ASHER'S COLUMN on COMP PLUS!!! HOME RUN!!!

#31 04-24-2008, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes Tarkington

Mr. Asher, sir, you are right....as always. Thank you for eloquently expressing the thoughts and ideas of so many of us.

It's NHRA's circus during a national event, kids. A host track takes care of toilets, trash, track-owned concessions, and spectator parking....for the most part. There are other areas that I won't bore you with. But...NHRA sets the event schedule, ticket prices, parks the racers, "preps" the track, conducts the racing, determines the event budget, and on and on. If you have a bad experience at any NHRA national event, there is a 90% chance that the reason would fall on NHRA's shoulders, not the host track.

It pains me that NHRA has devolved to this point. I have very dear and close friends that are directly affected by NHRA's ignorance and arrogance. The events that have transpired over the course of the last 10 or so years really have me questioning my sustained and future participation with the organization. Here's an incomplete list in no particular order...

Sportsman racing reduction at national events

"Quality" of the television package

Attitude

Exclusive supplier agreements for critical items (fuel, tires)

Stunting the evolution of the Top Fuel Dragster

Rev Limiters in nitro racing (these only belong in sportsman classes)

CIC (Competition Index Control)

Pro Stock Truck

POWERade

Attitude

The death of Darrell Russell (and subsequent failures)

Tires

Track condition

Rick Stewart

HD Partners

Eric Medlen

Las Vegas 1 2008

Nitrogate

85%

Anything less than 99.99% in A/FD

No AF/FC (injected nitro funny car in TAFC)

The Countdown

Lack of proper promotion and development of the Lucas series

Increasing weight minimums in professional categories

OK...get my point? While most of those items only affect the quality of the "big show" their effects bleed into the overall success of each and every track and participant. We, racers, simply cannot continue to be willing volunteers to this constant abuse. From a fan's point of view, how is any of this year's racing been entertaining or a good value for the money spent?

Support your local track. Urge them to switch to IHRA sanction and do so for the long run (not year-to-year as too many have done). Thumb your noses at anything NHRA has to offer. And, maybe someday the stars of the sport will finally say enough is enough and refuse to participate in NHRA's game.

I whole heartedly agree with this Wes.

S/F
D

#32 04-24-2008, 08:51 AM

Never in my wildest nightmare..could I have envisioned NHRA to be in this condition.

Kinda makes me wanna puke.

#33 04-24-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Smith

Nice idea. But why blame the NHRA that something like this didn't happen? Last I heard LVMS is owned by Bruton Smith, not the NHRA.

At NHRA events they dictate ticket policy, NOT the Track owners.

#34 04-24-2008, 08:54 AM

First I would like to cogratulate Mr. Asher for the guts to write what is not only obvious to many but what needed to be brought to the light of day. I was a member of NHRA since 1963 but as you can see I said was. They no longer offer a product I care about or want to be involved directly with. Do I follow it? No not the NHRA but many of the people and teams in the sport I do follow. I Tivo the shows but I have found that I check out the computer first and then if the people/teams I follow have lost early, most of the time I delete the show without watching it.

Had an interesting experience back in my TAFC days. At a nation IHRA event we were actually treated like they were glad to see us. Instead of coming around and yelling at us to hurry up and get in line and all the usual BS they came around and just checked to make sure we were doing ok and was there any problems.

I guess the bottom line to this is I will probably spend my money to go to an IHRA event before an NHRA event. Also I will also throw in that I have found a number of interesting smaller circuits that fit my interests a lot better and CHEAPER than the NHRA big show.

ok rant over. Excellent article.

jim

#35 04-24-2008, 09:17 AM

Like everyone else here. I think that Jon nailed it with his article. I just don't understand why PRO seems to be a such a quiet entity. What purpose is it serving? Let's face it, we all know drag racing will continue in some fashion, as there are many, many different organizations and circuits where people can race, and pretty serious cars for that matter. This whole discussion really revolves around the pro show, and to simplify it even further, the 2 nitro categories. No offense to PS and PSB, because I enjoy all the classes, but let's face it, professional drag racing, from live events to TV to corporate sponsorships is for the most part centered around the fuel cars. And to break it down even further, of the say, 40 fuel cars on average at a national event, how many people out of the 40 teams are really professional racers? What I'm getting at, is there are really just a few people that can have a HUGE impact on what happens to the sport going forward. Yet, it seems nobody is standing up to these guys at the helm in Glendora. Not sure why not. Another thought I had, is this: In this day and age, $120M is really not a huge amount of money, there are enough players in this sport who could probably create a fund to buy the NHRA, and really put their destiny in their own hands.

#36 04-24-2008, 10:01 AM

It was a great article. Sadly, nothing will change. Just like the racers, I'll continue to attend events. At what point will that change for me? Can't say right now, I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

#37 04-24-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Krogen

It was a great article. Sadly, nothing will change. Just like the racers, I'll continue to attend events. At what point will that change for me? Can't say right now, I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Same thoughts crossed my mind as well.

#38 04-24-2008, 10:15 AM

Excellent article, that hit the nail on the head.

#39 04-24-2008, 10:21 AM

Should be required reading for all NHRA members and/ or fans.
DC

#40 04-24-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Clark

Should be required reading for all NHRA members and/ or fans.
DC

You know as well as I that the people who REALLY need to see this article will not go near it.

The truth hurts too much.

#41 04-24-2008, 10:38 AM

Perhaps Larry Morgan should head up PRO.......

#42 04-24-2008, 11:17 AM

It really saddens me.

I wish the people running our great sport cared even a tenth as much as we do about it

#43 04-24-2008, 11:28 AM

What really disturbs me is the "cocky" attitude they have, especially Graham Light. He was a racer at one time and should be more in tune with the racers.

The one guy I can remember being fair was Buster Couch. He was strict but always listened to the racers. Maybe we need some more of that "good ole boy" attitude that IHRA seems so successful with.

This stuff is pretty much my life and I worry that it's not going to be here someday. Just shoot me now.

#44 04-24-2008, 11:37 AM

I now have an NHRA membership card that is in several small pieces being mailed to Glendora TODAY.
I would think that if they received several thousand more they might begin to get it.

#45 04-24-2008, 12:05 PM

Just like David Williams stated above.... all this crap is just sad. Clearly this is not what Wally & Barb dreamed of. Whatever you're level of involvement or participation may be....this is supposed to be FUN. Still, somehow I'm confident we'll all make it through.