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

[Jeff Stout]

Ive known 2 of the racers on SO since they came to Speedworld and raced in the original Pinks shows. As of today ive watched every SO show and I couldnt tell you the car numbers. Im pretty confident that dui and domestic violence have fair more deaths then a scripted show about ILLEGAL street racing.
Tracks have invited these bad influence racers and they are packed. Kids ask for autographs and buy tshirts. This is a fact.

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by 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

Some may remember me making the suggestion of putting on a class car "PINKS All Out" kind of program after my participation experience, actually discussed with Rich Christiansen (who, by the way was very interested) several times only to get shot down by the majority. Now that this debacle has opened a can of worms, Mike Beard is correct in that NHRA continues to sit on their hands until something like this happens, forcing them to respond this way. Although I disagree with a lot of decisions out of Glendora, I have to side with them on this, especially when a racer is foolish enough to leave his number and NHRA decals on his car. But it has also set a precedence in their (lack) of marketing the sportsman guys. And now with Steve Earwood teaming with Rich C and Brian Bossone resurrecting the PINKS brand, S and SS, not just NHRA, are missing out on a golden opportunity.

Sorry to be a bit off topic a bit, but had to add my $.02

[Bunkster]

The only thing worthy in “Street Outlaws” is the Farm Truck.



You gotta love the Farm Truck, and of course, Louise.

[Dwight Southerland]

This post may sound like it is off the point of this thread, but I want to do what I can to communicate the underlying points that I see are important.

First, all the talk about the Outlaws program being staged is not relavent. It doesn't matter if the events are staged, actual or cartoons, the legality of the activity being portrayed is not a question for any jurisdiction in the country as far as I know; auto racing on public streets is illegal, period. The fact that a media entertainment company can produce such programs is common. Heck, there is even a staged reality show about bootlegging and that is way over the top of any kind of illegal racing activity because it steps into federal jurisdiction, not just local or state. So, knowing that the racing activity is staged as entertainment is no more relavent to this discussion than saying that I portrayed a serial murderer in our community theater so I must be a murderer.

Secondly, the title of this thread mixes the issues. NHRA is not regulating anyone's behavior or even attempting to. NHRA has no authority to do that. Those guys can continue to play their roles on that TV program all they want. They can even participate in actual street racing as it is portrayed on that program if they want. But, they will then be subject to consequences imposed by organizations who do have authority to regulate their behavior. NHRA just does not want to be identified with people who do that.

Thirdly, NHRA does have the right to protect their purpose and reputation and that is what they are trying to do. In fact, a good argument could be made that they could be in legal trouble if they don't. Their organizational charter stipulates that one of their primary purposes is to provide a venue for drag racing in a legal, safe and controlled environment. If they stand by and allow members of their organization to do the exact opposite, then it can become a legal question whether NHRA is a purposeful organization or not.

Fourthly, all the talk about the jealousy of NHRA or the greediness of NHRA or the stupidity of NHRA is just distractions. We can all get emotionally charged when we form opinions concerning the intention behind people's actions, but the truth is that intentions seldom can be reduced to a single cause. Besides, if NHRA's purposes behind what they are doing in this case are just business related, they would not be addressing the racers.

Fifthly, do not put me on one side or the other of the "us against them" mentality. I am for protecting rights, both individuals and organizations. The "culture currents" that rule media and communications today seem to have blurred the lines (for their own benefit) between inalienable rights and protected behavior. As I said before, behavior is rarely a right. We have rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" within the framework of law that regulates the behavior we choose to exert those rights. When our behavior while exerting our rights steps on someone else's rights, then the law is the mediator. NHRA has the right to protect their organization. Those outlaws have the right to do their TV program. NHRA is seeing this program portraying NHRA and street racing as the same and that is their objection. Think of a member of PETA participating in a TV program about trophy buck hunting.

Maybe I have just muddied the waters more or stirred them again.

[Hagen Gary]

I'd say you nailed it Dwight. NHRA is completely in the right here. I pay a membership due, and I don't want to be associated with street racing at all. PERIOD. It's ignorant, irresponsible and down right disrespectful to your community. It is on the same lines as gangster rap. It encourages fools to break the law by glamorizing it.

This might be a little harsh... but the best thing that could have happened to the main star (Paul Walker) of all the fast and furious movies, is that he die, as a passenger, in a car speeding over twice the speed limit (93 in a 45). It brought a reality check to all the fools who were inspired by those movies. He got exactly what he was asking for, and hopefully saved a few kids lives by waking them up. Innocent people die in street racing. You're acting like an idiot if you do it.

[Jim Hanig]

wow Hagen that,s pretty rough. I don't think anyone should die for street racing, not saying its rite, but I will bet some where most of have done the same. NHRA likely want there share of the cut. They maybe should worry about their racing than whats happend on the tv.

[Hagen Gary]

Originally Posted by Jim Hanig

. NHRA likely want there share of the cut. They maybe should worry about their racing than whats happend on the tv.

I believe you are incorrect. NHRA wants nothing to do with the show. and I applaud them for that. NHRA was created to keep racing off the street, and they need to uphold that standard. Flying NHRA decals, numbers and class designation (T/S of coarse) while street racing on national tv (fake or real, doesn't matter) is detrimental to there brand. end of story.

The way I see it. Paul Walker dying saved more people from dying. It saved at least 1 family being plowed into at 100+ MPH. It brought a wakeup call to people who thought street racing was cool, by killing one of their idols. He made like 7 movies in that series. It was pretty much his whole acting career. He glamorized it, and then got to experience first hand what multiple people did that were inspired by him. end of story.

[Michael Beard]

I saw a post today from a track that is working on establishing a program specifically directed to street racers to get them on the race track instead of the street... which one would think is the goal.

While it obviously was not their intention, the sanctioning body has unwittingly turned more people toward street racing than against it. How do you get street racers off the street and onto a sanctioned dragstrip if you ban them from that dragstrip?

[Randall Klein]

Should know better than getting into a pissing match with Hagen, but its 5 degrees and I'm bored....so we should paint with a broad brush all the movie car chase movies and actors? Newman in Bullitt, Hackman in French Connection, etc....I guess moviegoers are pavlov's dogs, panting to hit the streets and emulate screen scenes? Beyond harsh to make a questionable point

hit send? yes
hit send no?
hit send.......

[Lyn Smith]

Heard there is a new Drag racing show that starts filming in Texas next month called House of Grudge.Ken from Pass Time,and Mike Merillo are on it.It does take place on a real Drag Strip.