you again after it has been removed. This is about swift, serious and incredibly expensive legal action just because the video or photo was posted in the first place.

You can debate the legality, morality or reality of this subject but none of it matters. These are the facts. Now, you can't even claim, "I didn't know!".

Bret, technically, you are "correct". However, all that means is that NHRA sold ESPN the "Pros", and we just got "included" (read:screwed).

NHRA, and by association ESPN, claim that we don't pay our way, and we're a drain on their bottom line. So, evidently, video of us isn't worth anything, and in fact, has a negative monetary value, as it supposedly costs more to shoot the video than it is worth. Not to mention they have absolutely zero intention of ever broadcasting any of it, other than maybe, just maybe, a brief shot of a part of the final round.

So, yeah, it is still all about NHRA, their wallet, and their control. You just cleared up the fact that, technically, NHRA can, and will, make ESPN the "bad guy", and blame any prosecution on their contract with ESPN.

Oh, and ESPN really treats NHRA drag racing like a "real sport". Qualifying is shown at 2AM half the time, and at any time a stick and ball game can, and will, bump even the U.S. Nationals to the wee hours of the morning. Yeah, drag racing sure does get treated like a real sport. Right up there with curling (I actually like curling).

You can excuse NHRA's greed and avarice all you want, you can blame it on ESPN, and claim it doesn't matter. But it is still fact. You're correct, we don't have to go race. And we probably shouldn't.

By the way, NHRA's problem with videos of the final passes of several unfortunate final passes of racers is that unauthorized video might show their obvious deficiencies. It has nothing at all to do with protecting the families, and everything to do with covering NHRA's *****. If they actually gave a damn about truly protecting the families, rather than their wallet, they'd resolve their obvious safety deficiencies.

You can counter with whatever cute little condescending retort your heart desires Bret. That really doesn't matter, either.

[Ed Fernandez]

Be careful with your bitching.NHRA might get a bug up their *** and say that no pictures at all may be taken anywhere on the premises.You wouldn't want to see Patsy,Kenny,
Jack or Toby led into a car in handcuffs would you.Like Frey says,especially Jack.

[rognelson777]

Rule on video Nhra rule "if you wish to shoot video for any use besides competition/analytical purposes, please abide by the following policy:"

so when i post video and state "can you watch this video and tell me why I have tire shake" that will be okay ?

[rognelson777]

here is a question, at maple grove and epping they both had live video streaming of the event, what happens if I copy that and reuse that video?

[robzneed4speed]

I just attended my first Bracket Finals today. This event was run by NHRA and the tension was high. I went to get my usual starting line spot to do some videos at my "home" track and went to the tower to get my clearance, well...in leu of the enforcement the NHRA posted this week the track photographer was not there, another dragstrips team photographer was not allowed on the starting line and was told if they were seen in the stands with there high powered lens they would be escorted out! Pit shots only! I was considering not even videoing today! I just considered it...lol.
This also effected me as a team I was partnering with for the Maple Grove National event was no longer going to do video as a result of this, so more than likely I won't be able to attend this race as planned.
My videos are by no means perfect, however I've really tried to enhance my shooting to the best of my abilities and this year has improved alot, to the point that even the first race I did in Vegas this year I have a hard time watching because it stinks soooo bad! And with the improved editing software and cameras including the GoPro's everyone seems to have there is a lot of really good footage out there. I LOVE the sport of drag racing and really try to promote it from my videos to bringing people to the track that have never attended a race before. I'm not supporting the ESPN/NHRA's decision to what I think is cutting off the backbone of the sport that they don't seem to care about or ever promote, that being said this is STILL their show. Where do they draw the line? Your video isn't that good so your ok...your video is not bad so it's the axe for you!
I'll try to abide by their rules and see what I can and can't do and see if I can afford the kickback they need for their product. Most of my sportsman view count is from the sportsman racers themselves, so if I can't play I will change my page to Robzneed4speed Analytical Videos!
See you at the races.
--Rob

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

Be careful with your bitching.NHRA might get a bug up their *** and say that no pictures at all may be taken anywhere on the premises.You wouldn't want to see Patsy,Kenny,
Jack or Toby led into a car in handcuffs would you.Like Frey says,especially Jack.

Ed, when that sort of thing happens, NHRA will wish they had not.

[james schaechter]

I actually think the posting is more of a CYA on their part.
The problem is that their own will not even know what is right or not so it can have more harm than good. This is because there is no guidance from upper management on this policy for them.

It is unfortunate that the vacuum or abscence of true leadership is affecting them. They are leaving control to Lawyers and Accountants instead of people that love and understand the sport.
The executive leadership is suppossed to take legal guidance, fiscal guidance and input from marketing and their people that are close to the action and have a good feel for what will work at the ground level. This would help themto come up with a common sense approach that serves the good of the Association.

NHRA leadership should seek out the opinions from the talent that lies within their own ranks. They have some great people too. They just don't listen to them. The SRAC is not taken seriously either.
It is pretty clear that no one has the talent or inclination to do this at a high level within NHRA.

[barnca2010]

Just when i thought a sport couldnt get like nascar, i guess i was wrong. i used to cover nascar when it was fun. then it got to the point were unless you gave them lotsa cash you couldnt be "official nascar media". so i went to the LODRS event this year at NED hoping to get involved in nhra as a photog.. this has sucked the wind outta my sails as far as covering events in the northeast for you guys. bummer